Meet the Artist: ShadowJewels

 Rhonda & Coob

Shadow designs wonderful shabby chic and Victorian style jewelry using vintage rhinestones, lampwork glass, crystal beads and Genuine gemstone briolettes. We made a short interview with Rhonda.

1. When did you start ShadowJewels? How long have you been creating your own jewelry? Was there a particular event that sparked it?

White opal glass snowflake filigree necklace

ShadowJewels is entirely the fault of the internet. About 12 years ago, I got a new computer. 

Once I got online, unfortunately I discovered cybershopping.  I started collecting Victorian jewelry, but that was frustrating for me because the pieces I really wanted were too expensive.  Then one day I bought a necklace with a broken clasp~ a bargain! And decided to learn how to fix it. 

When I found you could buy vintage beads and jewelry parts online, that was the end of my normal life. Zowie! 'This will be much cheaper', I thought.  Sure! Now I have a whole room full of the stuff. It has not been cheaper than buying the Victorian jewelry, but it sure has been more fun.

2. What drew you to Etsy?

Finding Etsy was like coming home for me. I love handmade, of course....and when I saw how vintage was taking off, that was wonderful!

The community here is just so creative, and positive, and eco conscious.

3. I'd absolutely love it if you could tell everyone about Coob.

Shabby chic charm bracelet vintage glass and filigree

Oh Cooby. He's a character.  When my husband moved here from France, he brought Coob with him. At first we really didn't click, because he  couldn't understand me! Coob didn't speak English. "Come here boy!",  "Cooby get out of there!", and "Coob, dinner!"  were all met with the same puzzled, blank stare. He must have thought I was a retard ("look at thees seely woman, she does not speak a zee francais"). He learned fast though, and it didn't take long for him to become part of the family.  Now if somebody is speaking French to him, it's because he's in trouble. LOL!

4. You are the Queen of the Treasuries (in my humble opinion)... How do you find inspiration for your wonderful collections?

For me, making a treasury is a similar process to making my jewelry. Sometimes I'm inspired by a special item, a color, a season, mood, song, story, or poem....lately I find I am drawn more and more to Emily Dickinson, that quintessential peculiar woman. I'm right there with you Emily, getting stranger by the day!

5. What season of the year do you find most peaceful?

Love them all, except summer. I melt.

6. What are the top three songs on your Playlist right now?

Sixties!  Blind Faith~ Can't Find my way Home,  Jefferson Airplane~ Somebody to Love,  and Jimi Hendrix~ Machine Gun.

7. Animal, vegetable, mineral.

Giraffe, artichoke, quartz. Ametrine, tourmaline, garnet, aquamarine, kyanite, labradorite....  wait a minute, what was the question?

8. If you could spend a day with a picnic lunch, your favorite book, and a beautiful place -- what would be in the lunch basket, what book would you bring, and where would you go?

Sterling silver gemstone

A simple lunch, some brie and fruit; the Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss ( just started it); in Sequoia National Park. 

I love exploring the high Sierra, and sequoia forests are my most favorite places of all. Nothing else comes close to that feeling of sheer joy, peace, and contentment.  

My husband and I go out camping every chance we get. You can see his beautiful nature photography on my flickr page

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sierrashadow/

9. Any advice or encouragement for fellow artists or Etsyians?

Find what inspires you, hold on tight, and then follow your dreams.  Work hard at it every single day. Remember to stay positive.  Instant Karma's gonna get you!

Rhonda - the woman behind ShadowJewels is hosting a giveaway - be sure and enter to win this gorgeous Winter Flower Bracelet!

Please visit Rhonda's shop and explore her newest jewelry designs

Follow her on Facebook  and Twitter 

If you want to be updated about Rhonda's newest design follow her Blog

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Giveaway: Winter Flower Bracelet by ShadowJewels

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

The winner of this giveaway is Kathy Detweiler

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GIVEAWAY
Winter Flower Bracelet by ShadowJewels
 

Crystal and Glasswork Bracelet - Winter Flower

Aptly named Winter Flower, this bracelet features a gorgeous 16mm lampwork glass bead, accented with three sparkly Swarovski golden shadow crystals.  

Closes securely with a sterling lobster clasp; finished with fine sterling silver chains.  

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Length is about 7-3/4 inches.
Value: $45
This giveaway is open WORLDWIDE.
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Meet the Artist who created this piece - Rhonda of ShadowJewels lets us in - click here for the interview!

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HOW TO PLAY

(leave a seperate comment for each entry!)


You MUST Follow the Indie Style Guide blog to play!

OPTIONAL ENTRIES INCLUDE:
*Tweet this Giveaway (Click here for the easy Re-tweet!)
*Blog about this giveaway and link back to Indie Style Guide
*Browse ShadowJewels and tell us about your favorite item
*Add our BUTTON to your blog
*Like ShadowJewels on Facebook
*Share the giveaway on Facebook
*Follow ShadowJewels' Blog

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This giveaway will run from October 26 to November 9th at 12 am.
The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here at the blog on November 11th. The winner will be contacted via email. If the winner can not be contacted and confirmed within 48 hours, another will be chosen. 
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This giveaway was brought to you by ShadowJewels. Shadow designs wonderful shabby chic and victorian style jewelry using vintage rhinestones, lampwork glass, crystal beads and Genuine gemstone briolettes.

