Tessa Earrings

Tessa Earrings

I've been working with gold a lot lately, and these are a new pair of Tessa earrings. They are made with 14K gold plated beads and components which look elegant mixed with clear Swarovksi crystal beads.

I've just uploaded these earrings to my shop on Etsy. And, stay tuned for more gold jewelry in the coming weeks!

Make Me! Monday

Make Me! Monday

Gold Beads

This weekend, I decided to bead up several pairs of gold earrings. Here's one of my favorites. It's a pair of earrings that dangles from gold-plated chain and jump rings with two 14K round beads.

Saturday Sparkle: Moonlighting Creations

Who Sparkled This Saturday?

Moonlighting Creations

Today on Saturday Sparkle, I'd like to show you the work of an independent jewelry artist whose designs are inspired by the lavish and ornate designs of the past. So without further ado, meet Tina Anderson of Moonlighting Creations. Tina is based in Chicago, and has been creating her handmade jewelry designs for four years.

Tina's jewelry captures a wonderfully decorative European flair. She mixes ornate metal filigrees, crystals, pearls, and other natural materiels in a rich style that is reminiscent of Victorian and Tudor era jewelry. Her Copper Swarovski Dangles shown above are gorgeous. See how the beautiful blue tone of the Swarovski crystals are wonderfully highlighted by rich copper components and findings? Fantastic Sparkle!

Tina, how did you get your start in jewelry design?
I had made a few simple earrings many years ago. My interest was sparked again when a coworker/ friend of mine at an ad agency in Chicago mentioned that she made jewelry. I taught myself how to string and finish off bracelets from reading magazines and books on jewelry making. The first bracelets I made were lampwork and charm bracelets. I was amazed at the
actual process of lampwork beads, I even tried making a few myself. I later found that I liked working with semi-precious stones, vintage beads, metals, rhinestones and swarvoski crystals. From that point on I was hooked.

What inspired you to turn your love for jewelry making into a business?

I would get compliments on the bracelets that I made, so I decided to take them to work and do a mini show right before the holidays. My friend and I set up our own little shop with earrings and bracelets, already in boxes and ready to take home. The response was fantastic, everyone loved the idea. That was just the beginning. I tend to grow attached to the pieces that I make, so it makes me happy to create beautiful and unique pieces, that would someday be loved by someone other than myself.

What are you top three sources of inspiration when creating new designs?

Vintage colors, nature ( the silky soft look of pearls, the tarnished silver, aged brass, different
shades of blues and greens), and of course the play of light on crystal and gemstones. I love anything that sparkles. I never design any pieces without adding glitter and sparkle, that is a must in my pieces. I love to blend new and old hopefully creating my own version of something fresh & special from a bygone era.

Who has provided the greatest amount of support for you and your jewelry business?

I would like to thank my sister Sheila, who has helped me from the very beginning. I would also like to thank all my customers, friends and family for all their support.

Tina, thanks so much for letting me share your beautiful jewelry today on Saturday Sparkle. And readers, be sure to visit Tina's creations at her online shop:

Moonlighting Creations
www.moonlightingcreations.com

Friday Findings: Fab Floral Jewelry

Flowers and jewelry are always a great way to say I love you, and on today's Friday Findings showcase we find a selection of independent jewelry artists who have combined the elegance and allure of jewelry with the beauty and grace of flowers. There is a bouquet of dangling delights to suit every taste this season--so whether you like small buds or big blossoms, petite poppies or a modern take on the traditional daisy. Say what you have to say with flowers (and jewelry!)

GOLDEN FLOWERS
Gold, blue and bright green leaves and flowers make this necklace a nice pick for your spring outfit. It features green biwa and potato pearls, cloissone beads, vermeil and delicate Swarovski crystal. The gorgeous Golden Flowers Necklace is 21 inches in length and was created by Dancing Jems.

PRETTY POPPIES
Perk up your day with the delicate beauty of red poppies swaying in the breeze. This pretty pendant is sealed, baked and waterproofed with a high-gloss finish and comes with an 18" in silver chain. These Perky Petite Poppies were handcrafted by AnnaLeahDesigns.

