About Me

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MaggieMays offers a beautiful blend of traditional, unique, top quality, one-of-a-kind original stunning and mesmerizing fine jewelry using precious, semi-precious gemstones, pearls, diamonds, crystals and handcrafted artisan bead design's. Modern, elegant, sophisticated, classic and heirloom quality jewelry to pass on generation to generation; using the highest quality gemstone's possible. Give the quality he/she deserves! Welcome to your one stop shop for OOAK fine jewelry design's and handcrafted artisan creations in all shapes and sizes to meet your individual needs and special occasions.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

A Mix of Artists, Gems and Crystals

Can you imagine handcrafted design's with a combination of artistic talent, crystals and gems; well suslydic has just done that in a beautiful collection of ArtFire artisan's. I was honored by having my 5 strand Multi Tier Crystal Briolette Goldtone Necklace added to this wonderful collection. Suslydic ArtFire Shop you can find handmade crystal design's that are colorful, artistic creations that would make wonderful birthday, wedding, anniversary gifts or just for yourself. Her design's could be worn for a day at the office to that special evening out you have been planning.; accentuates all attire. Check out the entire collection and feel free to leave a comment!
http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=collections&op=details&cid=36587&comment_posted=Your+comment+has+been+posted.#comments


Monday, June 25, 2012

IBH's Featured Artist of the Week


Burp Cloths Flannel  17.5X7.5 Rocket Ships, Moons, Planets

I'd like for everyone to meet a very artistic and creative artisan who's has taken sewing to a whole new level, her name is Teri Prouty and has a ArtFire shop called "Charming Elegance."  Terry  resides in Northern California located in the beautiful foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains on a lovely ranch. She has had her fingers working hard at  many different types of creativity which includes enameling, embroidery, jewelry making, macrame, knitting and much more. Through all of this, Terry found out that her first love was sewing and tailoring.  Her earliest memories have been that of sewing and crafting and now it has become her passion. In her creations she loves to iinfuse color into her handmade design's.

Cinco de Mayo Fabric Napkins Sugar Skulls Fiesta Stripes Black Bright

Cinco de Mayo Fabric Napkins Sugar Skulls Fiesta Stripes Black Bright

Even though Terry keeps herself busy outside of her home, she loves sharing her love of colorful design's and spends countless hours creating gifts for friends and family; she also creates a wide variety of items for her shop on ArtFire which is called "Charming Elegance." She accomplishes all this in a sewing studio in her home. She is a dedicated, artistic and creative artisan who believes in handcrafted item's.

ToothFairy Pillow MMiller Zoology 10X10 Flannel RicRac Poly

ToothFairy Pillow MMiller Zoology 10X10 Flannel RicRac Poly
At Charming elegance you will find amazing home decor, baby item's, baskets, Christmas delights, and much much more in bright patterns full of color's. Here's something for you new mom's and beautiful newborn that really caught my eye:

Burp Cloths Flannel 17.5X7.5 Rocket Ships, Moons, Planets

Burp Cloths Flannel  17.5X7.5 Rocket Ships, Moons, Planets What about those cold winter days when you have to go to work or just play around in the snow! Charming Elegance has many color's to choose and fit your style:

Scarf Hand Knitted Striped Fringe Dress Rust Long Orange Eyelash Glitter

Scarf Hand Knitted Striped Fringe Dress Rust Long Orange Eyelash Glitter
 Let's celebrate the wonderful holiday cheer:

Christmas Tree Cloth Napkins Folded Red Berries Gold Set of 4

Christmas Tree Cloth Napkins Folded Red Berries Gold Set of 4

Wine Glass Coasters Blue Floral Handmade Fabric Set of 4 Waterproof

Wine Glass Coasters Blue Floral Handmade Fabric Set of 4 Waterproof

All of "Charming Elegance" items are lovingly handmade in a smoke-free animal-free home sewing studio. She loves handmade and the love the feel and craftsmanship that you find with a handcrafted item. She loves for her customer's too pay great attention to detail and knowing she uses only the finest quality materials. At Charming Elegance you will own a one-of-a-kind treasure gift(s) that will make your friends, colleagues or loved ones happy knowing it came from her heart and handcrafted design meant just for you.

 Remember that handmade items are truly unique that are designed with care, knowledge and expertise coming from the heart and meant just for you. You will only find these treasures through members of It's Better Handmade members as we are a dedicated family of artisan's that believes handmade items will bring you a lifetime of enjoyment.