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Ms October Mosaic

Ms October Mosaic ~ the end of summer, the beginning of autumn...
Left with just a few days of Ms October, she is beckoning autumn in her own way. She may have arrived early for some and late for the rest... still, she never fails to make a presence unnoticed. A time where the leaves outside your window turn to a glorious orange gold hue, a time for september babies to be born, a time for harvest of pumpkins, a time to gather with family and friends, a time for autumn vows to be made... How will you make autumn's presence noticed in your days ahead? Well, here are just a few marvelous items that we love to share and you may very well find a thing or two that beckons you ;) Click on them to see more photos and details.	$26 ~ fine art photo print by GoldenSection
Let's start with decorating your home sweet home... for they say, everything starts from home!
$14.50 ~ vintage find by RhettDidn'tGiveADamn	$18 ~ vintage find by PillowSophi
$16 ~ vintage find by PillowSophi	$28 ~ handmade suncatcher by GaleazGlass
$16 ~ handmade serving plate by BPRDesigns	$35 ~ handmade serving dish by BPRDesigns
$4.75 ~ dried fruit ornament by HoneyTeaThyme	$68 ~ vintage find by RhettDidntGiveADamn
~~~ Original photo/art prints to add character to your space... ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
$28 ~ original art print by BrandyCattoor	$490 ~ original painting by BrandyCattoor
$18.75 ~ photo print by MaddenPhotography	$18.75 ~ photo print by MaddenPhotography
$10 ~ illustration art print by YuliyaArt	$28 ~ linocut print by RetroModernArt
~~~ What is October without pumpkins! ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
$8 ~ plush pumpkin by BoutiqueVintage72	$14 ~ pumpkin pmc ear studs by JPwithLove
$26 ~ fine art photo print by GoldenSection	$26 ~ fine art photo print by GoldenSection
~~~ Time to sew something lovely :D ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
$19 ~ vintage corduroy by TheHouseOfOliver	$32 ~ vintage designer wool by TheHouseOfOliver
$13 ~ vintage cotton by TheHouseOfOliver	$6.50 ~ vintage trimming by TheHouseOfOliver
~~~ A lady's got to carry in style! ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
$28 ~ vintage leather handbag from TheHouseOfOliver	$45 ~ handmade tote by ArmCandyforYou
$21 ~ vintage mad men handbag from CashmereVintage	$45 ~ handmade clutch from ArmCandyforYou
~~~ Keeping warm in style! ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
$20 ~ handmade knitted gloves by WindyCityKnits	$25 ~ handmade knitted scarf by WindyCityKnits
$42 ~ vintage sweater from CashmereVintage	$48 ~ handmade arm cuff by PiaBarile
$26 ~ handmade arm cuff by PiaBarile	$35 ~ handmade neck lush by PiaBarile
~~~ Accessorize in style! ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
$23 ~ handmade pmc earrings by JPwithLove	$12 ~ handmade pmc earrings by JPwithLove
$42 ~ handmade necklace by AbacusBeadCreations	$38 ~ handmade earrings by AbacusBeadCreations
$31 ~ handmade vintage rhinestone bracelet by RewElliot	$26 ~ handmade vintage rhinestone earrings by RewElliot
$10 ~ handmade earrings by BoutiqueVintage72	$18 ~ handmade necklace by BoutiqueVintage72
$15 ~ handmade vintage topaz earrings by ShadowJewels	$64 ~ handmade gemstone earrings by ShadowJewels
$47 ~ handmade beaded bracelet by JeannieRichard	$60 ~ handmade beaded bracelet by JeannieRichard
$243 ~ handmade jewelry box set by GaleazGlass	$10 ~ handmade knitted bracelet by WindyCindyKnits
$33 ~ handmade bracelet wrap by CharmedDesign1012	$33 ~ handmade bracelet wrap by CharmedDesign1012
~~~ Something for your little ones :D ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
$5 ~ handmade felt bow hairpin by JPwithLove	$21 ~ handmade pmc fruit hairpins by JPwithLove
~~~ And end your day with a warm cup of honey... ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
$6 ~ apple pure honey by HoneyTeaThyme	$7.50 ~ autumn spice pure honey by HoneyTeaThyme
...................................................................................................................................................... We hope you enjoyed this mosaic as much as we did gathering them for you! See you next week for the first installment of Ms. November Mosiac :D Until then, stay cool, stay chic, stay peace loving... XO J+R ...................................................................................................................................................... This mosaic was brought to you by JeannnieRichard - a husband and wife team making distinct handmade luxe jewelry that makes you say, "It's so me!" and slaves to two cats ;)

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