Pellegrino Studio/Gallery Opening and Wine Tasting

Saturday, August 29th, was the first annual Pellegrino Studio/Gallery Opening and Aberdale's Wine Tasting Event.

The event was held at the residence of Franco and his lovely wife Pat. They have a wonderful restored farmhouse on three acres of land in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts and the big red barn in the back houses Franco's studio as well as a beautiful gallery space.

Despite the persnickety Berkshire weather it was really a fabulous day and the event was very well attended.

Guests enjoyed wine tasting demonstrations that were scheduled at different intervals throughout the day so that all the guests could take part. It was a real education on wines and Sarah from Aberdale's was a wonderful presenter. The wine tasting was coordinated by the Pellegrino's daughter Lauren and Sarah from Aberdale's and was a real hit with the crowd! Fine food, good music, and wonderful art all made for a very successful event!

In addition to the paintings of the artist Franco Pellegrino, there were also displays of Patricia Pellegrino's photographs (Images--Original Photographs of the Berkshires and New England), jewelry by Zur Designs (handcrafted jewelry inspired by the Berkshire Mountains), and handmade candles, wreaths, and other flower arrangements by Everlastings (unique, handmade gifts for your home).

Note how I called this the "first annual" event. That's because I am hoping they will do it again next year!

Beaded Impressions Beading Contest is Open to Public Vote!

Vote for your favorite necklace and earring design in the 2009 Beaded Impressions Beading Contest! Public voting ends August 13th. It is a wonderful showcase of the talented jewelry artists out there! You will receive a coupon for 10% off any purchase just for voting!

They did have a bit of trouble with their voting page so there are instructions on how to access the survey and if you still have any trouble you can contact them directly.

In the necklace category, be sure to check out #26--Cosmo's Moon! No matter how it turns out, it was a lot of fun just creating the piece and entering the contest!

Have a great day!

Cosmo's Moon Necklace

So, I entered this necklace into Beaded Impressions Beading Contest!

I love the movie "Moonstruck"! I know some people think it's a little over-the-top but I grew up in an Italian family so for me it's like coming home!

In the movie, Cosmo's brother-in-law tells us about the enormous and magical moon that appeared one night during his sister's courtship. La Bella Luna--the moon brings the woman to the man. Drawn to the window the future brother-in-law found Cosmo in the yard gazing up at his sister's window. For years he believed that Cosmo's great love called up that amazing moon that woke him from his blissful sleep.

The idea that true love growing in the hearts of new lovers could draw down a moon of such splendor is a compelling metaphor and I always felt that this was more than a story of about two people falling in love. Perhaps it was really a tale exploring the intricate facets of love and the magic that love makes possible.

This necklace was inspired by such a moon, bright and shining in the midnight blue sky; an inspiration for love that will last a lifetime. I carried an image in my head of such a moon and with the help and inspiration of some beads from The Purple Door in Jamestown, R.I. and some beautiful crystals I received as a gift from my best friend, I set to work to create that vision.

Other materials used: 3.25mm sterling silver cable chain, a delicate 2.25mm diamond cut chain, mother-of-pearl 6mm beads, sterling silver star beads, czech glass beads in a midnight blue, bali spacers, bali toggle clasp, and a sterling silver heart pendant to symbolize love.

Cosmo's Moon Necklace can be purchased at my Etsy Shop and at USTrendy. Don't forget to check out all the entries in The Beaded Impression Beading Contest. They are all so amazing! I'd like to thank abeadstore.com for hosting this contest. Don't forget to check out their wonderful selection of beads and beading supplies!

P.S. I love the name Cosmo. It reminds me of a sweet man I grew up around who always saw me as a sweet little girl with curly blond hair long after I was no longer even close to being that anymore! Also, the Hermit Designer's middle name is Cosmo; proving I never met a Cosmo I didn't like!

Use The Muse II Contest

Well, I even though I didn't win the Use The Muse II Contest, I must say it was great fun and helped my design skills to stretch a bit; although for good or bad, my style still shone through! Here is my finished product!

I call it Dancing in the light because I picture pixies dancing. Perhaps because of the whimsical charms attached along the chain or the delicate nature of the Muse itself--a LillyPilly pendant made of soft shell and decorated in beautiful blues and yellows.

The swarovski crystals represent the light--I used the ones from the kit and also added some beautiful jonquil rounds, small blue bicones, and a gorgeous jonquil crystal pendant that I attached to the Muse with sterling silver wire.

The delicate pearls and silver balls that came with the kit and some bali spacers, bali bead caps, and a lovely silver toggle clasp seemed to tie the piece together nicely!

I would like to thank Scarlet Larson from The Beader's Muse as well as ArtBeads and Rainbows of Light who sponsored the contest. It was an opportunity for all jewelry artists to stretch their creativity, use gorgeous materials, and take a chance at winning a chest filled with beautiful beading treasures!

Dancing in the Light can be purchased at USTrendy and at my Etsy Shop!

The Celtic Knot Sister Necklace

I've been thinking a lot about my sisters lately...my two sisters Pat and Jude...and the sisters we have lost to cancer Liz and Cathy. Maybe because we spent Memorial Day together...all of us in one state; having the ability to run down the road a bit and be at another whole part of the family. Also my sisters Liz and Cath's children were there...some of them now have children of their own and it was great to celebrate the lives of these two great women simply by being all together.

