Silver Shadows

Auctioning off SilverLeaf pieces originally intended for the WWRF!!!

rhiannontherose — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 17:25:02 GMT

Dear all....

Remember my hopeful post about being a vendor for the WWRF? I was going to be showing and selling pieces from my Silver Leaves Collection (mostly)....pieces that look like this...

A lot of people asked me to post an update about how things went. Well, I'll spare you the rant/whimperage about that disaster, but suffice to say, because of the failure of others to do their jobs, my work was never shown or sold. I've gotten my package back from FedEx, and am hoping to cut my losses by auctioning off the pieces that aren't already spoken for. Please see my gallery journal to view the pieces up for auction, and, if you're willing, spread the SilverLeaf love, and promote my auction wherever and to whoever you think it might be appreciated!

Much oblidged..

~ Rhiannon, resident starving artist

The Wicked Winter Renaissance Faire is TOMORROW!

rhiannontherose — Sat, 11 Feb 2006 04:10:24 GMT

Tomorrow marks a momentous occasion...a new Renaissance Faire opens!

The NorthEast (of the US) will no longer be Faire-deprived during the loooong Winter months. Tomorrow (Saturday), February 11th, between noon and midnight, Edison, NJ will set the stage for this adult-oriented extravaganza. Fear not, the snow! The Faire will be held in a convention center, and things will be kept plenty heated up, inside. Everything that you love about RenFests will be there (except the dusty trails through the woods), from food to vendors to performers...but the latter two won't have to restrain themselves to "child-safe" show and tell, as it were.

Why am I so excited about this, even though I'm stuck in the wrong part of the country? Because tomorrow marks a momentous occasion for me, as well, since I will be a vendor at said Faire! I won't be able to be there (o, woe!), but some of my jewelry will be. This marks the first time that my silverwork is available to the general public, since up until this point, I have been working purely on a custom-commission basis. I am very, very excited...and very, very anxious. Ok, petrified. But giddy, too. Basically, my brain is a blendered mix of several flavors of adrenaline.

It's an amazing opportunity for me, a heck of a testing ground for my business, and potentially a tiny flash of light at the end of a long, dark financial tunnel, for my family. Or, it could be a disaster. **GULP** I'm trying to keep my thoughts focused on wild n' crazy hopes for selling out, garnering a lot of commissions, and spreading my wonderful reputation. I'm told my work is up to par with or well beyond that of assorted bigwig expensive designers...but they stand a class apart, because their names are KNOWN. Well a Faire will certainly kick up the speed of the word of mouth I've largely been relying on....and if, beyond the adoration and patronage of the masses (ha ha), I can earn the respect and consideration of other Faires, then...Oh! What a happy Rennie I will be! Naturally, all prayers, well-wishing, candle-lighting, good-vibe-sending, and other such goodwill would be greatly appreciated. For a great deal more fun for yourselves, you could think those good thoughts at me while attending the Faire yourselves. Come on...I know some of you are close enough. ;-)

Money and time worked against my sending more, but I still managed to send a decent amount....

First off, I sent one of these DragonMoon Sets (earring/necklace set)...

...as well as an additional pair of the earrings...

...except using a blue stone (that I don't recal the name of), instead of the hematite, for the star.

I also sent a Shooting Star Maille Set (earring/necklace set)...

That's a terrible photo, but you can kinda see the earrings. Here's a better view of what the choker looks like...

Along with that, I sent the coordinating hand-flower/slave-bracelet...

...but not any of the other coordinating accessories I designed. Oh well..maybe next time.

Most of the work sent was silverwork from my Silver Leaves Collection. These pieces are all hand-made using fine silver (.999 pure) and natural gemstones (except for the occasional CZ), and the designs are based around replicas of real leaves...no two are exactly alike! All the different coloration effects are achieved with a single oxidation chemical. I did something new with these pieces...I made the bails look more bark-textured and branch-like, on all but the viney pieces. I sent twenty pendants. Unfortunately, it's very hard to photograph them, and get both detail and an accurate view of the color of the stones and finish...especially when rushing. In any case, ten of them were small (between one and two inches)...

Three "Small, Simple Hearts" -- The first pendant has been given a "natural" oxidation wash (green-brown earthy iridescence overtone to the dulled silver), and is set with a labradorite cabachon. (Labradorite is sometimes referred to as "dark moonstone"...it's a fairly opaque stone with a grey-black base and iridescent layers of flashes of color, mostly in the greens, in the samples I choose.) The second pendant has oxidized veins, and is set with labradorite cabachon. The third pendant has oxidized veins, and is set with an amythyst cabachon.

