Friday Features: ArtisticWill Studios

Glitter Rose Paperweight by ArtisticWill

Welcome to the latest edition of Friday Features. This week we meet Haruka of ArtisticWill Studios on Etsy. Read on to discover more of this beautiful art!

My name is Haruka and I run ArtisticWill Studios on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/ArtisticWill . I create

 Sparkling Glitter Art and keepsakes. Hand painted with multiple layer of sparkling glitter in a stained glass style.

Years ago, I started painting with glitter when my mother had Alzheimer’s, being a full time caregiver I needed an outlet to relieve my stress. Now, I paint in her memory and to share her love of things that sparkle. I also create 

Illustrations, scrapbook and photography.



ArtisticWill Studios was first my husband’s company where he sold photography. I took over the name to keep it in the family, and “studios” represents our family of artists. My daughter is into anime/ manga, my son builds and creates with online buildings programs, my husband photographs, and I paint with glitter.

Stained Glass Pansys Pendant by ArtisticWill

Best selling piece: Stained glass style Iris pendant, I’ve sold several pieces. See it here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/77449922/stained-glass-irises-pendant

I sell my work on Etsy, Zazzle and a local art gallery.  

artisticwill.etsy.com   www.zazzle.com/artisticwillstudios



 I blog about my glitter art, events I’ve been involved with and supporting talented handmade artist and crafters, occasionally placing the spotlight on those deserving.artisticwillstudios.blogspot.com/ 

Glitter Decorative Gold Cross by ArtisticWill

I also have Facebook pages: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArtisticWillStudios.Art
Facebook Zazzle page: www.facebook.com/pages/ArtisticWill-Studios/115132341899570 

I’m a member of The IndiExhibit, a global group of talented artists enhancing our brand with Hollywood celebrities for large award shows as Emmy’s, American Music award, Golden Globe, MTV, etc.. and charities. 

Several Hollywood stars own my glitter art and seen by big wigs in Hollywood. I’ve participated in charities by donating for raffles and fundraiser for their cause. We are constantly look for new talent to enhance their brands. I donate a percentage to Alzheimer association and other charities. 

Amazing! Please be sure to visit Haruka's shop and see more beautiful art! http://www.etsy.com/shop/ArtisticWill

Would you like to be featured? Visit this post for more info (and Yes! It's FREE!) http://meglittlestudio.blogspot.ca/2012/02/friday-features-i-want-you.html

Tuesdays Treasures: Cleopatra's Fire and Sand Necklace

Cleopatra's Fire and Sand Necklace

So I completely forgot that yesterday was Valentine's Day (belated happy Valentine's Day, btw), and forgot that I had my whole day scheduled around making Valentine's day great for the husband. He takes great care of me, so I like to make at least one day all about him :)

As such, I didn't post this necklace yesterday, when I should have, and I'm sorry. Without further adieu, therefore, here is the necklace you've been waiting for!

This incredible pendant necklace comes from Cleopatra's story. Inspired by history (the Egyptians were known for their multi-pendant beaded necklaces), this will be the perfect addition to your wardrobe. Wear this with your jeans or a sexy dress, and see how this powerful statement necklace changes your outfit from nice to fantastic in a heartbeat!

I imagine Cleopatra as a strong woman, after ruling Egypt for years, meeting and falling in love with Marc Antony. After having his twins, I can see her having something like this necklace made to treat herself. With its large focal beads, and smooth, deep red carnelian beads, this would have appealed to her as a powerful statement piece. 

The necklace as it drapes when worn

Using three large Autumn Stone beads, carnelian stone beads, silver-lined gold Czech glass beads, black glass seed beads and 14karat gold filled findings, I finished the piece with a handcrafted "S" hook clasp. 14 karat gold filled Wire Guardians are used on all strand connections for extra durability and a stylish look.

