Swarovski Crystals & Freshwater Pearls

Swarovski crystals and freshwater pearls are currently my two favorite elements to work with.

These crystals are cut and polished to perfection.  I love the way they sparkle and shine in the sunlight.  Freshwater pearls are simple and timeless, and I can't seem to get enough of them...  You'll find that I work with pearls in most of my jewelry.

I am so excited to share with you my newest creation, the Swarovski crystal and freshwater pearl bracelet.

This layered sterling silver bracelet elegantly combines these two elements.

If only this bracelet was for me :)

Enjoy.

Crystal Creatures

Hello, holiday season!

For those of you who don't already know, I love all things incredibly shiny and all things irresistibly cute. Put those two qualities together and you get Swarovski crystal creatures!

These pictures don't quite do them justice... they sparkle and shine whenever light hits the crystals. I like to use them as cell phone charms, but you can also hang them from your purse, wallet or car mirror! Be creative.

A little birdie once told me that everyone needs something cute and shiny dangling off their cell phones...

Bird (or Penguin!)

I absolutely adore birds. When I was younger I wanted to be an ornithologist, and I owned too many chickens to count.

Dragonfly

 I like to think of these as damselflies, which are like smaller, delicate dragonflies. We used to have damselflies and dragonflies dance around our swimming pool...which really is more like a pond.

Mouse

Squeak squeak. Boy, can these things jump! If you ever have a mouse problem, all you need is a marshmallow, a empty paper toilet roll, and a deep trash bin. Really, they're too cute to harm.

 

Hamster

I haven't had any experiences with hamsters, but have you seen dwarf hamsters at the pet store??? They melt my heart with just one look.

Finally, meet Koa, my best friend's puppy.

I attempted to make a crystal puppy look just like him!

Puppy

He even has a little doggie bone to go along with him!

I usually make these crystal creatures to order, but I also occasionally post some up for sale. If you're interested in a custom cell phone charm, feel free to send me an email.


Happy Holidays!

Bubbles

I used to love lying at the bottom of the swimming pool and watch as my air bubble rings floated to the surface.  It was mesmerizing.  The bubbles would magically form a ring as it left my lips and wobble its way up for a few seconds before finally dissolving.

I once managed to capture that moment in the ocean while staring up towards the sun.

2006
Oahu, Hawaii

The ocean is so beautiful.  I really can't get enough of it.

This particular photograph was my inspiration for my most recent design:
"Ocean Bubbles"

This .925 Sterling Silver bubble dangle is embellished with a gradation of blue Swarovski crystals to add a bit of sparkle and movement.  When the sunlight hits these earrings, the crystals will glisten and sway, just like the bubbles that rise to the surface of the ocean.

Enjoy.

Lightning

Sorry for the lack of updates and new jewelry postings!  I prefer to use natural sunlight while photographing my jewelry, and the sun refuses to come out and play.  The weather has been so dreary in Santa Barbara.  There's been lightning, thunderstorms, and 1-minute power outages.  Sadly, I think it has also put a damper on my creativity this last week.  The rain is lovely, but I think I've been spoiled with Hawaii's good weather and sunshine.

Luckily, I have a photo to cheer me up.  If it happens to be cloudy and grey where you are, this one's for you too.  Can you believe this is Hawaii in the middle of December?

December 14, 2009
Ala Moana Beach, Oahu, Hawaii

Now back to jewelry... or accessories, as I suppose that's the category they would fall under.

Do you like cute, shiny things?  

Perhaps three dimensional Swarovski crystal cell phone charms?

If so, get excited.  I'll be working on new 3D crystal creatures in the near future.  If you think that green bird is cute, just wait and see what I have in store for you!

My Photography

In addition to jewelry making, photography has been another passion of mine.  There's something about attempting to capture beauty in the moment...  from shiny pieces of jewelry to unpredictable waves...  it's addicting. 

I'm happy to say that all the photos displayed on this blog have been taken by me, including the water photography.

Summer 2007

Makapu'u Beach, Oahu, Hawaii

It takes a little bit of luck, and a little bit of practice.  

And maybe... a cute bikini, some sunscreen, and a waterproof digital camera :)

The first digital camera that I ever purchased was the Olympus Stylus 770SW.  It claimed to be shockproof, waterproof, freezeproof, and crushproof.  Too good to be true?  It weathered the beach, sun, surf, and snow; it was dropped on numerous occasions, even on jagged rocks; and it flew with me from Hawaii to Washington to Japan to New Zealand.  It took beautiful photos for three wonderful years until I accidentally broke it.  It could have lasted for years more, but of course I manage to break the unbreakable camera.

I now have the Olympus Stylus Tough 8000, a newer version of my old beloved.  It gets the job done, but I somehow still miss the 770SW.  I would love to upgrade to a digital SLR for my jewelry photos, but I seem to manage with the simple point and shoot camera.

July 19, 2009

Bodyboarder

Makapu'u Beach, Oahu, Hawaii

The photography is just another aspect to my jewelry making that I absolutely love.  I hope to periodically share photos of Hawaii to give you glimpses of my inspiration.  I hope you'll come back and check them out.

 

Beach Glass Necklaces

They're back!!

Unique, one of a kind necklaces:

The Glistening Pearl's signature beach glass necklace.

I personally handpick each piece of sea glass off the beautiful beaches of Oahu, Hawaii.
The sand and waves naturally shape and smooth the glass to perfection.


*New*
This delicate light green beach glass necklace features a small piece of sea glass and a sterling silver sand dollar.

I only design these necklaces on occasion, and this is the fifth one ever to be put up for sale. 


*Past designs*

The original beach glass necklaces feature larger pieces of sea glass and sterling silver starfish.

This is the first beach glass necklace I designed.
I was extremely lucky to come across such an elegant piece of sea glass.  Adorned with a delicate wire wrap swirl, a sterling silver starfish, and a freshwater pearl, I couldn't give this beauty up for sale.  Its a part of my personal jewelry collection, and I wear it almost every day :)

More original beach glass necklaces will be offered soon!  I have a gorgeous piece of light blue sea glass, as well as vibrant green piece that I'd like to use.  Stay tuned!

My Inspiration

  August 21, 2007
Makapu'u Beach, Oahu, Hawaii

Born and raised in Hawaii, I have come to love and appreciate the ocean - from tackling the waves bodysurfing to designing ocean-inspired jewelry.  Each piece of jewelry tries to capture the essence of the ocean: glistening blue-green waters, glowing pearls, smooth pieces of seaglass that wash up on shore... Wherever life happens to take me, Hawaii will always be my home, and I'll always have a piece of it with me tucked away in my designs.  I'm so pleased to finally be able to share a bit of paradise with all of you.