Juliana's Creations Jewelry

My garden In July!

2011-07-25T08:28:00.001-07:00

After removing an old bush, a lot of weeding and a few new plants, this is my garden in July!The last picture is the second hydrangea which is on its way to flowering.

Multistrand Toursade Neckaces

2011-02-17T12:55:00.000-08:00

For right now I'm focusing on making these multi strand tourade necklaces in various different colors. I use pearls, crystals, gemstones, and sometimes seed beads, depending on the color palette I am working with. These necklaces are great because you can totally dress up a plain outfit for work, or wear these necklaces with evening wear. Best of all, they look like a million bucks but they are not! I'm also doing custom colors; see my etsy store at right.

Been So Long!

2011-01-22T17:34:00.001-08:00

Well, it's been quite some time since I updated here; you know how life just gets too busy and in the way. Some major events this fall kept me away from getting a lot of work done! But now I am listing new things on Etsy and updating here and facebook. This is a very popular 4 strand necklace I made with freshwater pearls and seedbeads.

Jewelry Affaire Magazine

2010-10-06T07:35:00.000-07:00

I have three pieces featured in this month's Jewelry Affaire Magazine! Quite Exciting, check it out. Available at all Joann's Fabrics, as far as I can tell...If you click on the picture of the magazine it will take you to the site so you can see some of the things inside!

Vintage Look Spring Flower Necklaces

2010-04-26T14:37:00.001-07:00

I am now making these vintage look flower necklaces; they are available at my etsy shop. Flowers, as I have mentioned, and as you have noticed, are everywhere in fashion this season. These are playful fun happy necklaces that have gotten a good response so far; I can barely keep up!
Handmade! And designed by me.

Pearl Brooches in transition

2010-04-20T08:58:00.000-07:00

I have to make a lot of the pearl brooches for my client (7) and I have sold one and have orders for two more. I am waiting for a shipment of small pearls from my supplier in nyc so I can finish the edges. So for now, I just made all the middles.

Freshwater Pearl Brooch

2010-04-19T18:20:00.000-07:00

One of my clients requested that I create a freshwater pearl brooch. To my surprise, I did it.

Crochet Flower Necklace with Ribbon and Pearls Handmade by Me

2010-03-05T13:51:00.000-08:00

So as you have probably noticed, flowers are really "in" this season. On shirts, dresses, purses, as pins, on stationary; everywhere. I've seen them in magazines, on qvc products, and on jewelry, it is a huge trend and theme. About a year ago I learned to make crocheted flowers, and you can see some of those in my etsy shop. I love to make them, it's pretty addictive. Then I was browsing on etsy I noticed something called the bib necklace; many people are making fabric or yarn flowers and making elaborate necklaces with them. I wanted to try to use the flower I already loved to make and see if I could turn it into a cool necklace. Well, I was thrilled with what happened as this evolved with cotton yarn, then some pearls, and seedbeads and satin ribbon. They take a long time to make, but I think they capture the season and the trend so well! These will soon be available at my etsy store. Only three of them exist right now, and of course I have to keep one.

Red Christmas Jewelry

2009-12-03T15:23:00.001-08:00

After I posted the last post, I realized it has been a very long time since the previous one, so the blog page looked empty. So I am filling it up with more beautiful pictures. Above are two things I made with beads I got at the Whole Bead Show in nyc this past October. The first is a large rose lucite bead that I made into a ring with wire wrapping. Large cocktail rings are in this season I hear. The necklace and earring set I made with red faceted rondelle beads called Chinese Crystal. I also used large freshwater pearls and silver rondelles.
Also, I am changing the title of the Blog. It may very well be that I do not, after all, have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I was recently, finally, diagnosed with several hormone imbalances, adrenal, thyroid, and an estrogen/progesterone imbalance. I am being treated with BHRT or Bioidentical Hormone Replacement therapy. I just started so no big news yet. Let's hope for the best! What shall I call the blog now? Jewelry and crafts made by an often tired person? That just doesn't have such a great ring to it.

Crocheted Flower Brooch with Pearls

2009-12-03T14:57:00.000-08:00

My current obsession is making these crocheted flower pins. It is so satisfying to make one, a tiny complete artwork. They are about three inches in diameter and have big freshwater pearls sewn in the center. A friend mentioned today that they would also make excellent Christmas tree ornaments; I had not thought of that, but, good idea! They are available at my Etsy store.

Turquoise and Sterling Three Strand Necklace and Me

2009-07-11T11:54:00.001-07:00

Ok I made this new necklace yesterday; you can see more pics of it (or buy it) by clicking on my etsy store to your right. I was looking through some old silpada catalogs and a similar idea got my attention. Of course, I think mine is better!

