Im still here and a little bit of everything....

Whoaaa, what a change a year has brought since my last post. I now have THREE beautiful children! Yep, our TWINS were born in November so I am now enjoying a beautiful, creative, loving, insightful three year old as well as 3 month old boy/girl twins! We are starting to get some sleep finally. My jewelry has been moved even further on the back burner but I still turn out a few pieces each month. In addition, I am finding creative outlets in cooking, design, sewing, and the juices really flow during my daily work outs. SO, I decided I will use this blog to share some of my other creative endeavors in addition to my jewelry. I thought the best place to start would be the twins nursery! Here we go......

We painted the walls black/white with one yellow accent stripe, the two end walls are solid black

A very talented local artist made the mirror using my Dad's spurs and bits

We cut up a duvet cover from the Missoni for Target line and made the bedding. I knitted the striped blankets.

My belly cast at 32 weeks. I covered it in sequins and beads and used custom class pieces to commemorate the parts of my body that REALLY stood out - have never seen a belly button quite like it!

An extremely talented local artist painted the horses above the crib

We had pregnancy photos taken and used them for our Christmas cards/birth announcements. This is the front....

And the back!

Where or Where is Ali.O?

Its been a long time since I have last posted and figure I owe an explanation. I took a new job 2 1/2 years ago....a very important one of MOM. Since then I have seen my time to work on jewelry dwindle yet I have enjoyed the first smiles, first steps, first words, and now enjoy my days at the beck and call of a very sassy yet very sweet toddler!!! I work on jewelry when I can, when I need a creative outlet, and when I feel like I need to do some thing for ME (and all of you!).

This new lifestyle along with the addition of two miniature donkeys (Bottega and Veneta), two miniature horses (Coco and Chanel) which we acquired for our daughter's 2nd birthday has drastically changed the amount of time I have to work on jewelry. Not all at a bad time either as I have seen many of my favorite boutiques (who I both sold to and shopped at) close due to the economy. I get stressed at times feeling like I need to be producing and selling more then I realize I am enjoying the most important job in the world in raising my daughter.

With this new life change, I will also be changing my work and business. I plan to offer more one of a kind or limited pieces rather than production pieces, we are working on a new website now which will allow me to post pieces as they are finished, and my work will be offered at fewer stores.  So, stick with me and check back often to see where Ali.O goes from here......

xo,
Ali
ps. Two pieces that will be posted soon but will not for sale: a custom piece to be worn at the Grammys and a piece for the LIED table inspiration auction!!!!

New Pieces

Large rutilated quartz stone with chocolate diamonds on the corners-set on a sterling silver square band
I have had this one in my collection for a while. Sterling silver 'burnt' ring with diamonds. I can customize this piece by using different stones (black diamond, tourmaline, etc).

I have also had this 'linx' bracelet in my collection for a while. I am not doing much vermeil or plating any more but have this one in stock. A very heavy, substantial bracelet!

A new stone I picked up in Germany. Green Garnet drusy on an asymmetrical chain necklace

Cool new stone, drusy with 24kt gold fused to the top!

This is a custom piece I just delivered-a 'Mother's Ring'. Sterling Silver bump ring with 8 birthstones.

Another new stone, this one drusy with fine silver fused to the top! Set on the burnt band in sterling silver.

A little different view

Agate earrings.

Sterling silver chain and wire earrings. They have a lot of movement when being worn-like chain fringe!

Asymmetrical earrings with tourmaline slices and beryl (yellow) set in sterling silver

Detail photograph

Red and green tourmaline set in 14kt gold on sterling silver bands!

A few pieces for the Christmas season!

Here are a few pieces I have finished. They will be at Graham Gallery and then at De'Lure' in Omaha for a trunk show on December 17th! If you don't live near either location, feel free to email me at ali@ali-o.com with any inquiries. Above ring is sterling silver and pink tourmaline
Watermelon tourmaline and green tourmaline set in sterling silver 'sliver' ring

Side view of above

Black tourmaline and tourmilated quartz bracelet

Tourmilated quartz pendant with cognac diamond

Chunky funky bracelet in sterling silver, aqua, moonstone, and sugalite

BIG ring in sterling silver and aquamarine

Side view of above

Sterling Silver and beryl earrings

Quartz drusy ring with black diamonds

front view

Purple quartz drusy ring with quartz crystal stones

Custom Pieces

We took the settings from a customer's ring and placed them on this band
This may be one of my all time favorite stones, it is quartz with titanium rutiles. It is amazing how the rutiles sparkle!

Size view, the setting was built just for the stone

New Resin Line of Ali.O Jewelry!!!

Here is a sampling of the pieces that I have done with resin over sterling. The possibilities are endless email me with any questions or orders ali@ali-o.com Above is a black resin over sterling silver 'burnt' cuff
Pink Resin over Sterling Silver square ring with Turquoise Stone

Above and below are all pendants of different shapes and sizes. All colored resin over sterling. Prices Range from $50-$125

N for Nebraska with a red football behind, these are two separate pieces

The N alone, also can be done in red

I do not care for hearts but all of my friends do, so this is for my 'loving' friends! :-)

Back of crown

Front with Pink Topaz stone

In honor of the Cattlemen's Ball 2009-We Gave Cancer the Boot!!!

This piece has color on both sides (black and turquoise) with sterling sheet in between

Flip side of the horseshoe