New Jewelry at Bittersweet Ridge

I've just listed new jewelry at my Bittersweet Ridge Jewelry shop! Here's just a very small sample:

For all you purple lovers - an extra long 48 inch necklace of purple Czech glass hand knotted on German silk. Wear it opera length... double it... or even triple it for a chunky choker.

Fabulous blister pearl in twilight colors is combined with purple freshwater pearls, natural serpentine, and sterling silver. Matching long dangle earrings are included.

Gorgeous lampwork starfish is combined with raspberry pink freshwater pearls and pink crystals. Comes with matching earrings, too.

See all our new jewelry and don't miss our sale items! New customers can shop with a 10% discount on your entire order. Just use the discount coupon code BRJNEW at checkout!

Garden Tours

Personally, my favorite jewelry seems to always have a flower theme. I know it's because I so love flowers. Right now I'm enjoying my crape myrtles (as are the hummingbirds), and the last gasps of my annuals before autumn begins in earnest. And I've been congratulating myself on my brilliance of planting fall blooming daylilies (my favorite flowers) as I do my at-home garden "tours."

Sometimes, though, I'm in the mood to do more than look at my own plantings or those I see on P Allen Smith's show... so I head for the botanical garden in St Louis or scout for other annual or seasonal garden tours.

Sound good to you, too? Why not pack a picnic and make a day of it at a private garden open to the public. The Garden Conservancy has an Open Days program. Check their site for a calendar and to see what gardens might be open for a stroll near you.

Hummingbird Migration

It's that time of year. I'm filling our hummingbird feeders 3 and 4 times a day and, boy, is there a whole lot of fighting going on. The hummers are stoking up for their long flight to winter quarters. Gary and I are fascinated watching their antics all summer long.

If you're as hooked as we are, you might want to consider going to one of our favorite events, the Hummingbird Migration Celebrations held in Holly Springs, Mississippi every year.

Billed as one of the largest nature fesitvals in the US, this year's celebration will be held September 11-13 at Strawberry Plains Audubon Center. Expert naturalists from the Hummer/Bird Study Group will be on hand to interpret the life of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. You can watch as these tiny birds are caught and banded. You may even have a chance to release one back to the wild!

The event also features lectures and demonstrations with live bats and other wildlife, hummingbird viewing in the historic Davis House sunroom, a nature trade show, tours of native plant gardens, children's activities, food, and much more. More info

I have a confession...

I'm a chocolaholic. Some of you already know this because of my descriptions of brown gemstones in my jewelry. :-) I come from a long line of chocolaholics and, frankly, I don't care if it's nature or nurture. All I know for sure is that if a dessert isn't chocolate... what's the point?

Though I know it is a shameless marketing ploy on the part of the Mars company, I'm enthusiastic about the Mars Real Chocolate Relief Act. Silly title. I think they could just call it "Free Chocolate." Because that's what it is. They're giving away chocolate candy every Friday in September.

So, join me in chocolate madness and signing up today for your reminders and collect your free chocolate!

Consider Copper for Arthritis

Copper

Gary swears by his copper bracelet and ring for his “tennis elbow.” I’ve used copper for menstrual cramps, as well as cramping in my fingers from wire-wrapping jewelry. Add to that, I simply like the look of it!

Copper is a metal ore found all over the world. The color ranges from orange to soft red-brown to a deep brick red.
Copper was probably one of the first metals used to make objects by man. Tools found can be traced back to fourth millennium.

Used for its healing properties since the Middle Ages, copper is used for many ailments, especially inflammation. Used to alleviate menstruation cramps, it also can prevent calcification of the joints. To use its healing powers, Copper is best worn directly on the skin.

Copper encourages a positive attitude and self-confidence. It improves decision making and brings harmony among members of a family.

We have copper bracelets, ankle bracelets, earrings and rings available now.

New Jewelry at Bittersweet Ridge

Yesterday we added some new jewelry pieces to our online shop. Beautiful carved mother of pearl roses and daisies with brass and copper. Plus some ankle bracelet and earring sets in copper with mother of pearl flowers. Perfect any time, but especially for those trips to the beach.

