For love of art glass and jewelry

(Montego Bay Necklace: 32 chunky SRA beads made of Italian glass in black, ocher, turquoise, plum and silvered ivory, sterling spacers, clasp, bead caps, slider, and wire; dalmation jasper; black seed beads. Length: 22" plus 2.5" pendant. $240. Buy it!)

Self-Representing Artist (SRA) Chris Dalrymple currently resides in Memphis, Tennessee, where she has raised a (now grown) daughter, worked hard at a corporate job, and yet still found time to combine her passion for art glass, jewelry and her creative itch to a beautiful end that she calls Elemental Mojo.

Dictionary.com defines the word 'elemental' thus:

of, pertaining to, or of the nature of the four elements, earth, water, air, and fire, or of any one of them.

Consider 'mojo':

an object, as an amulet or charm, that is believed to carry a magic spell.

(Concord Caramel Necklace: 19 SRA beads made of American glass in streaky caramel and royal plum with sprinkles of raku. Components: sterling wire, rings, spacers, beads; Swarovski crystals. Length: 21.5". $145. Buy it!)With an uncanny eye for color, form and light, she creates exquisite lampwork glass beads and forms them into fabulous unique jewelry.

(If you're not familiar with the term "lampwork" or would like to know whence it comes, click here for the Wikipedia explanation.)

Chris's first infatuation with glass was impressed upon her early. From her Etsy profile:

I fell in love with art glass when I was just a kid. My father was in the military, which is how I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to watch Venetian glassblowers at work. I was fascinated with the vibrant colors and the whole process of melting and shaping glass. Since then I’ve wanted to collect art glass. A few years ago I decided to start collecting perfume bottles. While searching for them online, I discovered artist-made lampwork beads and fell instantly in love with them.

As well as making fantastic glass herself, she has amassed an impressive collection of others' work, which she has also incorporated into her gorgeous jewelry.

So, just in time for Valentine's Day, an exquisite, painstakingly designed, meticulously hand-worked necklace of hearts. I have seen this necklace in person (or is that 'in necklace'?) and as wonderful as the photos are, holding it in your hands is an entirely different experience; wearing it would be a joy. (Modigliani Hearts Necklace: 5 SRA heart beads made of Italian glass in plum, avocado, black, deep red, and ivory with accents of silvered ivory and raku. Components: sterling rings, wire, chain, spacers and clasp; leather cord. Length: adjustable from 14.25" to 18". $166. Buy it!)
Visit Chris Dalrymple's shop on Etsy and indulge your love of art glass and jewelry.