Cool Stones

Bronze Sculpture I

2009-10-31T13:35:00.000-07:00

Maybe this blog should be named Cool Stones and Hot Metals. This is one of my bronze castings. I sculpt in primitive styles because I love it. I continue to sculpt in this style because that's my only capacity when it comes to working with my hands. Yes, I'm very limited. Good thing is, I'm not interested in looking at perfect facsimile of a person or animal cast in bronze. There are plenty of people who can do that well. Just look at all the garden sculptures and you'll see what I mean. I want to look at an artist's interpretation of something. Interpretations often involve personal experiences, twisted translations, passionate opinions and tainted glasses.

New Collection

2009-10-20T18:07:00.001-07:00

This is not a large collection but is a tight collection. I have also edited out some pieces from the existing collection so the whole set is more stream lined.

As always, the green stone ends up my favorite ones to look at. This one is the Slice of Green Ring with a stalactite slice of green agate and quartz. Nature doesn't get much prettier then this!

New Collection

Biggest Sale Ever

2009-09-08T19:17:00.000-07:00

We're having our biggest sale ever right now. Enjoy 40% off the entire present collection with the exception of the wire wrapped, wire-band rings. Those are just too difficult. Believe it or not, those are the most dreaded, most hand hurting things to make. Many people do wire wrapped rings, but aside from one other designer, mine stand alone. They are also part of what I'm known for but I've been phasing them out for the last 3 or 4 collections. Lovely as they are, I've grown so much since I first started the wire wrapped rings that they don't look part of the collections any more nor do I see any desirable gems that I've not used yet. With the new collection coming out there will be even less of these rings offered.

The sale of 40% off will run through Sept. 18. Take advantage of it because it's a rare thing!

Anne Maa Designs Sale

New Design Geode Earrings

2009-06-10T12:11:00.000-07:00

Although my favorite piece of jewelry has been the ring... every day rings, cocktail rings, and bold, modern, sculptural, in your face rings, I want to break from the ring to post a pair of earrings from the new collection. Continuing on the path of raw and rough stones is the split geode earrings. There are a few pairs of these earrings in this collection, all added the last minute. This is due to my late discovery of a new source for them. I was only going to choose a few sets of the geodes but ended up with quite a bit more. "Why not?", I discovered, seems to always be my motto when faced with tempting choices. I guess it's ok since I am rarely moved by many stones anymore. Good thing I don't like sweets...I can only imagine where that would lead me...

Here are some split, polished sets of tiny geodes clutched in matte sterling just as organic as the rocks are. I like the back almost as much as the front.

New Collection Lapis Lazuli Ring

2009-05-21T10:43:00.000-07:00

This is another ring from the new collection soon to be released. This is a perfect half geode of lapis lazuli of intense blue with a star burst in the center. I have both halves of the geode was was saving the set for a pair of earrings with 22k gold when I unintentionally sculpted the ring base for this ring. Being the impulsive, spur-the-moment person that I am, I decided to cast the ring. I would have preferred 22k or 24k gold with this intense blue but this coil design satisfy enough of my desire to see lapis in ancient treasure settings...anything ancient Egyptian or Chinese.

Raw geode lapis lazuli, Rough gemstone organic ring. Hand sculpted cast sterling.

Preview New. Sale of Old

2009-05-04T18:16:00.000-07:00

A collection is gathering and a date for the photo shoot has been set. It is an uneven collection with mostly rings, a few necklaces and no bracelets and earrings so far. I might leave it this way. I think only what I truly love and am naturally inspired to do should go in my collections. And when I can, I try to balance the collection out.

A sample sale is coming before the new Spring Summer Collection arrives. As always, Newsletter subscribers get advanced notice of the sale before it goes public.

Here is a peek at one of the new pieces...Amethyst Stalactite Tip Ring. A light amethyst stalactite tip wrapped in hand sculpted wax then cast in sterling with all the imperfections and finger prints. Sterling is left in a soft matte satin finish for the organic look.

What's Been My Problem

2009-02-16T20:17:00.001-08:00

I've not gone this long without putting out a collection before and it does not feel right. It also doesn't feel right to not grow or progress with each collection I put out thus the stand still. I have been discouraged by the lack of improvements of a situation and the obstacles I can not seem to get past. It would be easy to put out a sell-able and understandable collection if it didn't feel so pointless to me. Why add to what's already out there.

