Who? What? When? Where? Why?
So, what's the story behind all this? Well, basically I'm just an artist/hobbyist who loves to express in just about any way I possibly can (whether people like it or not). Besides painting, writing & such, I've always enjoyed making jewelry, & I began making pieces here & there for myself since way back when...years later out of pure frustration that no matter where I went (stores, craft shows, online, & tv shopping sites) I simply wasn't satisfied with what I was seeing out there. Artistically speaking, the majority of necklaces I would come across were boring & typical in style. I often wondered why people weren't making more interesting stone & color combinations when there are so many possibilities available! As a jewelry lover, I could no longer stand it, so I simply decided to create the type of pieces I thought were awesome expressions of color, shape, stones, etc. At first, I began making pieces as gifts for friends & family. Then, my pieces were starting to get noticed, & I was getting requests to make custom pieces. That's how things started to branch out & here we are.
The creative process of my jewelry making has evolved into a more serious expression over time. Each piece tends to develop on its own & as a result, has its own personality & energy flow. I like to say "the stones pick the piece!" However, colors, shapes, sizes, textures, finishes, & properties of the natural stones are all taken into consideration in the construction of pieces. Also, whether or not a pendant will be a part of the design is also a huge factor. When working with pendants, I prefer to choose stones that complement (as opposed to compete with) the pendant, creating a sort of symbiotic whole piece, because to me there's nothing more sad than a beautiful pendant on a plain, everyday chain. Why not give your pendant the "wow" presentation it deserves? If you're anything like me, you're tired of the same old boring jewelry out there & you want to see something new & something COLORFUL! It's my goal to make pieces that you'll never see out there in the stores, & in colors you ALWAYS WISHED you could find. I realize it won't be for everybody, but for those of you who dare to wear an all yellow necklace, or dreamed of that pinker than pink piece, you've come to the right place! For me, COLOR is a form of CELEBRATION, & I believe in bathing oneself in it as vibrantly as possible! In a perfect world, there's necklaces in magentas, turquoise, moss greens, champagnes, & the ever elusive cognac & it's my goal to attempt to offer that to you whenever possible. Unfortunately, I'm not the best photographer, & I've yet to be able to come close to how great these pieces look in person, but I can tell you honestly the compliments I get when people see them is part of what keeps me inspired to do this-besides the fact that it's fun & I truly enjoy it!
The pieces I make are all 1 of a kinds, however if I have enough of the beads (or can obtain them), I can make others of the same design (or very close to). I also can make sets w/matching bracelets & earrings upon request. I only use real natural stones, art glass, czech glass, ceramic, wood beads, nuts or seeds in some cases, & swarovski crystals. ALL pieces are made with quality findings of 925 Sterling Silver (or gold filled or plated upon request if you must have gold), & strung on stainless steel nylon coated wire. each piece comes in a lined cardboard jewelry box perfect for gifting & a polishing cloth. I don't believe in costume jewelry base metals that turn your skin green, etc. The bottom line is; I won't put it out there if I wouldn't wear it myself. the majority of my creations are large & bold, so if you are looking for small & dainty, you'll have to request it. For custom pieces, I consult with you on every aspect of the design, from length to colors to special stones you may want for certain meanings, etc., & I will send you photos of the design during the process so you know exactly how it looks & are satisfied with it. I can also incorporate pendants into your design if you are looking for something specific. Please contact me through the email address if you would like a custom design. I make all pieces with great care, attention to detail, & a lot of love!
I have donated various creations to non-profit organizations for their fundraisers, because I feel it's important to donate to worthy causes & do volunteer work when possible. In my own perfect world, I'd only do volunteer work if I could survive without any sort of paycheck. i have been volunteering in wildlife rehabilitation & release for 10 yrs. & specialize in raptors for the past 6 yrs. 100% of all jewelry or artwork sales goes to funding the high cost of this year long commitment.
