About the designer

My photo
Houston, Texas, United States
I'm a self taught jewelry designer who decided to make this more than just a hobby! I've been making jewelry the last 6 years mostly for friends and people in the west coast swing dance community, where I teach and compete. While I have a day job, it's mostly to pay for my jewelry and dance habits! I primarily work with sterling silver, freshwater pearls, semiprecious stones and swarovski crystals. But I'll use anything that catches my eye and I love to try new techniques!

Thursday, December 16, 2010

More Holiday Bling!

I love all the sparkly holiday jewelry, especially earrings!

First, some swarovski Christmas trees!













How about some angels in quarts, swarovski crystals and cubic zirconia?



























Santa Claus is coming to town! (in czech crystals!)













Little Party Dazzlers in green and gold czech and swarovski crystals:













And finally Frosty the snowman!  Glass pearls with swarovski crystals.














Wednesday, December 8, 2010

I've been busy making some holiday jewelry - gotta have sparkle!


First up, some fun holiday themed wine glass charms with swarovksi crystals and pewter charms:














This set I had made for a trunk show last weekend - it was the first set that was reserved! I ended up remaking it to donate for a holiday fundraiser.  I used freshwater pearls, swarovski and chinarovski crystals, seed beads (as spacer beads), rhinetone squaredelles and pewter accent beads.  Earrings are on sterling silver posts.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I like the red set so much that I ended up making a blue set for myself! 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I really liked how these came out.  I was thinking that this design would also look good with fuschia crystals.
 

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Delinquent and a new bracelet

Yikes!  I just realized that it's been over a month since I last posted!  As some of you know, outside of being a jewelry designer and maker, I do have a day job and another job!  I am also a competitive West Coast Swing dancer and instructor and this last month has been CRAZEE busy with that.  It started at the end of September with the hubby and I preparing a workshop for the grand opening party of the new studio where we've been teaching: the all new SSQQ Dance Studio.  We taught a workshop that night and then DJ'ed and danced all night in the West Coast swing party room.  Later that week, the hubs and I danced in an exhibition at the Rotary House International at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, where I work my day job.  The following weekend, I taught a workshop with another instructor and performed another exhibition at SSQQ.  Next weekend, a wedding in Dallas.  The weekend after that, the hubby was committed to DJ a private party, again in Dallas.  Then this past weekend, we went to support the Austin City Dance Club's WCS party in, where else?  Austin.  And this coming weekend, will be the Texas Classic Open Championships, again in Dallas, where Trent and I will be competing and teaching a workshop and I will also have my jewelry booth! 

All this and we are still teaching our regular Monday night dance class.

Dude, I'm exhausted just thinking about it and I'm going through it right now!

Needless to say, aside from a few custom pieces, I haven't been able to complete a whole lot of jewelry lately.  But there is one piece that I really liked that I wanted to post.

This is a custom bracelet order from my friend, Gloria, who the design is named after!  This is my famous "Gloria" bracelet - a charm style bracelet, on sterling silver chain that can be made in any color combination.  I love to use a variety of different kinds of beads for texture and dimension: freshwater pearls, czech crystals, swarovski crystals, czech pressed glass beads, pewter beads, silver beads, art glass - pretty much, whatever suits my fancy.

Here is the latest version of the Gloria, made in shades of pink, by request.




Here is the original version of the Gloria, done in shade of purple and blue:
and here is the version that I made for myself, in greens with clear accents:


What color would you choose for your "Gloria" bracelet?

Monday, September 20, 2010

New Jewelry at Dallas Dance!

First I need to apologize - I had to use a different camera than I normally use and it's just not as good as my husband's fancy Nikon with the giant lens.  Hopefully I'll get to re-take these with the real camera, but I just wanted to get some photos up already!

First up, a multistranded freshwater pearl "waterfall" style illusion necklace set.  I actually get lots of requests for these,  but this is the first time that I've done it in this style.  I really like how it came out.














This is a triple stranded tourmaline set.  One thing I really love about tourmaline that you can't see in this picture is the colors.  Purpley, pinky, green brown, somehow it just works.

















Here is a close up of the earrings so you can kind of get a better idea of the colors.  I really need to find the good camera and retake this!

















This is a multistranded illusion wire necklace set with chinarovski crystals.  Even as dark as this picture is,  you can still see how the crystals reflect the light.  If you click on the picture, it will enlarge slightly so you can get a better look.  Another one that I need to retake when I get the good camera!

















Now for some fun earrings!  First up is a sterling silver set - SS hoops, posts, chain, beads, all of it!  Very bohemian disco.  I really liked how this one came out.

















Large mixed green swarovski hoop earrings.  These are too much fun!













These might have been my favorites.  It's hard to tell in this picture, but those are green irridescent crystal swarovski hoops with sterling silver chain dangles.  I love the simplicity, but elegance of these.

















So that's the latest and greatest!  What do you think?

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Sick :-(

I am so terribly sorry for having no updates this last week.  I've been sick! 

Dallas Dance was ridiculous fun and I had some awesome feedback on the new sets I made and even sold a few things.  :-)  I've got custom orders to work on but I've just been under the weather with whatever blew through when Hurricane Hermine came by.   My head is still congested, but I've finally gotten a bit of rest and am feeling better. 

So my goal for this weekend - getting pictures up and posting a real update!

Monday, August 30, 2010

Dallas D.A.N.C.E. Teaser Pics!

Been working hard to make tons of great new jewelry for my Dallas DANCE booth this coming weekend, but I stopped to take a few photos of some of the new pieces I've made the last couple of weeks!

