Paella... Olé

I don't know why this necklace reminds me the Spanish dish paella. Maybe because it has a variety of colors and charms or maybe because Rauli is today in Madrid and when he called he told me he was eating a paella in a restaurant at Plaza Mayor. The necklace (or the paella?) is all handmade. I used copper wire for the chain and the clasp, both hadmade using more than 70 jump rings. For the charms I used cloisoné, crystals, ceramic, red coral, and pewter. It is very colorful, and instead of chicken and seafood it has butterflies, and an owl!

My first ceramic pendants!

Oh wow! Here they are... My first ceramic pendants. They came right out of the kiln last Friday. They have been fired twice. I am just learning this new art and for me it is fascinating. I hope you like them too.

I made some hearts and some butterflies. I glazed them with different colors. The colors are a big surprise. They look quite different from the colors I gave them originally. But, I like them any way.

My son Rauli arrived today at Athen (Greece). He is having a wonderful time. I'm dying to see him again and to see all the photos that he is taking from all these incredible places.

A birthday party and a ceramic necklace... A Celebration!

The other day we celebrated Isabelle's birthday. Isabelle is my beautiful goddaughter. In the first photo is Isabelle with her mother Mónica Liévano (Mónica is my niece) and in the other photo is Isabelle with Mónica, sister Emma Beatrice, cousin Alejandro and his mother Milliet, and uncle Eduardo Liévano. We had a big party and all the family children were there celebrating with Isabelle.

Celebration!!!

I have other two photos of my latest design, a necklace using semiprecious stones like red Agata and Serpentine, and ceramic beads. Four of the ceramic beads in this necklace are my creation. Two 14mm rondelles (one violet and the other is peach), and two 8mm rondelles (both turquoise blue and yellow). They make a perfect combination with the other beads. I am celebrating my ceramic beads! I used hemp cord to string the beads since it is strong, stylish and eco-friendly. The closure is handmade in silver wire.

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Recientemente celebramos los tres años de mi bella ahijada Isabelle. Aquí la vemos con su mamá Mónica Liévano (Mónica es mi sobrina). En la siguiente foto está con su hermanita Emma Beatrice, su primo Alejandro y su mamá Milliet y su tío Eduardo Liévano. Tuvimos una gran fiesta y celebración con todos los niños y niñas de la familia.

En las próximas dos fotos les muestro mi último diseño. Un collar con piedras semipreciosas y beads de cerámica. Cuatro de esos beads son de mi última creación; dos de 14mm en violeta y peach y dos de 8mm en azul turquesa y amarillo. Estos hacen una combinación perfecta con las piedras y beads. Utilicé cordón en hemp para amarralas ya que es fuerte, elegante y eco-amigable. La cerradura está hecha a mano con alambre de plata.

Seeds and Dolphins

This beautiful dolphin is made out of the javillo tree seed (Hura crepitans) also known as Sandbox, Catahua and Ceiba Amarilla tree. The seeds from this tree are cut and form into dolphins. After that I glaze them and make a little eye. The one that you see in the picture is wrapped in silver wire and has a pewter leave, a red coral bead, a crystal and two turquoise coins. I made about ten of these dolphins pendants with different types of semiprecious stones, crystals, ceramic beads and silver charms. This dolphin in particular, is hanging from a Cemí Stone. The Cemí stone is a fundamental symbol in the Taino religion. This Cemí was a present from my late brother in law José (Pepe) Albaladejo. In this picture I connected two important spiritual symbols: The dolphin and the Cemí. I hope you like it.