LOVELY LILIES
Laze on a lily pad with these adorable antique copper and Czech glass on brass plated earrings wires. At just over 1 5/8" in length, these graceful earrings are a great way to spread the beauty around. The Reflections of the Way Life Used to Be earrings were designed by Jen Arter of {ollio}.

DASHING DAISIES
For a modern take on an old classic, try these unique vintage copper-coated steel earrings that have a rusted patina and lapis lazuli centers. They hang from blackened sterling silver earwires, just over 1" in length. These sweet Rusted Flower Earrings were handcrafted by Ruby Girl.

TENDER TULIPS
Tip toe through the tulips with two vintage red enameled flowers and silver sticks that dangle and chime in the wind. The earring hooks are sterling silver and are a fun addition to any outfit. These fun Red Tulip Earrings were created by Third Floor Designs.

BOUQUETS OF COLOR
Buy the whole bouquet. This stunning spring floral bouquet for your fingers feature flower beads, available in a variety of floral colors and a green leaf with sterling silver. Pearls are also available as accents on custom orders. The Custom Order Spring Flowers Ring are designed by Sapphire Lizard.

Before we call it a day and you call the flower delivery, be sure to stop by and congratulate Martha, the winner of last week's giveaway. Martha will be receiving a black and silver earring promotional package from Valerie Tyler Designs.

Enter our weekly giveaway: One lucky winner this week will receive this beautiful blue friend marble necklace and earring set from Sally Sotello of Silver Gate Jewelry.

To enter the contest:

1. Go to my original blog post on Posh Mama.

2. Leave us a comment or story about your favorite flower in the Comments section of the blog post on Posh Mama.

The winner will be selected using random.org and announced on Friday, May 2.

Thursday Thoughts: What's New in My Shop

Thursday Thoughts: What's New in My Shop

A hectic work schedule this week means a short post today on Thursday Thoughts. So, here's a quick peek at some of the new items that have just been added to my online shop...

