For the first ones that I made, I chose silver and copper wire and freshwater potato pearls in white and grey as well as stones such as agate, serpentine, and amazonite. Of course, other blue stones such as turquoise would give a Robin’s Egg like effect. Notice, the earrings use a tighter woven design while the pendants are woven looser with a more “birds’ nest” effect. I think both are lovely. For the pendants, they can hang on chains to match the wire metal used or leather or satin cords. The possiblilites are endless…and that is what makes even this trend fun to follow. The jewelry artist’s creativity can still come through.

Grey Freshwater Pearl Nesting Pendant

White Freshwater Pearl Nesting Pendant

Amazonite Nesting Earrings

Nesting Jewelry Collection

Vintage Bonwit Teller Jacket (front)

Okay, I have a confession to make. My favorite shopping place lately is not exactly a retail store per say. It is what is called a “thrift store”. Locally, we have two Goodwill locations that I frequent. This is the key to finding bargains and selection is to go often. I found out recently they now have an online shopping site too - www.shopgoodwill.com

I have recently scored some really unique clothing/accessories for myself. I even found a cool vintage leather and suede purse for my son’s girlfriend. She is into vintage fashion, especially the mod style of dress that was popular in the 60′s which I think this purse will fit in well with.

I found a great vintage jacket for me as well. It appears to be a wool and is fitted with three quarter length sleeves. It does not have a tag with materials or care instructions but it does have the original “Bonwit Teller”  label as well as an “Oscar Beverly Hills” label,  which I guess is the designer.   Bonwit Teller & Co. was a department store  in New York City founded by Paul Bonwit in 1895 at Sixth Avenue and 18th Street. In 1897 Edmund D. Teller was admitted to the partnership and the store moved to 23rd Street, East of Sixth Avenue. Bonwit specialized in high-end women’s apparel.  The store was relocated many times and ownership changed hands. Eventually, other locations were opened.  It eventually closed in 1990.

Another intersting tidbit;  artist Andy Warhol designed window displays for Bonwit Teller.

Bonwit Teller

Bonwit Teller ad from Vogue 1963

Vintage Bonwit Teller Jacket (back)

Garnets name originates from the Greek granatum, meaning “seed like”, as in the color of pomegranate seeds. It can be considered the garden gem for its profusion of earthy cinnamon, chrysanthemum gold, tangerine orange, saturated red, fertile green and yellow, and floral pink and purplish red colors.

Legend has it that Noah, builder of the Ark, used a garnet lantern to navigate through the dark rain of his 40 days and nights odyssey.

Garnet is found around the world in Africa, Madagascar, Australia, Brazil, Czech Republic, India, Russia, Korea, Italy, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and the United States.

Here a few examples of how I used garnet in my designs.

Faceted garnets, coin pearl, glass drop on sterling silver necklace

Peach coin pearls, faceted garnet on sterling silver earrings

Garnet and pearl choker to match the brides beautiful dress

Garnet drop on the back of choker

I did a little research on the song, the title in Cajun French being ” Lâches Pas La Patate” translated to mean “Don’t Drop the Potato”.

The song title and lyrics are not meant to be literal but a Cajun expression that translates to “don’t give up, or hang in there”.

In 1974, legendary Country and Cajun singer Jimmy C. Newman recorded an album for the small label La Louisianne, which included the first song in Cajun French to become a gold record, Lâches Pas La Patate . Largely ignored in most of the United States, the song was a hit in South Louisiana and French Canada, especially Quebec. Oh, a little more bit of trivia, the “C” stands for Cajun not his given middle name which was “Yves”.

The original lyrics are:

Hey! Lâches pas la patate mon neg Hey! Lâches pas la patate
Une chose qu’est claire, j’fais mon affaire Mais j’lâche pas la patate
J’vas au bal tous les samedis, pour escouer mes vieilles pattes
J’danse avec toutes les belles filles… Mais j’lâche pas la patate
J’fais tous les clubs que je peux faire ent’Lafayette et la ville plate
Oublies-moi pas des fois ça chauffe… Mais lâche pas la patate

Chu pas marié, j’ai pas personne pour m’tendre le fond d’culotte
Quand j’veux partir chu ”gone vieux j’tons” Mais j’lâche pas la patate
J’vas là tout seul la moitié du temps mais quand l’idée me frappe
J’appelle Marie la chère p’tite fille et j’lâche pas la patate
Hey! Lâches pas la patate mon neg Hey! Lâches pas la patate
Une chose qu’est claire, j’fait mon affaire Mais j’lâche pas la patate

Un soir au bal un tout p’tit bouge et un gros appris à s’battre
J’voulais que le petit gagne et j’criais ”Lâche pas la patate”
Le gros bougre m’a r’gardé et dit Espère que j’te rattrape
J’mé viré de bord… J’ai couru fort… J’ai lâché la patate

Hey! Lâches pas la patate mon neg Hey! Lâches pas la patate
Une chose qu’est claire, j’fais mon affaire Mais j’lâche pas la patate
Hey! Lâches pas la patate mon neg Hey! Lâches pas la patate
Une chose qu’est claire, qui fait mon affaire Mais j’lâche pas la patate

Also, there is a 1990 documentary film, titled “Cajun Country: Don’t Drop the Potato”.  Click on this link to learn more about it: http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/2021/Cajun-Country-Don-t-Drop-the-Potato/overview

What a wonderful reminder to “don’t give up” and “hang in there”!

The AMoA is located at 933 Main Street,  Alexandria, LA

This monthly market features local farmer’s produce, specialty foods and products, local food vendors, and, of course, original local art. Support your neighbors–and remember that one-of-a-kind works of art sold in the downtown Cultural Arts District are tax-free!  Enjoy children’s art activity booth, live local music, and more. While you’re here, be sure to visit our rotating art exhibits and AMoA’s Gift Shop. 