This is a freshwater pearl set, with potato pearls and blister pearls and chinarovski crystal accents.

















This set is made with smoky topaz swarovski diamond shaped pendants, with clear and champagne swarovski bicone accents on sterling silver chain.  and matching earrings of course.  :-)

















This is a dyed jasper graduated bead set.  I just thought the colors were stunning!

















And now for some earrings.  I've been really getting into playing with different shades of the same color and it's so easy to play with in earrings. 

as you see here in pink....












and again in purple.  This pair has crystals wirewrapped around a silverplated chandelier frame.  The ear-wires are sterling silver.












This pair is also wirewrapped, but this time it's around sterling silver V-hooped earrings.  I just thought it was a really cool shape.












That's it for now!  Hopefully I'll have time to post more pictures before Dallas Dance, but I'll for sure have them posted after the weekend!

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

busy busy bee

I have been so busy getting ready for Dallas D.A.N.C.E. where I will be both a competitor and a vendor!  It's definitely one of my favorite events of the year, despite it being hectic and super busy.  It's just fantastic dancing, both in person and as a spectator and I get to see so many dance friends there that I don't normally get to see or dance with.  I also love working my booth with my booth partner, Nancy Switzer, who does super fun custom blinged shirts.

I'll try to get some pictures of the new designs soon!


Friday, August 20, 2010

Want to earn free jewelry from Michelle Summer Designs?


All you have to do is host a trunk show for my jewelry line!  Invite your friends and family who love jewelry - and depending on how much is sold during the trunk show, you'll earn free jewelry!  As a bonus, everyone who is invited will get 15% off all jewelry purchased during the show!

How much jewelry can you earn?

For the first $200 purchased, you will earn $25 in free jewelry.
For every $100 after that, you will earn another $25!  Super easy!

Interested?  Post a comment and we'll chat!

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Trunk Show photos

Welcome to my first official Michelle Summer Designs Trunk Show!  This event was the re-launching of my jewelry line.

















Hosted by Ms. Pattykins, aka Lindystamper, who brought Sean, the delicious crepe guy!












I don't want to bombard you with a million pictures, so I will show you some of my favorite pieces.

This is dyed freshwater pearls in a dark link, a peachy pink and white, in a Y-drop style on sterling silver chain.  This one was snatched up almost immediately!  I think this design will become part of the permanent collection.


















This is my bronze necklace set.  Dark and light brown dyed freshwater pearls, with bronze and champagne colored chinarovski crystals and swarovski crystal accents on sterling silver chain.  Also a popular one.

















This one is a triple stranded dyed freshwater pearl set.  It was dubbed the "Power" necklace set, as the lady who bought it though it would be perfect for the courtroom. 

















I love the beads on this one.  They are beautiful rich lipstick red chinarovski crystals, strung with pewter bead and black square cut seed beads accents.

















Thisone is turquoise and coral with sterling silver bead accents.

















That's all for now!  For more pictures, check out the Facebook page for Michelle Summer Designs!

Saturday, August 14, 2010

What a night!

I am so tired that I can barely think straight, but I wanted to put down my first thoughts!

Tonight was the re-launching of my brand, with the first official trunk show.  I wasn't nervous but I had put in alot of work for this show and I just wanted it to go well.  and did it ever!  Great support from friends and also from those who haven't seen my stuff in a while or not much of it.  There were many compliments about how my creations have evolved and are much more sophisticated now.  It made me very happy.  I was also able to get a few new orders in as well!

I hope to be able to do more of these as time goes on.  I really enjoy being able to see who is buying my jewelry or working out a custom design with someone.

I'll have a picure heavy post tomorrow!

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Some recent designs

Here are some of my designs that have sold recently!

I was having fun with these beads!  I had gotten the lampworked beads (the polka dotted ones)  years before because they were cute, but couldn't ever decide what to do with them!  Then one day while browsing around at Hobby Lobby, I found this set of large painted porcelain beads in red/yellow/teal.  I came home, searched through the rest of my beads and came up with this!  I thought it was really cute and whimsical and can match a lot of things.












I went on a bit of a pearl kick a few months ago.  I was at the gem and jewelry show and couldn't help myself - it was a pearl bonanza!

So I had gotten these peachy potato shaped freshwater pearls and wanted to dazzle them up a bit.  Swarovski crystals do the trick!












This one is one of my favorites - I almost kept it for myself!
I wanted to make something really striking and I had wanted to try to see if I could make a graduated color necklace, featuring - what else? - pearls!
This necklace is a little bit of everything - white and gray freshwater pearls and all shapes and sizes, semi precious gemstones, glass beads, swarovski and chinarovski crystals, fiber optic beads, and sterling silver components.  I really liked how it came out - a really dynamic look at a glance, but also lots of textures and visual interest up close.  This one sold quick!













Wednesday, August 11, 2010

SO BUSY!

Sorry I haven't been able to post as many pictures as I would like!  I've been busy getting ready for 2 upcoming events and I just haven't had the time to take any new pictures yet.  But they will be coming soon, I promise!

In the meantime, here are a few more custom orders.
 
A custom set for a friend who needed jewelry to complete her west coast swing competition outfit!  This was made almost entirely out of swarovski crystal for that super sparkly effect!




































This one I had made awhile back for a teacher friend of mine.  Her students loved the way it flashed with it hit the light.  This was czech AB crystal and seed beads.

















A couple of years later, I saw her wearing it again - this time for a very important occasion!
 Beautiful!











I also made her bridesmaid jewelry.  Swarovski crystal on sterling silver chain.