SCROLL Earrings
These red Aventurine scroll-shaped beads have a graceful and glistening effect, and is accented with silver metal beads. The earring hooks are sterling silver.

~~~

RINGLETS - Sterling Silver Earrings
Three sterling silver jump rings hang from sterling silver earring hooks. A perfect compliment to any outfit.

CASABA Necklace

Honeydew colored pale green Czech glass beads are accented with rich 14K gold plated beads. The chain, components, and clasp are gold plated. The focal point is 2" and the necklace measures 19" in length (not including the clasp).

Have a great Thursday!

Treasury Tuesday

Treasury Tuesday

Here's my newest treasury that I just curated a few minutes ago at the online marketplace Etsy today>>>it's for all you Prima Ballerinas. Come by and check it out, it expires on April 24.

A special thanks to ladybugdesigns1995, who included my Lotus Blossom earrings in her treasury yesterday too! To see her treasury, click here.

Make Me! Monday: Cinnabar Beads

Make Me! Monday
Cinnabar Beads

Last summer, I bought some black cinnabar beads. I wasn't sure what I'd make with them, so I put them away, and sort of forgot they were there. Over the weekend, I was hit by the organizational bug and found them again. So this weekend, these cinnabar beads were the ones that were screaming Make Me! So, I combined it with clear Chinese crystals, red African bone, and some richly colored burgundy freshwater pearls.

Cinnabar Beads are made in China out of wood and then coated in lacquer. The beads are often stained red to match the mineral, cinnabar. However other beads, like the one in my necklace are colored black. The beads are then hand carved with an intricate design. In the old days, Cinnabar was highly toxic because it had a high mercury content (mercury is the silver stuff in non-digital thermometers). Nowadays, a resin-based polymer is used in place of the mercury content. The synthetic nature of the polymer closely mimics the lacquered look, so Cinnabar jewelry is safe.

Happy Monday!

Save Me! Sunday: Soft Pink Picks

Save Me! Sunday : Soft Pink Picks

I've had an uncanny week when it comes to nabbing treasuries at the online marketplace, Etsy. I think this is my third over a course of about eight days. I curated this treasury, and I'm absolutely in love with all of the beautiful soft pinks. Stop by and show the featured artists your love by leaving them so clicks and comments. And hurry...because this Soft Pink treasury expires on Tuesday, April 22.

Happy Sunday!

Saturday Sparkle: Silver Gate Studio

Who Sparkled this Saturday?

Silver Gate Studio

Today on Saturday Sparkle, we’re talking about fried marbles. Yes. You read that right—fried marbles. It’s a very interesting process of heating and cooling store-bought marbles, the heat causes the glass to expand and the quick cooling causes the insides of the marble to crack. And when the marbles crack, they sparkle!

Sally Sotelo, an independent jewelry artist from Silver Gate Studio in Lakewood, CA first learned about fried marbles from her grandmother. She now takes that project one step further and uses her wire wrap skills to turn these amazing fried marbles into sparkling jewelry. At Silver Gate Studio, you'll find a variety of fried marbles earrings and necklaces, like the one featured in the photo. Another neat thing about these particular necklaces is that the marbles are interchangeable. If you have loose colored marbles or if you purchase additional fried marbles in other colors from Silver Gate Studio, you can spread the wires of the bead cage, pop the marble out, replace it with the color of your choice, and then push the wires back together. Isn’t that cool?

I had a chance to interview Sally from Silver Gate Studio, and here’s what she shared with us.

Sally, when did you first become interested in jewelry design?
I had actually been making beads using polymer clay. But then my Grandmother passed away, and when we cleaned out her house, I ended up with a bunch of fried marbles. I wanted to incorporate them somehow into jewelry because they were so sparkly and pretty. So I realized that I would need to learn how to improve my wire wrapping skills and learn how to put all of it together in some cohesive way. So I bought some DVD's and read some books and taught myself how to do it. Since then I have been doing a lot of practicing, although it hasn't been that long actually, probably only about a year now.

What made you decide to turn your hobby into a business? Well, originally I was just making a few necklaces and giving them away as gifts to family and friends. But then, people were calling back and wanting to know if I had any of the necklaces for sale. As well as, people stopping me to ask me where I had bought the necklace I was wearing, etc. So with the response being so favorable, and as the orders increased, before I knew it, I was in business.

