Etsy Shop for Klewism

Royal Air Force Ring

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 22:21:11 -0500

$52.00
This ring is built around a vintage brass button ornamented with an equally vintage aircraft depiction. Lightweight wire work, and wing-like beads make it aerodynamic by default.
This one is a size 6.

Nacreous Disk Ring

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 22:21:11 -0500

$120.00
A mother of pearl button from my Grandmother's button hoard, set in brass, with a profusion of brass and taupe-colored copper wire forms this ornate, yet airy-feeling ring.
Wear it with pride during Mollusk Appreciation Month.
What? You say there is no such thing as Mollusk Appreciation Month?
No there is not.
Not yet...

Social Butterfly Cuff Bracelet

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 22:21:10 -0500

$167.00
I made this bracelet from segments of vintage jewelry with floral motifs- though each element is strikingly disparate stylistically. The composition is all tied together with copper wire to create the look of thickly twined vines surrounding the 'flowers'.

Chimera on a Cluster of Fantastic Fruit

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 22:21:10 -0500

$287.00
My favorite ring to wear these days, it reminds me of a cluster of unearthly grapes of metallic, pearl, and iridescent colors- tightly tangled in multi-colored vines.
The focal point is a button (a vintage one from my Grandmother's stash) with a pegasus, dragon, or Sea serpent on the front of it.
Since I have my doubts about the species of the said creature, I'll be safe and call it a 'chimera'.
This ring is a size 6.

Matron of Pompeii

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:53:36 -0500

$167.00
This bracelet easily adjusts to fit the wrist or forearm. I wove together various gauges of brass, steel, and copper wire with greenish-gold freshwater pearls and scarlet glass beads that happen to look like berries. I then converted a pair of old clip-on earrings, which look like clusters of leaves, to be ends for the bracelet.

A Bird on the Hand

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:53:36 -0500

$110.00
This ring is built around a vintage enameled bird pin which I discovered at a thrift shop. The date engraved on the back of this lovely purple and mauve birdie is '1988' (can that really be 20 years ago?).
I made the bird a nest out of teal, brown, burgundy and gold artistic wire, interspersed with freshwater pearls and angular dichroic glass beads.

This ring is a size 6.

Now you can 'flick someone the bird' with any finger you like...

Surrealist Whirligig Necklace

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:53:36 -0500

$360.00
This is my submission for the Wire Artisans Guild weekly theme challenge (this week's theme being 'whirligig')...

If I were to hang this necklace, there are dangling parts that would 'whirl' in the wind. In the top-center of the piece is a wheel with wings- another fitting visual for the word 'whirligig'.

Microcosmic Milieu Ring

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:53:36 -0500

$103.00
An atmosphere of golden and silver colored brass wire envelopes two spheres (OK, they're beads).
Making this ring involved LOTS of painstaking twisting, weaving, and winding. It's fun to wear and impossible to ignore.

Watch Disbanded Earrings

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:23:55 -0500

$98.00
As suggested by the title, these earrings are made from a repurposed vintage watch band. Amazingly, the simple watch band becomes an exquisite pair of earrings, with a sexy Art Deco silhouette!
I played up the simple elegance of the band with hand forged brass wire flourishes and blue glass beads. Everything is tied together with silver plated blue and copper wire.

These earrings are comfortable, lightweight, and look great with just about anything!

Brass Feather Ring

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 18:00:53 -0500

$98.00
In my stash of inspirations I found a large metal ornament which I had torn from a vintage belt long ago.
The edge had an art nouveau flourish that reminded me of plumage.
It was a ring waiting to happen. I grabbed my giant metal cutters and several varieties of wire then went to work.

Bonus feature: this ring serves as an elegant alternative to brass knuckles.

A Toast to Dostoevsky

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 18:00:53 -0500

$143.00
I just finished listening to an audio recording of "Crime and Punishment". I'd already been blown away by "The Brothers Karamazov",and now I'm awestruck anew!
There are few authors I know that can pack so much intensity into a narrative covering only a few days. Brilliant!