This incredible One-Of-A-Kind necklace is now available in my Etsy store. Get it while you can, this one is so beautiful, you really should treat yourself! http://www.etsy.com/listing/93027010/cleopatras-fire-and-sand-carnelian

Newest Piece - Sterling Silver and Turquoise Pendant

 I am so incredibly excited to show you all my newest piece! I finished it last night at my metalsmithing class and I am very proud of it. I purchased a turquoise cabochon (a flat-backed stone without a hole), that has a rough face (not perfectly rounded on the top, it has some bumps and grooves that a natural stone should) for my first bezel setting piece. I sawed out the shape of the sterling silver back piece, filed and sanded it repeatedly to get it nice and smooth. There is a bit of Japanese influence here I think ;-)

 Then I created the bezel from a piece of wide fine silver bezel wire. I soldered the bezel together and then soldered the bezel onto the back piece, after I had soldered the bail (the tube that the chain goes through at the top). The bezel soldering part was a bit scary as it takes a while to get all of the little solder pieces to flow at the same time, without causing fire scale (a mottling of the sterling silver caused when you heat it for too long) or melting the bezel. I did it though, and then I had to set the stone.

Because the stone has a rough top, not all of the surfaces are the same height so I had to file and sand down my bezel to make it fit the contours of the stone. That took a while as I didn't want to scratch my piece or the stone. Finally it was ready; I popped the stone in and started to push the bezel into place over the stone, carefully fitting it all into place. Once the bezel wire was around the top of the stone, I had to smooth and burnish it, finally finishing the piece with polishing to get it to a mirror shine.

Lovely! I can't wait to wear this to the Farmers' Market this weekend!

Newest Leaf in Copper!

Hey everyone! Sorry it has been so long (where did the week go?), but I hope to make up for it with this teaser of my newest piece.

You may remember another recent post with my first copper leaf pin, and here is a similar (but not exactly the same!) leaf in copper, with a torch finish, but this one is a pendant! I soldered a piece of copper tubing on the back so that it hangs in approximately the same way as it is pictured above. I still have to get it on some nice chain, and make a nice clasp to go with it, so I'll have more photos when that is done too :)

That is all for now, I have a marathon baking session ahead of me, or I'd spend much more time here with you all.
Have a great day!

New Celtic Necklace!

Boudica's Sheild 3Spiral Celtic Necklace

Just added this Celtic necklace to my Etsy store, what do you think? http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21764753

Wordless Wednesday - Custom Pieces

Monday Monday Monday - I Couldn't Think of a Fitting Alliteration for Monday

~Simple Headbands: on the Top with White Swarovski Pearls, on the Bottom with Czech Glass Fire Polish Beads~

~Simple Headband on the Top with Cream Swarovski Pearls, Flower Headband on the Bottom with White Swarovski Pearls~

Flower Headband with White Swarovski Pearls and Small Czech Glass Fire Polish Beads~

I'm Ba-aaack! Well after an unplanned three-day Blogger hiatus, I am back with some wonderful goodies to show you! Here are the tiaras that I custom made for a store near Toronto. I made the bases from scratch using thick silver plated wire, hammered it flat, and then tightly wrapped the bases with fine silver plated wire. I made loops on the ends of the bases so that bobby pins could be inserted through them to hold the tiaras in longer hair if desired. I then used more fine gauge silver wire to wrap the beads on the bases in different patterns. I used Swarovski crystal pearls and Czech glass fire polish beads in clear AB for great sparkle and subtle, yet pretty impact. These tiaras have great weight to them, without being too heavy. They are child-sized, but would work well in a 'mini tiara' look on an adults up do as well. I hope you like them!!

Also, I got my hand painted pendant from Gypsy Mare Studios this weekend - and oh my is it ever gorgeous! I can tell you, I'm not taking it off any time soon, Thank you so much Jennifer!~My Beautiful New Pendant!~

Thankful Thursday - I Won a Prize!! Plus, a Little Contest of My Own...

~The Gorgeous Pendant I Won, Hand Painted by GypsyMareStudios on Etsy~

I love horses. I always have, and I always will. I rode and competed in hunters, jumpers and equitation in my youth on as many schooling horses I could find, eventually graduating to leasing horses and showing before an injury and lack of money put that to a heart-wrenching stop.

I still love horses. LOVE THEM! I draw them when I have the time. I really should list some of my drawings; though after seeing some of the other artists on Etsy, I have to say I am rather humbled by my drawings :)

Enter GypsyMareStudios. Her art is absolutely stunning. She always finds a way to bring her art to life, to bring the soul of her subjects to bear in the most amazing ways. The light she paints is as stunning as her shadows. The first time I saw her art I fell in love. Deeply in love with her obvious passion for her art. She loves what she does and it shows - boy does it ever!

Anyway, one of her Etsy street teams, WHOA Team, was having a blog giveaway and I won one of the prizes! I actually won the stunning pendant you see above, isn't that amazing? I never win anything and this, well, this was the one thing I would win if I had to choose from all the contests I have entered.