Where did you get the idea for fried marbles? As I mentioned, my Grandmother had made fried marbles when I was a little girl, although she mostly used them in vases and in other items around her home. Also many years ago, when my daughter was in Girl Scouts, we made them for a craft project she was doing. So the idea has been around for a long time.

I've read about the process of cooking marbles and then placing them in cold water to get them to crack. Do you have any advice for someone who might be interested in trying this?
The only advice I would have for someone who wanted to try this is, give it a try, it's a lot of fun! It doesn't necessarily involve any advanced wire wrapping skills either because some of the marbles that I sell are put together using simple jewelry findings.

What are your top three sources of inspiration when making jewelry?
My top three sources of inspiration are, well, the usual answer is nature, so yes nature is always inspiring. Also other artists and/or artwork of any kind can be very inspiring as well. And at the risk of sounding too corny or trite, I would have to say that the energy of the people that I love in my life, I find very inspiring. In other words, if I'm making something for someone in particular, and I'm concentrating on them while I'm making it, (what's their favorite color, what designs do they like, etc.) then sometimes it's almost as if the piece just comes together, without much effort on my part.

Who provides you with the greatest amount of support for your jewelry business?
I would probably have to say that my boyfriend. He is a very patient man, and doesn't nag at me and understands when I'm out in the studio until the wee hours of the morning. I am very grateful for that! Of course my Mom and my best friend are very supportive as well, and seem to like almost everything I make, which makes me laugh. Because not everything I make is beautiful, but to hear them tell it....... well it's pretty funny. So I love the support that I get from them as well.

A special thanks to Sally from Silver Gate Studio for sharing her story about fried marbles with us today! Be sure to visit her online at:

Silver Gate Studio
http://silvergate.etsy.com

Friday Findings: Circles and Dots

This season, dots are hot! And after today’s Friday Findings showcase, you’ll surely be seeing spots. You can always count on circles and dots to be a little retro and very playful—the perfect way to round out your favorite Spring outfit. So come on, be the life of the party wearing one of these dottiest and spottiest picks from indie jewelry sellers at the online marketplace, Etsy.

CIRCLES AND DOTS
Aren't these fun? Just think of all the compliments you'll get wearing these oxidized sterling silver sheets, which have been hand-stamped with a plethora of playful circles and dots. The Circles and Dots Earrings are available from Mary Newton Designs.

YELLOW AND BLUE DOUBLE CIRCLES
Be bold and bright with these fun resin-filled sterling silver earrings which feature a bright egg yolk yellow center surrounded by a ring of dark blue. The Yellow and Blue Double Circle Stud Earrings are available from Treanelli.

ROUND ABACUS PENDANT
Count your blessings wearing this gorgeous lightweight sterling silver Abacus pendant on a 16” slim snake chain with a lobster claw clasp. It’s available in 3 different styles. The Round Abacus Pendant Necklace is available from Danielle Miller Jewelry Design.

URBAN GEOMETRY
Be modern, yet playful with this geometric and versatile look. Gold-filled wire hoops are combined with flat hammered sterling silver chain with a faceted semi-precious black onyx gemstone. The Urban Geometry Earrings were created by Valerie Tyler Designs.

ECO-FRIENDLY LAYERED BLUEBERRY EARRINGS
Made from recycled plastic, these earrings are lightweight, flirty, and funky. The plastic base is sealed with hardened tissue, and the top layer is a translucent light-blue plastic hanging from silver findings. These ECO-Friendly Layered Blueberry Earrings are available from Artwork by KD.

REVERSIBLE BLOCK PENDANT
You’ll be right on target with this reversible bulls-eye pendant necklace. The lamp-worked glass block in lime green is encased in sterling silver and available on a 18” or 16” length chain. The Reversible Block Pendant Necklace in Lime Green are available from Kristin Perkins Glass Jewelry.

PIVOT EARRINGS
Make a modern statement with these earrings that are part sculpture and part kinetic. These Sterling Silver discs pivot atop sterling silver rounds, and are very fun! These Sterling Pivot Earrings are available from Boldsimple.

That’s all we have time for today, but before you go… be sure to congratulate our two winners of last week's Friday Findings giveaway – Margaret and Heron Moon Designworks. Both winners will receive one pair of pearl earrings courtesy of last week’s showcased artist, Dancing Monkey Jewelry.

ENTER OUR WEEKLY GIVEAWAY:

One lucky Posh Mama will win an earring promo pack from Valerie Tyler Designs.

To enter the giveaway:

1. Go to my original post on the Posh Mama website.

2. Leave a comment in the Comments section of my original Posh Mama post.

