Elisa Sullivan's Blog

The Metamorphasis of a Broken Chain

2011-04-28T12:45:00.000-07:00

Over the years I've collected broken chains, unfinished pieces, and assorted scraps of silver. I've been trying to find a way to use some of these pieces for a new design. This is a journey of one broken chain...

So I melted it...

And I hammered, filed, sanded and soldered a jump ring onto it...

Then I put a beautiful green stone (chrysoprase) and a lovely chain on it.

You Got Me!!!

2011-04-12T10:53:00.000-07:00

For years we resisted going to Disney, despite the fact my mom lives 45 minutes away from the park entrance. This year was our year...and I am so happy we waited. Jacob was the perfect age to ride everything including Space Mountain. He was in seventh heaven. Many of you may know our son has many severe food allergies including dairy, egg, tree nuts, peanuts and soy protein. Traveling can sometimes be difficult. We like to travel where we will be able to cook our own food and not rely on restaurants. We knew Disney would be different...once inside the park you are at their mercy. Well I am here to tell you...they were fabulous! We filled out paper work several weeks before letting them know his allergies and where we would like to dine. We did two character meals (breakfast and dinner) and ate inside the park several times. Everywhere we went we were greeted with food service professionals who just got it! They knew to wash their hands, wear new gloves and prepare his food on clean cookware and friers. I can't say enough about how they handled everything.

So with that said...Disney, you got me! I am a fan. One day it would be nice to go on a Disney cruise...knowing we could travel safely is the first step.

I vow to blog more often!

2009-05-27T20:08:00.000-07:00

Okay Okay Okay! I have not been a great blogger. So now in front of all of you I will vow to blog atleast twice a month. I know...not a lot but certainly better that what I've been doing. And that is what life is about; doing a little better each day as you take the time to enjoy the day. Today I found a huge amount of joy from watching my little boy eat a bowl of ice cream. You see he has several food allergies and today we found an ice cream made from coconut milk (soy free and dairy free) and he absolutely loved it. It was an unexpected find and I am amazed how something so simple could make both of us so happy.

In the land of jewelry and beads it has been a busy month and getting busier next month. I have several classes I am teaching at the Sandwich Community Center (www.scslearn.org) as well as many craft shows. Check out my website in the news and events section for my upcoming schedule. I am also so excited to be heading to the Bead and Button Show in Milwaukee, WI next week. This will be my first time and I hear it is like the Oscars of the bead/jewelry world. If any of you are there please come by and see me at The Beadin Path booth. Many of you may not know but I am a sales representative for Beadin Path and am lucky enough to travel the country attending bead shows. I love it!

Hope to see you guys at a show, class or on Twitter and Facebook. See you in two weeks at the blog!!!

Tucson's Treasures

2009-02-11T18:33:00.000-08:00

Wow, what a trip! Every year in February, Tucson becomes the Mecca for jewelry designers everywhere. The entire town turns into gem show city. With over 30 shows to take in I had my work cut out for me. I’ve been attending the shows in Tucson since 2000 and every year I discover a new find. Something that inspires me to create that piece that will define the next year’s collection.

This year I found something so exciting and unusual. Like many of the items I use it is limited in quantity which makes it even that more special and unique. I have found ancient Roman glass made into amazing stones and beads. These pieces are made from ancient vessels, hand cut and formed into beads and stones for setting. Many of the stones I picked have opals on them. Opals are formed when a rock or glass in this case is left in a sandy area with lots of flowing water. Some of the beads have an entire sheen of opal on them.

The colors are amazing. Being inspired by the ocean and living on Cape Cod I knew these would evoke a sense of the sea when paired with sterling silver and gold accents. I can’t wait to start playing with my new finds. Hope you love them as much as me!

