New Item Preview…

All of these pieces will hit the shop today at 12pm EST.

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Giveaway news coming soon!

xx The Stray Arrow

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SALE & New Items

I’d like to announce it’s now the annual MAY SALE! All throughout the month of May in the main Etsy shop enjoy 10% off of your entire order by applying the coupon code: MAYBABY at checkout. The sale will end May 31st at Midnight, and does not apply to custom orders.

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A few new items made in between working on custom orders will be added to the shop tonight. Here’s a quick preview:

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^Chained rings now made to order with your stone of choice.

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Now, a little highlight on rutile & tourmalinated quartz, plus some photo candy:

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I also just want to thank everyone for having patience with me while I was sick for several weeks, due to a reaction from some medication. All pending custom orders are still in the works and getting little extras! The Plugs shop will reopen shortly once I’m more caught up with orders.

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NEW STOCKIST ALERT-

Small Home Studio in Brooklyn, NY now carries Arrow Ware by The Stray Arrow!

more news soon

xx

Stray Arrow

Giveaway and News!

Well folks, it’s the first of the month. I think it’s time to bring back the Rock Appreciation Days, what about you? Today VARISCITE will be highlighted. See the feature and photo examples of current and past jewelry pieces using variscite at the END of this post.

For now, I’d like to update you all. Studio access has been slightly limited in the recent past due to construction on the building. A big thank you to all who have placed orders for your immense patience during this time! The studio is now at full speed again and any work in my space has finished. Due to the slower production speed I have solely been keeping up with “made to order” items and custom items. I will finally be updating the main Etsy shop with new items next week. To stay posted on exactly when you can follow any of my social media seen at the right side bar.

In more exciting news,

I will be going to the Tucson Gem Show! 

This is a big deal for me, because it is absolutely huge and spanning a month’s time, and I wasn’t able to go last year. I will be gone from February 9-13th. Please note that I will keep both Etsy shops open during this time, but some “made to order’ items may be deactivated. All orders will ship upon my return. As I am shopping for rocks, I’m giving you all an opportunity to weigh in. What kinds of stones would you like me to use more? Have a custom piece in mind with a specific kind of stone you want me to hunt for? If you have a serious hankering, please list your desires in the comment section below. I’ll be adding it to my ‘treasure hunt’ list. When I return all new scores will be photographed and posted here. For the most up to date Gem Show experience you can follow my Instagram: @thestrayarrow.

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GIVEAWAY NEWS

This giveaway will primarily be for Instagram. Any comments below on THIS post will also be included into the giveaway! Comment with stone opinions! Win the Feathered Band with Arrow Vane below, in your size. Winner will be chosen Feb. 14th.

STRAYARROWGIVEAWAY

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On a more serious note…

I want to bring up something that often goes unsaid by most jewelers. It goes unsaid because of backlash. Because of people getting defensive. Because you take something that is “fun” and “aesthetically pleasing” to the general public and shed light on a negative aspect of the industry. That’s right. Industry. This is a trade, not a hobby. I’ve mentioned this before and I want to mention it again. Creative rights are constantly being infringed upon. It is not okay, and should not be supported. It is morally bankrupt. Yes, there are others out there with technical skills, no, they do not have my mind, or the mind of a peer. If you see something that you *immediately associate with my work or think is mine initially* chances are fair that my creative toes are being stepped on. If you see someone using ALL of my main themes I’ve been working hard to curate for years-

(turquoise.wampum.myth.literature.Native American.Nordic.)

then yes. There’s no respect being shown, and my hard work is being stolen. Unfortunately there is little to be done, and speaking with people who clearly have no respect for others OR respect for themselves is most often a dead end. Again. This is a message for you to be aware. Not to dictate whom you should be buying from. When folks purchase my work along with that of my peers I get excited customers enjoy our work all around. There are wonderful, talented, respectful artists out there with some true integrity. They spend years creating work that evolves into a personal aesthetic. I will always fight for my creative rights and the rights of my peers. Please be respectful of the creative rights of other artists. Please be aware of what you’re looking at and who you are supporting. Lastly, please take this message as a celebration of those who know themselves and stay true.

ROCK APPRECIATION DAY

[DISCLAIMER: I am not a lapidary (stone) artist, gemologist, mine owner, or any other kind of authority on gems, stones, or minerals. I am simply an enthusiast who likes to share the information I’ve gathered in my goal to attain the perfect rocks for my jewelry pieces].

VARISCITE.

Broken Arrow Parcel.

