Holly Eve Designs

Waiting for Snow

2010-11-18T10:04:00.000-06:00

It has been forever since I've blogged. I was on a roll making jewelry this past spring, then I lost my creativity side of the brain for a long time. It's coming back slowly. I have several custom orders I need to get done, plus a pair of wedding rings for a wedding in December......better get busy!

I was busy this spring and summer with our winery business. I traveled all over our state doing wine tastings and practically lived out of a suitcase for a few months. Fall has been slow, so we're hoping it picks up for the holidays.

We had a beautiful long fall, but finally had a hard freeze. We've been trying to save the potted plants outdoors, but I think it's time to give it up and just save the Geraniums over the winter.

I'm ready for snow. I think I'm one of a few people who actually like snow. Maybe it's because I'm a Christmas Eve baby, I don't know. But I've always loved snow and I love the warm fuzzy I get on the first day it snows and you wake up, but before you have a chance to look outside....you just know it snowed.

Nebraska Jazz & Wine Festival May 7th & 8th

2010-05-05T13:22:00.000-05:00

Hi to all our friends and customers in the Kearney, Hastings, Grand Island area! I'll be at the Nebraska Jazz and Wine Festival in Kearney this coming Friday from 5 pm-11 pm and Saturday from 3 pm - 11 pm. Come and enjoy Nebraska wine!

I'll also be taking new jewelry designs to MONA (Museum of Nebraska Art).

Another Esty Shop

2010-03-27T16:16:00.009-05:00

Hello all my friends and customers! I've just added another Etsy shop to sell my sterling and gem beads. I may also be selling some cabochons. Check it out at www.metaltorocks.etsy.com.

Beading Supplies on Sale at Etsy

2010-03-07T19:08:00.004-06:00

Hi everyone! If you have a interest in beading, I am listing my remaining beading inventory on my Etsy site hollyevedesigns.etsy.com. I've listed a few beads, but have many more to list and have listed a few sterling silver toggles. It takes a while to take all the photos, crop them then do all the listings on Etsy, but I'll post some several times a week. I am listing everything below the wholesale cost I paid.....I want to get rid of this stuff!!

A Few New Blings

2010-02-17T21:20:00.009-06:00

I've just added a few new pieces of jewelry to my Etsy site tonight. I'll be added more. In the meantime, be sure to check out www.hollyevedesigns.etsy.com.

New Jewelry

2009-12-26T12:26:00.007-06:00

Earlier this week I made three commissioned pendants, a ring and a bracelet, but unfortunately I didn't have time to take photos. Here is a photo of one of the pendants in rough form before I polished and set the stone, but you get the idea. The blue bird is a print out on paper and is part of the art from http://www.luckyjuju.etsy.com. Katia includes these birds in many of her juju's, so I thought it would be fun to make that as her pendant. I was really pleased with the end results.

Happy Birthday Henri & Holly

2009-12-24T13:35:00.000-06:00

Today Henri and I share our birthdays. Henri is 1 1/2 years old and is getting bigger. He now weighs 95 lbs. I turned 49 and although I have a young spirit, I feel my age in my bones and joints. Today we have a lot of snow and probably won't get out, so we plan to stay warm and watch movies. I spent yesterday making a commissioned sterling silver bracelet. This was the first bracelet I made where I hand forged each sterling silver bead. Unfortunately I didn't get a photo taken of it since I was in a hurry to get it done for the customer. Hopefully I get them to take a photo of it for me to post. The customer was very pleased with how it turned out and said his wife will love it.

Merry Christmas to all and a very Happy New Year!

Custom Orders

2009-12-04T19:50:00.000-06:00

It's hard to believe Christmas will be here so soon. I'm so excited because this year I have more custom orders than ever. As soon as I have more finished I'll take some photos and post them. If you would like a custom order, please contact me as soon as possible.

This month I am offering 15% off all the jewelry I already have made (custom orders not included) so please stop by Cuthills Vineyards, sample some wines and browse through the jewelry or order on-line.

Custom Jewelry Orders

2009-10-23T15:57:00.000-05:00

The holidays are approaching so quickly, they'll be here before we know it. Be sure to give me a call or stop by Cuthills Vineyards if you have a custom order request or stop by to take a look at the jewelry in the tasting room. I have a lot of custom orders now for the holidays, so in order to have your's done for gift giving, call or stop by soon.

New Jewelry

2009-10-01T21:14:00.000-05:00

Sterling silver stamped earrings 1/2" x 1 1/4" $30

Sterling silver stamped pendant with Andalusite stone 1/2" x 1 1/4" long with 18" cord $45.

Fused sterling silver earrings 1/2" x 1 1/2" $30.

