New Items, New Thoughts.

Posted on July 14, 2013 by TheStrayArrow

This post may be a bit longer, as I feel text has been slightly dwindling from this blog. Firstly, new items! These will be hitting the shop later tonight and tomorrow.

Stone rings in natural old stock Royston and Manassa mine turquoise, and a luscious pink rhodochrosite.

Other newer pieces include mini “Sweet Sayings” rings. These sterling bands feature delightful short quotes by yours truly. Each ring features a different quote, but they can be made to your size upon inquiry. Currently made are: “We are the brazen bold“, and “A darling day for rain” (for the English). These sterling bands are patina darkened and then polished to a steel like finish, with the darkened quotes hidden on the inside of the ring band. On the outside is my jeweler’s mark. These also make great knuckle rings.

A wampum necklace with mini wampum beads, old stock cut of green Manassa mine turquoise, wild horse magnesite Crossed Arrows dangles, and silver & rose gold stackers will be joining them.

It’s also been pretty evident that I’ve been somewhat neglectful of the Stretched Ears Jewelry shop. The Arrow Vanes, signature Stray Arrow wear, will soon be available in multiple gauge sizes in the shop. I’ll also be making more plugs featuring rare turquoise (Blue Moon mine), and other designs quite soon.

Now for my favourite new addition. Awhile ago I made a necklace for myself that, along with The Stray Arrow necklace, has become a signature daily piece. Out of bronze and silver sheet metal I made a 5 string banjo. Completed with a wrap around quote on the body, and sawed out arrow in the back. I’ll be offering these in the shop as of tonight as a *CUSTOM* piece. The quotes and backing design can be customized. Four string banjos are also available. They’ll put a little folk mountain life in you. No templates, all hand forged.

That’s it for new items for the next few days. I’ve also been working on some custom orders that’ll be shown here and the usual outlets (Tumblr, Instagram @thestrayarrow, Facebook), once finished.

A Note-

I’ve been noticing people imitating my work. While this is a touchy subject that seems taboo to talk about, this is getting unavoidable. Artisan one of a kind jewelry design is a difficult art to protect when compared to other art fields. Copies will happen. “One offs” are tolerated and occasionally flattering if the artist is *given credit* as being behind the inspiration. This is unfortunately not the case. I have been seeing people not only imitate my very specific signature materials (not that one can ever claim to own such a thing), but my writing descriptions, photography style, work title style and themes, and my overall aesthetic entirely. A continual ‘paraphrasing’, if you will. Most people have the grace to come up with their own designs, for those that don’t they bring down the work of others. I want to reiterate and remind everyone that if there is space to stamp my half inch “STRAY ARROW” logo onto an original piece, and it is not there, it is not made by me. This means that it is not backed by my quality guarantee, nor my 6 years of turquoise study experience. Just because a piece of turquoise is claimed from a mine does not equal good quality. I am an artist with eccentric interests, and my jewelry work is an extension of that. I try to be respectful of everyone’s creative and intellectual property, and truly wish the same in return.

In other news, I’ve been in the process of taking some jewelry group shots of pieces for things like packaging, cards, and promos (hint hint *soon*). Below are some of those shots, as well as some really great folks wearing my jewels. Click on their photos for their respective work links and check them out!

^lady Arlie, of Urban Revisions in 14k yellow gold and dark silver faceted sapphire gem ring. Paired with her new white glass jewels!

^the extremely talented Rachel (photographer), in Royston turquoise and dark silver necklace.

^Dominique of Couture Vulture wearing Stray Arrow No-see-’ems, and mini crystal rings by Concrete Polish.

Cave Ladies, Shooting in The Dark,

still a favourite.

That’s all folks! I leave you with an illustration from one of my favourites, the Pink Fairy Book~

xx The Stray Arrow

PREVIEW NIGHT plus Rock Appreciation Day!

Posted on July 3, 2013 by TheStrayArrow

Below are some of the jewels that will be going into the shop on Wednesday and Thursday…

be sure to enter in the discount code if you make a purchase in the shop from now until Monday the 8th at Midnight!

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ROCK APPRECIATION DAY:

For this month, I could only chose one stone. I’ll be highlighting Castle Dome Mine Turquoise, as its become a staple for my Mini Cave Lady Rings! I thought about doing black pyrite for a second stone, but don’t have enough jewelry pieces to use as examples. I’ll have to plot and cook up something big for August!