Admission to the museum is FREE during market hours.

 See photos of jewelry at : www.flick.com/photos/archipelagojewelry and on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Archipelago-Jewelry-by-Liz-Juneau/175396942516173

The English word ‘jade’ is derived from the Spanish term piedra de ijada or ‘loin stone’, from its reputed efficacy in curing ailments of the loins and kidneys. ‘Nephrite’ is derived from lapis nephriticus, the Latin version of the Spanish piedra de ijada.

Nephrite and Jadeite were used by people from the prehistoric for similar purposes. Both are about the same hardness as quartz, and they are exceptionally tough. They are beautifully coloured and can be delicately shaped. Thus it was not until the 19th century that a French mineralogist determined that “jade” was in fact two different materials.

 Nephrite can be found in a creamy white form as well as in a variety of green colors, whereas jadeite shows more color variations, including blue, lavender-mauve, pink, and emerald-green colours. Of the two, Jadeite is extremely rare and thus more valuable.

Jade is said to be a symbol of purity and serenity. Also, it is believed to radiate divine unconditional love and balance emotions.

I can’t verify these stones are jade, since they were salvaged from vintage jewelry parts, but I can attest to their beauty. The stones are smooth and a vivid green color.

Corset Necklace

Bohemian Rhapsody Necklace

Green Goddess Earrings

Ultimate Green Goddess Earrings

Autumn Necklace and Earring Set

I was thinking this week, the week of Thanksgiving, about gratitude. Personally, I have so many things to be grateful for but what about what I am grateful for in creating jewelry.

So here is a list of some of the things I am grateful for in my creative life.

1. When I finally find a match for the focal bead that I purchased 2-3 years ago because I loved it but could never find other beads that did it justice.

2. When I cut just the right about of wire when I am wire wrapping beads…not too short nor too long…either way it is wasting wire because if too short, I have to repeat the process, too long and I am not able to use the smaller remaining piece. Measure twice…cut once.

3. When the creative juices are flowing and I can make one design after another and am thrilled with the results.

4. Going to the bead store or bead trunk show or antique market or anywhere where beads are sold and getting quality, unique beads at a fair price.

5. Trying a new technique and not being totally frustrated because it does not turn out as I would like (aka perfect). Most of jewelry making is practice, practice, practice until you perfect that technique.

6. Good lighting! Especially natural light coming in from a window.

7. Wearing a  new jewelry design and not only having others notice and compliment me on it but also having someone purchase it right off my neck, ears, arm, etc.

8. The ability to use beads, wire, leather, ribbon, vintage jewelry parts, buttons, glass, solder, etc., etc. to create a one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry.

9. Having the person that I love support me and assist with any arts/craft show I may be doing. It takes a lot of work before, during, and after to do those shows.

10. All of the wonderful people that I have met through my years of jewelry designing and selling, whether fellow artists or customers, that I would not have met otherwise were it not for this endeavor.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Handcrafted jewelry is a gift that recognizes the recipient as being unique.  Each one of my designs is made with an eye for detail and one-of-a-kind quality.  It is a gift that retains its attractiveness for a long time because it is not just the current trend.  When choosing a gift of jewelry, keep in mind the recipients personality, style, skin and eye coloring.

Some of my jewelry designs are very casual, others are very sophisticated with a vintage edge. And don’t think it is just for the women on your list, I have some new designs for men as well.

Also, wrapping shows that you cared enough about person to take care of the presentation details. I do all of that for you. Each one of my jewelry designs is packaged in a lovely turquoise blue satin bag and inserted into a fun package – a white take-out box with handle and topped off with a turquoise blue ribbon.

Archipelago Jewelry Gift Packaging

And last but not least, don’t forget yourself. If handcrafted jewelry is the gift you would like to receive, it is perfectly acceptable to drop hints to a gift giver that would be so grateful to know what you really want this year.

To view jewelry designs:  www.flickr.com/photos/archipelagojewelry

By the way, a fact from Wikipedia:  butterflies in their adult stage can live from a week to nearly a year depending on the species.

Butterfly Wing Necklace

Collection of Butterfly Wings on Vintage Paper Necklaces

Collection of Three Butterfly Wing Pendants

Beautiful Orange Butterfly

Liz in the Butterfly Garden

Audrey Hepburn was born  Audrey Kathleen Ruston in Brussels, Belgium.

Some of her most famous movies were Roman Holiday, Sabrina, My Fair Lady, Charade, The Nun’s Story, War and Peace, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Funny Face, and my favorite Wait Until Dark.

During the last  dozen years of her life she worked as a special goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF).

I decided to pay homage to one of her most recognizable characters, Holly Golightly, from the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s,  I took inspiration from one of the movie’s classic scenes in which Holly pulls up in a taxi in New York City and is drinking coffee and eating a danish in front of the window at Tiffany’s.

Some additional facts on Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961). The movie is based on a novella writen by Truman Capote. It has been widely reported that Mr. Capote wanted Marilyn Monroe  to play Holly Golightly. It was directed by Blake Edwards.  The memorable song in the film, Moon River, was composed by Henry Mancini. It was co-written with lyrisist Johnny Mercer.  The song has been recorded over 500 times and has sold over a million copies of sheet music.

Some of the other actors in the movie were George Peppard, Mickey Rooney, Patricia Neal, Martin Balsam, and Buddy Ebsen.

Liz as Holly Golightly

The black dress, the sunglasses, the pearls, the updo...unfortunately, no Tiffany's window!