Cupcake Charm Leather Bracelet

I understand I have a cupcake problem.

With the success of the She's the First Cupcake Necklaces and how much fun they are to make, I starting fooling around with sketches of simple cupcake bracelet designs. I know that many people already have a favorite necklace that they wear every day, so I thought a cupcake bracelet may be a perfect, logical next step for my cupcake jewelry line to take.

Cupcake Charm Leather Bracelet, $45

The result was this "sweet" handmade cupcake charm bracelet - elegant and simple, I strung a high quality black leather bracelet with a single antiqued silver-plated pewter cupcake bead. The cupcake charm is available in either pink or white frosting (aka, strawberry and vanilla), with"sprinkle" rhinestone colors including red, blue, light blue and green.

Each frosted cupcake charm measures 11x11mm in size, and the black leather bracelet with sterling silver clasp is available in the standard size of 7.5", and larger sizes are definitely available. I just thought that this would make a perfect gift for a little sister, daughter, or best friend!

White Cupcake Leather Charm Bracelet, $45

The high-quality black leather also makes a fantastic base for other large-hole bead charms, available at a fraction of the price - so grab yours today @ the Ash Tree Etsy shop! :)

Silver Bangle Charm Bracelets

Nautical Charm Bangle Bracelets, $25 each

Now that we're into the bitter cold January weather, it's the perfect time to remember summer. Remember how warm you were? Remember being out on your boat, walking around outside without a jacket on?

Simple Starfish Charm Bracelet, $25

Well I do. At least, I try to. With the newest line of silver charm bangles, I think summer can be worn every day. With Christmas over, there are still birthdays, anniversaries - (and don't forget Valentine's Day, which will be here before you know it!) all perfect times to give her a beautiful and elegant piece of jewelry - that's not only handmade by a local artist, but won't break the bank.

Bangle secures by squeezing the hook to secure over the ball.

 Because of their simplicity, they are the perfect piece for any outfit. You can see from the image above that you simply squeeze the bracelet together to secure or remove the hook over the silver ball to hold the bangle in place. Very sturdy, and nearly impossible to lose!

There are several nautical charm bracelets available: starfish, quahog shell, scallop shell, anchor, and sailboat charms. Visit the Ash Tree Designs online store, the 6 In the Shipyard retail location, or contact me to order your piece, or talk about other charm options that you may have your heart set on ;)

Silver and Gold Leaf Charm Bracelet

Look no further for the perfect accessory to holiday parties this year!

Gold and Silver Leaf Bracelet, $50

This bracelet was painstakingly handcrafted from delicate silver and gold leaf small metal charms on silver plate chain, which makes it an extremely elegant charm bracelet. Each leaf charm measure 6.5mm x 4mm each, and the volume of these brilliant, understated leaves make this a delicate but beautiful piece of fine handmade jewelry.

The bracelet size pictured here is approximately 7"-8" long and secured with a small toggle clasp. I also made a beautiful pair of delicate matching gold and silver leaf earrings, pictured left.

Makes a great gift, for yourself or for someone special :) Listing valid while supplies last, and I've limited it to only 3 editions this season, so hurry and order your Silver and Gold Leaf Charm Bracelet today! Special commission requests may be made post-2011.

Visit the Ash Tree Designs handmade jewelry shop on Etsy.

Breast Cancer Awareness Jewelry

Enameled Breast Cancer Ribbon Earrings, $18

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month - what have you done to support the cause? Maybe you've signed up for a walk, made a donation, or set aside time to volunteer. With the newest breast cancer awareness handmade jewelry collection now available from Ash Tree Designs, you can promote awareness every day. Pictured above are adorable pink enameled earrings on silver, measuring 15x9mm in size: the perfect size for subtle stud earrings!

Breast Cancer Charm Bracelet with Mussel Shell Charms

I created a series of awareness pieces that do their part, while looking fabulous. Above is one of my famous cluster charm bracelets, featuring silver ribbon charms in a sea of pink mussel shell links secured with a toggle clasp. Below, you can also see these same ribbon charms on a pair of matching earring studs, which are suspended in front of the same pink mussel shells. 

Antiqued Pewter Ribbon Charm Earrings with Pink Mussel Shells

All of these designs and more products that have been made to promote awareness to find a cure are available at 6 In the Shipyard retail store in Hingham, MA. You can also find a small selection available at the Ash Tree Design online shop.

Antiqued Pewter Awareness Ribbon Charm Earrings

Whether you are embarking on a breast cancer awareness walk and looking for a fun way to coordinate your group, or wish to give a gift to a brave survivor, purchase these beautiful pieces. Bulk orders accepted and encouraged - so email me, or stop by 6 In the Shipyard to get started!

Handmade Fluorite Semi-Precious Stone Bangle

Fluorite Semi-Precious Stone Bead Bangle, $23

One of the latest in unique designs from The Ash Tree, this bangle is hand-wrapped with silver plate wire and strung with semi precious fluorite stone beads. It was a difficult concept to execute, but I finally nailed it with the finished result in the latest installment of my handmade jewelry collection.

The shape of this bangle is what makes it a bangle rather than an actual bracelet. The wire that supports each fluorite semi-precious stone actually gives the bangle it's defined shape. As a result this bracelet fits the smaller wrist, measuring in about 7" in length. The bangle is fastened with a handmade silver plate wire hook, assuring that this piece won't go anywhere!