Variscite is an aluminum phosphate mineral, ranking about a 3.5-4.5 on the MOH’s hardness scale. It is often confused with turquoise, although more often than not much greener. It is another popular southwestern stone for jewelry use. The most popular can be found in Lucin and Fairfield, Utah, and Esmeralda and Lander counties in Nevada. It also hails from Australia, Brazil, Spain, Poland and Germany. Many kinds of variscite, especially from the USA, can have host rock webbing in them again making it easy to confuse with turquoise.

Below are pieces I’ve made with different varieties of variscite:

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(^from Australia)

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variscite sea ring

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That’s it folks!

Have a good weekend~

xx The Stray Arrow

New Item Preview…

These couple of new rings will be hitting the shop today, ranging from size 6-7.

Check back to the blog late this afternoon or tomorrow to see the AMAZING new haul of gemstones and stones I got at the rock show yesterday!

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That’s it folks! Check back soon. The stones posted later can be reserved for custom orders

xx Stray Arrow

“The Wind-God Frowns In The Murky Skies…”

It has been a little while since my last post, and I’ve had some amazing travels. It has also been raining the past few days, and I have been loving it. This is going to be a fairly long post. I have news to share, recent custom orders to show you, new pieces that’ll be added to the main Etsy shop tomorrow and Tuesday, as well as new stones!

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I’ve traveled before and left the Etsy shops open, but then it is never a true vacation. I always feel the need to respond to conversations immediately or think about all the sold items to wrap when I return. So, last week, I switched both shops to vacation mode. Thank you all for bearing with me!

For all those who don’t know, I love to drive. I mean truly. If I am behind the wheel, I’ll go anywhere. I spent around 23 hours driving in a span of 6 days and it was AMAZING. Thanks to my friend, who never asked to take the wheel. We drove all around the New England and Tri-State areas following one band around. Who needs a fancy vacation when you have good music? We spent all of Saturday at their festival in Portland, ME listening to new bands, and songs of other’s we could sing along with. Through heat stroke, blistered feet, frizzy hair, hot and humid weather, the worst sun burn I’ve ever had, and most importantly a serious lack of caffeine-we had the time of our lives. 

We plan to do it again.

~Pictures of the voyage at the end of this post~

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Now I know I missed “Rock Appreciation Day” this month, but don’t worry! I’ll be doing TWO rock/gem types next month on the 1st!

BELOW:

Some of the more recent commissions I have finished and adored:

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*I have one LAST pair of these beautiful natural rounded trillion cut druzy gems

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BELOW:

All the new goodies coming to the shop tomorrow and Tuesday, plus a few others that are still in the works! Some of these pieces include some beautiful quality stones and gems for extreme Statement pieces. Check the main shop tomorrow to see descriptions, prices, sizes, and more pictures of these new jewels! http://www.TheStrayArrow.Etsy.com

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Although I am *not taking* any custom orders for this month, I do have new stones to share! These can be reserved for custom orders which will resume next month.

In order of the photos below:

BOULDER OPALS (stone on right is already RESERVED)

MARY ELLEN JASPER

FOURTH PHOTO FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:  WHITE BUFFALO TURQUOISE HEART, WATER WEBBED NACOZARI, PRUDENT MAN PLUME AGATE (already in use for a ring!)

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A peek of our travels…. Some new pieces shall emerge by the end of the month inspired by all that is Folk music, mainly old traditional Appalachian Folk ballads.

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*our night after an ADDITIONAL 4 hours of NYC traffic piled on to my 4 hour drive.

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*happy feet! A little leaf leaped into my shoe to join in our trek. I left him in there.

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A very nice gentleman was able to take two seconds of his time for a picture.

It is my one photo memento of the full week of music my friend and I shared.

Everyone we met were exceptional, sweet, generous, and all around great folks.

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Well I am now back in the studio at full steam! Prepare to see a lot of new pieces in BOTH shops in the near future. I wish you all the great luck bestowed upon my friend and I.

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xx Stray Arrow

“Weave The Wind…”

A few new pieces are hitting the Etsy Shop this coming Wednesday afternoon…

This lovely variscite ring features a lovely stone from Nevada, Southwest. The wide band gives extra comfort, and is stamped with feathers on the outside….

Also new is the “Winter Wind” ring…

This beauty features a STUNNING dendritic agate. The ring band features a semi-hidden quote from a T.S. Eliot poem,

“Weave the wind

I have no ghosts”

This is like a personal mantra for the wearer. 

The silver in which the stone is set is file polished, so the agate will warmly glow whenever light hits it.

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catch these two plus a few more jewels in the shop Wednesday!

xx Stray Arrow

 

Neglect

I have truly been ignoring updating this blog of jewels, life, and any imaginative light bulb moments.

