MerCurios

The Lego Story

2013-06-10T00:00:00.000-04:00

We are HUGE Lego fans in our home. I've lost count of all the Lego sets Gabriel has in his collection - God only knows if he has all the respective pieces too.

If Gabe isn't building, rebuilding or creating (he's very good at building from his imagination) then he's scouring You Tube for Lego Reviews. Not too long ago while perusing reviews, we stumbled across this video on the Lego Feed - I enjoyed it so much that I just had to share it.

I love anything and everything that has a positive message. Without giving away the movie

- Keep Moving Forward -

is what I walked away with. That and, Keep the Faith, and always follow your intuition too.

What an inspiring story to say the least. It's no wonder Lego is as successful as it it!

Fathers Day - Last minute gifts from MerCurios

2013-06-09T00:00:00.000-04:00

Father's Day is right around the corner. Can you believe it? I sure can't it. If you are anything like me and, unintentionally wait until the last minute to get gifts, don't fret!

MerCurios has you covered!

Custom Monogram Copper Ring

Custom Quote Bracelet in Stainless Steel

Native Inspired Crossed Arrow & Wolf Ring


Our BEST SELLING Custom Double Banner Ring

Shop it now:

Above is just a few of what we offer for the guys.

Check out the full assortment of Men's Jewelry here.

Our current turn around is three business days and we offer express shipping too!

New from MerCurios - Mid-Finger Feather Ring

2013-06-08T00:00:00.000-04:00

This delicate band sits directly above the knuckle, and is a must have for the summer. Made from sterling silver, hammered for texture with a subtle feather pattern etched in it.

Wear it alone, or pile them on with other rings. At $22 it can't be beat!

Shop it now

Daily Adventures - Crabs at the Beach Today

2013-06-06T14:07:00.001-04:00

Chewy and I went down to the harbor this afternoon for a quick walk while my rings were in the tumbler. Apparently, It's mating season for the Horseshoe Crab - who knew! There were quite a few at the shore today, and I can't remember the last time I saw a Horseshoe Crab down at Harborfront Park in Port Jeff. It was quite nice.


Chewy made a few friends


Drop the crab!

NEW - Alphabet Fonts and Designs

2013-01-18T16:27:00.000-05:00

Just look at all the amazing fonts, designs and symbols you can have on your next piece of custom / personalized jewelry. I'm a huge fan of the Script and Handwriting fonts, and I absolutely adore the Hebrew Chai, Sanscrit Om and the larger flourish design.

What's your favorite? Let me know in the comments section below.

Various examples can always be found in the custom work folder on our Facebook page here too.

*Keep in mind the above picture is for reference only and does not depict the actual size*

Alphabet Fonts:
1. STANDARD - 4mm uppercase font
2. Mix It Up - (a mix of our STANDARD and Comic Sans fonts)
3. comic sans - 3mm lowercase font
4. SCRIPT - 4mm uppercase font
5. script - 3mm lowercase font
6. Mixed Script - (a mix of our UPPER and lowercase script fonts)
7. HANDWRITING - 3mm uppercase font
8. handwriting - 3mm lowercase font
9. Mixed Handwriting - (a mix of our UPPER and lowercase handwriting fonts)
10. TEENY TINY - 1.5mm uppercase font
11. OLD ENGLISH - 6mm uppercase font
12. EXTRA LARGE - 6mm uppercase font
13. Fancy Numbers - 3mm numbers
14. HEBREW - 2mm Hebrew alphabet font
15. GREEK - 3mm Greek alphabet font

Designs / Symbols:
1. Greek Key - 3mm
2. Flower - 3mm
3. Smiley Face - 3mm
4. Peace Sign - 3mm
5. Heart - 3mm
6. Star - 3mm
7. Wave - 3mm
8. Asterisk - 3mm
9. Check - 3mm
10. Cupcake - 4mm
11. Puppy Paw - 4mm
12. Heart - 5mm
13. Star - 5mm
14. Butterfly - 5mm
15. Hamsa / Hand of Fatima - 6mm
16. Star of David - 6mm
17. Chai' (life) - 6mm
18. Om / Aum (the sound of the infinite) - 6mm
19. Flourish - 6mm
20. Flourish - 3mm

Punctuation:
A full set of punctuation sized at 3mm.

Christmas Bells, those Christmas Bells

2012-12-25T12:33:00.000-05:00

For my Aunt Eleanor who called each and every time Charlie Brown was on T.V. so Gabriel could watch it. Whether it was Christmas, Halloween, Valentines Day or Snoopy Come Home, we could count on Aunt Ele's phone call. I miss those calls...

