straight no chaser

I moved!

2010-01-30T12:02:00.002-05:00

My blog is now at wordpress... hope you'll visit me there!

www.abigailramos.com

Custom and Gift Orders

2009-10-06T17:24:00.022-04:00

Over the past couple of months, I've been creating lots of custom and gift pieces using the fantastic findings acquired during my visit to New Orleans. Here are two of my favorite.

My friend Karla fell in love with these tile beads we found in Ponchatoula and commissioned me to make her a bracelet with them. Knowing her style, I incorporated black onyx and sterling silver to add a touch of elegance to the tile beads. To finish the piece, I added a clam-shell-shaped bead and pewter toggle clasp.

Another friend, Amber, celebrates her birthday on August 29th, which is coincidentally the anniversary of hurricane katrina. This year, she visited (and instantly fell in love with) New Orleans. As a new New Orleanian, I felt she should have a piece of Nola to wear close to her heart, so I made her a necklace with materials I'd picked up during my last visit. Her piece is made with turquoise, yellow jasper, black onyx and sterling silver chain. The pendant features a round shell and an Indian coin, hung delicately from a pewter toggle clasp.

With the gift-giving and holiday-party time of year right around the corner, why not give or wear a handmade, one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry! Visit my online boutique at www.abigailramos.etsy.com or email me at abigailtramos@gmail.com.

Summer Session

2009-07-30T00:17:00.019-04:00

I visited New Orleans this month and went to my old jewelry supplier in Ponchatoula, about 45 minutes outside of New Orleans. It was overwhelming and joyous all at once to walk in and see the treasures I'd be using to make my next collection! The following pieces have been inspired by that visit.

"Rocker" is made of turquoise, red coral, black onyx, freshwater pearls and sterling silver chain and features a bold white turquoise pendant.

This piece is made of African yellow opal, black onyx, turquoise and freshwater pearls with sterling silver chain. It's finished with a pewter toggle clasp.

"Leafdrop" is made of turquoise, red coral, freshwater pearls and sterling silver and features a limited-edition, leaf-shaped bead pendant on a sterling silver toggle clasp.

This is a photo of two long lariats. "Sand and Sea" is made of turquoise, abalone, freshwater pearls and sterling silver and has a cowry shell pendant. The second lariat is made of turquoise, amber and mother of pearl.

Visit my online boutique at www.abigailramos.etsy.com. Custom orders are welcome and encouraged! email: AbigailTRamos@gmail.com

Thanks for stopping by straight no chaser.

keep inspiration close

2009-06-18T11:17:00.051-04:00

I'm really excited to share a few artistic photos of my jewelry that were done by my friend Aki. Her eye is incredible! By using nature as her backdrop, she plays off the organic theme of the designs and really brings them to life! Every time she shows me new photos, I'm so inspired by the beauty that I can hardly wait to get back to my work table to create more. I'm extremely lucky to have such an inspirational friend in my intimate circle. After all, can an artist create without inspiration? Well I can't speak for everyone, but for this artist, I'd have to say, "no way!" So I must keep inspiration close!

This photo features two pieces, Native and One Krone. They're made with red coral, turquoise stones, sterling silver and grey pearls.

Brass Pass is made with red coral chips, pearls, moonstone and sterling silver. The pendant on this lariat necklace has an NYC subway token. Brass Pass is the title piece in my new series, which will feature jewelry made with rare tokens and coins from all over the world. I named this piece after the brass pass that's made each year for the New Orleans Jazz Fest.

Beach Vacation is a luxurious, two-strand necklace made with turquoise, citrine, black onyx, jasper, pearls and sterling silver.

Green Eyes is a lariat made with chunky green turquoise, white pearls and brass links I found many years ago in a little antique shop in Pontchatoula, a town outside of New Orleans. It features a Hamesh hand on one end, which symbolizes protection from the evil eye of greed and jealousy.

That's all for now. I'm getting ready to launch my Etsy shop and will post details soon for those interested in ordering a piece.

Thanks for stopping by straight no chaser!

Lose Your Mind... and be inspired

2009-05-19T15:33:00.063-04:00

As I think more about the importance of artistic expression for a balanced life, I'm reminded that art also serves as a source of inspiration for others... especially when it's music!

One artist who inspires me is Maurice "MoBetta" Brown. As a phenomenal trumpeter, composer, band leader, musical director and producer, he has lent his creative touch to the music of Aretha Franklin, Talib Kweli, Wyclef Jean and Laura Izibor, and has played with jazz greats Elvin Jones, Curtis Fuller, Clark Terry, and too many more to name. (Oh, and he also happens to be my partner!) Anyhow, with that said, and any bias considered but adamantly denied, I urge everyone to check him out, both online and live. He'll be performing this Thursday in Brooklyn at Rustik Tavern, close to Pratt Institute in the Clinton Hill 'hood.

Lose Your Mind is a project that Maurice and his long-time friend Sam Barsh started in 2008, simply because they love to make beautiful music together and have an enormous amount of respect for each other's musical abilities. They're both in high-demand and rarely in town at the same time, so Lose Your Mind shows are a special treat. And, when these superstars put on a show, their fans come together to form a diverse mix of soul-funk-jam-jazz lovers that includes hip-hop heads, hipsters, jazz cats and groove seekers. Needless to say, it's a funky good time.

Come check them out this Thursday in Brooklyn at Rustik Tavern. The show starts at 7pm. Click the flyer for more details.

If you want to keep up with Maurice, sign up for his e-newsletter, which I happen to write! ;)

Thanks for visiting straight no chaser. until next time, be well... and inspired.

the comeback

2009-05-10T02:02:00.039-04:00

For one reason or another, I've recently been inspired to start making jewelry again. And now I'm remembering how important artistic expression is for a balanced existence!

Here are some photos from 'The Comeback' series. Right now I'm really feeling turquoise combined with shells or pearls. The grey-brown tones of the shells and pearls allow the turquoise to pop. Gold or silver findings both add a nice touch to finish off the piece.

This double-strand necklace is made of brown turquoise, moonstone chips, champagne seeds beads and silver finishings. As a last-minute Mother's Day commission, it felt good to push myself to design the perfect piece. It's contemporary and classic and can go with a bunch of different outfits... a great summer piece. ;-) I call it "Loretta."

And lariats are the most fun to design because the end pieces make it customizable, more personal and special. I have old NYC subway coins for my next lariat!

This lariat is made of turquoise, pearls and silver and is finished with two Norwegian coins (called krone) and sterling silver wire. I call this one "Two Kroner."

If you want to keep up with my newest designs, click the sign-up button in the top left corner.

Happy Mother's Day! Thanks for stopping by straight no chaser!

Helllooooo!

2009-04-30T13:55:00.005-04:00

Hi there and welcome! You've reached my new blog. I'll be writing about life in New York from my own perspective as an education professional and music and art lover. I'll also use this space to present my newest jewelry designs, education resources I create or find, and to link to my talented artist and musician friends' sites. If you'd like to follow Straight No Chase, sign up below, or just stop by now and again.