Peanut wood set in sterling silver 3/4" x 1 1/2" $65.

Lovely piece of old pottery found on the beaches of Scotland and gently tumbled by the sea 3/4" x 1 1/4" $40.

Lovely piece of old pottery found on the beaches of Scotland and gently tumbled by the sea 1/2" x 3/4" $35.

Photos From The Last Few Weeks

2009-10-01T21:01:00.000-05:00

Henri with his unstuffed skunk toy.

New wine bottle condiment bowls. Also available in colbalt blue and green.

Fluffy Max sleeping....so cute covering his face and you can see his pink nose peeking out.

Wine tasting in Grand Island to help benefit juvenile diabetes.

Wine Tastings

2009-09-26T15:15:00.003-05:00

This week I did a wine tasting in Grand Island and Hastings. I had some extra time in Hastings so visited WineStyles during their grand opening. They sell our LaCrosse and Lot #1. Then off to Graham Gallery.....I had to see all the latest art, but also pet the resident cats. I walked down to visit two friends Tim and Julie who both make beautiful jewelry. Wish I would have had more time to spend with them, then it was off to do a wine tasting at Russ's Market. I had a great time, but when I went to leave I found that I had locked my keys in the pickup.....Sharie from Russ's was nice enough to call a locksmith and I was on the road in minutes.

Long Time No Blog!

2009-09-20T12:43:00.003-05:00

Goodness! I didn't realized how long it had been since the last time I blogged on this site. I have been busy with the winery business and trying to get more wholesale accounts. This coming Thursday and Friday I will be doing a wine tasting in Grand Island and Hastings. We've been harvesting grapes the last few weekends and have been having the most perfect weather for harvest and really great crews. Ed is going to do a few new wines this year. He is going to make a sparkling wine and a late harvest wine.

I've made a few pieces of jewelry, but need to take some photos and post them.

Today is my sister Heidi's birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY HEIDI!!

Memorial Day

2009-05-25T12:56:00.004-05:00

Today Ed and I are taking it easy. We'll probably take in a movie. Tomorrow I plan to make more jewelry, as I will be in the Hasting area again the first weekend of June and the Graham Gallery in Hastings has expressed interest in my jewelry. It's hard to believe it will be June soon...time is going too fast.

A Day In Hastings, NE

2009-05-14T17:29:00.003-05:00

I went to Hastings May 12th to participate in the statewide brochure swap on the 13th. I took the Pierce and Cuthills Vineyards brochures and they are distributed to the I-80 visitors centers and also other communities can take them.

So while in Hastings I was able to enjoy a quick lunch with friend Julie who also makes jewelry. Julie makes stunning sterling silver and gold jewelry and she just got back from the Revere Academy and I was able to see some of the samples she made there. Talking to Julie and sharing ideas made me want to get back into the studio.

My jewelry is now available at MONA Museum of Nebraska Art in Kearney, NE and I'm hoping to get some into Graham Gallery in Hastings, NE. Nebraska Life Magazine is having an open house at their headquarters in Norfolk, NE and has asked for my jewelry to be there. They are featuring several Nebraska artists that weekend.

I need to organize my studio and maybe when I get that done, I'll post some photos of it.

Back From Taos, NM

2009-04-17T16:45:00.013-05:00

It's good to be home, but I left a bit of my heart in Taos. I was gone for 10 days....drove down in my Dad's old 1990 Lincoln Town Car and it made it...through Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico. What a beautiful drive. My class at the Taos School of Metalsmithing and Lapidary Design was Monday-Friday. I studied Ring Design and made 11 different rings that week. I stayed with a wonderful woman Laura and her dog Kenny. Laura works at the famous Doc Martin's Restaurant at the Taos Inn. Saturday was my only free day and naturally it was raining and snowing, but I made the most of it and visited several galleries and museums and did a little shopping. On Sunday as I was driving north of Taos, I stopped at the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge....a very beautiful site, but it made me dizzy. Be sure to check out my new jewelry at www.hollyevedesigns.artfire.com or www.hollyevedesigns.etsy.com.

Kansas City Gem Show

2009-03-19T12:01:00.007-05:00

I just returned from the Kansas City Rock and Gem Show. I had a great time meeting new people and of course buying a lot of beautiful stones to create with. One of my sisters, my Dad and almost all of my nieces and nephews came with me and had a fun time in the retail area, especially when Dad gave them money to pick out geodes that the dealer cracked open for them.

I'm looking forward to getting taxes done. I have several custom order I need to make, then I leave for Taos, NM in April to study ring design for a week.