Throughout the past few weeks I’ve been struggling to find time to create new goodies for both Etsy shops-and only just now have some fresh bling to share! Being a “one woman show” not only entails creating and photographing items to list, but commissions (convos, sketches, etc.), packaging-cards, decorating parcels, networking, supplying boutiques, and add to that gem/stone hunting and an actual day job and we get a burnt out Stasia. While both of my shops are not taking on any commissions this month (thank you for your patience!), I have literally spent the whole month *catching up* on commissions and finishing them. Don’t even think about interpreting any of this as complaining! The only things that may be sad here are my fingers. I love personalizing and creating for specific moments. I also love to brainstorm more on all the half finished projects in the corners of my studio. I find the pieces I let sit around in stages the longest always come out the best.

What I am essentially building up here to, is a break. *NOT* a break from my beloved Etsy shops, but a vacation for next month. Between September 3 to the 16th, I will be on retreat in Europe with an artist friend. During this time, *my shops will remain open*. Anything purchased between these dates will ship out Monday September 19th. I will be posting this little reminder on EVERY single one of my listings so there is no confusion, as I know many “laid back” folks like myself occasionally won’t read a full shop announcement, etc. During the vacances, I won’t have constant internet access, so I will answer convos whenever it is possible.

I shall come back relaxed, ambitious, and full of new shapes, colours and concepts floating in my mind. I will also have time to do some concept sketches to build my Romantics Line and start a new line that I’m planning for the near future, called the Atsenhaienton” line, which loosely translates to “the fire still burns” in Mohawk Iroquois (i.e. Kanien’gehaga). For most that don’t know, the word “Mohawk” is actually an Algonquin word meaning “MANEATER”…these tribes didn’t get along much. This jewelry line will be semi rooted in the revival of lesser known Native myths, theories, quotes, etc., and feature stones and gems that either reflect on the history or landscape of the specific myth/concept the jewelry piece is based on. I want to create something that will be cherished, rooted in history, and enjoyed by anyone who appreciates learning and sharing.

AND NOW, WITHOUT FURTHER ADIEU, NEW PIECES

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Lab Created White Sapphire, 14k Rose Gold Fill and Sterling Stackers:

these lovelies will be made to order in your own size, I currently have 3 sapphires in stock (all roughly 1-1.3 carats)

^Sweet Kings Manassa Turquoise Posts with 14k Gold bezels

^The Holy Dirt Necklace:~

This necklace features a beautiful blue chalcedony teardrop gemstone, a nice clean slice of stalactite, a NATURAL microfaceted Columbian emerald gemstone, and soon some other mini gemstone goodies. It is 80% finished! Chain length to be adjustable. The stalactite rests in a “dirt mound” of PURE, FINE SILVER that has been sanded, oxidized, chemically patinaed, buried, and beaten to literally resemble pebbles. The finish on this is fantastic in person. I love the idea of putting dirt on a pedestal, the primordial goo still exists in us all, and comes out from time to time when we walk outside barefoot, and roll in the leaves. Celebrate it!

^ The Siren Ring:~

This ring features a stunningly deep natural variscite stone from Nevada, Southwest. The patterning looks exactly like thick seafoam in the deepest green oceans pounding each other in a storm. The bezel of this ring is highly polished (Not my usual!) while the back and ring band remain oxidized, sanded and rustic. The patina is protected by a museum quality jeweler’s wax.

Also in mid-production are new WAMPUM earrings. I have gabbed about wampum a lot in earlier posts, I can’t get enough of it.

These are part of the new Atsenhaienton line…:~

featuring mini natural genuine wampum shell beads in sterling jump rings and oxidized chains. On one earring mini sawed out circles are stamped with “WAM” on the other earrings “PUM”. To be added are sawed out silver arrows and my jeweler’s tag on each earring..

~~~**FOR THE GAUGED SHOP**~~~

6 gauge lapis lazuli (GOOD stuff! not denim lapis) plugs in sterling, and 6 gauge Pilot Mountain Turquoise set in 14k bezels with sterling. These turquoise lovelies are natural, high quality, and have the most BEAUTIFUL water webs…

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NEW ROCK GOODS

Columbian microfaceted emeralds, White Buffalo ribbon cut natural Turquoise, and mini Royston Mine Turquoise ribbon cut-matching pair for gauges! These would work for anything 10 gauge-0 gauge, or anything 00 gauge and up with a border or design around them.

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NEW ITEMS WILL BE IN THE SHOP THIS TUESDAY NIGHT!

xx Stray Arrow