The Guilded Lynx

Nestled in Fairfield County, Connecticut, can be found a hidden gem…The Guilded Lynx. This fine jewelry gallery, and jewelry making school is located in the lovely town of Ridgefield. Owned by Lessley Burke, renowned enamelist and goldsmith, from whom I learned wire wrapping many years ago at The Brookfield Craft Center, The Guilded Lynx offers benches for rental, amazing classes and workshops for all levels, and exquisite handcrafted jewelry for sale.

Last weekend, I was fortunate enough to participate in a jewelry wax carving workshop taught by talented jewelry artist Melissa Russell. A gifted instructor, Melissa led the group through the process of designing, and carving a design into wax, for casting. She made what seemed intimidating at first, fun and achievable. I designed a simple floral component in the two day class, and here are some photos:

My wax model, a floral design.

Close up.

Closer up.

Artist and instructor, Melissa Russell.

Jewelry benches, available for rental.

The Guilded Lynx 458 Main St. Ridgefield, CT. (203)431-2400, info@guildedlynx.com

Christmas in April! A Goody Bag from Nina Designs

Nothing makes me feel like a kid in a candy store more than playing with beads and jewelry components. The beautiful colors, shapes…the possibilities…I get giddy just thinking about it!!  So when one of my favorite sources of jewelry components, Nina Designs, sent me a goody bag full of treasures, I nearly lost my mind!! The wheels started spinning in my head immediately!

Here is what I received:

Deer Hide Leather Cord in Sage http://www.ninadesigns.com/bali_bead_shop/jewelry_search/any/most_relevant/40/1?query=ul709

Natural Bronze Small Circles

http://www.ninadesigns.com/bali_bead_shop/jewelry_search/any/most_relevant/40/1?query=vns2366

Natural Bronze Ear Hooks

http://www.ninadesigns.com/bali_bead_shop/jewelry_search/any/most_relevant/40/1?query=vnt1102

Natural Bronze Branch Toggle Clasp

http://www.ninadesigns.com/bali_bead_shop/jewelry_search/any/most_relevant/40/1?query=vnac833

Natural Bronze Feather Charms

http://www.ninadesigns.com/bali_bead_shop/jewelry_search/any/most_relevant/40/1?query=vna845

Small Natural Bronze Lotus Petal Charms

http://www.ninadesigns.com/bali_bead_shop/jewelry_search/any/most_relevant/40/1?query=vna559

Natural Bronze Bighorn Sheep’s Head Pendant

http://www.ninadesigns.com/bali_bead_shop/jewelry_search/any/most_relevant/40/1?query=vna1022

What a treat!!  I could have spent weeks coming up with ideas, but I was anxious to create!  Here’s what I made…recognize anything?

I made these lovely earrings by adding beautiful fuschia faceted rondelle beads to the Nina Designs earwires, circles and lotus petal charms!!

I made these lovely earrings using Nina Designs fabulous feather charms…

Lastly, I made this awesome bracelet using the Nina Design small bronze circles, the Sage deer hide leather cord, the sheep’s head pendant, and the branch toggle clasp!

Thank you so much, Nina Designs, for such a treat!!

The materials above were provided as part of the Nina Designs blogging program. The author of this blog has not received any payment from above-mentioned company. The post above represents only personal opinion of the blog author. 

Earth Day 2013 Celebrity Gifting!

Earth Day is on April 22, and a reminder to do everything in our power to save our planet from the scourge of pollution, global warming, and other threats. I am a huge fan of recycling and repurposing, and so when I was given the opportunity to participate in The Artisan Group’s Earth Day Gift bag, I jumped at it!!

Eco-friendly celebrities such as Hayden Panettiere, Ginnifer Goodwin, Edward Norton, Adrian Grenier, Kate Bosworth, Pink, Leonardo DiCaprio, Rachel McAdams, Emily VanCamp, Woody Harrelson, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Daryl Hannah, Malin Ackerman, Ted Danson, Orlando Bloom, Jake Gyllenhaal, Josh Hartnett, Sting, Barbra Streisand, Alicia Silverstone, Courtney Cox, Cameron Diaz, Sheryl Crow, Mark Ruffalo, and Natalie Portman  will be the recipients of a bag full of “green” gifts, including mine! This year I am including my “India Cuff Bracelet”, made of repurposed silk Sari fabric.

Even though these cuffs are labor intensive, I love the fact that I am recycling fabrics that would otherwise have not been used!

Today, I’m rocking my Earth Day cuff bracelet myself!!