If I insist on what I would like to do then it might be a while before I can put forth anything at all. I think I might to do a mini suite for now with what I can access. I know it might feel like somewhat of a stand still collection but hopefully I'm just more critical of my own work.

I see that I've been breaking my own rule of providing pictures of with each post. I've dug up some OLD designs of the past. I think it's appropriate to post them since we will be at a stand still mode. I think these are from 2004.

Pre Holiday Sale Coming

2008-11-12T19:46:00.000-08:00

A sale in time for the holidays will be announced soon. Newsletter subscribers always get first dibs and exclusive deals so if you are not on our list you can sign up here. This is your chance to get what you really want for Christmas!

Ruby, Pyrite and MOP Suite

2008-09-12T09:05:00.000-07:00

Aside from the Kyanite suite and the Amethyst Geode Suite there is the Burmese Ruby, Pyrite and MOP suite. These rubies are different then what's been available on the market. They are Simple Cut, which is one of my favorite shapes, especially for a traditional stone like ruby. They are also a bit more milky in color which I was surprised to find I liked so much. Now pyrite, here's a stone that I've never had much affection for but fell in love with in these old fashion shapes with it's worn, decrepit looks. They also looked so good with the off looking rubies. Then there's these antiqued looking mother of pearl beads I've had from the beginning of my jewelry career. I was very attracted to their raw and unearthed treasure appearance and understood why they were so much more expensive then all the other MOP strands I've seen. I've been keeping them for a special use. With the Burmese rubies and decrepit pyrite they are perfect.

Sliced Amethyst Geode Suite

2008-08-01T15:49:00.000-07:00

These amethyst geodes are sliced to show the different layers. Since I relate everything to food I see them as bacon slices or watermelon slices. They are wirewrapped horizontally or vertically and suspended on chains like perfect specimens. It is the best way to display these delicious, translucent jelly candies.

Kyanite Suite

2008-06-17T22:25:00.000-07:00

There are a few suites in this recent collection that were unexpected and it turns out I really like them. Two of these suites were last minute additions. I was just cruising a trade show with nothing in mind and saw someone carrying a tray with some of these stones. The combination of colors set off a spark in me so I stopped to take a look and it ended up with me getting stones that are not usually of interest to me. I've not been a fan of kyanite because most of the kyanite (blue and green) I see are full of inclusions with a dry and faded look and I'm all about lush and rich. These kyanite slabs were not only beautifully rich but also shaped uniquely with the holes drilled in an unexpected way. The usual way being through the thickness of the stone. Seeing these immediately gave me flashes of how they'd look finished but in an abstract, none exact way. Actually, it was a feeling of how I would feel when I looked at the finished piece. This is what usually happens when I'm inspired by the stone. Then I go chasing that feeling by putting together the right ingredients in the right way.

Here are the kyanite pieces. They are really amazing to feel and stroke in one's hand because their shapes suggest that they should be metal, like a dog tag but they are translucent with streaks running through them.

New Look

2008-06-12T07:39:00.000-07:00

It's not that I liked the way my blog looked before. I am just entirely not fluent in html or code or anything technical so I had to put up with the least offensive template I could find. It's not that I'm entirely happy with the way it looks now but I am glad to have thought to go into the template and start making up numbers in the color code area. I compared these color code numbers with Photoshop but of course those are not the same color codes so I just input random numbers and chose from there. One day I know I will end up with the clean, modern and non-sterile look I want. In the meantime, I think I like these strange colors together. For now.

Sample Sale Vintage Anne Maa

2008-06-05T09:45:00.000-07:00

I am finally tackling the project I knew was inevitable...going through and deciding what to do with all the samples from past collections. I mean real past, as in 2004 when I first started. I designed two collections with glass beads before moving to gemstone beads. I have a special attachment to those early collections when I don't usually like to even look at past designs much. I think making jewelry felt magical to me then. I really stumbled on to it by accident. It was confusing, exciting and full of possibilities and I had no idea where it was going to lead. My fashion design past life gave me the structure of thinking I needed to put out collections. It also kept the idea of selling to friends and family completely foreign to me. I started to learn how to use a computer (didn't know how to turn it on or off, or what a browser was) and also learn how to type so I can sell online, which was the only place I wanted to sell. I loved to be anonymous and not deal with real people. I still feel the same way and I'm glad I don't feel lonely in my work in that respect.