Happy New Year

2009-01-12T10:59:00.003-06:00

I can't believe how fast this month is going! Yesterday Ed and I saw quite a sight. We counted 68 pheasants crossing in front of our winery. They then went on the road to eat some gravel, then crossed over to the corn field. Henri just sat on the hill in front of the winery watching them...I don't think he quite knew what to make of them. Tomorrow Henri goes to the vet to get neutered and microchipped. At his 6 month weigh in he weighed 72.5 pounds. Pepper, one of our cats is also going in for surgery. She has a benign tumor that keeps growing back in her ear and has had several surgeries to remove it, so tomorrow they are going to be very aggressive and open her face so they can get into the ear canal. I'm a little worried, but I know she is in good hands. After I leave them with the vet, I'm traveling to Texas to stay with Mom and Ted for a week. I'm looking forward to it and Ed will stay back and work on our house he is building. He is hoping to have our bedroom done sometime in February.

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-22T09:24:00.004-06:00

It's been a long time since I last posted so I thought I better get on the blog and write something. I leave today for Kansas City MO to spend Christmas with all my sisters. My mom and her husband Ted will be driving up from Texas. Christmas is my favorite time of the year and my birthday is December 24th. I'm filled with warm fuzzies at Christmas and I think I'm one of the few people who love snow! I'm looking forward to January. Our winery will be closed for the month and I'll be able to spend more time making jewelry.

Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Henri & New Squeaky Wine Bottle Toy

2008-11-19T18:43:00.003-06:00

Here is Henri our Great Pyrenees with his new wine bottle squeaky toy. He loves it and sometimes carries it around by the neck of the bottle, so he looks like a wino dog.

Check Out New Jewelry

2008-10-30T17:12:00.003-05:00

I just added some new things to my Etsy site, so be sure to check that out. I also had a really nice order from an art gallery in IL and just finished making those pieces. I have several custom ring orders to make, then I will be adding more items to the site.

If you happen to be in Lincoln Saturday November 8th, I will be pouring wine samples at the From Nebraska Gift Shop in the Haymarket, so please stop by.

Busy Making Custom Orders

2008-10-14T19:43:00.003-05:00

I've been pretty busy the last few weeks with custom orders for pendants and rings. I love letting customers go through my stones and pick something out, then I get to "play" with it.

It's hard to believe it will be November and December soon. January I'll spend some time with my Mom and Ted in TX, then sometime in the winter I'm going to take another week class in Taos, NM and just study rings....can't wait!

Keep checking back...I'll put some things up for sale soon.

Need To Make Jewelry

2008-09-17T18:22:00.002-05:00

It's been a busy week at the winery and I haven't had a chance to make jewelry. I have several custom orders for rings I need to get done. This weekend will be swamped with grape harvest and next weekend there are several functions at the winery.

Please check back as I hope to have some new work up and for sale.

Wine Pendant

2008-09-13T21:46:00.004-05:00

This one-of-a-kind sterling silver pendant is made by imprinting the back piece. I soldered on the wine bottle and leaves which I had cast a few years ago and hand-made the grape cluster. I'll probably make similar pieces, but this one was sold to someone who owns a tasting room.

Fun Earrings

2008-09-13T21:42:00.007-05:00

Here are a couple of pair of earrings I make that are very popular. The first one with the three balls I call Sasa. They are very fun and light weight. The second pair is sterling silver wrapped around sterling....very fun and quirky.

Drilled Series

2008-09-13T11:01:00.003-05:00

Here are a few pieces from my "drilled series." I've made several different necklaces, earrings and bracelets. Some are finished shiny and some have a brushed look.

Grape Cluster Pendant

2008-09-13T07:01:00.003-05:00

This one-of-a-kind pendant was all hand fabricated, then oxidized. The photo doesn't do it justice. I didn't have time to take a photo when I made it, so just scanned it and it sold immediately at a grape and wine conference.

Larimar Pendant

2008-09-13T06:53:00.003-05:00

This is another pendant I made while in Taos, NM. This pendant is reticulated sterling silver which is a long process of heating and cooling the sterling silver 6-8 times, then heating it to a high temperature to get the crinkled look. I then oxidized it and set a Larimar cabochon from behind.

Ocean Jasper Pendant

2008-09-13T06:48:00.003-05:00

This is a pendant I made while attending the Taos School of Metalsmithing and Lapidary Design in Taso, NM a few years ago. Marilynn is a wonderful teacher and I absolutely love the Taos area. The pendant features a beautiful Ocean Jasper cabochon.

Holly Swanson

2008-09-13T06:43:00.004-05:00

Here is a photo of me in my studio soldering jewelry. I'm very fortunate that I have my studio in the back of our winery. It's handy to work back there during the winter when the winery is slow.