Thursday, December 23, 2010

Nile Flight

Nile Flight

[For sale here on Etsy]


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Lapis birds and beads, with Swarovski crystals and gold toned wire. Each earring is 2.25 inches long, with sterling ear wires. All wire wrapping done by hand.


HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!! :-D

Queen of the Cat People, class with a cult following.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

House Dayne

House Dayne

[For sale here on Etsy!]


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Inspired by the book A Game of Thrones, by George R. R. Martin.

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Amethysts rest in delicate cages of silver wire, set among brilliantly faceted quartz crystals, on a chain of more amethyst and quartz beads.

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This 18 inch necklace is finished with a sterling silver clasp. All wire wrapping is done by hand.

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After all, "Winter is Coming" ;-) Actually, winter is here. Whups. Happy Winter Solstice!

Also, as you can tell I've started reading these books, too. Very fun so far! I'm looking forward to the series this year :-)


Queen of the Cat People, class with a cult following.

Monday, December 20, 2010

STEAMPUNK SALE for New Years!

All items in the Steampunk section of my Etsy store [Link Here!] are on sale!


30-40% off earrings and pendants, to make room for new stock in 2011.


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Follow this and other promotions, pictures, and events on our new Live Journal feed!
Click here to subscribe via Live Journal.


Queen of the Cat People, class with a cult following.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Autumn Rose

Autumn Rose

[For sale here on Etsy!]


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Obsidian roses, with bronze colored pressed glass leaves, and Swarovsky crystals. Each earring is about 2.25 inches long, with sterling silver ear wires.



And if I hadn't been so busy making the shinies, I would have posted them earlier than the end of autumn. New Years Resolution #1: Must work on my timing. I suppose I make a better artist than business-person ;-)


Queen of the Cat People, class with a cult following.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Autumn Nest

Autumn Nest

[For sale here on Etsy!]


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Black marbles nestle into nests and thickets of hand-wrapped wire for the winter, among obsidian roses, bronze pressed glass leaves, Czech crystals, black lava and onyx.

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This 18 inch necklace closes with a copper colored toggle clasp. All wire bending, wrapping, and twisting done by hand.

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Proof that I have been experimenting with new mediums while not blogging ;-) Yay for wire bending!


Queen of the Cat People, class with a cult following.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Celtic Movement - Steampunk On Sale!

Celtic Movement

[For sale here on Etsy!]


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Stamped polymer clay charms hang from recycled watch movements, along with Czech crystal beads. The earrings are each about 2.25 inches long, with sterling silver ear wires.

This pair has been marked down from $25, after many long months lost in the back of my store room ;-)


Queen of the Cat People, class with a cult following.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Expanding the Empire

Hallo Livejournal!

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At least, I hope you are watching this from Livejournal, that was the idea of syndication.

If you have a Livejournal account and would like to follow me there, look for QOTCP_jewelry, search by the "Atom" feed linked on my sidebar, or look here http://syndicated.livejournal.com/qotcp_jewelry/

If you are checking this out from LJ Land, I am a jewelry designer and artisan. So far my work involves polymer clay, semiprecious stones, seed bead weaving, and wire wrapping. And I am available for custom work.

My other websites are QueenoftheCatPeople.com, and an Etsy shop also called QueenoftheCat People.Etsy.com.

Enjoy the shiny things!

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Opera Dress

Opera Dress

[For sale here on Etsy]


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Inspired by the novel Palimpsest, by Catherynne M. Valente.

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"Casimira's eyes move appraisingly over November, who feels very much like a child in her lavish clothes.
'The dress will do, I think. Next time I will know better what suits you.'
'Do for what?'
'I am taking you to the opera. How else shall we get to know one another? That is why you needed a dress. I do not care much for fashion, but a dress is like a sail, it must be held before one, colossal and dazzling, if one is to get anywhere at all.' "


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Onyx, cobalt blue and golden glass crystals, bees and black cinnabar pendants shine and glitter amid royal blue ribbon. The necklace is 20.5 inches long, with a sterling silver toggle clasp and findings.


Queen of the Cat People, class with a cult following.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Still Treasured :-)

I'm in a lovely Etsy Treasury today, among such illustrious artisans as Parish Relics and Emblems! Wow! Go look!


A treasury of Anachronistic Gems


New jewelry content to update ... argh, I can't promise anything right now. I'm still making new shinies but its slow going, photography is becoming a problem, and there are a LOT of other things going on in my life right now. Balance continues to elude me.

Rest assured, I'm still mailing out all ready-made pieces in a timely manner, and there are plenty still up on my Etsy store.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Present and accounted for!