I've slowly started to put some pieces in a new Etsy store. I'm realizing I can't just hoard those samples forever and there's no reason to do so either. I've been 'shedding' in many ways in my life at this point and find that I don't need or want much now. It's a freeing place to be...though it is a lot of work to 'shed' sometimes.

Here are some designs from the early collections. These will be listed or may already listed.

I never thought of having a store on Etsy but now I have two. I can't say how long these stores will last. They might start to feel too tied down for me or I might find them too tedious to upkeep. For now here they are:

Sample sale - www.AMDsamplesale.etsy.com

Supplies - www.AMD.etsy.com

Faux Bone Ring

2008-05-15T20:36:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I last posted. One of the reasons is that I just couldn't readily remember my sign in information and didn't want to have to think that hard. Silly, I know, but such is my life.

I had meant to post pictures of a ring I bought many months ago but somehow never got to it. It is the only piece of jewelry I felt the urge to buy since I started designing jewelry almost 5 years ago. I used to always collect and wear jewelry passionately and then it all ceased when I started designing them. I just lost the need to own and possess them once they were made. I felt free! It felt really good to not be hoarding and lusting after jewelry anymore. But soon I realized I had transferred that obsession to gemstones. I knew that appetite would be insatiable and damaging but had to walk down that road anyway. I knew my self too well to try to stop an obsession. Well, now I'm over the gemstone hoarding too and it feels good. Empty...but good. I don't see another obsession coming on but we will have to wait and see.

Anyway, back to the ring I bought. It is a ring carved out of faux bone and the surface is pitted with small pock marks and colored inky blue. I was instantly in love with it when I saw it. The artist is Emily Watson and she is a talented multimedia artist. She was kind enough to send me these pictures of the ring I bought so I can show them here. I just love the sculptural quality of this ring and look at it all the time on my finger when I drive (that's when my hand is resting in front of me for a length of time)...although it is probably not a good idea to not keep my eye on traffic. This ring is so ME!

New Collection Launched

2008-04-22T16:42:00.000-07:00

Most new items are in Limited Edition.
Lots of new Necklaces and Earrings to match.
Of course there is Metal.
There's no new bracelets but all available Bracelets are on sale right now.
I always like to put together a Home Page that looks good.

Hope you like.

Spring Collection -Modern Rutilated Quartz Ring

2008-04-09T18:47:00.000-07:00

The new collection has been shot and will launch in a week or so. This is the first time we had to use a black background for one of the rings. I've resisted this for a long time but finally had to give in. This is a one time deal...I hope. I had no choice since this gorgeous ring was very unphotogenic on white background. Here is how this rutilated quartz ring look on black.

Spring Collection - Bronze Rutilated Quartz Ring

2008-03-21T11:21:00.001-07:00

The Photo shoot has been delayed so I'm posting another ring. This is a gorgeous reddish bronze hair rutilated quartz in a simple cut. It was not intended for a ring I'm sure but I just had to. This is a GOOD SIZE ring and not for the timid. The band is tilt-able and can also be stringed on a sterling chain and worn as a necklace.

Again, I have to let you know that certain styles go fast when the collection is released so sign up for the newsletter for first dibs. I hate to see disappointed customers.

Spring Collection - Quartz with Tourmaline Ring

2008-03-16T18:13:00.000-07:00

This is another new ring in the upcoming spring collection. This is a rough piece of quartz embedded with tourmaline. The back was left open for light to pass through. I never know how a piece would turn out exactly. I go in with an idea and an fuzzy image of the finished product and see how things work out, which is the main excitement for me. I love how this one turned out.

Newsletter gets you notification of Spring Collection release.

Spring Collection - Lemon Quartz Ring

2008-03-10T13:16:00.000-07:00

The Spring Collection is pretty much finished though I have more interesting materials that have not been used yet. Maybe I should save them for the next collection since this collection is already full of interesting items. One of my main areas that needs discipline is in keeping the collection at a manageable and reasonable number of pieces. Sometimes it's not good to just indulge one's whim.

This is one of the rings I'll have in the new collection. The lemon quartz is a unique shape. It is both modern and classic. It reminds me of a graphic drawing of a traditional diamond shape.

Dark Lemon Citrine!