A "Small, Simple 5-Lobe" -- This one has oxidized veins, and is embedded with clear cubic zirconia (CZ).

A "Small Rosebud" -- This one has oxidized recesses detailing the rosebud itself, which is set with a clear CZ. The stems are sterling silver wire, darkened with oxidation. The leaves have been oxidized to mostly green tones.

A "Small, Simple Rosebush" -- No oxidation on this one, it's the very light and bright natural color of the fine silver. It's set with spectrolite (another stone in the moonstone family...spectrolite has a grey-black base with a blue-purple "glow").

The first pendant, a "Small, Simple Maple", has been given an "Autumn" oxidation wash, largely in tones of pale gold, bronze, orange and red, with touches of green. It's set with a cabachon of Baltic honey amber. The next pendant, a "Small, Simple Oak", was given another "Autumn" oxidation wash, this one more in greens and browns, edging the remaining silvertone. It is set with labradorite and peridot cabachons. The third pendant, a "Small Goddess", just has oxidized veins, and is set with spectrolite and labradorite cabachons.

One more "Small, Simple Maple" -- This one has oxidized veins, and is set with cabachons of rainforest jasper, which is a varigated, marbly green.

Ten of them were large (around three inches)...

A "Large, Simple Oak" -- Given an "Autumn" oxidation wash of pale gold, bronze, brown, red, and green, it is set with cabachons of red tigereye and of sunstone. (The red tigereye is a very woody kind of stone, just like the standard blonde tigereye, but instead of golden blonde optics with the black, it's a rich mahogany red-brown. The sunstone is a glittery golden color, much paler in comparison with the tigereye than it appears in the photo.)

The "Large Bacchus" (Grapevine) is a new design. The leaf has been given an "aurora" oxidation wash, largely with flashes of greens and purple, with a bit of a golden fade to bronze at the edges. The silver of the vines is slightly dulled to make the silver tinted just a touch naturally. The "grapes" are three beads of lepidolite, which is actually a red-purple color.

The "Large, Bleeding Heart" was one of the hardest pieces ever, to photograph. The three stones are faceted garnet cabachons, the trailing vines (which were made with sterling wire) are actually much darker than that, and the oxidation wash on the leaves is an extremely vibrant "natural" color scheme that I cannot even describe...but it's a lot prettier than the photo!

The "Large, Elaborate Ginko" has no oxidation on it...it's the bright and shiny natural color of the fine silver. It's set with two black opal triplet cabachons. Those into traditional Japanese pretties might have preferred a combination of red coral and turquoise, but I couldn't find stone samples that looked right together. I figured the colors in the opals would look lovely with any kimono's colorful array of fabrics.

The "Large, Elaborate Maple" is one of my most popular designs from this collection. It's got a "pale natural" oxidation wash (subtle iridescent tones of brown and green over the dulled silver), and the cabachons are fire-polished rhodolite garnets. Depending on the light, they glow a dark burgundy red, or show a hematite-like gunmetal mirror finish.

The "Large, Elaborate Ivy" is another popular one. It has oxidized veins and is set with three labradorite cabachons.

Another "Large, Simple Oak" -- This one has slightly dulled silver, oxidized veins, and is set with labradorite and green tourmaline cabachons.

Another totally new design, my "Large, Laughing Mother Earth". This one is a bit different, and a lot of fun. The veins are oxidized, the face is a carved moonstone cabachon, and the breasts are little rainbow moonstone cabachons. I didn't get a photo of it in different positions, but the face swivels slightly in its setting, so she can tilt her head at you.

A "Large, Elaborate Spear" -- The veins are oxidized, and it is set with (from largest to smallest) cabachons of amythyst, charoite, and iolite.

A "Large, Elaborate Tri-Lobe" -- Another design favorite of my customers. This one is set with grey moonstone, spectrolite (which generally appears darker than the photo makes it out to be), and labradorite. The finish was really hard to capture. The silver is dulled, with just the slightest green cast to it.