A lovely day weatherwise here in Connecticut; seems like we are finally having spring in July. I am tired, as per my usual. I am still taking some supplements to support the methylation cycle, but they have not yet banished the CFS or changed it very much. Luckily I like to do arts and crafts. Very Lucky.

Does anyone ever really find my blog? If so, please leave a comment!! Thanks!

Art is Healthy Alternative Apparel T's

2009-06-26T16:46:00.000-07:00

Art is Healthy T's printed on Alternative Apparel T Shirts are now finally done! Here we have our lovely and adorable neighbor/friend Annie modeling the shirt and doing a Posh Spice imitation as well! The shirts are super duper soft, 100% cotton, available in women's sizes s-xl, and you can see the specific measurements when you look at the shirts at the etsy shop www.Julianascreations.Etsy.com Each one is hand painted and unique; and machine washable to boot.

It's me Again!

2009-06-18T20:48:00.000-07:00

Hello Human Friends,

It's me again, doing my once in a while blogging. So what have I been up to? Well, I am hard at work trying to unblock my methylation cycle so my glutathione pathways can work properly. I don't think I've done it yet, but thats the goal, and one can only put one pill in after another and hope for the best.

I have put these lovely images up, original marbled papers which I created with my friend Zoe, lo, many many years ago, like back in 03'. I am now, FINALLY offering these original works of marbling as PRINTS on my Etsy store (look to your right to see the link to that), so, just sayin'. Maybe one day if folks are interested I will offer them big bigger size, like 18 x 24 ish, but for now, you know, just what can fit on normal size paper. We shall see.

So what else? You know, just making jewelry, as usual, staying up too late, observing the rain, not writing on facebook, making curried red lentils with baby tomatoes and spinach. One of these days I have to get my little porch replaced; so far the two estimates are $7500 and $2500. Hmmmm. I will be getting more estimates.

Is there more? My TMJ Temperomandibular Joint Disorder has come back after 24 years away (where was it?). You know, TMJ, stress, you get headaches in your jaw and cheekbones; head hurts, ow. So I am going to my chiropracter so he can readjust my face. Yes, they do that; who knew? I think it's helping a bit, but I have to say my best friend overall for so many reasons is ibuprofen. Ibuprofen and a bit of Ativan, helps a lot of things.

Oh, and I joined another Etsy team, the Createablity team, for people with, illnesses or handicaps or people who are taking care of such people. I guess I count twice, because I take care of me as well. They are a nice group of online ladies, so you can go to etsy and search Createablity Team and support people who are disabled and making stuff. Go Arts and Crafts! Who knew the popsicle stick houses of my childhood would lead to all this? I still have the original, actually. (house.)

OK, thats it, I'm probably missing some useless late night talk show. I have to make some turquoise bracelets. Bye for now!

Art Is Healty

2009-05-19T14:34:00.000-07:00

Art Is Healthy original handpainted 100% cotton t shirts are now available in almost every size imaginable at http://www.artishealthy.com/ so get yours now! Very cool hangtag, above, made by Lourdes, attached to each and every shirt. Onesies also on hand.

Ode To E-Z Pass

2009-01-28T19:53:00.000-08:00

I love E-Z pass. Many of you remember, like I do, waiting for minutes, or sometimes hours at bridge and tunnel tolls in NYC, gathering dollar bills or the correct change to pass through the toll. Now, when I approach the Whitestone bridge on my way to Long Island, I just sail right through the toll! No waiting! No worrying about quarters! So, after my last pass, I was so overwhelmed with love and gratitude I wrote two poems, below.

Ode #1

Oh you
with your slight orange arm
light
lifting up for me gently
after my slow approach
you
never asking for money
only blinking
encouragingly
your red eye turning green
You
allowing me in just an instant
to pass over the threshold
that before took hours
saving
the search for dollars
quarters in the seat
reducing my carbon footprint
to a child's 4
You
Oh E-Z pass
It's you.

Ode #2

From a distance
I can see
you beckon, with your light so green;
the x that signals that you can
welcome my large minivan
So to your doorway
I slowly go
And hardly waiting
for a moment
Lo
You wink
And in an instant I seem
transported as if in a dream;
From one location to another
shifted
then we quickly part each other
Without consulting coin or wallet
I glide gracefully
with empty pockets
Oh E-Z pass
It's so thrilling
That we are finally done with dollar billing.