3. Two winners will be drawn by random.org. Winners will be announced on the Capitola Girl blog and Posh Mama website on Friday, April 18th.

Written by Susan of Capitola Girl Jewelry, where Every Girl Has a Story (and so should her jewelry!). Now featured weekly on Posh Mama Online Magazine.

If you are interested in sponsoring a giveaway of in submitting your work for consideration on a future Friday Findings column, send your giveaway idea and/or a link to your shop to me at: fridayfindings [at] capitolagirl [dot]com

Thanks Karma!

Just a quick shout out to send a special thanks to Etsy seller, Karma711 . She curated a perfect! treasury today for some of the members on the Fashion, Design & Lifestyle Street Team over at the Etsy online Marketplace. It was a very wonderful surprise to see my GRAND CAYMAN necklace included in it. Thanks a bunch Karma!

The perfect! treasury expires Saturday, April 19. So be sure to check it out. You should also visit our curator's shop at Karma711 (she makes beautiful jewelry!).

Thursday Thoughts: Getting Ready for Summer

Thursday Thoughts:
Getting Ready for Summer

Here in California, we've been experiencing extraordinary weather. The weekend, temperatures climbed to the 80's. Although its cooled down quite a bit over the course of the week, getting to wear shorts and tank tops got me thinking about how much I want to prepare for summer.

In addition to going on my routine spring diet, I've been beading up bright-colored creations like a storm. Here are some of my latest. The earrings above are a pair that I call BELIZE (the colors reminded me of the national bird, the toucan). I also beaded up a pair of fun pair of blue and yellow earrings called SUMMER DAY, pictured on the right. They totally remind me of warm summer sunshine.

As you can tell, my thoughts today are focused on what lies ahead: Summer! Enjoy your Thursday, and be sure to check back tomorrow for another independent jewelry showcase on my weekly column Friday Findings.

Where in the World Wednesday: My Tummy!

Where in the World?

(My Tummy...)

Ordinarily, I take you on a short blog trip to somewhere special on Wednesdays, to show you how my travels end up inspiring some of the jewelry that I create. Well, this week, I decided that we're staying where we are. Home, sweet Home. After a long day of work, my tummy was hungry. However, being on a diet, I could only dream about chocolate. So, rather than stuff myself full of chocolate bars and ice cream, I picked a few of my favorite delicious and yummy chocolate treats from some sellers on Etsy. Enjoy this Yummy Chocolate treasury, it expires on Saturday, April 19!

Mmm good!

New Wedding, Bridal and Luxury Items from Capitola Girl

Today I thought I'd share a few of the new items that I've uploaded to my Etsy shop during the last week. I've been busily making jewelry and photographing pieces in my new light box. If you have the time, stop by my shop on Etsy to see my latest additions to my Wedding/Bridal/Luxury collection!


LOTUS BLOSSOM Silver Oval and White Swarovski Pearl Earrings

Rich white Swarovski pearls and gorgeous frosted accented with sterling silver beads dangle from a twisted silver plated oval. The earrings hooks are sterling silver.

ABBIE Swarovski Crystal & Gold Earrings

Iridescent Czech glass beads are accented with 14K gold plated beads and Swarovski crystal. The chain and eye pins are made from gold tone metal and dangle from 22K gold plated earring hooks.

MIRABELLE Swarovski Crystal & Pearl Earrings

White 4mm Swarovski pearls, Swarovski crystals with AB finish, and 14K gold plated beads make a sweet and elegant statement dangling from 22K gold plated earring hooks. The chain and headpins used in this design are both goldtone.

Remember! The Capitola Girl Giveaway Ends Today!

Capitola Girl is sponsoring an earring give away on the A Mom in Red High Heels blog. Contest closes at Midnight PST on April 15. To enter, please visit the Contest Page on the A Mom in Red High Heels blog today!

Blue and Green: FD&L Street Team Treasury

Have you heard about the new Fashion, Design and Lifestyle Street Team at the Etsy online marketplace? If you haven't, here's your chance to check the team out...in a Blue and Green treasury. Be sure to visit this week, and hurry! This treasury expires on April 16.

Yay! A Blogging Award!

Yay! A Blogging Award!

I got a message today from the author of the Art Addict blog, who is also a fantastic jewelry designer and fellow member of the Etsy Wedding Team. Thanks so much Valerie! I am supposed to now pass the award along to five other blogs I hold in esteem. So without further adieu, here are my five blog picks for this award today.

