Artist Spotlight: Part Ninety-Three

This time I'd like you to meet Alix Browning of The Alchemists Vessel.

Her jewelry has a style that just really draws me. partly because she does chainmaille, and we know I just love chainmaille.

This wonderful artist lives in Boise, Idaho, and is a certified jewelry designer.

Bent on helping and promoting other artisans, she's also the owner and operator of Little Shop of Artists, a retail venue for local artists in Boise.

To see more of the wonderful, check out her Handmade Artists' Shop, her Etsy Shop, her Facebook page, or her Pinterest.

Artist Spotlight: Part Ninety-Two

You've met this South Carolina geologist-lapidary-jeweler here before, John Rasmussen, who together with his wife Deboarah Lee creates the wonderful pieces you'll find at Rasmussen Gems & Jewelry, so I'll get straight to the good stuff...

And to learn more about John and Deborah, check out the blog, of course.

Artist Spotlight: Part Seventy-Four

Did I ever mention how completely obsessed I am with chainmaille?  I am, whether it's silver, copper, or pretty much any other metal, with or without stones, in just about any shape.  Well, the artist I've got for you this time is one heck of a designer and creator of chainmaille pieces, Andrew of Chainmaille by MBOI.

Just look at these.  Just look and marvel!

And as one of the driving forces between the Handmade Artists Forum and Handmade Artists Shop, Andrew is a true supporter of handmade.  In fact, he seeks to encourage others, and has for sale in his shop a tutorial for this cool Byzantine weave.

By the way, he and his wife Kimberly are generally just awesome people.  I know, 'cause they traipsed all the way up to north Jersey to see me in a show and I got to hang out with them.  Definitely check him out!

Artist Spotlight: Part Seventy

An even 70!  Well, for the 70th artist I'm featuring, I've got someone you've met before here, John Rasmussen of Rasmussen Gems & Jewelry.  The quality of gems in this shop is breathtaking.  Just take a look at this incredible topaz.

Or this beautiful sapphire.  My favorite color is blue, so I'm kind of obsessed with these.

He cuts and polishes the stones, too, and turns them into beautiful pendants, like this wonderful obsidian.

Or this terrific tourmalated quartz.

The colors in that quartz are terrific too.  Grey and yellow is such an "in" color combo right now.

The settings he does for his more intricate jewelry are incredible and unique.  Much of it is set in sterling and fine silver, like this labradorite.

And this amethyst.

Or this quartz & citrine piece, or the amazing Padaradscha sapphire in the other one.

His silver work is even beautiful without stones, like this Jewish star forged from a single sheet of sterling.

Then again, he doesn't need silver to make beautiful jewelry either.  I'm in love with his copper pieces, like this amethyst and copper bracelet.

Or these forged copper pieces sans stones.

And let's not forget his wife, Debora Lee, who adds her beading talent to the wares of the shop.

For more information, be sure to follow the blog.

Artist Spotlight: Part Fifty-Nine

I'll warn you now, this is going to be a picture-heavy post.  You'll see why, though.  There's just so much I want to show you!  And all of it was made by Collette of Collette's Boutique.

Collette says that she began making jewelry in 2004, when losing her job caused her to have a lot of free time.  She started with beading, then took a few wire working and metalsmith classes to learn basics.  Most of her knowledge, though, is self-taught.  In my opinion, she must be one hell of a teacher, because her jewelry is just amazing.  Clean, classy, classic, and just plain exquisite.  Prolific, too, as illustrated by the nearly 200 items in her shop, mostly in sterling silver, copper, and various stones, though she says that her toddler takes up most of her time now.

OK, I'll stop telling and start showing, since her pieces really speak for themselves.

Earrings.

(These you can win on her blog contest, which runs through October 22... except I'm hoping to win them for myself!)

Bracelets.

Necklaces.

And believe it or not, wire-wrapping tutorials, like this toggle closure and this pair of earrings!

For news about her jewelry, the veggies she grows in her garden in West Virginia, and even the occasional joke, be sure to follow her blog.