Introducing: Poppy Swing

thank you so much for all the lovely, creative names! all the suggestion was so wonderful, I really had hard time picking just one. but after much thinking, I decided on "Poppy Swing" that Kaitie Au suggested! I think it's discribes earrings right on! so Kaitie Au, I'll gift you the prototype. please email: info@jewelrybynatsuko.com or contact me through my Etsy shop with your address.

and these earrings are avilable in two colors at my Etsy shop & Style Outside The Box store!

Happy Crafting:)

Spring/Summer Collection Photo Collage

for some reason I just couldn't take satisfying pictures in my usual set-up so I took it outside. Saturday was great day for taking pictures! not too sunny, not too gloomy. all new pictures! what do you think...?

more new items are going to be listed in my shop this week. stay tuned!

Happy Crafting:)

Feathers, Feather Lady & Feather Jewelry

recently, i just had sudden urge to use feathers in my jewelry design. so just like anything else, I started to search on Etsy. and I was lucky to stumble on this wonderful shop The Feather Lady. why do I say I was lucky? first off, her shop is gorgeous! and I'm totally feather newbie so I had lots of questions. she answer every question so nicely and say in most cases she collect feathers from ground herself and clean them, wash & dry and all that! I was sold!! and the feathers I received was absolutely, breathtakingly gorgeous! every piece was very nicely packed. and every feathers are so beautiful. I feel so much care for feathers from the Feather Lady.





now I have lots of idea with theses "gems" but don't have enough time! I was going to work on them this past weekend but I got distracted by sewing... yes, sewing! I set-up sewing station in my studio at Zodiac and made purse from my old jean skirt. it was so much fun! I'll take pictures and post them tomorrow! oh, and here is my practice necklace with feather. this feather is not from feather lady but I needed to practice!

Happy Crafting:)

February 14th Talk About Blog

~What’s the most romantic piece you’ve ever made and why?




Wow, this is tough one! I made so many pieces and I try to put little romance in every piece. But as I was thinking about this topic I remember the one custom piece I made a while back. A customer requested earrings inspired from this cute quote: 'A Bird and A Fish Can Fall in Love, But Where Will They Live?' isn’t this a cutest?! And she wanted bird and fish to be like but you can tell the differences of bird and fish and in different colors. I was delighted to design & made this piece!

And most recently, I made this cherry blossom ring that I think it’s so darn romantic! The ring is on sale on Handmade Division team shop. And I’m working on necklace & bracelets next!



Now, let’s go see more romantic pieces the other team mates made!
Rickson Jewellery: http://www.ricksonart.blogspot.com/
andes cruz http://andescruz.wordpress.com/
Beth Cyr: http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com/
http://barbaradonovan.blogspot.com/

Happy Valentine's Day & Happy Crafting!

Romantic Pink Enamel Sakura Ring

Every time I think about spring (and I think about it in icy winter weather like now…) I think about cherry blossoms in Japan. You can enjoy gorgeous blossoms all over the town, parks, everywhere! And the fact that they will only last about 10 days, add the beauty to the whole seen.

I created this ring thinking about beautiful Japanese cherry blossom. As usual, my main focus in the enamel piece but I think I did good with the metals too! I made ring with sterling silver made to look like branch and solder little copper leaf on the one end. Looks very delicate, feminine and organic. And it’s listed on new Handmade Division team shop!

Happy Crafting:)

January Handmade Division Talk About Blog

~In another life I was.... and I made.... for a living. (fill in the blanks)~

I wish I could know! I was definitely making something for living. Perhaps, I was a seamstress in one life, clothing designer in the other. Sewing and making dress just seem so natural to me. I bet I was doing that in one point or the other.

Ok, so ~in another life I was dress maker and I made dresses for a living.

And I guess you’ll never forget things that you made with your heart & soul. My sister told me that our grandmother who is almost 90years old, living in the nursing home and can’t recognize her own daughter anymore… was showing my sister thing that she made (the things she already showed us before) and explain how she made it, every step by step why she did that way this and that… then my sister said to me I’ll be that way one day. Well this feels little sad but my point was even though it was in another life and you cannot remember, your soul will remember! So I’d like to make every piece of jewelry with my heart & soul!

Happy crafting :)

Here is the link to other handmade division teammate talking about the same topic:
Andes Cruz : www.andescruz.wordpress.com
Rickson Jewellery: www.RicksonJewellery.blogspot.com

I must say I’m very sad that not much participation this month… I love “talk about blog”!

brass ribbon in the sky...

my new collection "vintage inspired brass ribbon"... these first ones are stamped "xoxo" and forged as infinity symbol. so meaningful and feels full of sweet love & smiles. makes me want to sing my favorite song by my favorite singer...

