Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Hi there!

I've finally wrapped up the Sirius7 Jewelry line, closed the website and completely moved to
If you haven't taken a look, come on over!


While I still have some of the S7J pieces available, you might recognize a few that have been refreshed with the ACJ touch.

I've also moved my blog over to AmyCousinJewelry - lots of exciting stuff going on there, so sign up to get my newsletter and be the fist to get my posts.

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Monday, December 8, 2014

Custom Jewelry for the Holidays

“Done right, custom jewelry creation is a fun process that ends with a beautiful treasure that you cherish. That’s what I want for you.”

There is still time to get ACJ custom jewelry for the holidays.

ACJ custom jewelry design

Read how I do it here:
http://wp.me/p3PNRu-2J

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Is This Where The Magic Happens?



...she was sure customers would like to see "where the magic happens". I smiled. The magic... what a nice thing to say. So here is a glimpse into my studio, sort of...

Read my latest blog post here

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Tassel Gemstone Earring Tutorial

House of Gems asked me to design a piece of jewelry and then create a tutorial for it. This is what I created, using their beautiful wholesale gemstone beads and supplies. I hope you enjoy it!


Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Challenges: The Business of Jewelry Design

Hi all - I just want to wish everyone a splendid upcoming week!
I'm looking forward to this week (dare I say Monday?) because I'm kicking my jewelry business into high gear: I've joined the Flourish and Thrive Academy's 20 Sales In 20 Days Challenge!
#20SalesIn20Days Challenge
I've joined the challenge!

Tracy and Robin are two amazing jewelry artists and businesswomen who share their combined experience. They get it, because they've done it. If you are a fellow jewelry designer, I highly recommend you check them out.
As for Amy Cousin Jewelry, please join me in this challenge: my 50% Off Sale will go on for a little while longer, so head on over and start shopping!
amycousinjewelry.com

Also, I will be posting pics on Instagram and Twitter, so please follow me there as well. I follow back. Above all, have a great week!
~ Amy

Saturday, July 5, 2014

Cool Jewels

Find out why Amy thinks this ring is cool.
Functional and techno jewelry designs are finally stepping up to be considered beautiful.

I just wrote a piece about some really cool, definitely beautiful jewelry.
Click here to read about it on my AmyCousinJewelry blog.

~ Amy Cousin

Friday, January 11, 2013

Of tutorials and friends

Let me start out by saying belated Happy New Year to all.
I do like the idea of new beginnings, but I also think they can happen on any day, at any moment.  That being said, I attempting a bit of a new beginning too.  No, this is not exactly a New Year's resolution.  The one thing I do that comes close to a resolution is Alyson B Stanfield's Art Biz Blog Year-End Review.
Anyway, I have always considered myself to be a primarily self-taught artist.  But over the years, I have collected a lot of tutorials created by some truly fantastic wire jewelry artists, many whom I now call my friends.  Sometimes I have an idea for a piece and need to figure out a cleaner/simpler/prettier way to make it work, and I look for a tutorial.  Other times I just appreciate that an artist is willing to share a technique that I've wanted to learn, and I get their tutorial.  I've attempted most of them using practice wire, but I've recently decided to do them all in copper or silver this year.  And then I'm going to post them.
No time like the present: here are my latest pieces, some created with a little help from my friends.


opalite glass, pink coral, rose quartz, moonstone

red coral & freshwater pearls

my adaptation of Emily Gray's tutorial, in sapphires & solar quartz

another take on Emily Gray's tutorial: onyx, labradorite, amethyst & moonstone
photography by Lorraine

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Earrings

Earrings are still my most favorite type of jewelry to create.
Here are a few of my latest pieces.

Citrine & Carnelian

Solar Quartz & Tourmaline in many colors

Tourmalinated Quartz & Moonstone

I have some custom orders I'd love to show, but not until their designated owners receive them.  That just wouldn't be fair!

Thanks to Four of Five for the photos.