This ring is made from an antique brooch (given to me by my grandmother). The brooch is enmeshed with copper wire in teal and rich brown with three different shades of freshwater pearls.
This ring is size 5 & 1/2.

Cheers to you, Fyodor!

Cooling Lava Ring

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 18:00:53 -0500

$63.00
A deep red orange bead is returning to solidity from a molten state because of it's juxtaposition with a clear 'ice cube' bead. It looks like a perpetual cohabitation of fire with ice, bound by vermilion and copper wire.

The ring is a size 6, by the way.

SALE Helen of Troy Necklace

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 18:00:52 -0500

$1,020.00
*Holiday Sale*

This necklace was an epic project of mythological proportions.
I always listen to audio books while I make jewelry. I got through "Anna Karenina", "A Tale of Two Cities", and "War and Peace" (all unabridged recordings, of course) before I finished. That means that it took well over 100 solid work hours to make...
10 years of labor? No. It wasn't the Trojan War. But, labor intensive? Yes, to be sure!

*reduced from $1,700.00

Virginal Pendant

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 18:00:52 -0500

$63.00
This pendent resulted from the union of a vintage belt buckle (without it's belt) to a "Virgin with Child" pin (which I found at a thrift store), a leather covered button, a "shark tooth", and wire. Somehow, all these disparate items consummate (figuratively speaking, that is) harmoniously.

Coral Birds in Cages

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 18:00:52 -0500

$103.00
My boyfriend is partially responsible for the title of this pair of earrings. He noted that from a distance the branch coral looks like birds perched in wire cages- and, indeed, he is right.
The coral branches (birds) are caged in ellipses of multi-sized mobile brass rings. From the cage tops dangle brownish-gold freshwater pearls, glass teardrop beads in burgundy, and turquoise seed beads.

They make a slight and cheerful tingling sound when the wearer moves around- hence, these caged birds really do sing.

SALE Bohemian Squares

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:53:26 -0500

$738.00
*Holiday Sale*

In this necklace, two square mother of pearl buttons look like austere bright- white monuments to the gods of stability and symmetry. I wanted to juxtapose them with a scene of Bohemian ambiguity- organic and colorful. The squares are fixed to wire, motionless, while beaded clusters deluge around them, mobile.

It's lightweight, intricately detailed, feminine, edgy- and, of course, one-of-a-kind.

*reduced from $1,230.00

SALE A Phoenix Rises in San Francisco

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:54:47 -0500

$1,020.00
*Holiday Sale*

This necklace gets it's title from a lovely lady I met in San Francisco's Chinatown. Meeting in her shop we started to chat. In the course of our conversation she said, "Ahh- this necklace is a PHOENIX!". Whereupon she showed me where she saw the head, the body, the tail-feathers, and even hints of flame surrounding it.
And she was dead right- I could see the Phoenix immediately upon her exclamation; as though we were two kids seeing the same exact same Chimera while watching clouds.

It's plumage consists of groupings of tiny see beads, clusters of freshwater pearls, pieces of turquoise and other semiprecious stones all framed within thick free-form coils of thin-gauged colored wire.
Free moving chains, that might well represent tail-feathers, dangle as though in flight.

This necklace marks a new style of jewelry for me- even more labor-intensive and detail obsessed than usual (and even further "over-the-top" if that's possible).

Though always fun to wear, the necklace assumed a truly mystical quality when grouped with the exquisitely colored silk goods in that little shop- and so it really is a sort of Phoenix after all.

*reduced from $2,040.00

SALE The Notorious Queen Maeve

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 11:29:13 -0400

$735.00
*Holiday Sale*

The "Wire Artisans Guild" theme challenge for the Month of March is "Emerald Isle". As St. Patty's Day is in March, all things Irish (and all things green, for that matter) are intrinsically linked together in my mind.

But, with this necklace I depart from the story of St. Patrick and venture into the violent & seductive epoch of Ireland's heroic age...

