Making Dreams Come True
Having fun with custom jewelry projects
Welcome back to ADC updates! If you’re local to Chicago I hope you’ve been enjoying the warmer weather.
I’ve been feeling more inspired lately and have been spending most of my free time making new jewelry pieces and uploading them to my Etsy shop. I found a bunch of cute beads at Hobby Lobby and Michael’s. I love using pink, purple, and blue toned beads with silver chains and ear wire. You could call it the signature ADC look.
Whenever I take product photos my kitty, Adeline, has to inspect everything to make sure it is up to par. I let her wear one of the necklaces I made and she was thrilled!
If you’ve been eyeing some pieces in my shop I’m excited to announce that I have a sale coming up! The Spring Sale will start on March 31st at 11pm and will go until May 12th. I’m offering 25% off your order when you spend $12 or more. Mark your calendars!
ADC has not only allowed me to have more creative freedom in my work but to also collaborate with others and make their ideas come to life!
I recently finished a collaborative project I’m really proud of. Eva Penwitt, otherwise known as @creativeclown.co, approached me with the idea of turning animal bones into unique jewelry pieces. I was so excited! This had been my dream for a while. I adore nature and the cycle of life fascinates me. Being able to honor animal remains and give them a new life seemed like the perfect project.
Eva is a multimedia artist and self-taught taxidermist based out of central Illinois. They source their animal bones ethically by finding fresh specimens or relying on friends to give them what they find in their yards. They mailed me a variety of bones to play with including raccoon jaws, a skunk jaw, and skunk vertebrae.
The skunk was processed back when Eva had dermestid beetles. Dermestid beetles are really cool and used frequently by taxidermists because they feed on dry animal or plant material, which helps with preservation.
First Eva skinned the hide of the skunk and removed the organs. The scent gland had to go right away! Then the dermestid beetles ate away at the muscles and flesh still stuck to the bones. This allowed the beetles to live their full life cycle, while helping to clean the bones so they could be used safely. This symbiotic relationship between the beetles and Eva is a great example of how we can co-create intentionally with nature.
While small in size, the bones are very strong. Upon receiving them it took me a while to figure out how to best work with them. I played around with positioning the bones in different combinations to figure out what specific jewelry pieces I wanted to make. To attach the bones to jewelry hardware I had the idea to drill holes in them with my Dremel, a handheld rotary power tool. I use this tool primarily for drilling holes in clay, a much easier and thinner medium to work with. After finding the toughest drill bit and really pressing into the bone I was able to apply enough force to create big enough holes for attaching jump rings. This allowed me to attach cable chains and charms to the bone, as well as connect them to ear wire or use them as a pendant for the necklace.
I went for a grunge style with the first pair of earrings I made. I really wanted to highlight the organic shapes of the bones while creating a dramatic length. I had to incorporate crystals, as I frequently do with my jewelry pieces. I knew Eva loved the color green so I added green aventurine, a stone of positivity, calm energy, and abundance.
For the second pair I was figuring out what to add to the raccoon jaws. Since they are more rough and natural looking I paired them with a rougher more natural crystal.
For the main piece, the necklace, I made the skunk jaw the focal point. I had a very specific color pattern in mind. Again I added in the green aventurine and built from that with white, cream, brown, blue, and light green beads. The star glass charms added some whimsy and enchantment to the piece.
Another special project I got to work on this year was creating custom earrings for a work event that matched my coworker’s dress! Every February my company, FCB Chicago, hosts an internal party to celebrate our accomplishments of the previous year. Known by employees as Town Hall, this party is kind of a big deal.
Michelle Chen, who purchased some earrings from me at FCB’s Shop Every Block Market, reached out and asked if I wanted to collaborate on a pair for Town Hall. I immediately agreed! She provided me with a photograph of her dress, which had a gradient going from blue to purple to a pinkish red. She requested the earrings be 6-8” long, preferably hitting clavicle bone. How fun!
Right away I knew the earrings had to match the sparkly, celestial quality of her dress and picked out charms that would represent this. I also made sure to match the color scheme by using specific crystals: Fluorite, Aquamarine, and Cherry Quartz.
Whenever I incorporate crystals into my pieces I like to add a special note explaining all of their unique properties for the wearer. I am a firm believer of channeling the power and magic of the Universe, especially through physical means, such as crystal adornment. It doesn’t hurt that they also look super cute!
I’m really grateful for having the opportunity to create jewelry for such a special occasion and for someone so fashionable.
Creating custom jewelry pieces is a really fun process for me. I love working with clients to make a specific vision come true so that they can have a unique piece that truly represents them.
Now you can request custom pieces directly from my Etsy shop! Send me a message and I will work with you to choose the style, beads, and hardware for your desired look. Prices will vary upon commission size, time, and materials.
✩°｡⋆ Let’s get funky ⋆｡°✩
That is all for now! I’m excited to work on more new projects throughout the year. As always, stay in touch and hopefully see you around Chicago.
To see more updates make sure to connect with me on Instagram!
To shop ADC, visit my Etsy!
Best wishes,
Apolonia