Fashion, Design & Lifestyle Blog. This is a new blog in the world of Etsy Street Teams -- a collaborative project founded by Etsy seller missbubbles. The group was formed in March with the goal of uniting similar minded enthusiastic artistic people, who are passionate about style, fashion, life and good taste in every step of their daily lives. The team is together in order to develop their skills, share experiences, and achieve highest individual potential by networking and working on various projects together. Getting a new blog and Street Team off the ground is hard work, so come on by, and show this talented group of designers your support!

JCN Studios Blog. This is a blog by a very talented jewelry designer, Jennifer. She is an avid bead stringer with a great eye for color. It's fun to see and read about the new items she is posting to her shop. She makes all different styles of jewelry, and its really lovely stuff. I very much recommend a visit to her blog.

Shabby Accumulations. This is a relatively new blog from an Etsy seller, DistressingDelilah. Her vintage jewelry creations are a lot of fun and super attractive, and she creates them using a mix of vintage jewelry findings, new items, and china. If you're a fan of vintage pieces, you should totally check her site out.

KKPW Designs by Shannon. Shannon is another very talented jewelry designer based in the Sacramento area of California. Her pieces featured in Wire Jewelry Magazine, www.twinsoup.com, and www.fashionsac.com. Shannon has also been chosen as one of 10 designers to feature on www.fashion-networks.com. Be sure to check out her blog, she does amazing things with silver!

White Iris Designs. The White Iris Designs blog is authored by a wonderful jewelry designer, Tammy. Tammy also happens to be an exceptionally talented floral designer. She designs floral arrangements by day and jewelry by night. I love to stop by Tammy's blog, because jewelry and flowers are two things that always cheer me up!

Here’s the rules:

1. You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also contributes to the blogging community, no matter what language.

2. Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his/her blog to be visited by everyone.

3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her/him the award itself.

4. The award winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of “Arte y Pico’ blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award. http://www.arteypico.blogspot.com/

5. To show these rules.

Thanks again to Valerie from Art Addict!
Happy Monday!

Save Me! Sunday

Save Me! Sunday

A very good friend of mine has been in my thoughts today. Actually, he's been in my thoughts for several days. He's been receiving medical care, as he's been very sick. It sounds like things just need to run their course, and that he'll be back to his old self one day. This was good news to hear after several days of not knowing what was going on. I had been worried he was sick, so hearing some word about his situation yesterday, I was really relieved. Without going into a lot of detail, I will say that the past few days have been very challenging for me personally.

To keep busy, I've been going through my collection of beads. Mostly organizing things. I find that when life starts feeling like its getting a little crazy and out of control, a good cleaning and organizing can get things feeling like they are more under control. Anyone else feel that way?

Anyway, I have a lot of odds and ends, and needed something cheerful. So, I took a variety of Yellow and Orange beads and strung them together. I call it the CITRUS BURST necklace. I love the bright colors. Well, that's all for today. I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday!

Saturday Sparkle: Sky Girl Style

Who Sparkled this Saturday?

Sky Girl Style

I love the fun look of felted jewelry, so this week's Saturday Sparkle piece is a Fabulous Fun Felted Popcorn Necklace created by an extremely talented and creative lady named, Janet from the Sky Girl Style shop on Etsy.

The Fabulous Fun Felted Popcorn Necklace is a one-of-a-kind piece that with a wet-felted focal point made from 100% Wool fiber. The Wool has also been beaded using a variety of popcorn-colored Delica beads. It rests on a beautifully sparkling chain made of faceted amber and aqua colored glass. Isn't it delicious?

Janet is extremely creative and has two Etsy shops in which she sells her crafts. At Skye Girl Style, she carries handmade baby bibs, booties, blankets, hair accessories, and her unique felted jewelry. At Bead Cottage, she sells beads, findings, and some very unique jewelry designs of her own. I had an opportunity to interview Janet about her craftiness, and here's what she shared with us:

Janet, how did you get your start in crafting and jewelry design?

I've been crafty for most of my life and my sister, introduced me to beading several years ago. From there I just started branching out into different aspects of jewelry making. I have done wire work, peyote, stringing, etc.

What inspired you to turn your creative hobby into a business?

The internet! I have been trying for several years to find ways to sell my creations and the internet has been the answer for me.

What was your inspiration for the selected piece?

