Sterling Silver Necklace with Elongated Swarovski Faceted Pendant

New item in my Etsy shop!

This beautiful sterling silver necklace began with a large faceted elongated Swarovski AB crystal that sparkles all the colors of a rainbow. It was wire wrapped in sterling silver and enhanced by a handmade charm a creamy swarovski pearl, a sterling silver star, and a champagne swarovski bicone joined together with a rhinestone head pin! A 16" sterling silver twisted rope chain with a lobster claw clasp ties the piece together. It's a simple but elegant necklace that will be a favorite for years to come!

Giving this necklace as a gift? It will arrive prettily wrapped on your doorstep. And remember, there is always FREE SHIPPING at Zur Designs!

This would make a wonderful necklace for a special member of your wedding party...or even for the bride

It's old world elegance with a modern flair!

Photographs by Don Malumphy Photography

Summertime at Zur Designs!

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

New Listing--Green Apple Blossom Sterling Silver Wire Wrapped Necklace

This necklace began with a beautiful apple green faceted czech glass teardrop, wire wrapped in sterling silver and adorned with a colorful array of swarovski crystal, dancing above. The 17 1/2 inch chain is made of delicate vintage sterling silver tied together with a vintage circle clasp. The end result is a beautiful necklace with a lot of sparkle! A wonderful piece to celebrate the coming of spring! It also makes a great gift for a bride or bridesmaid!

You can purchase Green Apple Blossom in my Etsy Shop!

Celebrate with Green Apple Blossom!

Endearing Sterling Sliver Necklace by Zur Designs

When I think of the word "endearing" I think of that sweet feeling I get inside my heart when someone does or says something charming, sweet, and adorable.  Or if someone expresses a thought in a brand new way--usually from a very brilliant mind!

This 16" sterling silver necklace with the beautiful and sparkling light rose swarovski briolette crystal (wire wrapped) and sterling silver heart charm is very endearing. It's simple. It's elegant. It will be a favorite piece in anyone's accessory collection all year long.

Giving this as a gift? "Endearing" will arrive at your door beautifully gift wrapped and ready for giving.

Is there someone on your list that gives you that sweet endearing feeling?

You can purchase "Endearing" at my Etsy Shop! 

Love Squared by Zur Designs

I once had a friend say to me that he didn't like when people said, "I love you," and expected it in return. He said the reason it bothered him was that it made it too commonplace a phrase, like "see you later!' and wasn't a strong enough expression for what being in love really felt like. Yet he didn't feel comfortable replying with something a bit closer to his feelings such as "you are part of my own skin". It was as if what he felt was beyond love...and saying "I love you" simply wasn't enough.

So it got me thinking about a love like that...it was self-assured, confident, and impenetrable and I started to wonder what a design would look like that would capture that feeling of love. I realized that it would definitely glow.

So I used my shiniest crystal, a round crystal ball that reminds me of a disco ball, and even used my shiniest chain, a diamond cut sterling silver, that glittered in the light. I added shiny charms, one of them a bright red sterling silver heart and some red and clear swarovski crystals dangling from the side.

And I called it "Love Squared". Love Squared is 19" end to end and can be purchased in my Etsy Shop.

Love Squared...when a simple "I Love You" isn't quite enough!!

Clear Blue Sky Sterling Silver Wire Wrapped Cluster Earrings

These earrings start with beautiful blue czech glass faceted teardrops wire wrapped in sterling silver wire, with colorful swarovski crystals dancing above. The colors remind me of the ever changing landscape here in New England,always different, always bright and beautiful against a clear blue sky. The earrings dangle 1 3/4 inches from the ear.

Giving these earrings as a gift? They will arrive at your door beautifully packaged and ready for giving. And as always, there is FREE SHIPPING at Zur Designs!!

Experience Clear Blue Sky!!  You can purchase these earrings at my Etsy Shop!

Zur Designs--The Ring Collection

Zur Designs on Etsy

Handmade Harbor Shining Hearts--A Treasury by Jewelry by NaLa!!

Handmade Harbor Shining Hearts

A Treasury 

by

Jewelrybynala

Join the artists with heart on Handmade Harbor!!

Thank you for including my earrings in this stunning treasury!! :)

Looking For Earrings?!

The Earring Collection by Zur Designs

Take a Peek!

I Like The Clapping At The End! :)

Zur Designs on Etsy

Chain, Chain, Chain

So I recently went to visit my family in Rhode Island.  My sister Pat rents a beach house and family from all around visits there plus my sister Jude and her family live right down the road!  It's an awesome opportunity to all get together.  NEVER SAW SUN ONCE!!  But it didn't matter because we gathered to do puzzles and play games and have great meals and I got to use my favorite jewelry bench to do some metal work!