You can also find Charming Elegance by following the links below:
Charming Elegance ArtFire Shop
Charming Elegance Blog
Charming-Elegance-Gifts on Facebook

You may also find many more gifts that just might meet your fancy!
HopesandDreamsStudio
shymouseecrafts
MaggieMays Fine Jewelry



Monday, June 18, 2012

IBH's New Featured Artist Jewelry in Harmony

This is a follow-up to a earlier blog I had posted about Its Better Handmade Guild will be featuring a new artist each week. This week I am honoring "Jewelry in Harmony."

Elizabeth Devigili is the sole owner of Jewelry in Harmony and has been a independent jewelry artist for more than 10 years. She has her own art studio where she brings her love of cameo jewelry alive by wire wrapping each individual piece and creates a "piece of art."  She is a outstanding jewelry designer that finds the beauty in nature and intertwines her love of cameo's. Elizabeth's designs can be seen worldwide; now that is what I call a exquisite and exceptionally outstanding person who loves to create and share her artistic talent.

Cameo's them self are a piece of heirloom jewelry that you hold dearly to your heart. Jewelry in Harmony takes a beautiful cameo and with her artistic talent uses silver and gold to create a OOAK wire wrapped Cameo jewelry piece. If you look closely, each cameo has its own story to tell. She has worked long and hard to get where she is at and has been honored by ArtFire as a "Certified Handmade Artisan." This is not a easy achievement, it takes long hours of working and designing one-of-a-kind jewelry creations and prove yourself as a handmade artisan. Congratulation's Jewelry in Harmony on becoming certified!

Browsing through her studio I found many beautiful and artistic cameo designs that I would like to share; but let me tell you, it is not a easy decision to pick just a few. You really need to take a stroll and check out for yourself the outstanding cameo designs. You can find Jewelry in Harmony on ArtFire by following this link: http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/Jewelry_in_Harmony.

Elizabeth's talent goes beyond just designing cameo jewelry; she also creates shell and pearl jewelry, gemstone jewelry, men's jewelry, rings, bracelet's, sets and the list goes on. We are talking artistic!

Here is a beautiful cameo bracelet that really caught my eye! This shows how she combines nature's beauty and a lovely goddess design cameo.
http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/product_view/jewelry_in_harmony/3093176

Grecian Goddess Roses Cameo Bracelet 14k Rolled Gold Minera

Grecian Goddess Roses Cameo Bracelet 14k Rolled Gold Minera



How about a lustrous "Mother of Pearl"!
http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/product_view/jewelry_in_harmony/1324115

Large Oval Mabe Pearl Ring 14k Rolled Gold


Let's add a little bit of Victorian!
Fine Lady Cameo Pendant

S213 Fine Lady Cameo Pendant Sterling Silver Coffee

S213 Fine Lady Cameo Pendant Sterling Silver Coffee
Gentleman here's a design created just for you!
Bloodstone Gemstone Ring

R104 Bloodstone Gemstone Ring Artisan 14k Rolled Gold Mens or Ladies




You will never see two piece's alike; all are one-of-a-kind handcrafted artistic jewelry designs. What I have shown is just a touch of what to expect when you visit "Jewelry in Harmony." Here are some of Elizabeth's interest that I would like to share with you and also links to her jewelry studio's. You can also find these on her ArtFire Studio:
Jewelry in Harmony ArtFire Studio

Interests

Wire Sculpture
14k Rolled Gold
Artist
Wire Art
Jewelry Designer
Master Wire Artist
Gold,Silver
Gemstones
Mabe Pearls
Cameo

Skills and Techniques

Jewelry Designer
Wire Art
Cameo Designs
Cameo Jewelry

Find me online @:

http://www.lizsfinejewelry.com
http://www.etsy.com/shop/LizsDes…
http://www.facebook.com/profile.…
http://www.bonanzle.com/booths/l…

IBH otherwise known as Its Better Handmade has a abundance of talented artistic artisan's that I will be informing you of for the next few weeks. Just follow the links in my post's and I'm sure you will be able to find a handcrafted item that you will find no where else. That's what IBH is all about, representing all handcrafted artistic talented artisan's that create "piece's of art." So stay tuned and next week I'll be honoring another IBH artisan. I hope you have enjoyed everything I have shared with you and we are thankful as a family group for your support in handcrafted designers.








Sunday, June 17, 2012

Its Better Handmade Guild Contest

As a member of Its Better Handmade (IBH) I would like everyone to understand what IBH is all about first of all; IBH is a place where artisian's and/or artist like myself, can show the community and now worldwide, just how handcrafted otherwise know as handmade design's are so much more special when you see a handmade item designed just for you. When purchasing handcrafted item's its more meaningful knowing someone has put his/her time into crafting a one-of-a-kind personal design that is meant just for you.