I'm still here! I just needed an extended break from most of my usual habits and responsibilities, so I could build them back up into something more functional. Beadwork got heaped into the "keep" pile, thank goodness.

I also had a creative block for a couple of months, but divine intervention and financial pressure is getting me back into gear again. I'll feel that much better just working on work to sell again, even if my sales don't actually increase. Every little bit helps these days.


My latest project is experiments with wire wrapping. I own a variety of un-drilled objects, collected over many years, that I would rather see added to jewelry than collecting dust in a bowl on my dresser. Mostly semiprecious stones and the like.

And wire is kicking my butt so far, especially free-form. The more exact a pattern I have to work with the nicer the outcome.

It is often a good thing to run into an artsy technique that you suck at. Builds character and if/when I finally get it, I will understand it that much better.


I tried putting my seed bead kit back together last night, but could not find my thread. I don't remember the last time I made a new spiral necklace. But I've completely scaled back on in-person sales, and they haven't been at all popular on Etsy, so there is not a big rush to work on them again. Although I would like to finish up all of my seed bead supplies. The seed bead kit was also convenient to take to work for my lunch breaks. If only I could find my thread...


There was a big push in my life to clean up my home. It has remained very tidy for weeks. Setting up my light box for more photos will not be as big of an ordeal as it used to be. But first I need to make more shiny things to photograph.

Cya soon!

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Vacation, all I ever wanted!

I am in the middle of a sort of stay-cation from my wide variety of pursuits and hobbies, including jewelry, photography, and blogging.

Its so hot in NYC that my jewelry muse seems to have fled for cooler climates, leaving me on my own. Instead I've been reading, cleaning house, and decluttering my life and work space. So when she gets back we can return to worshiping shiny things.

Don't worry, after Labor Day weekend (and DRAGONCON!!) things will return to normal around here ;-)


To tide you over, this is me in a spiffy Egyptian inspired collar and earrings I will probably wear at the con:

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Polymer clay, gold leaf, stamps, metallic glazes, garnets, and sterling findings.


Queen of the Cat People, class with a cult following.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Lavender and Silver Horn Ring

Lavender and Silver Horn Ring

[For sale here on Etsy!]

Once I tried making head-wear horns out of polymer clay, but I quickly realized it's been done before. So I invented a way to mount them into rings and other flat woven bracelets.

Introducing, Horn Rings!

P1160875 - Lavendar Horn Ring (R003)

This light, curled horn is the perfect accent for any kind of faerie, nymph, or satyr costume.

The claw is made of polymer clay with a light metallic finish, which makes it MUCH lighter than a metal claw. It also won't tarnish. The ring itself is woven by hand out of purple and clear seed beads. Ring size 9.

Queen of the Cat People, class with a cult following.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

New Auction for BARCC!

This week I have a piece up in a Blogathon Auction for BARCC!

Some very awesome people put together a combo auction & blogathon every year. This summer they've asked for pieces themed around violence against women. At the same time I finished reading The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin, and was inspired by similar themes in her wonderful novel. Introducing,


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And then I heard a voice, except it wasn't a voice, and he asked, "Do you love me?"
And I said, "Come and I will show you," and opened my arms. He came to me and pulled me hard against him, and I did not see the knife in his hand. No, no, there was no knife; we had no need of such things. No, there was a knife, later, and the taste of blood was bright and strange in my mouth as I looked up to see his terrible, terrible gaze...
But what did it mean that he made love to me first?


-The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, by N.K. Jemisin.


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Snowflake obsidian, frosted quartz, white agate, labradorite, garnet, sterling silver knife charm. Metal bending all done by hand, and the bead chain necklace is 20 inches long.

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It's been up for a day and a half by now and there have been no bids at all. So sad! Hopefully it picks up soon.


From the auction website's intro page:
The Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC) is the second oldest rape crisis center in the country, and one of the biggest, with a staff of 20 and a volunteer corps of 120+ who put in hours equivalent to 19 additional staff members. We have a 24-hour hotline and medical advocacy program (medical advocates go to the hospital with survivors for evidence collection), a community awareness/public education/outreach program (which is really unique and ever-expanding), legal advocacy, legislative advocacy (we helped change the law on restraining orders recently so you can get one if you're not in an intimate relationship with your stalker, go us!), case management, and counseling (up to twelve sessions). BARCC provides all of this and more completely free of charge, and we are able to do so partly because of you.

Every penny of this auction goes directly to BARCC so they can continue to provide these services for survivors and their families and communities throughout the Boston area. Buy wonderfu things for a good cause!



Queen of the Cat People, Class with a cult following.

Mabon Magick

Mabon Magick

[For sale here on Etsy!]