While I was there, one of my family members gave me some of my great aunt's sterling silver links and chain parts.  These were not ordinary silver, my great aunt worked in a jewelry warehouse in Providence, Rhode Island for over 45 years.  Rhode Island has a rich history with the jewelry trade and has long been considered the jewelry capital of the world.  They earned this title primarily due to the fact that many of the Italians came over to this country and brought with them the Italian machines that were always noted for producing high quality materials that led to the superior quality of their finished work.  That's the silver I was given in a big old brown box!!

So here's some of the things I've been making with these wonderful silver components!

Vintage Sterling Silver Chain Necklace With Glass Accents

Vintage Sterling Silver Chain Bracelet With Glass Accents

Sterling Silver Rope Earrings

The Basic Wardrobe Vintage Sterling Silver 42 Inch Chain

That's it for now...but I'll keep you posted as I make more designs with this wonder box of jewelry components!!

A Kaboodle Style Board of Some of the Designs in My Etsy Shop!

 

Some New... by zurdesigns

Some New Listings From Zur Designs

Here are some of the things I've been working on over the past few of weeks!


Delicate Vintage Style Sweetheart Locket

I just fell in love with this vintage heart locket and I imagine it holding two old sepia pictures! I adorned it with accent flowers in lucite, swarovski crystals, pearls, and czech glass and a beautiful swarovski crystal teardrop that gives it endless sparkle. It is mounted 18" antiqued brass O shaped cross chain with an antique tibet bronze swirl hook toggle clasp! So pretty, so delicate, and a bit of the old world to enhance your outfit!!

Bountiful Harvest EarringsThese vanilla czech glass drops surrounded by colorful bicone swarovski crystals reminds me of a wonderful harvest, just picked from the garden. Antiqued bronze headpins hold the vanilla drop and dancing crystals in place and handmade bronze ear wires tie everything together. These earring dangle approximately 1 1/4 inch from the ear.

Fields of Lavender Earrings

I absolutely love these Czech Amethyst Luster Faceted 10x13mm Teardrops and I decorated them with assorted colors of swarovski crystal bicones all wire wrapped so that they dance above the amethyst drops. I tied it all together with handmade silver ear wires and Fields of Lavender Earrings were born! They dangle about 1 1/4 inches from the ear.

Czech Glass Ruby Azuro Sterling Silver Wire Wrapped Ring
Wow these Czech Glass 10mm Ruby Azuro Faceted Rounds are just so brilliant! The rich ruby color and then shades of blue and purple that just sparkle in the light! I wire wrapped this in sterling silver wire and the results are truly breathtaking when you slip this ring on your finger!! I know this because I made one for myself!! The ring shown is a size 7 but I also have one available in sizes 8 and 9...or I can customize a size just for you!

I Hold You In My Heart Vintage Style Necklace

Whenever I lose someone I always say that I hold them in my heart forever. This thought came to mind as I was creating this necklace. I found this wonderful large vintage puffy heart embossed with a lovely pattern and painted a bright orange and green. I added a filigree wire wrapped in flowers, some lucite and pearl accents, and a lovely czech glass flower and hung it from an intricate 18" antiqued brass rope chain. The piece is tied together with an antique tibet bronze swirl hook toggle clasp!

The heart pendant itself is large, approximately three inches so it makes a wonderful statement and will be a favored accessory!

Azurite Malachite Antiqued Bronze Wire Wrapped Ring

I love this azurite malachite stone! The vividness of both blue and green and the oval shape make it a perfect stone to generously wrap in antiqued bronze wire.The result is a beautiful little ring you'll be happy to wear every day that combines a contemporary style and a vintage flair! The ring is a size 7 but I can customize a size that's just right for you!

New Orleans Blues Necklace

The focal point of this 24 inch necklace is the extra large faceted crystal in a deep rich color blue. Add to that an ornate elongated bead cap, an antiqued bronze filigree decorated with vintage lucite flower and swarovski crystal accents, and a large vintage key. The piece is tied together with a wonderful antique brass chain and held together with a vintage style swirly toggle clasp.  I was listening to bluesy, jazzy New Orleans style sax music while creating this necklace reminding me of the rich and vibrate history of that city that not even nature can take down!