Thank you Aunt Ele.

xoxo

Gift Cards

2012-12-21T23:04:00.001-05:00

Etsy started offering site-wide gift cards — purchase a gift card and you can use it in all shops that accept direct checkout (credit card payments without having to sign up).

Well if you’re still trying to figure out what to get those last few people on your list, get them an Etsy gift card! They can use it in the shop, and it gives the person who receives it the chance to pick out EXACTLY what they want - now how cool is that!!

Finish up your holiday shopping by picking up a gift card here.

Kiss to build a dream on

2012-10-19T09:14:00.000-04:00

Whenever I hear this song it brings these pictures to mind...


Mary & Otto - Tyler, TX (R.H. Martin & Sons truck in the background)

My Aunt Eleanor, mom & Aunt Ann - Tyler, TX

O.J. (Otto) DiMola - Tyler, TX

From what I understand, Mr. Rowan taught my grandfather the floor covering trade. He started out making $.50 can hour in 1945. He moved his family [back home] to Ridgewood, NY, and in 1970 started his own business: "O.J. DiMola Floor Covering"

...years later when I started my career in the fashion industry, he was very proud to tell me how he did all the floors in Mr. Bergdorfs home (of the retail chain Bergdorf Goodman) back in TX.

Soul of a hound

2012-10-03T23:30:00.000-04:00

Not a day goes by that I don't think about Nanuk.

She would have been 14 today...

New ~ Chain S-T-R-E-T-C-H Bracelets

2012-07-18T00:00:00.000-04:00

Part chain, part stone, shell or pearl & spikes and 100% bad-ass! Something new I've been working for Summer 2012 into Fall and quite possibly next Spring/Summer too; edgy chain stretch bracelets.

Top: turquoise and spikes
Middle: pearl, spikes and whistle (yes! it's a working whistle)
Bottom: abalone (paua) shell & spikes

These are three of many available in the shop

I'd love to know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Thanks for stopping by!

Back to basics give away

2012-07-11T10:17:00.002-04:00

Shooting Stars Necklace from MerCurios

In honor of getting back to our roots with the MerCurios jewelry collection, I've decided to give away one of these new Shoot Star Necklaces. The blue goldstone and puffy star pendant measure about 2.75" long and hangs from 20 inches of silver plated chain.

Goldstone is made in a lab by mixing glass and copper. Although it's man made, the metaphysical properties of goldstone are not diminished. Goldstone represents luck and prosperity, as well helping to align the base and sacral chakras. Personally, I just love the way it sparkles.

UPDATE July 17: simply leave a comment below to enter, no need to make any kind of guess.

To enter to win one of these Shooting Star necklaces, simply visit the listing here and then leave a comment to this post with your guess as to how we are getting back to our roots. Here's a hint: It's all in the copy.

Good Luck and Have fun!!

Be sure to leave your email so I can reach you should lady luck fortune you!

One winner will be chosen on July 20.

This is open to international and domestic readers.

Please only comment once and be aware that I have to moderate my comments (we get so may spam comments!), so it will not show up automatically.

I would be forever grateful if you would 'like' our Facebook Fan page here.

Thank you, always.

Just Sleeping

2012-06-21T10:52:00.000-04:00

May 26, 2012

I dreamed about Nanuk last night...

She and I were walking in the neighborhood. We stopped to rest on a curb on some green grass under a tree. She was curled up next to me and I could tell she was tired. A man walked by and stopped. He was dark skin and well dressed in a casual sort of way - a deep red or burgundy polo shirt and light khakis. He looked down at Nanuk and said: "she's so beautiful". I replied: "you can see her?, she died". To which he replied, petting her slowly and softly: "of course I can see her ...She's not dead, she's just sleeping."

It is now June 21 and nearly a month has passed since I had this dream. I find so much comfort in it that I needed to share it, hoping others will find comfort in it too...

xo,
MJ

Side by Side

2012-03-16T21:37:00.003-04:00

Getting great jewelry shots has always been a challenge. Just when I think I figured out the camera, and the lighting, and I think my pictures are mint; something changes and I'm back to square 1.

While I know the images are horribly close - Picnik actually cropped the sides for the collage - in your opinion, which photo is better -- left or right?

In other words, if you were shopping which background would catch your eye? The crisper, catalog white picture on the left ~or~ the softer image on the right?

Both pictures are actually one in the same. The one on the right is modified using only the "auto fix" function on Picnik. Both the color and exposure levels were edited in the picture on the left. I've always been partial to the stark white background, however, I'm wondering if it's time for a change...

Perfecting pictures is definitely an ongoing process and I welcome all opinions, suggestions and otherwise.

xo,

Etsy Success: Taking Mini-Risks

2012-03-08T00:00:00.003-05:00

Our "Life Rewards the Risk Taker" Double Ring as seen in the Etsy Success email.