P1150823 - Copper Pentacle

The pentacle is a common symbol in pagan circles, relating to the five elements, mastery of the four elements, etc. But it also relates to the orbit of the planet Venus, the five terminating points of the human body, and the five wounds of Christ. This symbol can be found in many different cultures around the world. Like Crowley said, in one of his more lucid moments, "Every man and every woman is a star in the sky."

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This rustic copper pentagram is set on a necklace of genuine malachite, brightly contrasted with more copper beads, copper tinted glass beads, silver-toned metal, and a sterling toggle clasp. The necklace is 18.5 inches long. Colors evoke thoughts of both summer and autumn, as the leaves turn from green to red gold, Midsummer through Samhain ;-) For the earthy pagan girl, or guy, in your life.

Queen of the Cat People, class with a cult following.

Friday, July 23, 2010

Ravens in the Library!

Last week my friend's new album Mischief came out! Yay! It is wonderful and magically delicious!!!! S.J. Tucker is super awesome at everything she does :-D

And most especially, it includes a recording of her song "Ravens in the Library" which is one of my favorites. I've been waiting for it to be available in MP3 format for at least a year. Squee!

<a href="http://music.skinnywhitechick.com/track/ravens-in-the-library">Ravens in the Library by SJ Tucker</a>

And why is their music on a jewelry blog? Well, first it's Friday. Second, I'm in a library. Third, I made a shiny tribute to this song a few months ago ;-)



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Song inspired, artist approved! :-D

Part of the "Summer Reading Sale!" Marked down from the original price for a 15% discount.

Black agate, reconstituted onyx, frosted quartz, sterling silver, and OODLES of Swarovski crystals! 17 inches long.

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Hours of study flying by,
Words soaked up by beady eyes,
Long debates into the night,
Pages flying everywhere.
Seek the language word by word,
Like the black and clever bird,
never let it bring you down,
All the things we haven't figured out.

My friend bids me come and see
The ravens in the library,
setting quiet pages free!

If you're not buying anything from my shop today, please go to her website and purchase some of her amazing music!
http://www.skinnywhitechick.com


Queen of the Cat People, class with a cult following.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Garden Rainbow

Garden Rainbow

[For sale here on Etsy!]


P1150849 - Garden rainbow

Delicately carved flourite flowers blend subtly into the thorny rose quartz chips of this necklace. The findings are all sterling, including a toggle clasp.

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Queen of the Cat People, class with a cult following.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Copper Infused Glass

Copper Infused Glass

[For sale here on Etsy!]

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Occasionally, after the completed construction of yet another annihilation device, an inventor or engineer will run into a slightly more vexing dilemma. What to wear when raining destruction down upon the nearby city center? What could possibly match both the crisp efficiency of both her bright white labcoat, and the metal monstrosity that dearly calls her "Mother"?

In a word, this necklace.

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So when next you come into my town on a wave of terror, if you could conveniently miss my house, I would be very grateful.

18 inches of spiraling glass seedbeads, with Czech crystals in a variety of metallic shades and finishes.

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Queen of the Cat People, class with a cult following.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Rose Mint

Rose Mint

[For sale here on Etsy!]


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Another candy colored piece!

This polymer clay pendant is a swirl of light candy colors, blue, green, yellow and white stamped with an elegant rose. The green swirls and stripes glow in the dark and under blacklight. The clay is finished with a light pearly glaze. Includes an art glass bead set with swirly pink roses on black.

The waxed cord is 18 inches long, and the pendant is 2 inches long.

Queen of the Cat People, class with a cult following
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Tuesday, July 13, 2010

The Lady and the Tiger

The Lady and the Tiger

[For sale here on Etsy!]

P1150766 - Tiger Collar

This stunning piece of tigereye, onyx, and sterling adds glamour and refinement to any low-necked outfit or costume. The necklace is 20.5 inches long. You'll feel like the belle of the ball... with just a hint of a wild side ;-)

Queen of the Cat People, class with a cult following.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Ribbon Candy!

Ribbon Candy and Crystals

[For sale here on Etsy!]


Another candy inspired piece ;-)

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This ribbon candy shaped pendant is made out of carefully blended polymer clay in white, green, blue, and yellow, and finished with a light pearly glaze. The green stripes are a UV sensitive material that glows in the dark and under blacklight. Includes a drop of matching Czech crystals.

The waxed cord is 18 inches long, and the pendant is 2 inches long.

Queen of the Cat People, class with a cult following.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Authors Seeking Artists

I hang out with a wide variety of people in NYC. One social scene in particular is full of genre/SF writers who are all very awesome.

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Star of the Evening, inspired by Jaqueline Carey's Kushiel's Dart.

A few months ago I went to the launch party for a friend's new SF novel, and she signed my copy "You owe me a necklace ;-D!"