Maeve, the queen of Connacht, looms larger than life in the Ulster Cycle of Irish Mythology. No delicate and dainty queen, she had several husbands and countless lovers in an attempt to satisfy her seemingly insatiable libido. Nor did she hesitate to fight and kill in order to get what she wanted; She went to war in order to obtain the prize stud- bull, Donn Cúailnge, and prevent her husband's wealth from surpassing her own...

This necklace, all golden and flashing green, is my tribute to that intoxicating and provocative queen.

*reduced from $1,050.00

Nausicaa Does the Laundry

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 10:09:41 -0400

$98.00
Nausicaa is one of my favorite characters from "The Odyssey", and I just happened to be listening to an audio recording of "The Odyssey" while making these- which explains the title. There is something 'ancient Greece' about these earrings anyway.
The color scheme consists of a variety of greens- from Chartreuse to Kelly to Teal, with copper wire, and gold-toned brass wire. I also used vintage buttons and vintage screw back enameled earrings in a free-form design, so each earring is different, yet in harmony with the other.

Dalliance with Art Deco

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 10:09:41 -0400

$87.00
Black rectangular resin beads intricately wrapped to free-form asymmetrical links of bright yellow hammered brass, these earrings hang in a slinky and elegant way.
Somehow, they remind me of a detailed ornament from an Art Deco building...

Topography of a Miniature Landscape

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 10:09:40 -0400

$97.00
A textured rolling landscape of freshwater pearls and semi-precious stones interspersed with textured coils of freely curling wire in teal, copper, silver, brown and gun metal artistic wire. This ring is a pleasure wear and to touch.

This ring is about a size 5 and 1/2.

The Lure of Exoticism Ring

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 08:16:34 -0400

$130.00
Exoticism (according to the infallible Wikipedia that is) refers to "the charm of the unfamiliar".

When I was 6 years old I wanted to be an archeologist mainly because I was so fascinated by things that were remote in terms of passage of time and distance of space.
The same things still intrigue me.

I made this ring with semiprecious stones in turquoise, chartreuse, burgundy and rich royal blue glass teardrop beads. The body of the ring is built out of thick hand forged brass wire, and the 'stem' and 'leaves' from a recycled vintage flower brooch. Vines of teal wire and rusty orange are mixed in with the antique brass wire structure.

There is something not "western" about this ring.

It is a size 6.

Fish Out of Water Necklace

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 23:52:48 -0400

$377.00
Two poor little fish (extracted from a brooch) have been caught in an intricate & suspiciously decorative net of colored copper wire. Such a pity!
The net also picked up some jewel-toned freshwater pearls, a variety of small glass beads, and one giant burgundy glass bead.
I used several varieties of colored copper wire in pink, magenta, burgundy, rust, red, orange- all colors warm and spicy.

SALE Biomorphically Hinged Bracelet

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 23:52:48 -0400

$287.00
*Holiday Sale*

I made this bracelet with the image of the interior of the Hotel Tassel in mind. The hotel Tassel was designed by architect Victor Horta, and is considered by many to be the definitive piece of Art Nouveau architecture.

I used an abundance of copper, brass, and colored silver-plated wire to create an organic curvilinear form suggestive of an insect wing. Multifaceted iridescent glass beads and fresh water pearls work with all lighting and movement to make a "living" piece of jewelry.

This bracelet was handmade by me using a recycled vintage brooch, freshwater pearls, cut glass beads, semiprecious stones, hammered brass, chain links and a recycled bracelet clasp. It is absolutely one of a kind.

*reduced from $410.00

Psychedelic Teardrop Earrings

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 23:52:48 -0400

$153.00
Elaborately tortuous tangles of wire hold deep blue "water drop" glass beads in suspended animation. Faceted smoke gray transparent glass beads alternate with small pale blue dagger-cut glass beads, resulting in stunning empress-worthy dangles.

Imagine looking at teardrops through a kaleidoscope.