Etsy Weddings: Rock On

2012-02-01T00:00:00.000-05:00

Our "Alternative Rock & Roll Wedding Ring" as seen in Etsy Weddings.

In the works - Studs & Spikes

2012-01-30T17:11:00.000-05:00

Truth be told, I am a supply hoarder. I buys lots of stuff all the time - sometimes I know what I'm going to do with a particular item - other times I see it and just "have to have it".

That's the story behind this chain. Believe it or not, I purchased it two years ago while on a buying trip. It was just one of those items that I just had to have. I didn't know what I was going to do with it - especially at almost $15 a foot wholesale! I just knew that I ~~wanted~~ needed it.

Well, two years later this studded spike bracelet and flexible spike ring were born. I'm so in love with these pieces and hope you are too.

I need to get in touch with the manufacturer to see if that chain is still available (finger crossed!). If not, you are looking at a limited edition of three bracelets and perhaps two rings. Oh well, this is what happens when you sit on supplies.

Are you a supply hoarder? I'd love any and all feedback. Please share your tips, tricks, etc... in the comments section below.

xoxo

Sneak Peek - Dipped Arrows

2012-01-14T16:28:00.000-05:00

There are lots of ideas swimming around in my head right now. This just happened to the be one that was screaming the loudest - "Dipped Arrows".

These are obsidian arrow heads that I have dipped in brass to give them new life. Now if you are familiar with my work at all, then you know that I go where inspiration takes me. As a result, everything is pretty much one-of-a-kind or very limited runs -- 5 piece tops.

However, that's all about to change with this. I'm definitely thinking the brass dipped arrows need to be a "Collection" of sorts -- a bracelet, a necklace, and a ring. I'm still toying with ring design ideas, and believe simplicity will be best in this instance, but who knows...

Make it Personal

2011-12-04T09:47:00.001-05:00

This Christmas it's personal!

Celebrating a birth of a child? Your first home together, or a new move, perhaps? That first kiss as husband and wife? Remember it forever with a latitude longitude ring.

Have a song that you can't get out of your head? Or a line from a poem that keeps you going? Why not wear it on your sleeve, literally. We can fit 4 lines of text on our corset cuff bracelets. It's available in silver too!

Prefer something a little more edgier; then our 2 and 4 finger knuckle rings are for you! Theses rings have had graced the pages of Status and Cleo Magazines. Not to mention the Etsy Finds blog and front page too!

Our narrow double finger ring is 1/4" and has it's ends exposed for an asymmetrical look and feel.

Our Number 1 Best Selling personalized two finger ring is 10mm wide and is reminiscent of a tattoo-style banner.

Here it is in sterling silver. Prefer a brushed metal finish; this ring is available in a rustic copper too!

It's Summer in Australia

2011-12-02T13:45:00.001-05:00

Last nights challenge on Project Accessory was to accessorize a swimsuit. The designers combed the beach and boardwalk at Cony Island for materials with which to create 3 accessories -- sandals, a head piece and an accessory of choice.

I loved what James came up with. Having very long hair myself, his modern, chic and industrial-style hair sticks rocked in my opinion.

...other than a hat or hair sticks, you really won't catch me wearing accessories at the beach or pool though. It's not because I'm lazy, as I am most definitely not lazy. In fact, it's because I'm so lathered up with sunblock that anything other than a hat would just get greasy and ruined. I'm sure I over do it with the SPF 100 that I reapply every few hours; but that's what happens when your mom dies from skin cancer at 43.

Anyway, one of the looks that judges enjoyed last night was a mixture of shells and Swarovski crystals. We mixed shells and raw crystals for our Spring/Summer 2011 Collection back in March/April of this year. I'm taking the liberty of sharing it with you here just in case you missed it in the shop over the summer.

Clockwise from bottom left:
Smoky Quartz & Shell Knuckle Ring in Copper; Double Quartz & Shell Necklace; Smoky Quartz Metallic Shell Cuff; Smoky Quartz & Shell Necklace; Crystal Quartz, Skull & Shell Knuckle Ring; Rose Gold Oyster Shell & Quartz Knuckle Ring; Rose Gold Skull & Spiral Shell Ring; Crystal Quartz & Shell Two Finger Ring in Copper.

Jingle all the way

2011-11-08T13:38:00.000-05:00

Having trouble getting in the Holiday spirit? Or just want to feel like one of Santa's elves? Get a 'Jingle Bell Ring' and carry the magic with you.

Wherever there is a temple, there is a bell; wherever there is a bell there is a temple

Did you know...According to traditional eastern belief, the sound of a bell ringing purifies the holy place in which it rests. In essence, the temple bell evokes one's yearning for peace, balance, and harmony.

