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Yes, the barnacles are indeed shell barnacles...

because they grow exclusively on shells.

And bronze barnacles grow on steel shells. 

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Beach treasure is everywhere you look.  At the water's edge...

Tucked into a tide pool in the rock crevasses...

And hanging around on driftwood...

The discovery of the treasure is half the fun.  Or maybe that is really most of the fun!  

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For most of my bronze only jewellery pieces, I intend for them to age gracefully.  This means that they are not treated with a sealant and that their colour will richen and deepen over time.  

In the photo above, the bronze on the left is newly made and polished - it's colour is lighter than the other two pieces.  It is also shinier than the other two.  

To polish up bronze jewellery, the easiest way is to use a jeweller's cloth - a soft cloth that is impregnated with polishing compound.  

After polishing, you can see that the two right side pieces are shinier, and that their colour has remained a deeper bronze.  

To keep your bronze jewelry shinier and lighter longer, when not wearing, store in a jewelry box or in a plastic bag that will keep the amount of air it is exposed to at a minimum.  

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The ocean expanse, so full of life and perhaps adventure too? 

"Doesn't it seem to you that the mind moves more freely in the presence of that boundless expanse, that the sight of it elevates the soul and gives rise to thoughts of the infinite and the ideal? " ~ Gustave Flaubert, Madame Bovary

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Life is full of twists and turns.  Some are served up to us from some unknown perverse plan that the universe has for us.  And some are of our own making. Have you ever made a U-turn in your life?  Done something that was completely unexpected (and perhaps unplanned)?

I have done that once or twice in my life.  The big one for me was about 15 years ago, quitting a perfectly stable and suitable job to teach yoga and sell jewelry.  And while that didn't quite work out the way I envisioned, I wouldn't trade the experiences I gained. 

We can never know, really, what will happen in the future; best to live in the moment and learn from our past actions.

By taking the time to stop and appreciate who you are and what you've achieved - and perhaps learned through a few mistakes, stumbles and losses - you actually can enhance everything about you. Self-acknowledgment and appreciation are what give you the insights and awareness to move forward toward higher goals and accomplishments.

~Jack Canfield

Inspiration for the artist comes in many forms.  The other day, I noticed that many of my pieces have a stick shape.  But the influence for the shape comes from different places.  The bronze bent and hole-filled pieces are inspired by coral forms in the ocean's reefs. Reefs are like gardens, teeming with life and diversity.  

The other "sticks" are inspired by driftwood.  This influence is not only the shape of the driftwood, but the spirit of it - a bit of a wanderer, buffeted by adversity and coming out more weathered, but also more experienced.  

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Last week, I talked about pairing my "go to" earrings with some unique necklaces.  

But I didn't talk about why these are my favourite earrings. 

First, I love the Ocean Curl earrings for some understated elegance. 

And the Captiva are my flirty fun earrings; they have so much movement dangling at the end of the chain. 

But I probably wear my Minoan earrings the most!  They are truly an everyday, go-with-anything, piece of jewelry. 

Which ones are your favourite?

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For my last pairing in this round, I am lining up my Coral Frag I pendant with my Minoan earrings.  

I think these two go together because they are both substantial pieces and they have the airiness of a coral piece.  

Together, this pair makes a statement about your style (and perhaps about your priorities - you decide).  

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Today I am pairing the flirty Captiva earrings with an equally flirty necklace.  

The Coral Frag II necklace does have enough pizzaz on it's own; it doesn't need a big blingy earring to go with it. 

I think these two pair really well together as they compliment each other so well - both flirty, but not over the top and equally eye catching.  You might say they are a Perfect Pair!

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Loofah I is a necklace with curves and circles.  

Due to the graceful shape and pattern, I chose my Ocean Curls earrings to pair with this necklace.  The Ocean Curl earrings are curved and match very well with Loofah I.  

I think they look great together.  

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Last week, I talked about how to choose earrings to wear with one of a kind necklaces.  

This week, I show you three statement necklaces, perfectly paired with some of my favourite earrings. 

Try to guess which earrings I will pair with each necklace!  Then stay tuned to see what I choose...

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You have purchased a fantastic new art jewelry necklace.  You love it.  Now what earrings do you pair with it?  

Go to the designer you purchased your new treasure from.  Do they have earrings you can choose from?  Look for something that is versatile enough to go with other pieces of jewelry or to wear on their own.  

For example, I would pair the Minoan earrings with this Coral Frag necklace.  Both are inspired by coral and are handmade in a similar fashion, so have the same style to them. 

Now, wear them whenever you feel like jazzing up your day!