Additionally, my sister Pat is working on a wonderful project about sister loss and I have been helping her launch her website which will be up and running very soon. The project is awesome and stems from the fact that when she lost our first sister, she began looking for resources to help her work through the feelings of that horrendous loss and found that there were barely any and what was out there for help and guidance was scattered and fragmented. Hence, the SisterLoss Project was born and she has done an incredible job using a integrated approach. I'll let you know when the website is launched...it's going to help a lot of people. I am so proud of Pat.
These were the things I was thinking about when I created this necklace. The Celtic Knot is a symbol of the lifetime bond between sisters; no matter how complex the relationship, it is one of the purest forms of love around. The delicate sterling silver chain holds groupings of beads featuring malachite and swarovski crystals and tiny sterling silver stars.

So this necklace is inspired by Pat and by all my sisters...and dedicated to all sisters everywhere!
The Celtic Knot Sister Necklace can be purchased at my shops on ShopHandmade and UsTrendy and at my Etsy Shop.

By the way, today would have been my sister Liz and her husband's 36th wedding anniversary!

Use The Muse Contest

I am so excited...I entered the Use the Muse II contest and am anxiously awaiting my kit! The prizes are awesome...all my favorite things! The grand prize is a treasure chest filled with freshwater pearls, all kinds of swarovski products (pearls, crystals, pendants), seed beads in a rainbow of colors and different sizes, and a LillyPilly Pendant, as well as a vast array of hand-dyed silk ribbons...plus much more. In addition, the grand prize winner gets a $50 gift certificate to ArtBeads.com who is one of the sponsors of this contest(the other sponsor is Rainbows of Light). Talk about heaven! There are several different levels of prizes so that many people can be winners.

The primary reason I am entering is I think it may help me think out of the box and grow as a jewelry artist...but don't get me wrong, a chest full of beautiful beads would also be wonderful! Wish me luck!

Fun With Gold

So my nephews gave me some gold-filled wire that has been really fun to work with! Made a few rings today...using some great freshwater pearls from The Purple Door in Jamestown and a big fat amethyst quartz I had in my bead collection. I think I am going to try some wire wrapping of pendants next so stay tuned!

What is gold filled wire you may ask?

Pure gold is 24Kt. and is so soft that is it impossible to utilize it in wire wrap jewelry. Gold filled wire is created by taking a sheet of 14 kt. Gold and bonding it through extreme heat and pressure to a core of semi-precious metal (brass). This is a very sophisticated process and only a few mills in the world do it. This process is not GOLD PLATING. There is a very big difference. The end result is a 14kt. tube which is strong, durable, and resistant to tarnish because of its 14 kt. gold covering. There is 100 times more gold in 14 kt. Gold filled (rolled gold) than in gold plate. A 14kt. gold filled piece is usually considered a lifetime piece of jewelry.

A Wonderful Holiday

I went down to Rhode Island for a family reunion and birthday party for my sister Pat and for me! It was great! My sister Jude lives down there and I stayed with her.

Hooked up with the Hermit Designer who is working on some interesting designs I'll be able to show you later on this summer!

My sister Pat and I went to a great bead store in Jamestown called The Purple Door (formerly Deb's Beads)! I bought some beads for this design I have been carrying around in my head for the longest time that uses two different types of chain and stones that reflect white and blue and gray and resemble what it feels like when you look at the moon at night. Found some really great black-gray jasper ovals to capture that moon like quality and some smaller stones that tie into the theme nicely.

What a great shop! It carries both beads and beading accessories and beautifully handcrafted jewelry pieces. If you are in or around Jamestown this summer...you should definitely stop in!

Okay, here's a tiny peek of what this moon necklace is beginning to look like...I am still in the early stages of design but I am soooo excited to show you!

Memorial Day Stretches On!

I'd like to extend my memorial day sale until May 31st! I am offering free shipping on each item bought during this week! Stock up on those birthday, wedding, and grad gifts....or pick a gift for yourself!!!!

Happy Memorial Day!

Memorial Day, wow, that happened fast! In honor of this special holiday I am lowering my prices for Memorial Day! EVERYTHING IS ON SALE!!! Some items have already been discounted and I took 50% off that already low price...check it out at my Zur Designs Shop on Etsy!

So can I whine a little? Everything I've read and anyone I talked to who is trying to make a living in jewelry design says the same thing: YOU END UP SPENDING MOST OF YOUR TIME IN THE BUSINESS END OF IT ALL...sometimes the creating piece gets lost! So that's what's been happening to me lately. Plus I am trying to learn some new techniques in chain and wire and metal so consequently the inventory development has slowed down as I practice, practice, practice.

But be patient dear friends...as I try to be with myself...because the new product lines with chain and wire as I grow stronger with this art form...are truly going to be inspiring and will definitely be worth the wait!

Mother's Day Sale!!

So I decided that Mom deserves something special this year...I slashed some prices in my Etsy Shop so you should definitely take a peek! All my newer creations are 10% off and some of the already discounted items are now 50% off. Check it out here!

Welcome to Zur Designs Blog!

Hi Everyone!

My name is Deb and I am the owner of Zur Designs! Zur is what my best friend and I say for "yes" or "yup"...don't ask...it all makes sense in our wacky little world. It seemed the perfect name for my shop that sells handcrafted jewelry using beads, wire wrapping designs, and chain. Check out my Etsy shop or visit the Zur Designs website. There is always something new at Zur Designs!

I have always wanted to learn the art of handcrafted jewelry. I love all the different beads, particularly gemstones, and I am absolutely in love with Swarovski crystals! All that sparkle just truly makes me happy!

Lately, I have been concentrating on wire wrapping and working with chain; trying to hone my skills with those mediums...because they are so much fun! Here's a necklace I have been working on...it's not finished yet. I have ordered a hammered silver pendant to attach to it and I found a really neat hammered silver clasp at Jewelry Supply.

I have a few chain pieces for sale on Etsy and I am hoping this one will be up there soon. My one wish is the next pieces I do with chain--I want them to be a little bit wilder! So stay tuned because this could get interesting!