Actually, I have a tendancy to jump around in my "craftiness". I wanted to learn felting, so i just jumped in, bought some roving and experimented. I made several pairs of ear rings and made the necklace because the felted ball that was left over was too large to use for earrings. I poked around in my bead stash and just started sewing the seed beads on the felted ball. The color combination was probably the main inspiration.

What are you top three sources of inspiration for your creative projects?

Color combinations, fabric, and my imagination.

Who has provided you with support for your crafting business?

My husband and my children have been very supportive of my crafting efforts. My Mother and sister have been a source of inspiration because they are both very creative.

I'd like to thank Janet for visiting us with us this week, and letting us show her fabulous felted piece with you on today's Saturday Sparkle.

Happy Saturday!

Friday Findings: Flirty Jewelry for Spring

Spring is flirting with us, which means -- among other things -- a fresh start. Time to dump those gloomy winter flannels for some bright and flirty casuals. Wondering how to freshen up your wardrobe? How about some flirty jewelry that tells the world, after a long winter, that you're more than ready to start this season with some Spring sizzle!

To get you started, I've shopped around for a variety of pieces with fun textures and and a range of color palettes. Today's showcase is an eclectic mix of playfully romantic jewelry from handmade jewelry artisans at the online marketplace, Etsy. And when it comes to buying handmade, it doesn't matter how old or young you are. When you're wearing pieces that make you feel this sassy -- anyone who asks your age won't be surprised when you answer, "I'm Flirty-Something!"

Embrace Your FEMININE Side: Show Off Your Sparkle

Start off Spring wearing this multi-colored gemstone ring, with its fun texture and flirty sparkle. The handmade ring features five genuine gemstones -- garnet, citrine, peridot, aquamarine and iolite -- wrapped onto a sterling silver wire shank with fine sterling silver wire. The stones can also be customized. Designed by Mu-Yin Jewelry.

Multi-Gem Sterling Silver Ring
Mu-Yin Jewelry

Be fabulously FLAMBOYANT: Greet your guys with a friendly wave (of purple!)

Purple is a hot color on the 2008 palette and on a warm spring day, you’ll be the center attention wearing these darling dangles. The artisan-made polymer-clay wafer beads (by Humble Beads) make a substantial statement hanging from oxidized sterling silver chain and ear hooks. Lightweight, flirty and just a wee bit flamboyant -- a perfect mix for spring! Designed by Beadiful Things.

Purple Wave Earrings
Beadiful Things

Go Boho Chic: Wooden it be nice?

Mixing dark chunks of wood with rich, vibrant colors is a growing trend in boho-hippie glamour. Show off your splashy, artistic sass with this Synthesis Necklace, which combines a charming wood pendant and flirty layered hoops accented with a brass bead, glass pearl, and a fun punch of red. Designed by The Flying Trapeze.

Synthesis Necklace
The Flying Trapeze

Serve Up Something TROPICAL: In Cool, Caribbean Colors

Jump right into the swing of spring fashion wearing this fab pair of silver dangles. Dangles are definitely in, and so are softly-muted beach tones that evoke the sensual and tropical. These oval loop earrings features four natural Aquamarine round beads on sterling silver and has been hand-forged, hammered and polished. Designed by Dancing Monkey Jewelry.

Get in the Swing of Things Earrings
Dancing Monkey Jewelry

Be a CLASSIC: Look Terrific in Turquoise

Since ancient times, turquoise has always been counted upon to make a strong statement. It's a basic fashion staple. These Stacked Turquoise Earrings feature hand-formed and oxidized Sterling Silver wire spirals with faceted genuine turquoise and Sterling Silver Bali beads. Created by K. Garner Designs.

Stacked Turquoise Earrings
K. Garner Designs

That's all we have time for this week, and we'll be back with more independent jewelry to showcase before you know it. In the meantime, Spring is flirting with you -- so here's your chance to flirt back (with some jewelry)!

Enter Our Weekly Giveaway: Win a free pair of pearl earrings from Dancing Monkey Jewelry.

To enter the giveaway:

1. Go to my original post on the Posh Mama website.

2. Tell us about your best flirty move, joke, line or story in the Comments section of my original Posh Mama post.

3. Two winners will be drawn by random.org. Winners will be announced on the Capitola Girl blog and Posh Mama website on Friday, April 18th.

Written by Susan of Capitola Girl Jewelry, where Every Girl Has a Story (and so should her jewelry!). Now featured weekly on Posh Mama Online Magazine.

If you are interested in sponsoring a giveaway of in submitting your work for consideration on a future Friday Findings column, send your giveaway idea and/or a link to your shop to me at: fridayfindings [at] capitolagirl [dot]com