You really must visit her Etsy Shop and her Blog. Grab a cup of coffee and get ready to spend some time poking around - It is worth every second you spend on her sites, her art is gorgeous. You will find paintings, jewelry, accessories and much, much more - and not all of her art is horses, for those who aren't particularly horse-loving folk.

Thank You so much Jennifer from GypsyMareStudios!

Now, to share the love, I am going to have a leetle contest of my own:
What is your favorite item from my shop and why? The first two people to visit my Etsy Store, and respond to this post with the link of their favorite item and why it is their favorite will each get a secret surprise!
Happy hunting ;-)

Today's the Day!

It's finally here! Tonight I teach my first jewellery-making class at the Bead Store in Kemptville!
I think there is one more spot open so if you want to learn how to make a wire wrapped donut pendant like the one above, call them to see if you can come too! It'll be lots of fun and a great Christmas present that you get to brag that you made yourself.
Don't forget my SUPER SALE and enter the free December Contest to try and win a great prize!
Don't forget that 10% of the total sales before taxes and shipping go to the charity of the month, Epic Farms
Meghann

Sterling Silver Wire Wrapped Stone Donut

~Front of Pendant~

~Back of Pendant~

Here is a beautiful pendant that I am excited to be teaching people to make at The Bead Store in Kemptville on November 6. I used sterling silver wire and hand formed it into a 'cage' to hold the stone donut. Then I created a wrapped loop with the center wire, and used the outer wires to make a decorative, yet functional spiral cage for the top of the bead. Gorgeous! Check out The bead Store's Website for details!
Meghann

With Colder Weather Comes...Fall Jewellery!

~Gold, Autumn Stone, Carnelian and African Wood Necklace~

It is getting cooler, the leaves are changing, and new inspiration seems to come from every glance outside. Chunky jewellery is in, and I made this necklace just in time it seems! I took a beautiful faceted autumn stone drop pendant (yes, autumn stone is its real name!) and I caged it in 14karat gold filled wire, adding small scroll details on both sides of the pendant. I love this stone because of the wonderful colour striations in it - here a sandy brown, there a bit of cream, and a dark chocolate mahogany streak for added oomph. Then I strung it from a necklace dripping with autumn red carnelian stones, gold plated beads and dark brown African wood round beads. I then finished it off with a 14karat gold filled toggle clasp. This has all of fall's most beautiful colours in all of its rich looking glory! It's also affordable - and one of a kind! I used my last African wood round beads on this necklace, which I'm a bit sad by, as they are so versatile, but that just means I'll have to go shopping for more! This piece is for sale on my Etsy store, as are a few other goodies not mentioned here. And, until the end of the month, all my items are 20% off when you use the coupon code "LITT" in the notes to seller when you purchase!! Take advantage now and get a head start on your holiday shopping, saving money and time all at once!
Keep checking here, I'll be posting more often to keep you in the loop!
Meghann

Sterling Silver Wire-Wrapped Turquoise Pendant and Happy Mother's Day!

~Pendant Details on Top, Whole Necklace on Bottom Left, Clasp Detail on Bottom Right~

Before I get to the necklace, Happy Mother's Day! I hope you are all having a great day - you deserve it!

This necklace was a bit tricky at first, but once I got into the rhythm of it, it was an absolute blast to make. I took a Stabilized Turquoise pendant at about an inch long and wrapped it with over 7 feet of sterling silver wire to secure it in place and create the bail (the part that the pendant attaches to the chain with). I then took some beautiful sterling silver beads, silver plate beads, and Czech glass black beads and used the fine sterling silver wire to attach them to the front of the pendant. The entire piece is suspended from fine sterling silver chain with a sterling silver toggle clasp to finish it. I love this necklace - it feels very smooth against the skin and has a very earthy-oceanic feel to it...Like The Little Mermaid's necklace that she could wear from the ocean to the beach! This is one of those go-anywhere necklaces that could be worn with jeans while cleaning the house, or a very nice dress for an evening out.

Truly gorgeous, I even made earrings to match, but haven't taken pictures of them yet as my Fibromyalgia has been really bad these last few days. The earrings will be on the website soon, but this necklace is currently on the website for sale at: www.littlestudio.ca

I hope you like it!

Meghann