Etsy Shop for AchAchLiebling

Pinecone Snuggle

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:58:09 -0500

$20.00
A hefty vintage pinecone (copper-rich brass) and vintage enamel squirrel charm from Japan nestle at the end of 18" of red copper chain.

Friendship Knot

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 13:10:47 -0500

$26.00
Knots can represent promises and bonds, remind us of summers camping or invoke images of the sea.

This knot is vintage, brass and lovely. It is soldered onto a handmade sterling silver band, formed and fused from silver wire.

Include your ring size in the "note to seller" at checkout, and I will make you a Friendship Knot ring in any size you need.

Prague

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:21:30 -0500

$120.00
Prague is subtly distinctive, eco-friendly ring. The dramatic black solitaire 'stone' is in fact vintage pressed glass from Western Germany. Set in a timeless basket setting, the glass gem has an opaque quality and a bit of roughness around the edges. The old, unusual costume gem hints at a world of gypsy magic and wanderlust while the classic styling makes this ring a versatile choice for everyday.

The sterling silver used in this ring is recycled and the glass gem is vintage deadstock. The band is 2mm in width and the gem approx. 10mm in diameter. The surface is a shiny polished finish. This ring can be customized with a matte look upon request.

Sizes currently available: 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5.

Please note that glass is a somewhat fragile material and wear with care.

Sweet Hive Earrings

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:04:39 -0500

$35.00
Intricately hand-pierced beehives cut from brass sheet make for the sweetest pair of earrings you ever did see. The posts soldered onto the backs are sterling silver, as are the clutches, so as not to irritate sensitive lobes. The brass hives are finished with a steel brush for a lovely matte sheen.

Itty-bitty (less than a quarter-inch across) and sweet as honey, these earrings were inspired by the urban beekeeping explosion that is all a-buzz here in S.F.

Dawn

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:04:39 -0500

$120.00
The beautiful cabochon of Wild Horse Jasper used in this piece (which was dug, cut and polished by an independent artisinal miner) has a pattern and coloration that reminds me of landscapes in the Great Basin desert. To me, it looks like dawn, as the sunlight creeps over a sandy plane.

The cabochon is set in a sterling silver bezel, with soldered loops attaching the pendant to 18" of sterling silver chain. The necklace opens and closes with a hand-forged clasp and is accented by a small sterling tag featuring my logo. The silver has been oxidized and brushed to further suggest the moody, shifting light of early dawn.

The pendant is 1.75" at the widest point and 1" at the tallest. It is approx. 0.25" deep. It is beautiful and substantial without being flashy or overbearing. Handcrafted with love, this necklace is built to last.

Baby Bear Earrings

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:25:01 -0500

$30.00

These earrings are adorable, petite, and completely handmade. The baby bear silhouettes (only about .25" tall!) are painstakingly hand-cut from sterling silver. Sterling silver posts are soldered to the backs of the earrings, and sterling silver backings comfortably hold the earrings in place.

Herkimer Collar

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:20:43 -0500

$50.00
This one-of-a-kind necklace features five beads of herkimer quartz and sterling silver. The small quartz crystals are evenly spaced around the front of the necklace. The effect is elegant and pretty, and the rough, natural cuts of the herkimer quartz add just a hint of wildness.

The necklace is 15.5" long and is secured with a spring clasp. It sits high on the collarbone.

Majestic Elk

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:33:02 -0500

$28.00
The handmade pendant is made from plastic and has been printed with the image of a majestic elk. Or deer. I'm cityfolk, ok, so I'm not totally sure what he is. But he sure is majestic.

The green-on-black print is sealed with a protective coating. The pendant is about 1" across and hangs from 16" of sterling silver chain.

To keep your necklace looking spiffy, do not submerge the pendant in water (walking in a drizzle won't hurt it, but do take it off before showering).

Pagoda Earrings

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:56:42 -0500

$14.00
The Pagoda Earrings feature vintage brass stampings that suggest the entryway to a pagoda. The stampings were likely produced in the 1970s. They have a deep natural patina, formed by oxidation over time, that give the earrings an appearance of mystery and depth.

The ear wires are niobium, a highly non-reactive metal that is well-suited for people with especially sensitive skin. The ear wires have a dark hue that works well with the vintage charm. Total length of earring, from the top of the ear wire to the bottom of the charm, is about 1.5".