Hand Stamped Vintage Style Medallions

Well, I got a hand stamping kit for my birthday and am having so much fun with it! These brass oval tags can be stamped with inspirational messages, names,or personalized in any way. Each tag is surrounded by a cluster of bright flowers and beads and hung on an antiqued brass 16 inch chain. They look good by themselves or layered with other necklaces.
The ones I have in stock right now are:
JOY--surrounded by pink flowers; sure to bring joy to you every day
LOVE--featured swarovski crystals and pearls; make someone you love really happy...even if it's yourself!
SEEK--a great inspirational message for everyone surrounded by a garden of flowers in orange and turquoise
MEH--hehe I love this word...and sometimes it just says it all; features a black webbed jasper rondelle and pretty green flowers.  The size of the tag accommodates three to four letter words best. Just convo me on what you want your charm to say and preferred color palette.

Yellow Flower Vintage Style Wire Wrapped Ring
This ring began with a beautiful yellow african jade stone, generously wire wrapped in antiqued bronze wire, and topped with a pretty yellow flower with a creamy swarovski pearl nestled inside. The ring is a size 7 but I can customize the size just for you!

If you are giving any of these designs as gifts, they will arrive on your doorstep beautifully packaged and ready for giving!  And remember, there is always FREE SHIPPING at Zur Designs!

Crystal Ball Sterling Silver Wire Wrapped Ring

Lately I have been wishing for a crystal ball.  Mainly because I am standing on the edge of change and it'd be nice to look into a crystal ball to see my future self and make sure I landed okay and made the right decisions.  


I have always had this habit when life is about to change, to envision myself on the other side of the change.  Like when I bought my house, I kept picturing myself on the inside of the house, looking into my sweet little pink kitchen.  And no matter how bad the setback and how remotely possible it seemed that I would ever get inside, I kept that vision in my head and it allowed me to do all the hard things necessary to get to the other side.


So I guess that's what I have to do as I come to a point in my life that I am facing change...not really bad change; it's simply a matter of orchestrating a new chapter.  And I've begun to picture what this new chapter will look like, feel like, what parts of my present I'll carry with me into this new chapter and what I will need to leave behind.  That picture is growing stronger and will allow me to do the list of very hard things that will get me to the other side...still wish I had a crystal ball...so I made this Crystal Ball Sterling Silver Wire Wrapped Ring: 

This gorgeous handmade glass bead in the most vivid shade of dark blue, surrounded by silver laced bead caps and all wrapped together in sterling silver wire is like having your own crystal ball, right on your finger.

This ring is size 81/2 and will look good on one of your larger fingers for a really bold statement. I can custom design the size to make it just right for you!


Stop by my Etsy Shop and see this ring and some other lovely things!


When I looked into this crystal ball...I saw the ocean!  Hmmm...that's very interesting! :)

Faith

Lately I've been thinking about the word Faith , in terms of the belief in something so strongly in the absence of evidence or even in the presence of evidence to the contrary.  


Faith is like an internal beacon of light, always constant, so that when times are very challenging, as they are for many of us, you can carry on with your journey without faltering.

Some of life's most magical moments are when you dare to take a leap of faith!

If Faith were a design, it could look like this. This coated metal birdcage with flowers, swarovski crystals, a swarovski charm, ribbon and an 18" sterling silver chain.  When I was creating this design, I was thinking of one of my favorite quotes:

"When you come to the end of all the light you know, and it's time to step into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing that one of two things shall happen: Either you will be given something solid to stand on or you will be taught to fly.""

Author: Edward Teller

You can purchase Faith in my Etsy Shop.  Giving Faith as a gift? It will arrive beautifully packaged and ready for giving. And remember, there is always FREE SHIPPING at Zur Designs!!

Jonquils of Spring Sterling Silver and Bead Neclace

I made this 18" sterling silver chain and bead necklace as a celebration of spring! 


The jonquil crystal wire wrapped briolette, yellow flower, and ornate and flowered sterling silver charm combine to form a focal point for this necklace that just brightens your day. 


Swarovski jonquil crystals and swarovski pearls line the chain and the piece is held together by an antique silver clasp.

Here in the Berkshires Mountains in Western Massachusetts, we await the arrival of spring with great anticipation after the long and hard winter. Sometimes the crocus come out too early and greeted with a surprise winter storm...but when the jonquils come, we can pretty much believe that warm weather and sunshine are here to stay!

You can purchase this necklace at my Etsy Shop!  Giving Jonquils of Spring as a gift? It will arrive beautifully wrapped and ready for giving.  And remember, there is always FREE SHIPPING at Zur Designs!

Happy Spring!

Learning Something New!!