Fully adjustable, choose from Leopard, Orange or Purple Jingle Bells! Pick up your MerCurios 'Jingle Bell Ring' here.

Etsy Finds: Citrine Dream

2011-11-04T00:00:00.000-04:00

Our "Citrine Rock Cluster Skull Necklace" as seen in Etsy Finds.

Project Accessory

2011-11-03T12:22:00.000-04:00

Show of hands - who watched Project Accessory last week? Who will be watching tonight?

I love accessories! You can't spend 20+ years of your career in the Accessories Industry and not love them. They make or break the outfit. Add the finishing touch. They are very personal, and perhaps more importantly, accessories allow a persons personality to shine through.

Believe it or not, I only found out about the show the day of the NYC auditions, otherwise I would have been in that cattle call - side-by-side with my peers vying for the opportunity of a lifetime. That said, everything happens for a reason AND there is always next season...right?

Of course after watching the first episode, who knows. I'm sure the team will be challenged to do more than just jewelry. Shoes, Hats or Handbags perhaps. While I'm sure I could make handbag, I doubt it would be anything anybody would want to carry, lol. Forget about a hat or pair or pair of shoes. Then again, we never what we can accomplish until we try, right?

Personally, I thought the designers were FAB! Each had their own design aesthetic that they brought to the table. While some styles may have been similar, each transformation of the basic "white T and jeans" was unique to the respective designers vision.

Anyway, I am definitely looking forward to future episodes. I can not wait to see the challenges and how the individual designers attack them. As a designer myself, I find it very inspiring and thought provoking. The only down fall is that someone has to go home each week. - it is a competition after all.

Thoughts?

Carpe Diem Banner Ring from MerCurios

What do you think?

2011-10-27T15:08:00.001-04:00

I had to stop what I was doing when this popped into my head. The gold coil was a leftover piece from a project that didn't quite work out like I had intended; the blue quartz was wrapped in a silver cage with spider legs that I wasn't quite feeling either - both were just staring at me and then POP! this was born.

It reminds me of a birdcage, but I prefer to call it "orbital". While I definitely think this design is cool, I'm not so sure I could duplicate it if I tried. In its current state it is a ring, but I'm wondering if it should be a pendant. Or even better a ring / pendant. What do you think?

While I'm on the topic of opinions, what should this coffin shaped agate druzy be? So far I have one vote for a two finger ring and one vote for a bracelet. Usually I envision every project, however, I'm completely stumped on this one. Perhaps it just isn't his time, or perhaps my creative juices require some stimulation or a battery recharge.

I'd love to hear all of your comments, thoughts and opinions.

Thanks in advance!

Etsy Gifts: Personalized for You

2011-10-05T00:00:00.000-04:00

Our "Personalized Zodiac Double Banner Ring" as seen in the Etsy Gifts email

Metal Clay Rescue

2011-08-08T09:27:00.000-04:00

Thought you had toss your old, dried up metal clay? Think again!

A few years ago at Christmas, my loving and oh so generous husband gifted me with a complete PMC Clay starter kit. It had everything but a kiln.

Believe it or not, I wasn't smitten with it. I never liked the feel of a newspaper under my finger tips, and so I never read the paper. It was the same with the metal clay. I'm no sculptor to begin with, and the feel of the moist clay under my fingers was yucky. Not to mention the left over residue that was hell getting off once it dried. With that, the clay went into a drawer never to been seen or heard from again...until now!

A while back I was inspired to pull it out, but it was all dried up & solid as a brick. Even completely sealed, never opened packages were hard as a rock. Metal Clay has a shelf life, who knew! Although all dried and completely unusable, I couldn't bring myself to toss it. I've been known to waste my share of money, however, wasting anothers hard earned dough is a thought I cannot bear. So back in the drawer it went. Until now!

Just last week I picked up the most recent copy of Metal Clay Magazine all because of a spread on photographing jewelry. As I'm flipping through the pages I see in big letters "Reconstituting Silver Metal Clay" - what timing!

A great article by Lisa Cain on how she recycles her not-yet-fired dried up metal clay. Guess what? A coffee grinder is all you need to turn that dried up silver clay into moist sculpt-able pieces. The concept is simple; add small amounts of the dried clay to the grinder and grind to a fine powder. Move your fine powder to bowl, slowly add drops of water mixing the powder into a clay. Voila, you have refurbished metal clay ready for sculpting & firing.

I cannot wait to put this to the test! I do need to fulfill my current wholesale and custom commitments before I can *play* with any new ideas. But boy are they brewing. I'll let you know how I do in a follow-up post. In the meantime, I'd love to know your thoughts on the topic.