2008-02-22T17:13:00.000-08:00

I am pretty much done with beads (stones with drill hole). I don't see much new or different gemstones out there to excite or inspire. I rarely go to trade shows for supplies anymore. I went today to look for a non-bead gemstone for a wedding ring request. I didn't see anything close to what I was looking for but came home with this strand of beads that caught my eye. It was almost the equivalent of my mortgage, in southern California! I had to have it...I knew it the whole time I was pretending I was just going to look at it, to play with it and put it back. I'm so glad this happens way less often then it used to.

Feast your eyes...3/4" dark lemon citrine simple cut gems! Huge, clear and modern. I can't stop looking at it!

I wont need the whole strand but will have to wait a season or two before I can put it up in my Etsy shop. I wonder if anyone will pay what I paid for this. This is exactly my weakness.

18K 3 Ring Set

2008-02-21T16:49:00.000-08:00

I just finished a custom ring set and want to share it with you here. I will make an effort to start photographing the custom work I do. I am finding that I have no reference photos when I need them.

This is a 3 ring set like the sterling ones but in 18k gold. I love how it looks...warm, matte and natural, like it grew that way.

Jewelry Supplies, Gemstones for Sale

2008-02-21T16:48:00.000-08:00

I finally did it. I did two things that I dreaded. I'm finally starting to sell off some of my loot from my hoarding days. I opened a store on Etsy which was dread #1. I'm not good at learning new tech stuff. I also started the endless task of photographing, editing, and uploading with all the tedious product details. That was dread #2. I'm glad to have started and now find them not to be so hard. I do have so much of everything it's a bit defeating to think about it. It'll have to be a side thing but I will keep at it when I 'm able.

If you are in the market for stones, clasps, findings and chains then you might want to take a look at what I've hand picked for myself but never got to. Things will be about wholesale prices, which was what I paid. Some were purchased before the silver price hike of late so you might be getting a even better deal.

www.AMD.etsy.com

Truth Be Told...

2008-02-12T20:28:00.000-08:00

Thanks for the support on the previous post. It helps greatly to be understood.

I can't wait to see his other copies of my rings when I see him next. Actually, I can guess how they will look, given the techniques they use.

For some twisted reason I bought a few of his amethyst rings. I'm not sure why but maybe I wanted to get in on the sell knock off game too...just so I'm not a victim. I'd be the ultimate un-victim if I sold my own knock offs. Sick, I know.

Alright then, where can I sell these rings is the next thing I need to figure out.

Knocked Off Again

2008-01-25T10:36:00.000-08:00

Getting knocked off is a fact of life, I keep telling my kids when they complain of being copied by each other in their art work. I tell them there's no way of preventing it and not much can be done about it. I tell them to see it as a 'good' thing...their art is good enough to 'inspire' others. They don't seem to buy that much though.

I come across lots of this in my work too. I don't get as steamed as most people I know when this happens. I am actually flattered most of the time, aside from feeling disgusted, that is. Another thing that happened besides getting knocked off is appearing on eBay as a fake. A seller posted a wire wrapped ring and claimed it was an Anne Maa Design designer ring and included a link to my site. I showed it to my kids to prove this happens to adults in the real world too. That didn't seem to help in lessening their frustration when it happens to them either.

Recently the supplier I've been getting my raw chunky stones from for my last 2 collections proudly showed me the ring he had made in his native Uruguay. It was a knock off of my ring (the stone were from him) that I showed him months before. Since I was very picky and specific on the stones and what I needed them for only a small amount of what he supplied met my requirements so I was instructing him on what type of stone I was looking for. He went on to ask if I'd mind if he made my Amethyst Stalactite Ring and sold them in other states so as not to take business from me. Sadly, my understanding of how these things worked made me not bother to put up a fight. Also knowing that the knock off would not be something I'd buy and that there's nothing I can do if he were to do it behind my back. I told him to go ahead. My comfort in a situation like this is always that I will be onto my next thing in no time. I am already done with the designs he is copying.

Here is his copy of my ring. The one he saw and knocked off was the cast ring with prongs that was not online and I didn't take pictures of it before it was sold.

I am currently working on the Spring Collection and and having lots of fun exploring new areas.

Sale and New Collection

2008-01-15T17:07:00.001-08:00

The sale is underway so sign up for the Newsletter for the link before it goes public.

Of course the Newsletter after that will be the one announcing Spring Collection. Don't miss it! I have something very different still. I seem to be moving forward faster then I planned. Now I have lots of unused materials left. I need acquire in a more conservative way if I can't stay put long enough to use them up. Hard lesson to learn for me.