So a friend of mine is helping me learn some metal work techniques.  He has a full bench with all the tools needed to do excellent metal work.  I only have...erm...a hammer and jeweler saw so far so this is like a really great opportunity!!

I love the process of metal work!  Taking a piece from a hard lump of silver and making it into something so beautiful! So far I've made some simple sterling silver bands as presents for my nieces and this last visit, I took a sterling silver spoon from 1913 and transformed it into this magical ring!!  So, do you want to see it?

 This ring is available at my Etsy Shop; it's a size six but can be sized up or down.  If you're interested in a custom order, perhaps you have an old sterling silver spoon that you'd like to make into a special keepsake, you can convo me through Etsy.

The Handmade Artists Forum Etsy Team Sale!!

I have been participating in the Handmade Artists Forum Etsy Team Sale!!  There are so many wonderful artists involved in this sale offering wonderful discounts on their handmade items!!


You can find out more about the sale and participating members here!


As for Zur Designs...I am offering 10% off all items in my shop and as always there is FREE SHIPPING!!  If you are purchasing for a gift for someone special, each purchase will be beautifully gift wrapped and ready for giving!


Take a look at my etsy shop for yourself!  The 10% discount will be refunded through PayPal upon purchase!  The sale goes through Monday, March 15th!!  There's still plenty of time to reap the savings!!

Etsy Buy Handmade ZurDesigns

My Mother's Garden

So this year, when the anniversary of my mother's passing came along, I wrote a poem and sent it to my two remaining sisters in a lovely e- card. It's a poem I'd been carrying around in my head for a very long time. After sending the e-card, I felt compelled to go to my local bead store and find some elements that would transform this poem and my own thoughts into a design.

I found a lovely swarovski pendant that looked like a garden with tiny stones embedded into the pendant that made the whole thing sparkle. Couldn't pinpoint the right elements for the flowers until a package arrived from my dear friend at Ambient Girl Supplies that contained all these wonderfully bright colored swarovski crystals! I put a bunch of these crystals on headpins and scattered six of them around the pendant; each represents one of my mother's children--six in all. I even used some more guy colors to represent my late brother Rick! Then I lined the chain with some more crystals and a couple of swarovski pearls, put a little sterling silver butterfly charm on one side of the chain and a little fabric flower on the other side.

Making this necklace was not only a wonderful experience because it paid tribute to my wonderful mom but it also felt like I was creating a flower garden in the middle of a snowstorm!!

So here's the poem I wrote to my sisters:

My Mother's Garden

What happened to the flowers in my mother's garden?

Seeds so lovingly planted so many years ago...

Some became parents, others grandparents and

Teachers, leaders, and an inspiration to others.

Some moved on to join her and sit quietly by her side.

All have done their part in keeping her garden growing

By weaving the stories and passing them on to all those

She left behind.

Because of this work she is alive in all of our hearts...

Forever!

This poem and this design is dedicated to you Mom! You truly do live on in the hearts of all who love you!

My Mother's Garden can be purchased in my Etsy Shop. For a breath of spring or to celebrate mothers everywhere!

Endearing

When I think of the word "endearing" I think of that sweet feeling I get inside my heart when someone does or says something charming, sweet, and adorable. Or if someone expresses a thought in a brand new way--usually from a very brilliant mind!

This 16" sterling silver necklace with the beautiful and sparkling light rose swarovski briolette crystal (wire wrapped) and sterling silver heart charm is very endearing. It's simple. It's elegant. It will be a favorite piece in anyone's accessory collection all year long.

Giving this as a gift? "Endearing" will arrive at your door beautifully gift wrapped and ready for giving.

Remember, all sterling silver chain necklaces are 20% off through February 10th as a way of helping out all those who want to perfect gift for your special valentine! And as always, there is FREE SHIPPING at Zur Designs!

You can purchase "Endearing" at my Etsy Shop! Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day Gift Guide for Guys

Okay, this is for all you guys out there who no matter how romantic you are in your heart, are still shopping frantically at the mall on Valentine's evening on your way to your girl's house.

For those guys who are going to give the big gift...the one girls dream about their whole lives...that big fat diamond engagement ring...bravo! Best of luck to you and your soon-to-be fiance! This guide is not for you.

This is for the others out there who want to find the perfect gift for their special Valentine but may need a little help along the way.

Well, relax, Zur Designs has got you covered! Beginning midnight EST February 7th, and ending at one minute before midnight on February 10th EST, I am offering 20% off all my sterling silver chain necklaces. Refunds will be handled through your PayPal account. Zur Designs offers FREE SHIPPING on all items.