Good to Know About

2009-01-17T09:10:00.000-08:00

This is my neighbor Sarah's bunny. Honey. She appears here for no other reason than looking at pictures of bunnies is never a bad thing.
Honey does not have an ipod, and does not listen to podcasts. She does not get bored driving around doing errands or going to long island or new jersey, which I am too lazy to capitalize. But I do. And maybe you do too.
So do you know about the Moth? The Moth is a storytelling event that happens once a week (live) in NYC and once a month in LA. The stories are told by famous people (Malcom Gladwell, Garrison Keilor, Adam Gopnick) and also regular folks. Most of the stories are riveting and fabulous, while also being entertaining and funny. Embarrassing high school stories, divorced parents at one's bar mitzvah stories, bad boyfriend/girlfriend stories, touching funny ridiculous tales of families just being themselves: crazy.
The great news is that The Moth produces a FREE weekly podcast that you can get on itunes or find at www.themoth.org/ where you can also learn more about the whole thing. This gets 5 stars from me HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Oh, and by the way, I redid my website, ALL BY MYSELF, and it looks so great, you should see it. www.julianascreations.com/ and yes, I did all the photography too.

Lemon Cream Cheese Poundcake for Saints

2009-01-13T16:37:00.000-08:00

Sometimes you just have to reward people. Like if you had a friend who was also a the President of your Condo Board who put in hours and hours of her own time for the good of the condo. And then let's say this person managed to get a new better management company for the condo after her many hours of work, and that this would make life better for everyone involved. Well, then you might decide like I did, that she should be named a Saint, and should have a Saint Cake. See above. Now the real gift here is for YOU, with whom I am sharing the following recipe for Lemon Creamcheese pouncake, which, basically, is the best cake in the whole world. I grew up eating this and that is why I am so tall. Of course I can't eat it now because it has sugar, but you can. And I can make it for local Saints.

Lemon Creamcheese Poundcake

2 sticks butter

1 8oz pkg cream cheese

1 lemon juice and zest

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups sugar

6 eggs

2 cups plus 6 Tbs flour- sift before measuring

2 tsp baking powder

Preheat oven 275*

Let the butter and cream cheese come to room temp. Mix together. Add sugar.

In another bowl, put the eggs, lemon juice, lemon zest, vanilla

in third bowl, put the flour and baking powder, sugar.

Mix bowls one and two. Add bowl three.

Grease and Flour Bundt pan.

Pour in batter.

Bake for at least 2 1/2 hours or until done. (test by toothpick inserted in center.)

Yes, that is a long time, but it is totally worth it.

2008-12-30T07:40:00.000-08:00

It's taken a while, but I finally figured out how to photograph earrings. White backround, white bowl, studio lights, one light directly on the objects, one light with the reflecting umbrella. Then shoot on the close up setting from slightly underneath the earrings... and tweak the whites on photoshop. Possibly could still get better, but this is the best so far!(nice reflection on the bowl I think.)

Marbled Paper

2008-12-29T20:04:00.000-08:00

Another great thing to do, with kids or otherwise, is making marbled paper. To find out how just search google or go to http://www.about.com/ and search crafts. The great thing about it is you can't do it wrong, (or right either), and you never know what you are going to get, so it's surprising and fun for everyone. It can be a little messy, but a little messy can be a good thing.

I made a some of the best marbled paper into cards, which you can see at my etsy store.

Napkin Art Tutorial

2008-12-29T19:42:00.000-08:00

Have kids home for the whole day? Think they've been watching too much television? Are they saying "I'm bored." Well, if you have cheap paper napkins on hand and magic markers, you could have an absorbing activity for the next few hours. Really?

It's Napkin Art. I think I invented it, mostly. I buy the cheapest paper napkins at the supermarket, and crayola markers (about $2, medium point). Put down newspaper to protect your furniture, and with the napkin still folded (see above) instruct the participant to make dots covering the napkin, but not allowing the dots to touch. To be sure the dot goes through all four layers of napkin, I usually suggest that the artist counts to three for each dot made (marker held down). When the napkin is full, carefully unfold it, and be amazed at the designs you get. With a little practice, these can become very complex and begin to look like medieval stained glass windows somehow. They can be scotch taped to windows, or to the refrigerator, for wonderful, and fleeting, decorative effect. They won't last forever, which means, it will soon be time to make more!

The Fabulous New Yorker

2008-12-29T19:37:00.000-08:00

This is one of my favorite cartoons from the New Yorker this year. I am only sad that after all my years of being on this planet, I didn't think of it first.
I subscribe to the New Yorker, it is the only thing I read with any regularity. But you might be interested to know that you can read, I think, almost everything in the New Yorker and much much more on their website. I could spend all day there. You should too. Maybe I'll do that now.
www.Newyorker.com free and great.