Peridot Moon

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:40:24 -0500

$30.00
Simple, straightforward and beautiful, Peridot Moon features a circle pendant (about .5" in diameter) handmade from sterling silver which is oxidized for a dark color. Atop the circle's rim sits a small, bright peridot gemstone set into a sterling bezel.

Chain is gold-filed and 18" long. Necklace secures with a spring clasp which is accented by an Ach Ach Liebling tag.

Shell

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:59:07 -0500

$18.00
A gorgeous vintage brass clamshell charm from France hangs on 16" of delicate vintage brass chain. The clamshell charm shows a beautiful natural verdigris patina here and there. The chain passes through a loop on the back of the shell, giving the shell the illusion of floating atop the chain. The shell is small but not tiny, about one inch tall.

Chain secures with a brass lobster clasp accompanied by an Ach Ach Liebling quality tag.

Tourmaline Ring

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:01:33 -0500

$24.00
Size 5.75

Sterling silver handmade rind with a bead pattern on the band features a tiny (2mm) dark green tourmaline stone set in a fancy bezel setting. Ring is perfect for stacking with others and also looks sweet on its own.

Aeroplane

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:56:00 -0500

$40.00
So sweet and nostalgic you'd almost think it flew out of the margins of your 8th-grade composition book (that is, if you doodle in German), this necklace was in fact inspired by a sentimental charm bracelet made sometime between the turn-of-the-century and the 1920s. The wee airplane is intricately detailed and is inscribed with the saying "mein Herz fliegt dir Zu" (my heart flies toward you), only there is a tiny carved heart-shape in place of the word "heart." This really couldn't be any sweeter.

The tiny charm hangs on 16" of sterling silver chain, which opens with a spring clasp and is accented by a sterling Ach Ach Liebling tag in the back.

Sanguine

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:06:02 -0500

$30.00
Size 7

Sanguine features a beautiful deep pink-red faceted garnet set into a handmade bezel setting. The ring and setting are made of sterling silver and have a rough matte finish, giving the ring a modern, industrial look.

Amber

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:23:13 -0500

$26.00
Size 8

A beautiful ring for stacking or wearing on its own. Handmade band of sterling silver with a beaded pattern features a lovely gem of polished amber set in a sterling silver bezel

Meteorite

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:26:53 -0500

$62.00
These special (and limited) necklaces each feature a truly unique meteorite pendant. The meteorite stone is heavy for its size. The color is a slightly shiny gray-black and the shapes are really funky: they range in size from .5" to 1" and have smooth ridges and natural facets.

The chain is gold-fill and 18" in length. The necklace is secured with a spring clasp, which is accented by an Ach Ach Liebling quality tag.

Aquamarine Moon

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:10:24 -0500

$32.00
The simple, organic shape and refined composition of my Aquamarine Moon necklace makes it a versatile piece. This hand forged pendant is made from sterling silver which has been lightly hammered for texture and oxidized to darken the color. Set inside the circle is a small but bright bezel-set faceted aquamarine stone. The circle is about .75" in diameter.

Chain length is 18". Necklace is secured with a spring clasp, accompanied by an Ach Ach Liebling quality tag.

A lovely choice for a gift.

The Bluest Eye

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:36:00 -0500

$30.00
Size 7.5

LAST ONE! SALE!

Eyes feature prominently in the folk art of many cultures, often as symbol of protection and vigilance to guard a person, home or community against bad luck, disease or curses.

With that in mind, I've made a protective ring featuring a small glass blue eye, once intended to be used in taxidermy or doll-making, now repurposed and bezel-set on a handmade sterling silver band.

Passion Ring

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:45:18 -0500

$30.00
Size 7.5

This is a ring of beautiful color and proportion. The 3mm garnet cabochon is a rich, bright reddish purple. The stone is bezel-set in sterling silver on a handmade band. The band is 2mm in diameter with a half-round shape and is also made of sterling silver.

Maple Leaf Earrings

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:41:28 -0500

$30.00
Tiny and meticulously hand-cut maple leaves and fabricated from thick copper sheet. Sterling silver posts are soldered onto the backs, and clutches are sterling silver, too. The earrings longest dimension is approx .5" from one tip of the leaf to the other.

Copper will naturally darken over time if exposed to air. A little rubbing with a piece of steel wool will return its original brightness.

Moonstone Ring

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:36:46 -0500

$40.00
Size 8

Handmade solid sterling silver ring is 3mm across and has a classic half-round shape. The bezel-set moonstone is 5mm in diameter and has spectacular play-of-light and subtle, beautiful coloring.

