Love is in the Air

 Valentine's-themed treasuries are already cropping up on Etsy, and have been since around the start of the year. I'm really not prepared. My heart jewelry is really picked over, in fact, I think these two bracelets might be all I have left! I'll have to add romantic jewelry to my list of things to make this week, right up there with steampunk jewelry and hairsticks. Maybe I can triple up and make a hairstick with a heart key hanging from it?

If you're looking for a unique Valentine's Day Gift, you can pick up Blue Heart Spiral Bracelet or Lovestruck Crystal Bracelet in my shop!

Love and Sparkles!

Happy Valentine's Day! You know I am not the sort to usually celebrate this holiday -- not because I'm not in love, or not because I feel like it's overly commercialized, but mostly because it falls between the gem show and our anniversary, so I would feel silly expecting to get additional sparkly gifts. This year we are having a bit of a romantic day, with plans for him to get off of work early and make me a delicious dinner. No gifts needed, just a night to ourselves without work, house guests, or outside obligations of any sort.

But I do have a gift for you! Well, not really a gift so much as an offer. You can use the code loveandsparkles at Handmade Jewelry by Erthe Fae Designs to get 15% off anything and everything in the store! So buy yourself something beautiful, or get someone else a sparkly surprise. And have a lovely day, whether or not you're celebrating romance.

Treasury Love

Fantasy Artists of Etsy Team has been participating in Treasury Tuesday! Last week I got featured in several but had no time to blog about them... This week, no one from the team featured me, but I have plenty of time to blog! Ah well. I curated the above collection, called In love with a fantasy. Please consider taking the time to view a few items, leave a comment, and maybe share it on your favorite social networking sites!

I was featured in one non-FAETeam treasury at least! My mermaid necklace, Queen of the Arctic Ocean, is in the nautical-themed Out at Sea.

My plan is to get some new fantasy necklaces made and listed at Handmade Jewelry by Erthe Fae Designs this week, so hopefully next week will be more treasuriffic!

Gothic Romance

I told you I wasn't going to make traditional Valentine's jewelry! Instead, I'm offering two darkly romantic offerings. First, Romance and Corsetry, which features a sexy little pewter heart by Green Girl Studios! This beauty was already featured in a treasury, I give you my HEART for Valentines Day.

Love Hurts is less elegant and more in-your-face. The awesome focal is by Earthenwood Studios, and is paired with black pyrite and red Swarovski crystals. Very dramatic and Goth.

I have to admit that Valentine's Day is not a big deal for my husband and I -- it's sandwiched neatly between gem show and our wedding anniversary, so I'd feel rather greedy asking for anything to mark the day. But I'm more than happy to facilitate a happy holiday by providing handmade, romantic jewelry from Erthe Fae Designs.

Sweetly Romantic

Finally! New Jewelry! I just listed these Demure Sweetness chandelier earrings. Perfect for a romantic date, and Valentine's Day is just around the corner!

I also finished out my listing of gray items with this crystal bracelet.

I still have to list the owl necklace and two rather Gothic heart necklaces, so keep your eye on Handmade Jewelry by Erthe Fae Designs, or come back to this blog tomorrow for convenient links.

(I'm keeping this short and sweet because otherwise it will turn into a rant about plumbers)

Wuv.... twue wuv... that dweam within a dweam...

Valentine's Day is just a month and a half away, which means that most people aren't even thinking about it yet -- we're all basking in the post-Christmas afterglow, enjoying our gifts, getting ready for New Year's revelries. But as a jewelry designer, I have to think ahead and decide what I'm going to create to capitalize on the holiday. To inspire myself, I created this Thoughts turn to romance... treasury. It features elegant designs that evoke a Valentine's Day feeling, while still holding a year-round appeal. I've never been one for making blatant holiday jewelry, maybe because I've never been one for wearing it. So I'll design with hearts and flowers, and in red or pink, but not all of those elements together. Starting next month, keep an eye on Handmade Jewelry by Erthe Fae Designs for new one of a kind pieces evoking a sense of Victorian romance.

This was supposed to post while I was in Vegas, but it didn't. Apparently if you accidentally post something right away, and then try to change it to post later, it doesn't work. So I apologize for the long silence here. I had intended things to be slightly more entertaining while I was gone!

Vegas was fun, it was nice to spend a few days with one of my friends, just shopping, enjoying the sights, and hanging out.

Fashionable Friday -- Thoughts of Romance

Valentine's Day is almost upon us, and so our thoughts turn to romance. The stores are full of chocolates, heart-shaped candies, and cards with sentiments that range from sweet to raunchy. Perhaps you and that special someone are already planning on how to spend the evening.

Jewelry is a natural part of Valentine's Day. The large jewelry stores would of course have you believe that gold and diamonds are the perfect gift, but a lovely handmade necklace can be even more wonderful. What better gift than something unique, something that stands out from the crowd?

My latest creation is The Queen of Love and Beauty, seen above. Although it doesn't have the traditional hearts, its colors and styling are nonetheless incredibly romantic. This may very well be the most beautiful necklace I've ever made.

Of course, I have many heart-themed jewelry items on my site. Midnight Passion is a darkly romantic collar. Blue Heart and Opulent Romance are two delightful bracelets. And True Love and Gothic Romance are both lovely earring pairs.

I'm far from the only jewelry artist with perfect Valentine's Day offerings. Dornick Designs has I'm Burning For You, a tribal heart necklace. Tomoko has Black Heart, which appeals to my Goth side. JewelLace has Old Gold & Pearl, which is quite elegant. Dreams and Jewelry has a Blackened Heart Lariat that I really like. And Paper Jewels has Chinese Kiss Heart pendants, which are way too sweet.

Of course, romantic jewelry is even better if you pair it with romantic clothing. I simply love this Juliet gown by Martin McCrea -- In fact, I think it would go perfect with The Queen of Love and Beauty. For a slightly more casual, but still elegant look, I love this burn-out velvet blouse. If you'd rather just carry a romantic handbag, this Knight and Lady bag is perfect!

Sometimes romance can be silly, too, which is why I like the Skelly in Love card.

Love is everywhere!