Heart 'n Art New Pearls

July 2004 Edition

I know that I promised a Hill Tribe silver watch for the summer, but I've been so busy with shows and making earrings that I haven't made any yet. You'll notice there are a few chandelier earring styles and some new styles suitable for children and teens. I will definitely have a Hill Tribe watch by the end of next week so check out the website or wait for next month's newsletter. The Hill Tribe watch will be a nice addition for the ladies who like the versatility of solid silver without gemstones, but I'll probably make some with pearls too. Watches continue to be very popular and I can't seem to keep up with the styles and sizes that everyone wants so the selection is very limited now. The other thing that was very popular were the abalone and Peruvian turquoise pendants that I made last month. The abalone was each one-of-a-kind and sold early in the day but the turquoise was very popular too and the hardest decision was selecting the stone since they are all so different. I can't get any more of the abalone, but you'll see different shell and turquoise pendants by the end of next week -ready for the Essex Sailing Through Summer show.

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NEW MATERIALS

Mother of Pearl: We all know that mother of pearl is not new like the "fossil coral" that I mentioned in last month's newsletter, but it's very popular now so there are a lot of new shapes available. I recently found a few strands in a thin tube shape that are very white and pearlescent. They will be a nice addition for the lariat type necklaces and anklets which, by popular demand, have become one my trademark styles. I also found some little carved tulips, which are very dainty - still deciding on how to use them. They'll be in my treasure chest for now.

Apatite: Another rare find is Apatite. It comes in a few colors from yellow to blue but it is mostly teal. I first noticed it as a cut and faceted stone in a jewelry store in Mystic, CT a few years ago and was very taken by the way it fluoresced. Well, you can guess the cost was hundreds of dollars for something that needed a magnifying glass to see! The stone isn't cheap, so I recently only bought about 50 round beads which makes about 7 bracelets and a couple of pair of earrings. If everyone likes it, I'll hope that my supplier has more. I'm hoping that this is a new trend and I'll find it in more shapes.

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Enjoy the rest of July… The show at the Elizabeth Park Rose Garden in June was just beautiful but the New London waterfront is always a fun day. We look for summer venues with good locations and most haven't any gate fees. Is makes for a nice day outdoors with other things to do in the area -so try to make one of them. Mention the newsletter and receive a free gift!! --Rhodie and Paul

Stay tuned...
 

July 17 & 18, 2004; Sat. and Sun 9 AM to 4:30 PM - Sailing Through Summer on the Green Craft Fair - Essex  Town Green, Essex, CT (map)
Admission: free,  Parking: any available parking spot on the street or behind the town hall at 29 West Ave (about 1/2 mile walk).

July 24 & 25, 2004; 10 AM to 5 PM - Saturday Market and The International Arts & Crafts, a Tall Ship Festival weekend - New London Waterfront Park; New London, CT 06320 (map) (web)
Admission: free