The Crown Jewels

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:59:06 -0500

$14.00
These earrings make use of vintage silver-plated crown charms that are incredibly detailed and very pretty. Ear hooks are made of sterling silver. Including the ear wire, earrings are just over 1" long and a little more than .5" across.

SALE Gargoyle Pin

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:29:51 -0500

$30.00
This achingly detailed sterling silver silhouette of a gargoyle was lovingly cut by hand using my trusty jeweler's saw. With my oxy-propane torch, I soldered a sturdy sterling pin stem to the back of the piece. The pin stem is rather short but strong, making it appropriate for use on ties, outerwear, sweaters, bags, scarves and hats. It comes with a nickel silver clutch back and I will include an extra rubber back in case you should ever need it.

Like all my jewelry, this arrives packaged in a handsome tin ready for gift-giving (or keeping). This and other pins are carded on vintage playing cards for a special and rare effect.

Gargoyle is about 1" tall and has a brushed matte finish.

+++this item is on sale, marked down from $40, until the end of June+++

Lepidolite Quartz

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:06:52 -0500

$89.00
This necklace features a heavy pendant of irregularly-faceted lepidolite quartz on 18" of gold-filled chain. The rock, which is mainly quartz crystal with small inclusions of the pink mineral lepidolite, is gorgeous and warm-hued: it seems almost to glow. It's length is about 1.75", it's width abouth 1.3" and it is approx. .5" in depth.

Clasp is handmade, elegant sterling silver and is accented with an Ach Ach Liebling quality tag.

Golden Ammonite

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:44:12 -0500

$62.00
This necklace features an unusual specimen of pyritized ammonite. During fossilization, the cells of the ammonite were replaced by pyrite (also known as fool's gold) creating a rare, shimmery gem.

The ammonite hangs on 18" of gold-fill chain that closes with a spring clasp and is accompanied by a decorative Ach Ach Liebling tag. Ammonite has an approximate diameter of 1".

Please note that the ammonite has an imperfection on the outer rim, and also that this is a delicate, natural jewel and should be handled with care.

Button Button

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:37:22 -0400

$50.00
Simple, solid, silver buttons. These earrings are the perfect combination of cheeky and, ahem, buttoned-up-- unassuming enough for the office or a dressy luncheon yet far more witty and unusual than, say, pearls. And the menswear nod is an unexpected element in something so dainty. Button Button earrings look just as appropriate with a concert tee and slashed jeans as with a sweater set, and they are so effortlessly adorable they are sure to be your go-to accessory, your sweet wardrobe staple.

Inspired by a huge cache of notions passed down to me from my great-grandfather (who worked in a button factory) and grandmother (a factory seamstress), these earrings were made using the lost-wax casting process after making a mold of the tiniest button I could find. Small, precious, timeless and humble-- I am very proud of this design. Earrings are solid sterling silver with sterling posts and backings.

Novia

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:31:44 -0400

$18.00
A sweet vintage brass pin, cleaned and brushed and jazzed up with a little 'crystal' pendant (it's really vintage lucite).

Great on jean jackets and bags, cardigans, etc. A nice gift for a sweetie or best friend (novia means girlfriend in Spanish).

Branch

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 18:55:18 -0400

$60.00
Beautiful silhouetted springtime branch with buds is painstakingly hand-cut from yellow brass and finished to a subtle sheen.

Hangs on 16" on gold-filled chain.

Ocean Liner

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 20:24:21 -0400

$40.00
There's something so romantic about the sea and even more so about the decadent behemoths that used to ferry people across the oceans.

Necklace is brass and 18" long, featuring a detailed vintage charm and watch gears that add a mechanical aura.

Fear of Trains

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 20:24:21 -0400

$60.00
This is a brand-new design inspired by a Magnetic Fields song about, well, trains.

This necklace is made almost entirely of re-used parts-- the exceptions being a new clasp and handmade and soldered sterling silver loop and bail on the pendant.

The pendant itself is made from a vintage copper bezel. In the setting is the head of an old railroad nail, that once held a track in place (the number on the nail head indicates the year that nail was put in so that railroad workers would know when it was time to replace it). Yes, I sawed through an iron nail. No, it wasn't fun. But I think the result is worth it.

Hangs on 19" of vintage copper chain.

Actual number on nail will vary.

Fossil

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:33:54 -0400

$45.00
The trilobite is an extinct marine arthropod from the Paleozoic Era. Neat!

This is trilobite fossil cast in jeweler's yellow bronze using the lost wax process.