Castle Dome turquoise is quite rare as it is a closed mine. Depicting bright light blues as it’s signature, it is located near Globe, Arizona. Castle Dome is also referred to as Pinto Valley Mine turquoise, and it is similar to it’s close neighbor the Sleeping Beauty Mine. Natural material of this is hard to get as most of the rough from when the mine was closed was stabilized and/or used for beads. It started, like many other turquoise mines, as a copper mine. Because of the mining methods used initially (aka blasting. yikes), many of the veins and structures of the turquoise later uncovered were extremely fractured. There wasn’t much solid rough available for lapidary artists to cut.

Personally, I’m not particular to ‘plain blues’ in turquoise. This mine in particular, (and its similarly hued cousin the Blue Moon mine) has grown on me. There are very subtle hues in a lot of the Castle Dome mine turquoise that you don’t find in your standard robin’s egg blue or Sleeping Beauty mine turquoise. It has light “watermark” patterns, that aren’t webbed or water webs. I adore pairing it with darkened silver, as it gives it contrast to highlight the stone. It also makes for a macabre pairing, and always reminds me of the bottom of pools.

I’ll be using more of this turquoise in fresh designs soon. What’s pictured is all I have left!

xx Stray Arrow

In the works…

Posted on March 22, 2013 by TheStrayArrow

I have been slowly compiling an inventory of the growing amount of different stacking rings in my shop. There are an awful lot, aren’t there? Nothing can be so classic or complex as the little stacker. In homage to this timeless trend, and for a bit of organization, I’ll be posting a guide next week on all of my signature stackers and the different ways they can be worn! Looks will be divided by themes like “Cave“, “Arrow“, “Floral“, “Class Act”, etc. In addition, I’ll be adding some new stackers to the shop. Many of these will be *one of a kind* stackers; non-resizable one offs.

Another post in the works will be an inside scoop-what kinds of jewelry do jewelers collect? My personal vintage collection will be shared. Expect some bragging to ensue.

***NEW ITEMS***

Will be hitting both shops next week. New turquoise, as ever and always, along with some warmer toned pieces for Springtime. See you then!

xx Stray Arrow

Preview Day

Posted on December 9, 2012 by TheStrayArrow

The Giveaway necklace has been decided upon and finished! For the lucky winner chosen December 26th, the Koroit Opal Dirt Drop:

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NEW ITEMS:

These goodies will be added to both Etsy shops tonight and tomorrow.

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And now, a new favourite.

Quality White Buffalo Turquoise, old Kings Manassa Turquoise, peridot gemstone, and a little poetry bring:

The Storm Caller

quote from William Cullen Bryant’s, “To The Fringed Gentian”

That’s it folks! Check out the shops later on~Don’t forget Holiday shopping deadlines!

xx Stray Arrow

Preview and Past Customs

Posted on May 19, 2012 by TheStrayArrow

This past month I’ve been working on mainly custom orders as well as some new goodies for the shops. Below are pics of the custom pieces I’ve been creating in the past few weeks, and after…a preview of the new jewels before they hit the main shop!

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PREVIEW:

Hitting the shop over the next couple of days, we have iolite gemstone ‘Starry Night’ earrings that are screw backs for those with no ear piercings~

For the fingers, we have fresh additions to the Petals theme and the White Sands-White Buffalo Turquoise. A crinoid fossil ring of silver and gold will be joining them~

Now for my favourite new addition. Hand sawed of bronze and silver, turquoise flower hair pins and braid ends! These hair adornments can double as hair ties, or can be slipped onto a bobby pin. Sold in singles and pairs, below are examples of custom orders~

That’s it for now! Also in the works are new goods for the Gauged by Stasia shop, and ever so slowly, the RUNES line is becoming fully realized…

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PEER VENTURE:

In other news, fellow artist Tory Novikova has released a new line of spritely summer bags in her Etsy shop! As many artists, we each agreed to a trade-a turquoise hair tie for my very own FOX bag. These are 100% cotton, slightly sheer, and EVER so much more sturdy than you could possibly imagine. It is now my staple “going to the Post” tote, and can take a great amount of weight. The antique faded colour palettes of these three designs (FOX, POLAR BEAR, and OWL), make these the perfect beach bag. The adorable subtle tags on the inside give them an extra level of professionalism and class. I also hear that a fairy&mushroom theme will be forthcoming! These make spectacular gifts. Behold the lovely artist and her newest creation!

find them in her shop @ ToryNova.Etsy.com

Check back to the Etsy shops over the next couple of days for these new creations to emerge, in the meantime, why not take a peak at my new Facebook page? You can now find studio pics, custom creation pics, and more at http://www.Facebook.com/TheStrayArrowJewelry. Also now posting on Instagram under thestrayarrow.

xx Stray Arrow