The Pictures

2008-11-21T18:49:00.000-08:00

The Holiday Season

2008-11-21T18:43:00.000-08:00

Well it looks like the holidays have arrived and I am still mourning my days on the beach. So in an effort to snap to it I am posting some recent custom orders I've completed for your viewing. If you would like to order a custom piece feel free to come see me at one of my craft fairs or email/call me at your earliest convenience. I'll need about two weeks for any custom personalized piece plus allow a week for shipping...that being said all Christmas orders should be made by December 10th. Not to worry though; if you procrastinate I can always rush one out to you via Federal Express or Express US Mail.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving...I'll be making 10lbs of mashed potatoes and hosting my sister, her husband and new baby! Can't wait!!!

Personalized Jewelry

2008-11-12T08:18:00.000-08:00

Well it has certainly been a while. I wanted to let everyone know about my new line of personalized jewelry. Many of you have seen the pieces at local shows on the Cape and South Shore of Massachusetts. I am having so much fun creating these pieces using special lines of poetry, fun sayings and children names. Each piece is truly a one of a kind and so special for me to make. Look for my new pieces at upcoming shows in Orleans. Check out the News and Events Page on the website for more information. Please also feel free to email or call with your special order. elisa@swirlsjewelry.com or 508-420-6494. Thank you! Elisa

It's been a while!

2007-12-07T15:28:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,
Sorry it has taken so long to write. (Does anyone else have this written in their old junior high diaries...I do!) It has been a busy season which is great! Thank you to everyone who has been a customer of Swirls Jewelry this year. I just received great news...I was accepted into the Artisans Guild of Cape Cod. You can view thier site at http://www.artisansguildcapecod.org/. They sponsor many shows in the spring, summer and fall season. I'll post which shows I'll be doing in a few weeks.

I just created a new design utilizing a handmade silver chain that has been oxidized and hammered. The pieces I've made sold out immediatly so as soon as I make more I will take pictures and post them on the site. Email me if you want me to send you a picture of these new designs...they are very rock 'n roll glamour! They feature the chain (which looks like gunmetal) and funky freshwater pearls in silver and faceted hematite...perfect to wear with black, gray, silver and evey that awesome new blue that I see everywhere.

Hope everyone is having a great holiday season so far. It seems to have crept up on me. If you are like me and you need last minute gift items I have many new items under $50.00. They are not pictured on the website but I can email you pictures. Send me an email to elisa@swirlsjewelry.com. Also if you would like to hand pick your items you can contact my sales representative Michele at michele.swirls@comcast.net.

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

What a beautiful day!

2007-09-26T11:35:00.000-07:00

First thing this morning I met with some clients who loved the vintage glass rings. These rings are made from glass stones that were made in the 1930's-1950's. I've taken the glass stones and set them in sterling silver bezels...they really catch the eye. I only have a few left and to see them check out my upcoming show in Sandwich at the library on Saturday from 10-4.

After that, Jacob and I headed to the playground to enjoy this gorgeous day. It feels like July and I love it. I love the Cape when the pace slows down after summer but you still get the amazing weather and those ocean breezes.

I am so excited about this blog; it gives me a chance to share my creative process. For instance today I am playing around with some sterling silver coated lucite beads that look like big chunks of molten silver. I am think I am going to knot them on some amazing leather cord I found recently. I'll post a pic of my progress soon.

The picture here is Jacob with his friend Charlotte out for a ride in the jeep! He already knows to let the woman drive. What a couple of cuties.

My First Post

2007-09-25T19:16:00.000-07:00

Welcome...this is all new for me but I thought it would be a good idea to let everyone know what is happening with Swirls and with the Sullivan family.

The big news of the month is my new line, Beauty and the Raw, is being featured on http://www.givingtreejewelry.com/ and I am so excited! Rachel and Judith are amazing as are their staff. This line features raw and rough faceted natural stones including labordorite, citrine, smokey topaz, apetite, tourmaline and more. They've really inspired me to create more new designs so keep looking for more.

I have a show coming up on Saturday, Sept. 29th but I have to be out of town so Grace, my assistant will be there. Come by and check out my new designs...lots of great things for fall! The show is at the Sandwich Library in Sandwich, MA; my hometown.

Enjoy the blog and email me if you have any questions: elisa@swirlsjewlery.com