Vintage Inspered, Retro and Antique Style Jewelry

There are many Vintage inspired, Retro and Antique Style pieces in my collection. Some of them are made of brass, antique gold and antique silver. I have always liked retro style clothes, accessories, jewelry,  music... People say that the new is well forgotten old. Maybe that's why I sometimes create pieces like these.

Trying on those things makes us go back in time - where we have never been or have been as children, but do not remember much about it. It is like a time machine, and I think the only way to get back in time is getting into that time machine - look at old pictures, touch all those clothes and accessories, put them on, look at ourselves in the mirror and imagine ourselves next to our parents or grandparents when they were young, like in a movie...

All these things remind us of old times - times that seem to be long ago. Then we go through belongings of our family members left in the attics of our houses and all these things make us feel like we are in the past.

We remember being happy and excited just looking at those things. We memorize that unique and unrepeatable feeling after putting on grandma's jewelry or grandpa's bowler hat or holding his fancy cane in our hands...

Even later, taking something out of an old chest or a music box, we still think of ourselves as a part of that generation, feel someone's past in our possessions. We feel warm and light inside; we feel somehow connected... 

All jewelry items are made by Levine Jewelry.

They are for sale on ETSY.

Natural Fresh Water Pearls

Some people think just because I make jewelry, I must have a lot of different pieces for myself. That is not true. I enjoy creating them very much, but I don't really wear my jewelry, except one set - earrings and a necklace - they're mine. The set is plane, but original. I have made it of fresh water pearls and silver findings. For this set I have chosen big pearls - 10 x 11-12 mm. All of the pearls are slightly imperfect and different in shape, but I like them set this way.

Some time ago I did not like pearls at all. I always thought pearls are only for old women. Several years ago my husband and I were in Hawaii and went on a tour to a jewelry factory. When I saw a very interesting video about how pearls are grown, and through a thick glass observed jewelers separating pears according to their size and color, jewelers making handmade pieces right there, I fell in love with pearls - these elegant gifts of an ocean. Next day I bought a shell in a jewelry store. A saleslady opened it in front of me and took out of it my first pearl. It was black. I was very excited and happy. Five minutes later I decided to set this pearl in a ring. I still wear that ring.

These simple earrings are made of fresh water pearls 10 x 12 mm. 

Since that time I love pearls. I just love them in different sizes, shapes and color. I buy a lot of them for my future pieces.

These pearls are the biggest ones I have ever had for making jewelry. They are 11 x 13 mm. I have made these earrings in an antique style. I used brass filigree here. This pair of earrings is another member of fresh water pearl family.

All jewelry items are made by Levine Jewelry.

They are for sale on ETSY.

Some things about making jewelry

I remember when I first started making jewelry and shopped at Michael's and Jo-Ann fabric and craft store,  I read labels with words that were new for me. Moreover, they did not mean anything to me because all of them were unfamiliar, and I simply did not bother myself with all those words...

These are simple tools everyone can use when starts making jewelry. You don't need a lot of fancy tools. These are the most used common ones for the beginners.

In my first post I mentioned "findings". For those who are not familiar with jewelry making terms and have no ideas what this word means, I will try to make it easier for you.

According to a dictionary, "findings" are small tools and materials used by an artisan. Example: a jeweler's findings. As it is written in Wikipedia, "...jewelry findings are the small parts and pieces used in the manufacture and assembly of jewelry".

And according to the dictionary of Fire Mountain Gems and Beads Company, a definition of "findings" is "a jewelry-making term for any metal component used to connect and/or assemble jewelry. Findings are materials used to thread through, glue on, hook into, link onto or otherwise attach beads and components together. Findings include jump rings, clasps, bails, headpins, ear wires and charms, to name a few."

Here is another term I used in my last post - "gold" or "gold tone". So any of "gold tone, gold colored or electroplated" means it is not gold as in measurable in karats. When selling their jewelry, some artisan write in description of their pieces - "gold", but it does not necessary mean real (10, 18, 22 or 24 karat) gold unless it is mentioned, for instance, "10 karat gold."

I use a variety of findings - silver tone, gold ones, silver plated, 925 sterling silver, 14 Karat gold, platinum, simple metal and brass. Here, in this post you can see the pictures of some of the findings I use when create my pieces.