It’s Better Handmade (IBH) is a family of artists, crafters and artisan's that create all types of handmade design's, whether it be crocheting, baby item's, doll making, jewelry; their is no ending in type's of design's you can find at IBH. This family comes together to support each other! Whether it be personally, growing friendships, business questions, asking for advice, support each other, studio critiques and most of all we have friendly discussions.  Each member brings their different type artistically talent and shares with each other, we put our business minds together and by doing so we have created a central place to come together. Every artist continues to learn and socialize which in the end; our artistic talent and business grows. IBH is dedicated to those artisan's that are serious in promoting and sharing handcrafted items.

At this time, IBH is having a collection contest which each member submits a collection of handcrafted design's based on their title description. Any member can vote on which collection they like best; this is in no way stating that one is better than the other. Everyone has their own type of style and all collection's are full of beautiful handcrafted design's ranging from modern, vintage, color, theme, elegant or whatever the member wants to share with member's, community and the world. Check out these wonderful collections at http://itsbetterhandmade.com/ibh-artfire-collections-contest/. 

Here are a few of the collection's; but be sure to check them all out, there are numerous handcrafted item's that just might be what you have been looking for or hits home.
http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=collections&op=details&cid=36353
padding:94px 0 5px 0; text-align:center;">Pretty Rosey Pinks


Here's one: IBH Guild Member Collection Contest - Curated by Javagoth

To The Beach!

Curated by Javagoth | Collection Published on 06-15-2012
Cute Crochet Amigurumi Red Fish
Cute Crochet ...
Hippie... US $12.00

Browse around and you never know what you may find by talented artists!

Monday, June 4, 2012

Handcrafted Eco Friendly 70" Endless Strand Mother of Pearl Necklace

Respecting our earth by using its elements to design Eco Friendly Fine Jewelry Creations. I have designed a beautiful Mother of Pearl Endless Strand Necklace from MOP flat round disc that were produced from natural resources. In the Philippines, they have been using techniques that have been handed down from generation to generation. Some of the resources include using coconut twigs, tigerwood, bamboo, "mother of pearl", cowrie shells and other natural resources. No endangered woods or wildlife are affected by the making of these items. Designers and artisan's who are passionate about the planet and its preservation craft these works of art by hand that might otherwise be discarded. They page homage to their ancestry and Mother Nature.

MaggieMays created a necklace using natural Mother of Pearl that you can "Adorn any ensemble beautifully with a striking piece of jewelry, that you can wear with a green conscience, knowing you are respecting our precious environment." A endless strand necklace with no worry about trying to clasp. It would make a wonderful gift for those who have arthritis or a disability that would help with from having to finagle with closing clasps.

Where does Mother of Pearl originate - Nacre also known as mother of pearl, is an organic-inorganic composite material produced by some mollusks as an inner shell layer; it is also what makes up the outer coating of pearls. It is very strong, resilient, and iridescent (shows a colorful back on each shell).

Fine Sea Shell Mother of Pearl Endless 70 Long Necklace Eco Friendly

 
Here is a picture of the Nacre otherwise known as Mother of Pearl:

http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/product_view/MaggieMays/4756833

Featuring WhiteOwlDesigns

As a member of the Its Better Handmade Guild I will be featuring different artisan's and how they inspire us all in our creativity. This week I'll be talking about WhiteOwlDesigns and her dedication in painting and designing beads using recycled materials. WhiteOwlDesigns has a way of nature calling out to all of us and respecting what our world has given to each and everyone of us! If you would like to follow WhiteOwlDesigns, here a couple links:
ArtFire Studio: https://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/whiteowldesigns
Blog: http://whiteowldesigns.wordpress.com/

WhiteOwlDesigns started painting at 14 years old and from than on she became hooked on creating different style paintings; whether they be done by water color to canvas. Each of her paintings have a story to tell, you just have to look inside. Her originality in creating a one-a-kind style porcupine quill that she uses to paint each and every bead individually, using numerous color's brings them alive. She give's all of us who create and design inspiration to have fun, creative and original in whatever endeavor's come our way!


Here are some of my favorite beads that she creates:


SILVER and VINE Florals Unique Handmade, Hand Painted, Beads
EARTH SWIRL Barrel Beads Unique Handmade, Hand Painted, Beads

This painting is "Life" inspiring!! Look deeply and you have a tree full of life and oxygen, a sun to brighten our days, plants bursting with buds and flowers; but yet again you have holiday fireworks, a spin wheel full of color and ending our day with a sky full of stars and the moon shining upon us. Its nature calling out to all of us.




RAINBOW TREE OF LIFE Original Acrylic on Board