Oh so long for this night I prayed
That a star would guide you my way
To share with me this special day
Where a ribbons in the sky for our love

If allowed may I touch your hand
And if pleased may I once again
So that you too will understand
Theres a ribbon in the sky for our love

Do...do...
Do do do do do...
Hmm hmm...

This is not a coincidence
And far more than a lucky chance
But what is that was always meant

We cant lose with God on our side
Well find strength in each tear we cry
From now on it will be you and i
And our ribbon in the sky
Ribbon in the sky
A ribbon in the sky for our love

Do...do...
Do do do do do...
Hmm hmm...

Theres a ribbon in the sky for our love

~Stevie Wonder: Ribbon In The Sky

they are in my shop now! I'll be making more with this series and I'll be humming this song all the way!

happy crafting:)

Jewel Tone Poppies

I had a lovely custom order to make poppies in all different colors around the bangle. I immediately thought about jewel-tone. as they call it enamels "seven gems" in Japanese, enamel colors are perfect for imitating the gemstone colors. but to developing the all different colors was more challenging than I thought. it took me so long and my customer was patiently waiting... but here it is at last! I love love love it! so my spring would be full of "Jewel Tone Poppies"!!

here is one ring I already made & list in my shop. blue topaz poppy and the pod sterling silver ring.

and this one with smoky quartz with brass ribbon (another something new I'm working on!)
I'm so excited about this new collection! happy crafting:)

Handmade Division December Talk about blog

~December's topic: Where do you aspire to be in 5 years?

it's been more than 2 years since I don't have a "day job". I stay home and make jewelry for living. this was really a dream of mine and I love it! but because I love so much, I work too much... sometime I feel bad if I couldn't pay more attention to my family. so! I came up with perfect solution! I'll open a little shop/studio in Japan with my sister for the summer. (so my sister can handle all the no-fun business end of stuff) location I'm thinking of is tourist town that only open for the summer. while I work in my shop, my husband and my son can go explore Japan. and we will talk about our day over the dinner. this way, I can work without feeling guilty!

as for rest of the year, I hope I'm continue to do what I'm doing now. still have my Etsy shop if Etsy still exists but I really want to establish my website. build local customer base. and focus more in one-of-a-kind work.

above all, I hope I'll still make every piece of jewelry with joy, still learning and trying new thing, and keep dreaming:)

now, let's go see what other wonderful artists of Handmade Division are aspire to be~


Andes Cruz: http://www.andescruz.wordpress.com/

Tess Norberg: http://www.nova-designs.blogspot.com/

Rebekah Timlin Meddles: http://www.lunasadesigns.blogspot.com/
Bella-Bijou Jewellery : http://www.bellabijoujewellery.blogspot.com/

JJ Papke: http://www.rosyrevolver.blogspot.com/

Beth Cyr: http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com/
Tosca Teran: http://www.nanopod.wordpress.com/
Thomasin Durgin: http://metalriot.blogspot.com/
Lisa Hopkins Design: http://lisahopkinsdesign.blogspot.com/



happy crafting:)

brass locket with enamel poppy

I had a custom request for brass lockets in little lager than what I had. so I got few of them and made one for the customer. and because it turned out so beautiful, I made one sample and listed on my Etsy shop. and then little bit that I had sold out in matter of a day or two! even more exciting thing was each request was different and each piece turned out oh so beautifully! here is few snap shots before shipping...

these must be an odd size, I couldn't find large supply for it. but I did order few more and it's on their way! the one in the first picture, customer requested with "petal look" poppy. so I made with just little larger than my half inch poppy. and each locket, I'll hand stamp secret message...

Happy Crafting:)

BLACK FRIDAY - CYBER MONDAY SALE

I'm having a sale for Black Friday - Cyber Monday, 11/26 - 29th! Enter coupon code "holiday2010" at the checkout and get 15% off on all items in my shop! and check out all the other members of Handmade Division team that having sale in their shop... see in our blog.

Happy shopping!

personalized jewelry

as I prepare to open my personalized jewelry station on upstairs Zodiac, I've been making lots of samples. I love making personalized jewelry and they do sell really well. but I was hesitant to list on my Etsy shop. because on Etsy, they have plenty of personalized jewelry listings already. but I dicide to list some that are still very much unique to my shop.

unique, handmade, meaninful gift for the holidays!

winter is coming...

...and I'm very much drawn to shades of gray. every season I have some color I just attracted to and this season, it's Gray. so you'll see lots of colorful grays from me in my shop this winter!

steel x pastel gray oyster gray studs, made for custom order
looks great with brass gold too!
oyster gray necklace
oyster gray earrings

Happy crafting:)

Handmade Division October talk about….