However, if you are later than the tenth, I will still honor the Valentine's Day pricing but we'll have to talk about some extra fees for shipping to get it to you in time for the special day!

Remember, Valentine's Day is on a Sunday this year so that turns it into Valentine Weekend and you better be prepared starting Friday night!

Your Valentine's Day gift will come beautifully wrapped and ready for giving so I've taken care of that. All you need to do is get the card!

Never purchased from Etsy before? Click here for instructions that will walk you through the sale!

So let's begin with "Forever and Always"!

This is a simple yet elegant necklace with a ernite colored swarovski crystal briolette wrapped in sterling silver wire and the lovely Celtic knot charm that symbolizes the timeless nature of the human spirit, of love, and of life itself. The 18 inch sterling silver chain is a diamond cut that makes the necklace sparkle! And guys listen up, here's what you say: Forever and Always isn't just a gift...it's a promise! I'll write that on a little piece of paper and include it in the package if you'd like!

Okay, for all those of you that just got really scared because you are not quite there in your relationship...STAND DOWN...here's another idea.

"Love Squared"--This 19" sterling silver necklace is the perfect way to express how you feel about your Valentine. It represents a love that is confident, strong, and impenetrable...the kind of love that glows.

And with a shiny crystal ball, sterling silver diamond cut chain, lovely charms including a sterling silver and red heart, and swarovski crystals, this necklace really does glow!


Need another idea? How about "Precious"?
The word precious is defined in the dictionary as something or someone who is highly esteemed, valuable, cherished, dear, or beloved. I love this word because it seems the perfect fit for how I feel about those I love. If that feeling of precious were to be translated into a design, it would look like this necklace. The brilliant Swarovski heart pendant, surrounded by chains of pearls and crystals hanging upon a 19" sterling silver diamond cut rolo chain adorned with pearls. A tiny heart charm and a delicate flower accent the chain. The design is rounded out by a sterling silver bali bail and antique toggle clasp. Give this beautiful necklace to someone in your life that is precious to you!

Not quite right? Then try "Key to My Heart"!
This 16" elegant little necklace sends a pure and simple message! I used one of my shiny round crystals (which I call disco balls), some delicate bead caps, a rose swarovski crystal and a pretty key charm. The pendant is mounted on sterling silver diamond cut chain and finished off with an antique style toggle clasp. Give this sweet necklace to someone who out of all the people in the world holds the key to your heart!

Does your girl have the spirit of a flower child? Then "Hippie Chick In Love" is the perfect gift for her!!

This 21" necklace came together in my mind as soon as I walked into the bead store. Saw the lovely crystals, glass hearts, peace sign charm, and great oxidized silver chain and held them in my hands and said, "hmmmm...hippie chick in love". Great idea for your special little hippie chick!!

Here's a sweet little necklace called "Little Lavender Coquette". This sterling silver necklace with the swarovski tanzanite wrapped briolette and the sterling silver/purple fan charm just reminds me of one of those delicate women in the French courts of long ago. Matching tanzanite swarovski crystals and delicate creamy pearls round out the design. This necklace measures 24" from end to end and is held together by an antique style sterling silver toggle clasp.

And for some shine and sparkle don't forget to check out "Fire Tree". This is an awesome little necklace that will make your girl's eyes light right up!! The baroque swarovski pendant that is the focal piece of this necklace reminds me of a tree and the facets within the crystal pick a vast array of colors that looks like when the sunset peeks between the branches of a tree igniting it with flames of color...hence the name Fire Tree! Added to this brilliant pendant is a swarovski teardrop crystal AB pendant that just enhances the sparkle and color of the design. A simple sterling silver bail holds the baroque pendant in place and both crystals are mounted on a sterling silver chain that measures 16" The design is tied together with a sterling silver antique style toggle clasp. Did I lose you in the above description? Okay, that description = very, very shiny!!

And then there's the necklace I call "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 LillyPilly pendant made of soft shell and decorated in beautiful blues and yellows.The swarovski crystals represent the light including some beautiful jonquil rounds, small blue and grey bicones, and a gorgeous jonquil crystal pendant that I attached to the pendant with sterling silver wire.The delicate pearls and silver balls,bali spacers, bali bead caps, and a lovely silver toggle clasp seemed to tie the piece together nicely!

Okay guys, I think you have plenty of ideas here to make this Valentine's Day one that both you and your girl will always remember! Good luck!

Psssst! Ladies! Leave this blog post open on your computer...or on his!!

Happy Valentine's Day!! ❤