The leaves fall, but Nature's beauty endures...

rhiannontherose — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 06:09:01 GMT

The stark beauty of Winter brings with it many occasions to let yourself shimmer and shine. 'Tis the season to honor beauty that doesn't fade -- your own, or that of a loved one -- with something truly special. Anyone can dazzle in mass-marketed glitter, but what kind of indulgence is that? My Silver Leaves Collection are all original and custom designs, hand-made using fine silver, gemstones, and replicas of natural leaves. No two are exactly alike, so each piece is as special and distinct as the recipient. Almost any kind of piece is possible, with almost any kind of stone...but leaves are now limited until the Spring. Contact me now to discuss commissioning pieces in time for the assorted Winter holidays.

See My Butterfly Rose Creations Gallery for information, details, and more recent examples of my work.

(Crossposted hither and tither, because I've got a husband and baby to help support, and this year I want to be able to send my friends presents, dangit!)

hello....

winged_wind — Sun, 22 Aug 2004 20:37:55 GMT

hello there, I just joined this community :) i'm kind of new to LiveJournal, so it might take me a little while to figure things out. Anywho, i'm looking forward to sharing my experiences, and listening to what everyone has to say.

I don't write fanfics or stories, as it looks like some of you do. No, most of my 'dreaming' as they call it is done in my head. When I write, the words never seem to express the volume of the emotion i'm feeling, the exact way I picture things, or my true feelings. All of it is done in my head, although this can be tricky, as time to time I start to mix up what is 'real', and what is 'fantasy'.

But who decides what is 'real'? My emotions and thoughts are 'real', aren't they? So why can't my dreams also be?

Ah, how we all wish for things that the rest of the world tells us is impossible ;)

of_unsound_mind — Fri, 23 Jul 2004 18:54:48 GMT

I just joined the community, thought i'd introduce myself. My name is Kriss (Kristi) and i'm nealry 18. I swear i will make a serious post later but i'm kinda tired so i can't come up with anything too much but i do have contributions.

What's up?

zap_lightning — Thu, 03 Jun 2004 17:45:13 GMT

Hey!
I just joined this community and it sounds like a blast! I look forward to being able to post/read some cool stuff! So then do you do like exactly what the description says then? If you don't what exactly do you guys post?

For love of shooting stars...

rhiannontherose — Wed, 19 May 2004 22:53:19 GMT

Where are the Dreamers who walk this world but refuse to be limited by it? Where are those who feel they belong in other places, other ages? Where are the romantics, the kindred, the spiritual, the magickal? Where are those who lavish in fantasy, in arcana, in the natural, the celestial, the medieval, the Renaissance, the Celtic lands, lore and legend, mythology and memory? Where are the old-world goths of dark beauty, of velvet and stone? Where are the fae spirits, the moon-dancers, the forest-wanderers, the wind-singers? Where are those who feel they've found their place in the world once they are at RenFests, or Faires, the SCA or RPGs? Where are you?

I know you're out there. After all, I am. And I'm trying so hard to bring a little more of the wonder of the world I'd rather be living in, into the world of mundane logistics that I'm stuck in. I'm trying to take the muddle of questions...of health, time, family, finances, sanity...and answer it in a way that allows me to meet all those needs with who I am, not just what I can do...and share it. Share it with the rest of you...the friends, those who could be friends, those who simply share the same kind of fondness for the world and its potentials. Those who have been yelling into my head until I heard echoes of confidence that...I can do this.

I can start my own small business based on my artisanship, based on my personality, based on who I am and what I love and how I see the world. Butterfly Rose Creations can be another dream made more than a dream. And it's the sort of dream I can share.

But the yelling has faded to whispers now that I've started making my little declaration to the world, and few seem to want to stand by what was said. Would you take a look? Would you share with me what you make of what you find? Will you help me add a little more beauty, a little more meaning, to the world we're all lost and found in?

Please?

Some of you know me, know what I offer in friendship, advice, information or ideas. Some of you might simply remember my offer of DragonMoons previously. Now I am running two new auctions (yes, EBay auctions, I admit it...but I'm desperate), here and here. The first is of a chain-maille styled choker and matching earrings, featuring shiny stainless steel rings, fittings, and cascading chain, and blue stone stars. The second is of a matching hand-flower/slave bracelet (a bracelet that extends over the back of the hand to at least one finger). Both are hand-made, original designs on a shooting star theme. (This is, after all, about passionate wishes.) Both are feminine yet not fragile, both durable and beautiful, professional but not standardized. The auctions have about 3 days and 20 hours left.

Some of the images can be found here

Ah yes.. I'm totally bonkers.

mystra — Wed, 18 Dec 2002 11:42:07 GMT

So I wrote this fan fic right?

