by lynn krestel

ready to give...

 
this has got to be one of my favorite pieces...silver circles and various vintage crystal - and a stunning vintage crystal clasp! oh it s just gorgeous! and one lucky girl received it as an anniversary gift today!! it is 32" long - perfect for wearing long or wrapping a couple of times around!

i wanted to wrap it in a bit larger box than i usually carry...the box i purchased - was just what i wanted - except! it need a cotton pad - or something to rest the silver on...

i take pages and a picture from old books, pretty much paper mache them on...i love this sweet couple romancing on this one!

 
i ended up making a little 'pillow' from a vintage hankie... first i fitted some cotton bunting for the bottom of the box....

i cut the hankie in half, stitched the raw edge, turned and pressed it.

then slipped the cotton inside and stitched around the edge of the cotton.

it fit snugly into the bottom of the box!! 

 

i think it turned out really sweet - what do you think!? 

to keep the box closed, i slid a vintage button on some slim grey velvet ribbon. it slides to tighten - so can open and close... honestly - i had a had time giving it up!!

spring pearls

they are not fancy - but i love the simple sweetness of these gorgeous lilac freshwater pearl earrings. the oxidized square earrings are the perfect showcase for these little beauties!! in my little shop -more spring goodness will be added every day

spring green quartz

 
vancouver is in the news this week. you cant help but see it! here is a view of the olympic village from the cambie bridge going downtown yesterday. thats as close as i'll get!!

while the east coast is under a deep blanket of white stuff! here we have begun to experience a little taste of spring. will it stick around? maybe not! but for now - the colors of spring are peeking out...

buds on trees - these are cherry blossom buds -shoots of floral bulbs sticking their heads through the soggy black soil. 
these reticulated quartz gems are just the perfect shade of green w/bits of darker flecks throughout. they dangle so sweetly as you welcome spring!

my newest favorite thing!

ok - don't you just love these!! polka dot felted bead pendant - my newest favorite thing!! first shaped, wet felted, and then needle felted from merino wool roving. i set the pendant in a silver circle....

 and handmade earwires showcase the felted bead earrings!! so soft, so sweet!

taking pictures...

first of all - i know - i've fallen - off the bandwagon. the blogging bandwagon... i actually love blooging - following some favorites around this globe. i like sharing - tho sometimes i'm afraid its terribly uninteresting. and i think about it. i just haven't done it! no promises. but i just want you to know i am alive. i don't think i can ever catch up - its been a crazy busy summer. but i'm just going to pick up and keep going!!

i've been focusing on taking better pictures for my little etsy shop.  it is one of the most tenuous parts of the job! giving a glimpse. has to be interesting. catching the eye to grab a click! it is what seperates the good sellers and the superb.   

 

so back to the work! and hopefully we speak soon!! 

vintage sunflower crystal necklace

 

i  finally broke down and dug into my stash and created this gorgeous crystal pendant. i have had for some time - and not seen since...(sadly) these vintage enamel bead caps. i'm not sure how old they are - but their detail is fine, the color bright...i really like how this turned out.

paired with a chunky 12mm vintage old crystal - a unique, one of a kind piece!! it is a one and only...once its gone...its gone!!

lavender blue dilly dilly

 

i love lavender!! the past few summers my sister has generously shared her lavender harvest with me! we added the dried buds last christmas into our draft dodgers, and usually whip together a few lavender bottles - great for gift giving or keeping to freshen linen drawers. she actually made a gorgeous wreath for her front door last year...i still have yet to successfully create a lavender wreath!!

i brought home enough lavender to make bottles and have some for displaying...but wasn't quite sure where i was going to dry it - without it getting bumped and beaten!

here's what i came up with...(hanging with my old quilts on the ladder my father-in-law built from old barn wood!!) ....i like it so much, i haven't taken it down. yet!!

i love the inpiration of naural elements, and try to incoporate them intoi my work as much as possible!! i have re-created lavender in silver as an ode to this summer flower/herb!! the natural beauty and intrincities shine through these pendants!!  the silver has either been directly impressed by an actual lavender spring. or the silver pressed into a molded sprig of the purple beauty!!

 

earrings!

aren't these earrings luscious?! i love them! sea green flourite gems on sterling silver earwires...i've been busy working on some new summer jewelry...can i share?! any comments welcome!!

 

simple, elegant tiger ebony earrings... the earwires are hand formed and hammered.

 

blush pink freshwater pearls - so sweet!!

happy weekend! we'll be out enjoying family and sunshine... hope you can too!

summer series sale!!

swamped! underwater! gasping for air!! kind of how i've been feeling lately! know what i mean!? life with two teenagers and a home business can get crazy! i'm not complaining - its what i've wanted...there was a funny article on etsy about a poor guy who feels like an etsy widower...

i'm sure my family would agree too!!

i have been making some new pieces for my etsy shop as well as to send to a brick and mortar shop on vancouver island.... i am in love!! this lava and pinks bracelet is a perfect picture of contrast... the black against blush pink, seeming rough (its not at all!) texture of the lava to the smoothness of the peruvian opal and pearl. i love how chunky it is - and yet its light and wearable.... i kind of don't want to sell it!!

so i'm offering a summer series sale. i will send a free pair of matching earrings with any purchase of these pieces in this series  - but just till june 15!! don't miss out!!

i also added a california dreamin' charm necklace, sandy beach charm necklace and my dragonfly necklaces to the summer series...

today i'm working on a custom order and some tiger ebony pieces... can't wait to show you those!

 

three in a row

its a new to me design..there are designers creating pearls and beads in a row... but these three in a row vintage crystals are exceptional and showcasing them in a simple, stately way!

wowza! the sparkle!!