“Tell us about yourself - how did you get to where you are now with your skills?”

My journey to jewelry making began about 15 years ago. My friend gave me a beaded pendant kit when I was burned out from sewing and looking for something new to try. After I completed that kit, I went get more beads along with few supplies and start to make jewelry. Although I learned a lot on my own, when I think about how I get to where I am now with my skills, I have to give credit to Columbus cultural art center for it. This place amazes me to no end. The variety of classes they offer, the level of teachers and how affordable they are… My friend/co-worker at the time was attending there and told me about it. I was looking for ways to make my own beads so I start to take polymer clay class in spring of 2007. Then, she didn’t have classes in summer so I took copper enameling instead. And when I acquainted with enameling I felt that I found my medium. So I am now enameling for about three years and I’m now taking jewelry class that focused on metal work.

When I thought about this topic, I went to my Flickr page and look from the beginning page. Wow, talk about walking down the memory lane! I have pictures up since august of 2007 and looking at those pieces makes me so emotional… a lot of pieces were gift and most are progression of learning and try new things.

this is few cloisonne piece I ever done. a gift to my friend. design much with his tattoo. one of my first enamel piece that I absolutely love. I gifted to my good friend for his birthday.
enamel piece set in polymer clay. the enamel piece was mistake but end it up something so unusual. my teacher has it. I trade her with one of her fabulous piece.
polymer clay brooch. my favorite autumn pin:)

made from polymer clay. my friend treasure it:)

now, let's go see what other talented artists are talking about...

Andes Cruz: http://www.andescruz.wordpress.com/
Tess Norberg/ Nova Designs: http://www.nova-designs.blogspot.com/
Bill Martin/ Purified Art: http://purifiedart.blogspot.com
Sand Fibers: http://sandfibers.blogspot.com
Emily Watson/ Metal Emily: http://nocoloratall.tumblr.com/
Susan Moloney: http://susarto.blogspot.com/
Alice Istanbul: http://istanbuldesigns.blogspot.com/
Jewelry by Natsuko: http://jewelrybynatsuko.blogspot.com/
Tosca Teran/ Nanopod: http://nanopod.wordpress.com/
Bella-Bijou Jewellery: http://bellabijoujewellery.blogspot.com/
Beth Cyr: http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com/
Lisa Hopkins Design: http://lisahopkinsdesign.blogspot.com/
Metalriot/ Thomasin Durgin: http://metalriot.blogspot.com/
NEDbeads/ Nancy Dale: http://nedbeads.blogspot.com/
Tamra Gentry - http://www.jewelrydesignchronicles.com/
Rosy Revolver/ JJ Papke- http://rosyrevolver.blogspot.com/
Alisa Miller- http://alisamiller.blogspot.com
WATTO/ Mary Spencer- http://www.wattoonline.blogspot.com/

Happy crafting:)

Handmade Division Etsy Team September Talk about blog

Septembers Topic: "Where do you draw your inspirations for creating from?" I get inspirations from just browsing on Etsy… haha, just kidding! Sorry if it wasn’t funny… but anyway, I thought about this and although inspirations are everywhere, I have to say I most get inspire from changes in the season. I love to think about up-coming season, think about colors and jewelry design. First, colors are most important to me. Every season feels different colors and I think about how to express the colors with enamels. I love to cook-up the colors in my mind, kind of like when you think about new recipe… (I often think about this but how I make jewelry is a lot like how I cook) and just try the recipe out! Sometime they comes out just as I imagine, sometime it’s blah… and sometimes they come out very different than I imagined but I love it anyway. It’s all fun & good times!!


Another things the give me inspirations is my customers. I love getting custom orders and I feel great joy to trying to make just what the customers wanting. They often let me try something I’d never thought on my own and from that, I inspire to make something else.
It’s always like snowballing. Make one thing and that would let to the next thing… keep growing… never ends… well, I hope it never ends!

Now let’s go see what other members else say about this topic!
Andes Cruz: http://andescruz.wordpress.com/
Susan Moloney: http://susarto.blogspot.com/
mAlice Istanbul: http://istanbuldesigns.blogspot.com/
Rebekah Meddles (Lunasa Designs Jewelry): http://lunasadesigns.blogspot.com/
nanotopia: http://nanopod.wordpress.com/

Bella-Bijou Jewellery http://bellabijoujewellery.blogspot.com/
Beth Cyr http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com/
ArtJewel Designs: http://www.artjeweldesigns.blogspot.com/
Lisa Hopkins Design: http://lisahopkinsdesign.blogspot.com/
Thomasin Durgin http://metalriot.blogspot.com/
Abhaya Fibers http://abhayafibers.blogspot.com/

happy crafting:)