Later she apologized for being so forward, and clarified that I didn't owe her a necklace, but that she really REALLY wanted to see some jewelry based on her book posted up around the interwebs. Because I do that for a lot of literature that I read, and I guess I've accidentally made a reputation for myself ;-).

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Miss Spink, inspired by Neil Gaiman's Coraline.

And from what I've seen, writers love it when a world they've built from words inspires others to create more art based on that world. Folk art indicates that they've truly created a myth cycle that is tying a whole community of artists together.

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Rosie, inspired by Ellen Kushner's Privilege of the Sword.


I'm not inspired to make jewelry for every book I read, but if you are a writer that wants in on this happy little branch of fandom here are some suggestions:

  • Include jewels and jewelry in your stories.

If there's jewelry in text, that's the most automatic thing for a jewelry artist to hone in on.

  • Write strong characters with vibrant physical descriptions.

I know I think very visually, so the stronger an image is in my mind's eye while reading a story, the more likely I am to be inspired.

  • Trade books to artists for their artwork.

I've been at some conventions where I didn't mind trading finished jewelry for new books. That doesn't work for everybody (mine is more hobby than business so I have more financial flexibility), but it is a way to ingratiate yourself to artists ahead of time.

  • If you see art inspired by your written work, properly credited to you of course, flaunt it on your blog.

Like everybody else artists like to feel appreciated, and big online displays of appreciation usually make artists pretty happy. It will also encourage other artists to read the works of an art-friendly writer and post their own pieces to the public.


Now go forth and write new worlds! Inspire the rest of the universe ;-)

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Lavender Swan

Lavender Swan

[For sale here on Etsy!]


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A black cinnabar swan pendant hangs from a chain of black and silvery light lavender. Matte onyx contrasts with Czech crystal beads and silver colored findings.

Lariat length, the chain is 25.5 inches long with no clasp, and the pendant hangs down 2 inches.

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I had to make a copy of this for myself, it is so awesome :-) Matte onyx always looks so nice with pink or lavender.

Queen of the Cat People, class with a cult following.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Gaelic Gearworks

Gaelic Gearworks

[For sale here on Etsy!]


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Bright silver colored polymer clay, glazed, stamped with gears and a Celtic knot! Includes a drop of glittering silver Czech crystal, on a silver colored chain of 18 inches. The pendant is 2 inches long.

Resembles pewter, but much lighter in weight, and will not tarnish.

Queen of the Cat People, class with a cult following.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Sub Rosa

Sub Rosa

[For sale here on Etsy!]


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And all shall be well and

All manner of thing shall be well

When the tongues of flame are in-folded

Into the crowned knot of fire

And the fire and the rose are one.


T.S. Eliot, from Four Quartets


The perfect companion for delving into mysteries both internal and external.

A magnifying glass, mounted in a finely detailed copper colored setting, hangs from a necklace of Czech crystals, onyx, and black vintage pearl beads, on a copper colored chain with two large black onyx roses.

This lariat necklace is 26 inches long, with no clasp, and the pendant is two inches long.

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Queen of the Cat People, class with a cult following.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

A Royal Treat!

Royal Treat

[For sale here on Etsy!]


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From a series of candy themed pieces I made last year. This polymer clay pendant is a mix of chocolate shades from white to dark. Stamped with a Fleur de Lys, and finished with a metallic gold glaze. Includes a drop of Swarovsky crystals in chocolate and caramel colors.

The waxed cord is 18 inches long, and the pendant is 2 inches long.


Queen of the Cat People, class with a cult following.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Half a Mint!

Half a Mint

[For sale here on Etsy!]


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This charming polymer clay pendant was part of a series I made last year, for a "Chocolate Factory" themed event.

The pendant is modeled after a chocolate mint, molded and detailed by hand in dark brown and light green. The green is UV sensitive material that glows in the dark and under blacklight. The drop is catseye and Swarovski crystal.

The waxed cord is 18 inches long, and the pendant is 2.5 inches long.



Making candy out of polymer clay is so much fun :-D Although not my typical pagan, gothic, or steampunk gear. I wonder who might like something like this?

Queen of the Cat People, class with a cult following.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Tiger Sheen

Tiger Sheen

[For sale here on Etsy!]


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Genuine tigereye beads paired with gunmetal black seed beads creates a striking bracelet, for the office *and* the goth club ;-)

Inspired by Victorian era hairwork jewelry, back when I started working on research for the first Salon Convention.

The ladder clasp makes this piece adjustable, from 6.5 to 9.5 inches long. If that's not quite to your liking, I'm available to make custom bracelets in this style at specific lengths.

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Queen of the Cat People, class with a cult following.