In an effort to increase breast cancer awareness, 100% off the proceeds of this necklace will be donated to charity to help in the research of finding a cure for this horrible disease.
I made this piece with a very loving and caring heart. A heart that feels for grandmothers, mothers, aunts, wives, girlfriends, daughters, sisters, cousins, and entire families that have fought or are going through the battle by their sides. This is a piece made for fighters, for warriors, for survivors, for believers and overcomers.
As for me, this pendant is a reminder of the fighter that was my aunt, a woman who despite all news and odds against her never gave up. She fought until the last minute of her life knowing that her time with the Lord was soon to arrive. This is a reminder to take care of ourselves and not neglect our bodies. A reminder to do annual testing and live healthy lives to the fullest. A reminder to see the beauty in gloomy days and to love one another to the fullest and never stop fighting.
Breast Cancer Awareness Necklace By Adriana Lyden
Back of Breast Cancer Awareness Necklace by Adriana Lyden
Last month I received an Etsy order for 3 sterling silver stacking rings I designed for my midi ring collection. As always, I took my time to make them just right. I made sure the dollops matched, soldered, sanded, and polished each one until I was satisfied with their look. I then decorated my jewelry boxes with chestnut brown washi tape and topped it off with my sticker logo. I printed and cut each box insert and they were ready to go.
To my surprise, around a week or so after I had shipped the items, I got an awesome review that made my day and I will never forget it. My customer took the time to stage my jewelry and model it for pictures. She wore the midis individually and she also stacked them for a modern twist. She added the pictures to her Pinterest Board and I was mesmerized. You see, not everyone knows how much time, effort, dedication, and love I put into every single item I make. She took pictures of the packaging as well as the jewelry. Ah, if only she lived in Miami… she could be my hand model! Thank you Vicky for this amazing gesture!
Always with love,
Adriana
All pictures below were taken by Victoria Gambetta.
Tomorrow I will be displaying my latest creation at the South Miami Rotary Art Fest. I call it the Equinox and its colors are what inspired the name of this statement piece. It is made out of Sterling Silver set with 4 teardrop Labradorites with stunning labradorescence, 9 round red carnelians, 8 green Jades, and 5 denim blue Lapis Lazuli cabochons. It hangs perfectly centered and dangles with your every move. Its simply spectacular and I am very happy to show you this beautiful piece this weekend.
Festival Info:
It takes place in the vibrant downtown area of South Miami on Sunset Drive (SW 72nd Street) from US 1 to Red Road (SW 57th Avenue) adjacent to The Shops at Sunset Place. T
For online or GPS directions search for 5750 SW 72 St., South Miami, FL 33143.
February 21-22, 2015, Saturday 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM and Sunday 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. On Saturday night there is live jazz onstage until 8:00 PM in the beer garden at 58th Avenue and Sunset.
Presenting the new Bohometric Collection designed and created by me for Always With Love, Inc. It combines the bohemian spirit with geometric shapes and adds color for an earthy essence. Boho chic at its best.
This is one of my most intricate pieces to date. I made it in January 2014 (#latepost) but for some reason I never uploaded it to my blog!
I call this statement piece Eternal Midnight. It is made of natural black onyx cabochons and fossilized orthoceras, set on sterling silver. Every link of the chain, every bezel, every texture, and design is made by yours truly. It took me a few days to make (which felt like forever to me) and I have to say that I love the end result. Once it was done, I took it to my trusted photographer Rodolfo of Pixeltoaster Studios and he took this magnificent shot of my necklace. He makes all my jewelry look amazing!
I am so proud of these new earrings! Aren’t they beautiful?
I used argentium sterling silver twisted wire a friend gave me about 2 years ago. She purchased the argentium wire and never used it. For some reason I misplaced it and found it this week.
I’m so happy I did!
After 5 and a half years of dating, my big brother is finally getting married to the most beautiful and sweetest girl in the world. As the jeweler of the family, they came to me for help with their wedding bands, of course. They didn’t want “normal” bands, no, they wanted one another’s fingerprints inside their rings.
The happy couple
My thoughts were: Gulp. Yikes. Whaa…? Not having the slightest idea of how I was going to get the job done, I said “Sure! No problem, I’ll do your wedding bands!” What did I get myself into? I had never done anything like it before so I went to the books. Read about etching, but the acid solution for gold was too dangerous so that was a no-go. Thought about warming up some wax and pressing on it but I ended up burning my husband’s fingers, so, another no-go. Finally, I went to my mentor, Marc Thurn. He gave me some sheets of black beeswax he had saved from his years in Germany and gave them to me. I saw the light again.
black beeswax with prints
I had them come to the AWL workshop and test the experiment. They went crazy and fingerprinted the entire sheet
After getting the fingerprint impressions, I carved the rings. I carved a groove inside both of the rings so that I could insert the black wax without damaging their prints. The black wax is very soft and marks with ease. It feels almost like silly putty.
wax sprue of rings
Once the wax models were ready I made a wax tree, crucial step for lost wax casting. Then I covered it with an aluminum flask and filled it with investment. The investment needs to cure so it is placed in the kiln for a 5-hour burnout procedure. Once the burnout is done, you cast. In my case I use a centrifugal casting machine at Miami Jewelry School because I don’t have one yet. These suckers cost about $650!
After the casting is done, you still have lots left to do. Filing and sanding take F.O.R.E.V.E.R. White gold is super tough!
But hey, it’s all worth it. Today I showed the bride to be a preview of her band and she loved it.
almost done
Thank you Monica and Bro for trusting me with such an important aspect of your wedding. It meant a lot to me to work on this special project and I did it with all my heart.