The casting was tumbled, then hand polished, to bring up a beautiful, bright golden shine.

This substantive conversation piece hangs on 18" of delicate, figaro-style brass chain.

Chug-a-lug

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:33:54 -0400

$32.00
Petite hand-cut sterling whiskey (or, um, milk!) bottles solderd to sterling posts and backed with sterling silver nuts/ clutches. These earrings arrive handsomely packaged, ready for gift-giving (or keeping). Perfect little touch to wear on a night out or to a recovery brunch in the morning.

Rope

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:33:47 -0400

$40.00
A uniquely elegant and eye-catching number, Rope is made from solid brass vintage findings that I picked up in terrible condition-- greasy, grimey, and dull-- and set about restoring via deep cleaning and multiple polishings on a lathe until the original beauty was revealed: a rich golden hue with a lustrous shine that encourages light to play attractively on the curves and corners of the metal.

I drilled a hole at the top of the knot-like finding through which to thread a 14k/20 gold-filled jumpring which matches the color and tone of the pendant amazingly well. I hung the knot on an 18" long sterling silver chain for a pleasing contrast. If you'd like a different length or chain, just ask.

Cub Necklace

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:45:03 -0400

$50.00
This adorable cub was cut by hand from sterling silver. An hidden loop soldered onto the back gives the cub a weightless floating appearance as it hangs on the chain.

Necklace comes with a 16" sterling silver ball-chain and arrives in a gift tin. If you need a different length of chain, let me know.

Tiny Bang

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 01:45:45 -0400

$32.00
Tiny revolver-shaped studs, hand-sawed in sterling with soldered posts.

Loop Hoops

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 01:45:44 -0400

$35.00
Simple, glamorous, easygoing hoops of handformed 14k-goldfill wire hang from your ears and below, blackened rings of soldered and forged sterling silver.

Prepster Posts

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:58:03 -0400

$30.00
You may have noticed, I have kind of a thing for crests. These petite copper crests were cast-off deadstock I purchased in bulk from a warehouse. Who knows what they were originally intended to be-- they're kickin' earrings now.

The crests were thoroughly cleaned and sterling silver posts were soldered to the back. Earrings come with sterling silver clutches, too.

Trilobite

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 11:53:00 -0400

$45.00
The trilobite is an extinct marine arthropod from the Paleozoic Era. Neat!

This is trilobite fossil cast in jeweler's yellow bronze using the lost wax process.

The casting was tumbled, then hand polished, to bring up a beautiful, bright golden shine. This substantive conversation piece hangs on 18" of brass chain.

Grass

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:35:40 -0400

$45.00
This handmade sterling silver ring features a beautiful, unique and cheerful peridot stone. Faceted and steep, the peridot is romantic and light-catching yet still playful enough to wear everyday.

This ring is size 6 and cannot be resized or remade. It is one-of-a-kind.

Bone Loop Hoops

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:33:32 -0400

$35.00
Tea-stained and antiqued bone rings hang from and hand-formed and sterling silver hoops of a substantial size. The silver is lightly hammered for strength and an earthy look. Earrings are very organic and primitive looking but look really good as an unaffected beautiful adornment with a simple dark dress or dressy top, too.

White Bronze Fossil

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:48:31 -0400

$45.00
Trilobites, the Paris Hiltons of Paleontology, were prehistoric critters that plastered the fossil record with impressions of you-know-who.

Using the lost-wax method of casting, I reproduced a fossil in white bronze, a jeweler's alloy.

Hangs on 18" of sterling chain.

Pan

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 13:18:56 -0400

$30.00
In Greek mythology, the god Pan, companion to nymphs and shepherds, guardian of wooded glens and wild places, and entrancing musician, was imagined as a satyr-like creature and often depicted with hooves and small horns.

Made of silver wire and drilled and polished antler, this necklace belongs to that wild, woodsy spirit. Hangs on 16" sterling silver chain.

Totem and Taboo

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 13:18:56 -0400

$30.00
Made from vintage parts and chain, the Totem and Taboo and features a carved bone pendant and heavy brass totemic figure on 19" of brass krinkle chain. The perfect necklace for archaeological digs and/ or playing social anthropologist, people-watching at the hottest watering-hole in town.

Very Taxing

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:32:19 -0400

$25.00
This is an unusual necklace, made from a real sales tax token (from the '30s, I believe) slung on a generous 19" of krinkle chain.

Great look layered or alone.