Christmas in July Sale

Our annual Christmas in July Sale begins today! Shop now for the best selection in unique, handmade necklaces, bracelets, earrings and more.

About Pearls...

I’ve never met anyone who does not admire pearls.

Pearls are calcified objects made by shellfish from the same material that they use to form their shells. Sand or some other foreign material gets under the skin of an oyster and irritates its skin. In response, the oyster coats the offending grain over a period of time with layers of pearly smooth calcium. The result is a pearl. Pearls are the product of both salt and freshwater oysters. Colors range from silver, cream, gold, green, blue, black and can be dyed. Pearls are found in the Persian Gulf, coasts of Central America and north Australia and Japan.

Pearls have been worn in jewelry by kings and emperors for thousands of years and can be admired in museums all over the world. The pearl jewelry of the Queen of Sheba is legendary. Lucifer is said to have broken his teeth because of his craving for pearls.

Pearls can stabilize the production of hormones. They are also used to alleviate chronic headaches and migraines.
Oysters are feminine in nature - they contain an embryonic object within them - and become tuned to the phases of the moon, which control tidal changes. Pearls are in tune with women, especially pregnant women. Long the symbol of woman’s perfect beauty, pearls also symbolize modesty and purity. A soothing influence, pearls bring feelings of peace and reduces over-sensitivity.

With zodiacal affinity for Cancer, Pearls are also important for all the zodiac signs. Often used as the birthstone for June.

Another Stormy Day plus New Jewelry

It's another stormy day here at Bittersweet Ridge. We seem to be stuck in a pattern of wicked thunderstorm punctuated by tornadoes. Not my favorite gift from Mother Nature.

In between storms I've been adding some new jewelry to my shop. Lots of new copper ankle bracelets, including some with the cutest mother of pearl flowers. Perfect for those beach vacations! There are also some that definitely are unisex and could be a perfect gift for Father's Day. Gary swears by his copper bracelet for "tennis elbow."

New Jewelry

I've added quite a bit of new jewelry to the shop in the past day or two.

The necklace shown above is simply lovely with its rhubarb - raspberry pink peacock freshwater pearls and carved mother of pearl rose. So feminine! There are even coordinating earrings with the same waterfall cluster of pearls and roses. Gorgeous!

You'll also find a couple of chunky necklaces. One combines huge faceted blue sodalite and white jade; the other is a necklace and earring set of rare forest jasper rectangles and Russian jade.

And don't miss all the new copper anklets and bracelets - copper combined with carnelian, lapis, clear quartz, turquoise, jade and lots more!

Spring Fever

It is an absolutely glorious day! A perfect spring day, in fact. I've been busy in the studio this week and have some new things I need to list on my web site, but Mother Nature has lured me outdoors for most of the day.

Great smells... my iris and roses seem to be in a fragrant competition, plus our neighbor is mowing his hay field today. Great sights... not only all my flowers blooming their hearts out, but also all the emerald green after so much rain... wow! Beautiful sunshine! I'm drunk with it all!

I'm playing at Scarlett O'Hara... tomorrow is another day and that's when I'll actually get some work done. Looking forward to showing you some photos of some new necklaces then.

Happy Spring!

Bird Song

It has finally stopped raining! We'd begun to think we should make like Noah and build an ark. Now we need a bit of sun to bring out the peony blossoms to join the roses, iris, hydrangia and other pretty rain-soaked flowers. In the meantime the birds are singing, both a coyote and great heron have visited one of our spring ponds, and all does seem pretty right in our little corner of the world.

I'm planning to spend the afternoon in the studio. Have some custom work to do, plus have a couple of ideas I want to play with. Just finished putting some darling little lampwork bird earrings on sale and am comtemplating more spring cleaning of my online shop. (That's a heads up to all you bargain hunters! And, these days, who doesn't like a good bargain?!)

Spring Cleaning!

I've begun to do some spring cleaning and that means there are quite a few new additions to our Bargain Bling / Clearance! True bargains, so you owe it to yourself to check it out!