Super Good Corn Bread

2008-12-28T17:04:00.001-08:00

I like to think of myself as a Vintage Foodist. This means that I eat only vintage foods; like if I was living on the prairie out west in 1850 or traveling in a covered wagon. No, I have so far not sampled squirrel, possum or bear. I'm thinkin' more like corn bread, beans, vegetables, and the occasional chicken. Of course, on my prairie, there happened to be the very first Trader Joe's, so I have added soy milk and boxed chicken broth (among other things) to my vintage foods.
What was NOT available was refined sugar, processed foods, aspertame, cows, and other things.
So, here I am going to share with you a Vintage Food invention by me; super duper yummy high protein sugar free cornbread. Here we go.

Corn Bread (suitable for the gluten intolerant)
1 cup Quaker Yellow Corn Meal (supermarket)
1/2 cup Fern Soy Powder (this is NOT soy flour, which I have been told can have an icky taste. It is soy powder and it comes in a canister; see image above. It's in the health food store.)
1/2 cup any flour: millet, barley, rice, etc. BUT NOT BUCKWHEAT. thank you.
1/2 heaping teaspoon stevia powder (any health food store)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup soy milk
1 egg
1/4 cup melted butter
1/2 cup frozen corn
1 heaping tablespoon plain yogurt(impt for moisture)

Preheat the oven to 400. If you have a large cast iron skillet put it in the oven to heat up. Then when you put the batter in the hot skillet you'll get a nice golden brown crust. JUST LIKE ON THE PRAIRIE!!
Mix the dry stuff in one bowl and the wet stuff in the other. Put the frozen corn in with the butter while you are melting it. Then mix it all together.
Pour some olive oil into your heated skillet and mix it around, or grease your bread pan. Spatula in your batter and bake about 20 mins or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

This cornbread has the advantages of having no sugar, high protein (egg and soy powder) the texture of actual corn, and is gluten free.

If you are lucky enough to be able to eat cheddar cheese, that would be great with this. Or just with soymilk. I put extra butter and salt on it.

So instead of saying you have food allergies, or sensitivities, or intolerance's, or celiac or whatever, you can just say, "I'm a Vintage Foodist". Thank you Beth.

Welcome Back Juliana

2008-12-27T22:24:00.001-08:00

Oops, excuse me, it has been 6 months since I have blogged. Sounds so much like a church confession in the movies.

Well, first off, having CFS is no walk in the park, and has gotten in the way of a lot of things. And also, I was not sure I had an audience here, which I now intend to build, so, hello!

Hopefully the blog will now be a combination of reportage of my creative exploits, recipes I invent to work around various food sensitivities, and any useful information I may come across about CFS that may interest those of you who have it or know someone who does. The more I mention it the more it seems everyone seems to know someone who has CFS.

In that vein, my Mom found a really excellent CFS site, which I will attempt to put a link to here

http://www.nutritional-healing.com.au/content/articles-content.php?heading=CFS%20treatment%20protocol

This link is to the treatment protocol page, which was really powerful for me. It was after reading this page last week that I really felt unequivocally able to say, "I definitely have CFS". This page seemed to profile me exactly. So, that is both good and bad, as you can imagine. I would recommend poking around on the rest of the site as well.

I don't want to make this entry too long, because I know you internet readers in the modern age are in a hurry. So I will just say for those of you waiting for more Art Is Healthy t shirts; they will be coming in a few weeks. I sold out of the first run which is pretty fabulous, so I have to order more and start splatter painting in the garage.

Just for some stunning visuals, the photo on top is a double strand black silk necklace I posted recently on etsy; it seems the best, or more successful photos on etsy involve a lot of foreshortening and a bit of blur. So there you go.

Tune into the next blog post for more pics of fabulous jewelry, gluten free high protein corn bread that is not gross, and more Juliana exploits.

One Workspace

2008-07-29T22:09:00.000-07:00

Oh look, it's one picture of part of my bead table. Yes, it really looks like this when I am working, actually, no, all the time. I do know just where everything is, although that might be hard to believe. I have to get some more images that show the whole set up, with me creating something. I am lucky enough to have a skylight in my kitchen, so that is my photo studio, white fabric draped over a nice tall cardboard box. Works great.

Art Is Healthy

2008-07-16T17:37:00.000-07:00

Here we have my lovely neighbor Keely and her Mom Sarah modeling some of our latest new products for Juliana's Creations, the Art Is Healthy t shirt collection! Art Is Healthy t shirts come in black with white letters (women's and men's sizes and styles), stonewash black (grey in teen sizes) and tie dyed in adult and youth sizes. All shirts are 100% cotton. To purchase go to http://www.julianascreations.etsy.com/ or http://www.artishealthy.com/ -- new tie dyes added regularly.