Saturday, July 28, 2012

July Allegory Gallery Design Team piece



I've pondered these little pink-ish / green-ish glass flower beads ever since I ripped open the package of beads from Andrew of Allegory Gallery.  Andrew knew (because I told him) that glass beads and pink were the kind and color that tended to stump me the most.  And since this project is designed to be a challenge ... I guess I should've expected it.
Inspiration for this piece came in the form of a waft of fragrance from some of the wild flowers that pop up at will in my yard.  I was coming up the steps, totally distracted by not having a clue what to make for dinner, and this scent stopped me in my tracks.  And then a dragonfly passed by me.  Forget dinner - I have some jewelry to make!
For this month's project, I definitely wanted to incorporate a reclaimed element, so I picked this silver tone link bracelet from my stash of found treasures.  I like that the metal has little marks and is not as bright as sterling, giving it has a rustic feel that contrasts with the sparkly beads.  And I bought these tiny dragonflies many years ago.  The pink crystals and shimmery clear beads are also from my Allegory Gallery Design Team package.


Please check out the other members of the Allegory Gallery Design Team’s blogs.



Sunday, March 4, 2012

Can't forget my teammates!

In my last post, I neglected to mention my Allegory Gallery Design Team mates, which is just wrong!  Every last member is so talented, and deserves to be recognized.
Please click on their names to check out their blogs and sites, as we will all have something new from out challenge stash posted every month.





Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Celebrations and Leaps!

This has been a big month for celebrations:  a "milestone" birthday, the 22nd anniversary of my marriage, and the 4th anniversary of launching Sirius7 Jewelry.

This month has also been filled with Leaps - today, I'm taking a leap by shifting my shop Sirius Mind and Body from a brick & mortar establishment to existing solely online.

I'm also leaping into a project that has been in the making for a few months now, but submitting my first piece of jewelry as a member of the Allegory Gallery Design Team.


Everything about this pendant and necklace is about me leaping and stretching, mostly by using materials outside of my usual choices.  The donut is an agate that I've had in my stash for a long time, waiting for just the right opportunity to use it.  I rarely use copper wire, but I really liked the way it looks against the brown agate.  The same goes for the necklace beads (green plastic and molasses colored lucite), which are part of the stash sent to me by Andrew and William of Allegory Gallery for the monthly project challenges.


Tuesday, December 27, 2011

The wind won this time, but we are still here




We are here
For twelve years our post sign stood strong against the elements, but today the Wind won and blew our Sirius chakra wheel down on one knee, er, one bracket.
Of course, it was far smarter to take the sign down rather than risk on final gust crashing the sign into our business neighbor's window, or landing on a passerby's head, so that's what we did.

And oh my stars, the phone hasn't stopped ringing!  "The chakra star isn't on the post - Are you guys closing up shop?"
We are still here!  Well, we're here when we're here.  And when we're here, we'll put the door sign out in front - our version of a candle in the window.

Our sign has definitely held its own in the weather, but it needs new brackets and a paint tune-up at the least.  Maybe this is a sign that it's time for a change...

Thursday, August 18, 2011

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton: Introducing the Design Team...


 I am so excited to have been chosen as a member of the Allegory Gallery Design Team!
read about the project and the rest of the team:

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton: Introducing the Design Team...: I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who applied for a position on the Design Team. Hundreds of very talented designers threw t...

Friday, July 22, 2011

I finished several custom order pieces this week - intentionally energetic earrings and necklaces, so gemstone choices were as important as the designs themselves.  All of the recipients pleased with their jewelry, so I am pleased.
So now I'm going to go through my design journals and dance with some of the ideas I drew out but never put into form.  I'm also going to dig into my bead stash (I mean inventory) and use some of the treasures I've collected over the years.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

S7J in more places

I'm thrilled to announce that Sirius7 Jewelry has joined the talented artists at the Jewelry Artists of Charlotte boutique at Ballantyne Village.

Monday, February 28, 2011

Colorstrology fun


My birthday (and by extension S7J's birthday) was Saturday, so according to Michelle Bernhardt's fun site, our color is Chalk Violet.  hmm... maybe sorta.
What's your color?


Check your COLORSTROLOGY to help you plan your week ahead! It’s fast, fun and free, from PANTONE. http://www.colorstrology.com/

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Fall 2011 fashion trend colors - Pantone Fashion Color Report Fall 2011

I always look forward to the Pantone Fashion Color reports.  They give me one more excuse, er, I mean reason to shop for gemstones.  Phlox is speaking to me.  So is Bamboo.  I'm still wrestling on Honeysuckle (the color of the year) but I'm sure we'll make the connection eventually.  Do you have any favorites here?