So, have fun browsing around here & most importantly: live, love, & laugh! :)
~C*
So, what's the story behind all this? Well, basically I'm just an artist/hobbyist who loves to express in just about any way I possibly can (whether people like it or not). Besides painting, writing & such, I've always enjoyed making jewelry, & I began making pieces here & there for myself since way back when...years later out of pure frustration that no matter where I went (stores, craft shows, online, & tv shopping sites) I simply wasn't satisfied with what I was seeing out there. Artistically speaking, the majority of necklaces I would come across were boring & typical in style. I often wondered why people weren't making more interesting stone & color combinations when there are so many possibilities available! As a jewelry lover, I could no longer stand it, so I simply decided to create the type of pieces I thought were awesome expressions of color, shape, stones, etc. At first, I began making pieces as gifts for friends & family. Then, my pieces were starting to get noticed, & I was getting requests to make custom pieces. That's how things started to branch out & here we are.
The creative process of my jewelry making has evolved into a more serious expression over time. Each piece tends to develop on its own & as a result, has its own personality & energy flow. I like to say "the stones pick the piece!" However, colors, shapes, sizes, textures, finishes, & properties of the natural stones are all taken into consideration in the construction of pieces. Also, whether or not a pendant will be a part of the design is also a huge factor. When working with pendants, I prefer to choose stones that complement (as opposed to compete with) the pendant, creating a sort of symbiotic whole piece, because to me there's nothing more sad than a beautiful pendant on a plain, everyday chain. Why not give your pendant the "wow" presentation it deserves? If you're anything like me, you're tired of the same old boring jewelry out there & you want to see something new & something COLORFUL! It's my goal to make pieces that you'll never see out there in the stores, & in colors you ALWAYS WISHED you could find. I realize it won't be for everybody, but for those of you who dare to wear an all yellow necklace, or dreamed of that pinker than pink piece, you've come to the right place! For me, COLOR is a form of CELEBRATION, & I believe in bathing oneself in it as vibrantly as possible! In a perfect world, there's necklaces in magentas, turquoise, moss greens, champagnes, & the ever elusive cognac & it's my goal to attempt to offer that to you whenever possible. Unfortunately, I'm not the best photographer, & I've yet to be able to come close to how great these pieces look in person, but I can tell you honestly the compliments I get when people see them is part of what keeps me inspired to do this-besides the fact that it's fun & I truly enjoy it!
The pieces I make are all 1 of a kinds, however if I have enough of the beads (or can obtain them), I can make others of the same design (or very close to). I also can make sets w/matching bracelets & earrings upon request. I only use real natural stones, art glass, czech glass, ceramic, wood beads, nuts or seeds in some cases, & swarovski crystals. ALL pieces are made with quality findings of 925 Sterling Silver (or gold filled or plated upon request if you must have gold), & strung on stainless steel nylon coated wire. each piece comes in a lined cardboard jewelry box perfect for gifting & a polishing cloth. I don't believe in costume jewelry base metals that turn your skin green, etc. The bottom line is; I won't put it out there if I wouldn't wear it myself. the majority of my creations are large & bold, so if you are looking for small & dainty, you'll have to request it. For custom pieces, I consult with you on every aspect of the design, from length to colors to special stones you may want for certain meanings, etc., & I will send you photos of the design during the process so you know exactly how it looks & are satisfied with it. I can also incorporate pendants into your design if you are looking for something specific. Please contact me through the email address if you would like a custom design. I make all pieces with great care, attention to detail, & a lot of love!
I have donated various creations to non-profit organizations for their fundraisers, because I feel it's important to donate to worthy causes & do volunteer work when possible. In my own perfect world, I'd only do volunteer work if I could survive without any sort of paycheck. i have been volunteering in wildlife rehabilitation & release for 10 yrs. & specialize in raptors for the past 6 yrs. 100% of all jewelry or artwork sales goes to funding the high cost of this year long commitment.
So, have fun browsing around here & most importantly: live, love, & laugh! :)
~C*
Cattley contemplates what to wear...
Cattley's necklace collection!
Check out all of my jewelry designs at my Etsy shop & bonanza booth by clicking on the buttons below!