Beadstyle Magazine

2008-04-03T07:49:00.000-07:00

Well kids, I've made the big time. This is my page in the upcoming May issue of Beadstyle magazine. Yes, the necklace itself is available on my website, but quantities are limited (I only have two hands) and won't be available indefinitely.
In other news, the non-profit foundation I coupled with, Build a Nest, which provides microloans to women in South America, is having a summer boutique sale in NYC. It will be on May 8th from 6:30-9pm at In Good Company at 16 W. 23rd st, 4th floor. So if you're in NYC you can purchase items from Juliana's Creations directly. Plus, I'm sure there will be other fabulous vendors at the event, which also happens to be in a beautiful space.
I should also mention here that my etsy store is where I sell most of my jewelry online, you can visit it at http://www.julianascreations.etsy.com/

More Lovely Things

2007-12-27T11:54:00.000-08:00

A lovely faceted briolite necklace made with sky blue quartz beads. Freshwater pearls and seedbeads are in between, and it's finished with a lobster claw clasp and extension chain. To purchase, go to www.julianascreations.etsy.com

Holiday Green Necklace

2007-12-12T10:11:00.000-08:00

Ok Kids, here is the newest creation; a new necklace with a crystal and pearl dangly pendant, and a lovely sterling extension chain. This will soon come in many colors and varieties. And possibly matching earrings too!

Klimt Necklace

2007-09-25T20:40:00.001-07:00

Look, it's a necklace with a hand painted Russian porcelain bead as a pendant. Yes, it looks like a tiny Klimt painting, and it has a little golden band at the top, which makes it feel even more Klimty. You can click on this image to make it big. How cool, a tiny Klimt like painting on a bead; those Russians.

More Pearls

2007-09-22T14:32:00.000-07:00

More in the multistrand pearl series for fall. All freshwater pearls, lobster claw clasp, extension chain.

Red Agate for Fall

2007-09-22T10:19:00.000-07:00

A nice necklace for fall and winter; red agate pebbles with freshwater pearls and sterling accents. It has a lobster claw clasp and extension chain. I have a matching bracelet too. Email with questions to julianascreations@yahoo.com Remember, every necklace sold on the site or the blog supports a microloan program to women in developing countries. See blog below for details, or my site http://www.julianascreations.com/

Supporting Women In Developing Countries

2007-09-14T19:42:00.000-07:00

As of today, 25% of the purchase price of ANY NECKLACE on my website will be donated to www.buildanest.com/ . Nest, which is the shorthand for this nonprofit, displays works by artists and designers and takes a percentage to provide micro loans to women in developing countries. These loans allow them to start art or craft based entrepreneurial ventures, some of the products of which are sold again on NEST. You will soon see my items on the Nest site, and the above informaiton on my site. As they say "Shop to Save the World!" Visit my site at http://www.julianascreations.com/

The necklaces shown here are not on my site, but can be obtained by emailing me at julianascreations@yahoo.com and citing the title of the blog entry. Thanks. Matching earrings too!!

Fall multistrand pearl in greens

2007-09-14T13:21:00.000-07:00

More freshwater pearls with some new jade; a multistrand necklace with a sterling lobsterclaw clasp. About 15" with an extension chain as well. Great colors for fall.

Freshwater Pearls

2007-09-14T13:19:00.001-07:00

I have lots of mulitstrand freshwater pearl necklaces; here is one. More later.

Long Bamboo, Jasper, FWP necklace

2007-09-14T13:14:00.000-07:00

Hi Kids, I made this recently, it has jasper rectangles, freshwater pearls, silver and tiny dark bamboo beads. It's about 45 inches long, and, as you can see, is a double strand neckace. Very nice for fall. Yes, click on it to make it bigger!!!

Just a few more

2007-09-11T20:57:00.000-07:00

Here's one more on the same theme.

Remember, you can click on the image to make it bigger, amazing.

Remember, email julianascreations@yahoo.com and website is http://www.julianascreations.com/

Yes, jewelry is reasonably priced. :)

Necklaces for Fall

2007-09-11T20:25:00.000-07:00

Hi Kids
Here are a bunch of multistrand necklaces I have just made in fall colors; they are made with various combinations of seedbeads, peridot rondelles, amber rondelles, freshwater pearls, and jasper pendants. All have extension chains. If you are interested in any of these, email me at julianascreations@yahoo.com or visit my website at http://www.julianascreations.com/ . At present, all of these are one of a kind items! Click on any image to see it much bigger.