The length of the dangle in these earrings is 2 and 1/4 inches.

Visual Music Ring

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 23:52:48 -0400

$273.00
Synesthesia in art:
Sometimes defined as the simultaneous perception of multiple stimuli in one gestalt experience.

This ring has been nothing less than 'synesthetic' to me from it's very inception. When I looked at a piece of brass wire I had just hammered and worked into whimsical curves, I heard jazz (in my imagination, anyway).

A magenta square from a recycled vintage earring with scroll-like flourishes, burgundy Swarovski Crystals, and a tear-shaped freshwater pearl, scatter all over the curved brass wire like bursts of jubilant noise.

This ring is a size 6.

SALE La Belle Epoque Meets Klewism

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 10:36:58 -0400

$1,659.00
*Holiday Sale*

This Art Nouveau inspired necklace is my tribute to the brilliant jewelry artist, Rene Lalique.

The necklace is full of rich color with lots of ruby red and teal green rhinestones, abalone shell bits, and dyed freshwater pearls in an assortment of hues.

The center of the necklace is a vintage button in the shape of an eggplant, which I found in a wonderful antique store.

Hammered brass wire twines over a large brass buckle in vine-like tendrils, and a wire snake, with rhinestone eyes, bends across to bite a piece of transparent fruit (a tear drop glass bead).

I used a wide assortment of wire primarily in a subdued 'golden green' tone, and silver plated aqua.

This necklace is sensuous and serpentine; seductive in it's curvaceous form, and it's spectrum of rich jewel-toned colors.

*reduced from $2,370.00

SALE Baroque Cathedral Necklace

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 10:36:58 -0400

$6,500.00
*Holiday Sale*

By far the most extravagant wearable objet d'art I've ever made, this necklace has nothing pragmatic about it.

A necklace that takes you from 'ordinary' to 'near divinity' every time you wear it need not be pragmatic at all. In fact, it shouldn't be! Hell- that's what dog tags are for, right?

I've worn this necklace with everything from evening gowns to blue jeans and high heels (I wore a shirt with it too, but that seems almost superfluous).

It took me many, many happy days and nights of wrapping and twisting and hammering to make this one. I used antique brooches, rhinestones, freshwater pearls, vintage chain segments, hammered brass wire, copper wire, silver plated wire, steel wire, giant embroidery needles, glass beads, buttons, shells, and semi-precious stones, and other reclaimed metal pieces from my stash.

It IS wearable grandeur (in my grandiose opinion).

**reduced from $10,000.00

Coeur de Lion Necklace

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 10:36:26 -0400

$360.00
I stumbled into this wonderfully odd little antique shop which had a drawer full of ancient drawer pulls and door knockers...it was beautiful.
This lovely aged brass lion drawer pull was meant to be worn near the heart- not stuck ingloriously on some piece of derelict bedroom furniture.
The lion is surrounded with intricate copper wire work, brass findings covered in hemp, all interspersed with teal semi-precious stones. This chain is made from copper jump rings with blue and green embroidery threads woven throughout the chain.

Sympathy for a Cyclops

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 10:36:26 -0400

$115.00
I really didn't set out to make a ring that reminded me of a cyclops... but somehow that focal bead, surrounded by thick brass wire (like heavy, wrinkled eyelids) just screams "cyclops!" in my overactive imagination.
If no one else sees this, I won't be too disappointed.
Despite the monstrous connotations in the title, it's extremely fun to wear!
This ring is a size six.

SALE Klewism Dabbles in Egyptology

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 10:36:26 -0400

$405.00
*Holiday Sale*

This, my first neck cuff, is my contribution to the Wire Artisans Guild 'Africa' theme challenge.
I was inspired to make this piece by some blue and gold enameled buttons I've been holding on to for years, in my collection of trinkets. They had always given off an 'Egyptian vibe' (whatever that is), and I realized that this project was precisely what I had been saving them for.
With the buttons as a starting point, the rest happened almost automatically.

*reduced from $675.00