Patina Fossil

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:38:26 -0400

$45.00
Cast bronze trilobite given a magical-looking blackish-purplish patina, hung on an 18" sterling silver chain.

Dairy

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 12:31:12 -0400

$48.00
This big, chunky pendant is a cast bronze replica of an antique dairy token. It's rustic, unusual and a little bit cheeky.

Also, it's reversible. Double trouble. One side reads "Bolton Dairy." The other, "Good for one quart milk."

Highly polished and golden-hued, some antiquing around the lettering adds contrast and keeps the text legible. Like all bronze objects, this one will develop a patina over time, adding to its country charm. If, however, you prefer you baubles shiny and bright, a little polish on a cloth should bring that golden luster right back.

Hangs on 18" of gold-filled chain (top photo) or 18" thick copper chain (second photo). Please specify preference at checkout.

Range Life

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:58:12 -0400

$22.00
Aren't these steer heads amazing? I found a dusty paper bag full of them while scavanging a defunct manufacturing plant on the East Coast and knew they had to be. . . something.

Made of cast bronze (or possibly iron, but the weight/ smell incline me to believe it is bronze-- yes, I do sniff metals fairly regularly!) and over 3" in diameter, the steers were originally made as drawer pulls or some kind of bar hardware, but as it turns out, are the perfect size for a hefty key fob. The size and weight and general awesomeness are especially handy if you are like me and need something substantive to anchor your keys so you don't constantly lose track of them.

The key ring is also vintage, a caribiner that opens and closes with a screw mechanism. Even if you don't need a key ring, this steer head just looks hawt hangin' off of your belt loop or backpack.

The Fighter

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:01:08 -0400

$50.00
A miniature boxing man, cut by hand from sterling silver, with a half-loop soldered onto the back so that the pendant appears to float atop the chain.

Pendant is oxidized black and hangs on sterling silver ball-chain with spring-ring closure.

Reykjavik

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 10:28:38 -0400

$140.00
Reykjavik is made from recycled sterling silver and a vintage glass gem manufactured in West Germany. I stumbled upon a dusty box full of these amazing geometrical costume gems in a nearly-defunct warehouse in Manhattan and instantly fell in love. The color of the glass stone is such a light and chilly blue it reminded me of the clean, expansive sky I spent so much time staring into when traveling in Iceland.

The ring itself is a half-round band that elegantly tapers down at the back, from about 3mm to 1.5mm wide. The gem is held in an impressive 5-sided basket setting with prongs. This is such a lively and geometrical ring-- a real conversation piece-- that never fails to catch the light and snag a compliment. It reminds me of the cocktail rings my grandmother wore in the 1950s, only with a modernist update.

Sizes currently available: 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5.

Care: Please be aware that the glass is somewhat fragile and could shatter or crack if impacted with sufficient force. The gem is what was called a 'foilback' in the costume jewelry industry, meaning the backside is gilded with a metallic layer. To preserve the foil layer, keep this ring away from water, detergents and especially abrasives. It is normal for gems of this age to show a few small spots where the foil has thinned or flaked off. Don't worry, these irregularities are part of what gives this ring its unique vintage charm. As long as you use common sense with wearing and storing the ring, it will last a long time. I take pride in my craftsmanship and make quality jewelry to treasure for a lifetime and pass on. Store ring away from the air to slow tarnish. Buffing with a damp soft cloth with remove light oxidation and restore luster.

Dove

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 12:38:33 -0400

$25.00
This meticulously hand-cut dove tie tack/ pin/ brooch is made of sterling silver and has been given a matte finish. The nickel silver post is firmly welded to the back; the clutch is nickel as well.

Small and whimsical, this dove would look lovely on a collar, lapel, or even a bag. Not recommended for silk or other tight-weaves due to the sturdy post.

++this pin is on sale for June, marked down from normal price of $40++

Tidal

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 12:38:14 -0400

$80.00
This beautiful and one-of-a-kind pendant is handmade from sterling silver and dendritic quartz.

The rectangular cabochon is cut from untreated quartz and displays amazing natural iron formations that call to mind seaweed and fossilized algae. The stone is approx. half an inch wide.

The sterling silver sheet that forms the backing was roller-printed with a criss-cross pattern that reminds me of the rippled sand I like to explore when the bay pulls out at low tide. The bezel walls and closed bail are sterling, silver, too.

Hand-crafted with great care, this necklace is made to last. Comes ready to wear on a 16" sterling silver box chain and carefully packaged in a keepsake tin.