Happy Earth Day 2014

Happy Earth Day 2014... 

In honor of earth day please enjoy a 20% discount in my Etsy shop! 

Use coupon code EARTH2014

Oxidizing Jewelry.... The Gentle Way

Oxidation, a blackened antiqued finish, looks absolutely beautiful on silver jewelry. The proper application of an oxidized finish can highlight the intricate details in your metal piece and create a lovely contrast with the stones in the piece. 

An example of an Oxidized Silver Piece

I really love an oxidized finish on the silver jewelry that I create... however, the most common ways to create this look involve the use of a toxic acid solution that will reduce the silver.  Examples of these products are Liver of Sulfur and Silver Black.  These chemicals can cause burns and  you should avoid breathing the fumes.


I prefer a simpler method that  uses a hard boiled egg to oxidize my jewelry creations. It eliminates the use of the harsh chemical and is a gentler alternative for both you and the environment.

1. Hard Boil your egg.. or eggs. I tend to use 1 or 2 eggs.
   
2. While still warm place eggs in in a baggie or Tupperware
3. No need to peel your eggs :) simply mash them
   
4. Quickly place your jewelry piece into the container and shut the lid
5. After 15 minutes or so rotate the piece in the container to oxidize all sides equally
6. Remove piece once it has achieved the desired level of oxidation
   
7. Rinse the piece off
   
   
   
   
   
8. With a steel brush  & burnishing solution shine the piece leaving the oxidation in the crevices to highlight the details... if you don't have these steel wool & dish soap will do the trick.
   
9. Enjoy the new finish on your piece!!

A vintage bridal shower tea

My brother in law is getting hitched soon and we just had a lovely bridal shower tea party for the beautiful blushing bride.  The bride and her Groom have planned a wedding filled with vintage touches, gold and blush accents, and lush lacey peonies. So when planning the shower we  just knew we had to incorporate these details into the shower décor.


peonies in a teapot created a beautiful  centerpiece

A vintage afternoon tea party theme was quickly settled on and peonies in a teapot made the perfect centerpiece. I was lucky enough (aka relieved!) to find beautiful pink  peonies at the local flower mart & with the addition of blush garden roses, lavender, and gypsohila a beautiful lacey floral feel was achieved.  I made sure to only pick out  earth friendly flowers labeled with rainforest alliance or fair trade emblem.

Guest were sent home with vintage tea cups as favors that the brides Aunt to be found. A lovely favor that is also eco-friendly!... To make the favors even more special the Bride to be received a cherished family heirloom teacup which had belonged to her Groom's late grandmother.

Nicole G. over at Sweets by Design ....( a soon to be cousin!!!)  created this beautiful masterpiece of a cake. With gold lace accents and sugar peonies the cake was almost to beautiful to eat.... but once we cut into the cake  it tasted just as divine as it looked. Yum!!!


A beautiful vintage inspired cake by Sweets by Design

For a gift I created this Mrs. Hanger with blush ribbon  perfectly matched in color to the wedding invite topped with an ivory peony. A perfect accessory for the Bride to hang her wedding dress on for all those photos on the big day..



Personalized Mrs. Hanger by Rock Affair Jewelry

In all it was a wonderful day and I really enjoyed getting to know the Bride better.... Cant wait the next 64 days to celebrate the wedding!

Some Smokey Topaz Quartz Pretties!

I just finished making some Christmas presents for one of my lovely Brides.  The lovely Mrs. K  got married this past September & I made earrings for her beautiful bridesmaids to wear on the wedding day.

A few of Mrs. K's beautiful Bridesmaids

Mrs. K's bridesmaid Earrings by Rock Affair Jewelry

I am so honored that she asked me to make earrings for her Bridesmaids but I am doubly honored when for Christmas she asked me to make them matching necklaces....  I tried so hard to match the stones from the original strand used for the earrings but in the end couldn't. We ended up using 3 slightly smaller stones in the same cut in a row on the necklaces.  I think the matching necklaces came out gorgeous and will compliment the earrings perfectly!

3 stone Smokey Topaz Quartz Necklace

Earring ornaments & The Craft Fair!

Rock Affair Jewelry Display...

  Even though it rained we still had a blast at the Redwood City Hometown Holidays fair this weekend.  Sales suffered a bit as people stayed inside with the stormy weather, but this was a great first craft fair & a wonderful learning experience =)

Myself & Lila the lovely owner of Lingering Day dreams who I asked to share the booth with me

Holiday earrings in ornaments!

Crochet Bracelet in May 2012 Bay Fashion Magazine!

I am super excited because one of my crochet bracelets was worn by a model in this months May 2012 Bay Fashion Magazine!

My bracelet worn by a model on page 78 of May 2012 Bay Fashion Magazine!

 

Here are some close ups of my bracelet. These bracelets are handmade by crocheting wire! At Rock Affair Jewelry I try to use the most ethical supplies that I can... recycled wire and fair trade beads! 

If you want a crochet bracelet like this I would be so happy to make one for you just request a custom item & tell me the colors you would like =)

Recently I branched out a bit and just made this custom order bright 2 finger ring! I think it turned out very well for a prototype & I know what to adjustments to make on the next 2 finger ring to make it even better..