Confessions of a Mary-Sue

It's not even done.

But I created this:
miss_lacey

Yet here me and my friends have started this.

thornhold the_abyss

Based upon it.

Yeah, insane much?

I'll take my staight jacket in purple please.

Imagination gone wild

tigerknight — Tue, 17 Dec 2002 23:46:09 GMT

My brain runs all over the place, literally. Sometimes it will pop out of my skull and go running around the conference table screaming at the top of it's lungs while we're in a meeting - and no one else will see it because it's /my/ brain after all.. Anyways ;]

My latest bit of imaginary fun was like something out of the Man-Kzin wars, letting my manager loose on a 'preserve' which happened to look like work (his 'natural habitat' you know..) and getting to hunt him down and present him with an untimely demise. Except while where the Kzintosh are 'anthro' so to speak.. my little daydreams aren't. Quite fun considering what a hell he's made my life lately. :]

Sanity is being able to control the urge to leap at someone and rip their throat out with your teeth like a wild animal ;]

Buffy the RPG!

charisma — Mon, 16 Dec 2002 08:21:34 GMT

Just wondering if anyone else got/is going to get/is interested in getting the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Roleplaying Game? We just got the Core Rulebook (one of my Christmas presents, yes, I'm bad for opening early, heh)- and we've been making up our characters and such, and will likely play with it this week.

It looks like a lot of fun! We've got details for the campaign worked out and everything.

Who am I This Time?

charisma — Thu, 12 Dec 2002 15:28:03 GMT

Title of one of my favorite Vonnegut stories.

Well, I'm Laura, or as most people tend to call me 'L' (pronounced, non surprisingly, 'El').

I'm the author of quite a few little interesting bits of poetry, fiction, and a budding novel (145 pages so far).

I also do articles, but they're not quite as interesting or fictional as my other fiction. Really.

Got a few poetry anthology and journalistic publications to my name, but they're unimportant.

My husband and I run an IRC roleplaying game, and have our own system (Arcane Roleplayers Consortium- abreviated ARC). If you're really curious, it's up at www.labarc.com . Most of my creative fictions come from playing characters in the ARC universe, primarily, in a little world called Nexus.

I do tend to write short stories set in other little universes of my creation.

I do a lot of writing for Neopets in the Neopian Times as well, because I tend to enjoy that little addictive virtual pets game. 57 pieces published thusfar.

I don't write fan fiction of any sort though, because I cannot stand using someone else's characters. It reminds me a bit of reaching into another person's hamper and putting on their underwear for the day. I've always like to create my own original characters and worlds.

My novel is a vampire fiction, set in modern times. The way that vampirism is treated is different than traditional mythology, though, in a few ways. It's caused by a virus called Sanguinia that is infectious in much the same way lychantrophy is infectious. There are various stages of the infection. Some vampire legends are true in my little world, some aren't. There are also inate spellcasters, called Magi, who play a promintate role in the story. The novel is called Shades of Grey, and will be the first in a series of novels, if I'm lucky. =)

I kind of tend to enjoy the real world. I'm happily married, with three kids. I like to write, and pretend that I can draw on occasion (I can't, really, but it's fun). But I do think that fantasy writing, roleplaying, and other such things play an important part in my life. Creativity helps us in many ways.

Well, that's about all I've got to say, other than 'hi!'

Hilooooooooos

mystra — Wed, 11 Dec 2002 22:53:56 GMT

So I shall introduce myself.

I'm Silence, or Sil if you will. I'm the original Uber Goddess, (theres 3 of us so far and only I can deem others the title..lol)

So I'll tell you a bit about my little fantasy world.. it's a giant combination of a comic book and fan fic crossovers on crack. lol

I also use my demented mind and day dreams as fan fic to help me escape from the 'real world' and it's annoyances.

Lock me up in a cage baby, but don't expect me to stay. My male harem will break me out!! *gloms Legolas*

Ok.. so someone break the ice :]

tigerknight — Wed, 11 Dec 2002 22:43:26 GMT

Cause I'm not gonna. I'm a total chicken (turns over the 'token guy' label) See? says right there.

Tada!

tigerknight — Wed, 11 Dec 2002 22:18:33 GMT

I guess I'm the token guy now :]

First posting.

mystra — Wed, 11 Dec 2002 22:14:59 GMT

You may have beat me to joining first sistah goddess, but I shall post first! ;p

So yeah, ha! *skips away with her male harem*