Mother's Day Sale

Don't miss our special Mother's Day sale! Lots of lovely jewelry on sale now!

Wouldn't your mom like a mother & child cameo bracelet?

Spring Fever Sale

We're having a Spring Fever Sale at Bittersweet Ridge Jewelry! Don't miss out on some lovely bargains! Plus check out our new bracelets and necklace while you're there.

New Jewelry

I've listed many new pieces in our online shop... copper ankle bracelets, bold scarab necklaces, but my favorites of the moment involve flowers and honey bees!

It's Spring!

Here at Bittersweet Ridge spring is in full swing! We seem to have survived the latest hard freeze thanks to the wind. Forsythia, magnolia, redbud, and fruit tree blossoms are still going strong. And I've been in the studio. From copper ankle bracelets and scarab necklaces, I've now moved on to flowers... mostly in white. I'll post some photos of the new wedding whites soon.

New Flower Earrings

River Cities Fiber Clan Retreat

Now, this sounds like fun!

The River Cities Fiber Clan is a small group of fiber enthusiasts. Now celebrating their 5th year anniversary, they're having a Fiber Retreat in way of celebration in early April (exact date is still pending).

Their guild welcomes knitters, crocheters, weavers, felters, and experienced and beginning spinners, who gather monthly to learn from each other and enjoy the companionship of fellow fiber enthusiasts. 2008 was a very busy year for the Guild. Cyndi Bolt conducted dyeing workshops, member attended Patsy Zawistoski’s wonderful 2-day spinning workshop, the guild demonstrated at the WV Arts & Crafts Festival, several members attended the MD Sheep & Wool Festival, and several members attended fiber festivals as demonstrators and vendors selling their handcrafted items – all in an effort to promote the fiber arts.

The 2009 Fiber Retreat is a chance for guild members and visitors to enjoy a very ‘fibery’ weekend in the company of fellow fiber enthusiasts from WV, KY, OH, and elsewhere. All attendees will receive a “goodie bag”, will win door prizes, and can join in the raffles (proceeds go to the Guild for meetings and classes).

Visit their web site for more information.

Feels Like Spring

Finally the ice and snow have melted! We'd gotten about 2" of ice and sleet with a 7" topping of snow and, in spite of temperatures finally above freezing, it took a few 60 degree days to dispatch the majority of that treacherous stuff! It certainly made venturing out to my studio risky business.

I've been busy with new ideas and flying things. Lovely vintage brass repousse birds and bees, plus some sweet Art Nouvou fairies. The latest dilemma is an old one: sets or no sets? It never fails that when I offer "sets" as separate items... people want the sets. If I offer them together... someone wants only one piece of the set. So, I list them on my site separately and try to note if there are coordinating pieces.

Today I have photographs to take - of fairy and honey bee pieces. Plus some vintage jewelry that I'll be offering on Bittersweet Collectibles. I'll post a fairy piece later this week, I promise!

Awesome Artful Bra Project

My friend, Robin, sent me information on The Artfull Bra Project and it is too fabulous not to share.

Yu certainly don't have to be a quilter to enjoy the humor and beauty of this site. Be sure to not miss the titles of each work.

Members of the Quilters of South Carolina have created one of a kind bras for Breast Cancer Awareness. The exhibit consists of 49 original works of art which are unique, entertaining, humorous and beautiful. All to make the public aware of breast cancer, to memorialize those lost to the disease, and to honor survivors. At the end of the exhibit each piece with be auctioned with the proceeds going to support breat cancer research.

Don't miss this! Amazing... so creative... and hilarious, too!

Love is all around...

Love is all around, especially in my studio here at Bittersweet Ridge! We now have lots of goodies with hearts as a major theme. Pnk, blue, red, peach, green and more! Valentine's Day is just around the corner.

Always handmade with love ~ Bittersweet Ridge Jewelry.

And our Winter White Sale is still in progress! Don't miss out on some terrific bargains!

Winter White Sale

Winter White Sale

Now in Progress

Check it out at

Bittersweet Ridge Jewelry