Anodyne Design » Jewelry

I Love the Mailman

Shannon — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 13:00:30 +0000

The mailman is one of my favorite people. I love getting packages and letters. Here are a few of the things he’s recently left at my doorstep:

“Everyone Needs A Little Metal In Their Life”: Timothy Adam Designs

Shannon — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 13:00:08 +0000

This simple camera pendant is the work of Timothy Adam Designs. Although the camera is my favorite, the shop is “full of ideas that were put in to metal,” not all of which are cameras. There are a variety of clocks, wine bottle holders, earring trees, and one fancy throne. I’m really in love with all of it… I don’t know a thing about metalwork, but something about these pieces really appeals to me… the way a simple design can so clearly evoke a complex object, the roughness of the metal that gives each piece a worn, loved feel, and the sense that these are meant to be used.

The best things to me are the ones that can be put to regular use. Although I love sparkly, fancy things plenty, it’s hard to enjoy something so special that it has to be put away until a “special occasion” arises. These pendants feel like something I could wear and enjoy everyday. Even that throne, I think, I could sit in as I please (and it might be enough of a “special occasion” for me to haul out that tiara I keep in a box).

Be sure to check out the shop and Timothy Adam Designs blog. Tell me, what are your Etsy/handmade favorites?

KeelyB: Art-Jewelry by Keely Beth

Shannon — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 13:00:24 +0000

Let me introduce you to one of my new favorite Etsy shops: KeelyB. Keely makes “art-jewelry,” which turns out to mean beautiful little wearable pieces of art. Many of the designs in her shop are trees, which I love, because they are such a wonderful symbol of life and strength. She also has lovely batik fabric pendants and other designs. Making it extra-special, all the artwork is designed and created by Keely herself. She then places it between glass. One thing I really like about Keely’s pedants is that they are not too large. They tend to be about the size of a quarter, so you can see the art clearly, but it’s not a huge necklace. If you are on a limited budget, Keely also has some adorable pins of her artwork. I have one, and it really looks great pinned on my tote bag.

Keely contacted me about my card wallets not too long ago and we ended up arranging my first Etsy trade. A couple of her absolutely gorgeous pendants arrived in my mailbox yesterday, and I just love them (they are the pendants pictured in this post, and Keely took the pictures). If you visit her shop, you’ll notice that it’s full of lovely pendants. What you won’t know, though, is that they are even prettier in person! I don’t know why that is–her photography is great–but I expected to receive beautiful pendants, and I was surprised at just how very gorgeous they actually were. That’s definitely the right kind of surprise to have when shopping online. Keely writes in her shop announcement:

It is my goal as a jewelry designer to create pieces that make you feel special and beautiful when you put them on. A lot of my pendants have special meaning, and every single one of them is made with love and care, and I hope that as a customer you can feel that in my work.

At these things, she is successful. The love and care definitely show in the two pendants she sent me. Chia over at House of Stirfry recently wrote about the love that goes into handmade items. I think it applies well here. Keely clearly puts herself into her pendants, to her customers’ benefit. I get a smile on my face every time I look at them.

Be sure to check out her shop. Her pendants are definitely well-priced for what you’ll get, and if you can bear to part with them, they’d make a lovely gift for someone special. You can also visit Keely at her blog, KeelyB’s Ramblings.

Edge of Summer

Shannon — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 07:16:00 +0000

This is a picture of my first Etsy purchase. It shipped on Monday, and I’m pretty excited about it arriving. I purchased it from Anti Genre, who has quite a few lovely things in her shop, several of which I’d like to purchase in the near future. This particular piece is called Edge of Summer Pendant (Vineland II), which I think is a perfectly fitting name. The pendant reminds me of being outside in the garden, and of watermelon. Mmm… nice things to be remembering!

Addendum 7/11/07: The pendant arrived at my mom’s house today. She was surprised, because she thought I was shopping for me. And I would happily own this pendant myself, but I’m more happy that it’s hers. I think she likes it. Who doesn’t like a surprise present in the mail?