All jewelry items are made by Levine Jewelry.

They are for sale on ETSY.

.

My collection

I am delighted to see you here, and I am honored to present to your attention some pieces from the collection of jewelry made by me. In this collection you can find single items like:

- earrings
- necklaces (pendants)

and two kinds of sets, like:

- necklaces with matching earrings
- bracelets with matching earrings

In my collection, you will never find two identical pieces because each one is original and unique. I never create the same piece twice. Each piece is the only one of its kind. So, if you decide to purchase any of the items I've created, you can be sure that nobody else has that piece.

This is one of my favorite pieces - a necklace and matching earrings. I made this set of 5 mm round perfectly polished olive green jade and gold tone findings. It looks simple, but elegant. It was a birthday gift for one of my co-workers.

I like jade. It is one of the vibrant and juicy natural gemstones. It is very popular in Chine. Chinese believed jade has been a protection against and cure for kidney diseases. Jade is regarded as a symbol of everything good, beautiful and precious. Chinese believe that jade would bring luck and prosperity. For thousands of years it has been used for the finest objects and cult figures.

 

The word "jade" (sometimes it is spelled "jaid"or "jadeite") is applied to two different minerals: nephrite and jadeite. Long ago I had no idea that jade can be different in color. Nephrite, for example, can be found creamy white - in China they call it "mutton fat" jade, a variety of green colors (my favorite), blue, lavender (or purple), pink and mauve. Jadeite can be found bright emerald-green, blue, lavender and sometimes orange, pink and brown. The emerald green jade called "imperial jade".

Both nephrite and jadeite are very hard, but jadeite is more rare and a little harder than nephrite. Therefore jadeite regarded as more precious gemstone than nephrite. The strength of jadeite is greater than strength of steel. That's why many early civilizations used  jadeite for knives, axes, and other kind of weapons for centuries.

The most important deposits of jadeite are found in Burma, China, Guatemala, Japan, Canada, Kazakhstan, Russia and New Zealand. The most important deposits of nephrite are Brazil, China, Russia, Canada, Taiwan, Alaska and Australia.

All jewelry items are made by Levine Jewelry.

My story

(bracelet - different color crystals, silver)

Making jewelry is my hobby and passion. I've never taken any jewelry making classes, nor read a book about it; however, I have always counted on my imagination, taste and intuition.

(necklace - hematite and peach glass pearls)

While making new pieces, I'm in my own world - never tired, never bored. I love the creative process; it makes me happy. I never start working if I don’t feel like it, and I never leave work unfinished because I can't wait for it to be done. I design all of my pieces quickly, and with confidence. The moment that I sit down at the table and look at the gemstones that I have, I see a clear picture of what I'm going to do. I use color and accent beads for depth and texture.

(unusually shaped crystals, 925 sterling silver)

If I'm not satisfied with the jewelry findings I've got, I try to find the ones that complete my pieces in the best way. I am always sure of what I am going to do and seldom change my original design. This is how I work...

(set - necklace and earrings - amethyst, silver)

I use a variety of gemstones from all over the world - different kinds of agate, amethyst, animal bone, aventurine, carnelian, cat's eye, coral (pink and red), garnet, hematite, howlite, different colors of jade, different kinds of jasper, lapis, magnetite, malachite, moonstone, onyx, opal, peacock stone, pearls (different shapes and colors), rhodonite, mother of pearl, different kinds of quartz, tiger's eye, turquoise, unakite and Swarovski crystals.

(set - a necklace and earrings - genuine fresh water peach pearls, silver)

Welcome

Welcome to my blog!

It is a place where I am going to share with you the pictures and descriptions of my handmade pieces. I will also write about different gemstones. You can leave your comments here or ask questions. I will try to answer each of them.

I like genuine gemstones and appreciate their beauty, admire high-quality glass beads of different colors, and sparkles of Swarovski crystals. I use my imagination, taste, and skills to make these pieces beautiful and exquisite.

 
Below you can find a link to my ETSY shop with some of my jewelry items for sale. I would be glad to see you there.

My shop on ETSY (click here)

(temporary the shop isn't working)