 

Interested in one of my one-of-a-kind pieces? Contact me to get yours today, or to discuss the possibility of hosting a jewelry party...did I mention hostess gets to keep a piece of her choice? :)

Rose Quartz Bangle

The latest piece in my handmade jewelry line is this delicate Rose Quartz Beaded Bangle. This was a really fun piece to work on - using 2 different gauges of wire, 16 and 22, it was almost like braiding. I had to string a head, curve the thicker wire around the rose quartz sphere, then wrap the 22 gauge and start over again. Seriously complicated. And thus awesome. Fellow artists will understand. :)

Due to the size of the beads, the resulting piece echoes organic shapes reflecting the beads natural beauty. Not to mention how great rose quartz looks against the bright silver plated wire: and on a tan model ;)


This is a delicate bangle piece is intended for tiny wrists, as the thicker wire forms the shape and holds it in place. I am going to experiment with different beads and bead sizes to make a larger size: I just bought some Amazonite beads, which are a deep jade green color. I think that this would look great against the silver - but for now, the pink quartz looks awesome!

You can find this Handmade Bracelet in my shop for sale at $15. Shoot me a convo if you have any questions, or let me know what you think about this new design!

Dyed Howlite Bracelet

Newly listed item on etsy - Howlite Bracelet! After making a few earrings out of this simulated turquoise stone, which is actually dyed howlite, I was left with four - and wanted to make a bracelet. It was definitely a challenge to do, as the stones are large and heavier, so putting them on any wrist can be a difficult fit.

After fooling around with too many jump rings in between each stone, I finally just connected them to each other, and it made a huge difference. I compensated the length with a jump-ring chain, so that it can fit anybody's wrist. I also chose to use a lobster clasp instead of my go-to toggle, because I was afraid that the bracelet's weight may cause it to be more susceptible to fall off.

This was also my first time working with such thick silver plate wire - I believe that it is 16 gauge - but it looks great with the blue. I also discovered that the boat is the best place to photograph jewelry. Look at these images!! I was on the boat creating, and brought my camera, so I figured I'd take some images. And whoa. The key is that the inside of the boat, right above each photograph, are 3 huge windows. The sunlight wasn't shining right into them because it was afternoon, but I got great, diffused light to take the pictures with. My mom's lime-green mats didn't hurt as a background, either :)

I'm on a jewelry bend. I've stopped for too long, so now its all coming out. So stay tuned for more pieces!!

Sidewalk Sale: A Great Success!

I just wanted to thank all who came and checked out my work at the Sidewalk Sale last weekend. I hope that you all got something nice, for Mom or yourself!

It was a smashing success! I doubled (and then some) my profit from last year - which was amazing considering we had a freakin scary torrential downpour with scary thunder. Due to my busy-ness, I sucked at documentation :( But my table display was great!! I had a black tablecloth with my handmade jewelry scattered around. I also had my new handmade journals that I blew out of - once I make more, they will definitely be for sale on the website! Lastly on display I had a representation of my handmade sail products, like the sail notebooks and wallets.
As always, I had my embroidered necklaces, which did fairly well - the biggest hit were my $8 earrings, which were the perfect Mother's Day gift at the perfect price :D

I also did some trading at the very end, which is my favorite part - I traded earrings and necklaces for some awesome ceramics: I got two bright blue mugs, an earthy colored mug, a bowl, and a sterling silver wire ring. Fun!! (Pictured below is a piece by Sara Eustis: I custom made a pair of earrings for her mother for Mother's Day, and she traded me a mug that was similar in style to this vessel - I love the look of her pieces!!)

Here were some of the advertisements that we received for the event!

Boston Globe – Thursday, May 6

“Bargain Bin”

Circulation: 264,105

Going.com e-newsletter

“10 Things Boston is Doing this Week”

Style Carrot blog

“ARTevent: SMFA Sidewalk Sale”

Freshwater Pearl and Chain Bracelet

New listed item on etsy! Check out my Freshwater Pearl and Chain Bracelet.

It's been a while since I've designed a new bracelet, and I found some inspiration in VOGUE magazine and decided to try my hand at this look! I always like flipping through fashion mags to find inspiration: and consider it a creative challenge to recreate pieces so that the general concept can be interpreted in a more affordable medium.

The piece that I saw I think had glass beads in a chrome color, so I took black freshwater pearls and strung them together with silver-plate wire. Then I cut up silver-plated chain and suspended it beneath each pearl. The resulting piece is gorgeous, and reminiscent of a chandelier. It's gorgeous when dangling, and I have to admit to wearing it like all the time :)

I have it as a lobster claw now, because I was out of toggles: but I think toggles will work. The lobster's perfect, though, because I can just slip it on and off and I know it won't go anywhere. (I'm famous for gesticulating!)


I've just purchased a bunch of different round beads that I want to try with this look. So check back! And don't forget - you can buy this and all other jewelry pieces at my sidewalk sale this weekend, Friday and Saturday, May 7th and 8th.

"Chill out with the necklaces…everyone has a favorite bracelet." - Mom

This quote actually rang true for me...I went a little beaded necklace crazy. Sorry. I like shiny pretty beads, and I get excited. Mom was seeing what I was coming up with, and suggested that I pull back and condense; to start with some bracelets, as people are more likely to purchase those -- and she was right.

Women have two or three favorite necklaces that go with everything, but they really like to change up their bracelets to match outfits or to complement them. So it's easier to match a bracelet with something than a necklace.

And I was getting ready for my first jewelry party at the time, so I thought why not?

Pictured here are only two of the MANY designs that I have done; the left is the Mix N Match pink bracelet, i.e., a more exciting explosion of charm bracelet. Then on the right is the really simple lentil shell bracelet, which continues to be a favorite and comes in turquoise, white, gray, amber, etc..

And right now I have a really cute stone donut and jump ring bracelet being featured on my website - there's also a great turquoise mother of pearl shell bracelet design that I've sold quite a few of that I have to get up at some point.