Witches, Cats, new designs and tarot

Whew it has been one minute since I’ve written a blog post.

Some say blogging is dead but I beg to differ, blogging has always been one of my favorite forms to communicate news and happenings. Except it’s been a busy and FAST YEAR!

Shew, we are going through it aren’t we? Collectively, the planet and all that comes with it. I truly have been in hermit mode because sometimes facing the world and saying how I truly feel is hard. Am I being a bit vague? Maybe however I don’t want to offend anyone and that’s not what this post is about.

What has been happening in the Eilisain World?

Well I moved my studio AGAIN in our house. It’s funny how I’ve occupied three rooms in our house for my studio. We just felt that our guest room would make more sense versus where it was before.

Bitty Bop LOVES to sneak into my studio and get loves while I try to work. It's a never ending battle to not get distracted by my sweet kitties!

I started 2024 off with some new markets and shows. I made a very conscious decision to do less ‘markets’ and more art shows and exhibitions. FUSE Market was absolutely excellent and all the participating artists are very talented.

In May I participated in my first Fuze Market held in Winston-Salem. It was at a GORGEOUS location and I loved meeting all the kind people that organzied the market and attended.

I finished up this stunning ring for my customer Amanda and then proceeded to create another. I believe this is a series that I will continue. The gold plated talons look SO cool!

Ya’ll I was SO nervous setting this mega faceted citrine but it worked out!!!

In mid summer we shot the Resurrection Collection featuring beetles and malachite stones. This collection was a bit of past pieces I had created using a sweet little beetle I found many years ago.

I will say I struggled with putting this collection together. Sometimes jewels take time to put together and especially if it’s a COLLECTION of jewels. I rushed this one….not my most proud one however I’m very pleased with the photography by my dear friend and long time collaborator, Aileen Devlin. Aileen always brings her A+ game!

So here we are in 2025 as I write this and I’m honestly grateful to say ADIEU to 2024 and very nervous yet excited about what 2025 will bring.

STAY TUNED - because I have a very romantic and sexy collection dropping in late spring - the VENUS COLLECTION. And this one will be fully formed.

Shop for Eilisain in Seattle at Ghost Gallery

Seattle holds a special place in my heart. I visited many years ago on a work trip and I loved the energy and vibe of Seattle. It’s so different from the East Coast cities.

Well fast forward or backwards to ten years ago when I just got started with Eilisain as a business I somehow became connected to Laurie Kearney (owner of Ghost gallery) through Etsy. Laurie and I worked together for about five years with my jewelry in her shop.

Eventually Laurie shifted her business model and still kept Ghost Gallery which is now a beautifully kept gallery and event space. Ghost Gallery is located on Capitol Hill and very cute neighborhood I used to stay when I’d go for work events.

Thus Laurie has been with Eilisain for over ten years and I love that fact and I love that Laurie has stayed committed to sharing and promoting independent artists across the country.

Next time you’re in Seattle I HIGHLY recommend you visit her gallery, you will NOT be disappointed!

I’m OBSESSED with the art work Laurie stocks at her gallery. Laurie has exquisite taste!

The classic owl talon ring which is currently stocked at Ghost Gallery.

How elegant and gorgeous is Ghost Gallery?!

I hope you enjoyed this post, and if you’d like to learn more about Eilisain and my stockists or get special offer codes, sign up for my email list below!

Featuring YOU and how you style your Eilisain Jewelry jewels

You, YOU are the reason I make my jewelry. To get you in touch with your badass side and to become closer to animals that inspire us.

Below are some new photos of you out and about wearing your Eilisain Jewels.

It was a complete surprise when I ran into this gorgeous lady out and about in Raleigh wearing her bird bone bracelet and Medea snake cuff. She looks so cute in her Santa cape too!

Kristen Hardee, is a G-Vegas local and she’s also an artist, student, mom and friend wearing her Hunted small double owl talon pendant in sterling silver.

Allison Goldfine, a magician in my eyes, this woman is a beautiful human being that is multifaceted. She’s also an artist, a hair stylist, model and multi dimensional human being. Allison is wearing the Keeper II turtle shell ring with garnets.

It truly makes my heart sing to see you wearing my creations. Thank you so much to all of you that love and support my small business. I love ya’ll!!

PS - Permission was granted to share these photos.

You Wore it Best...How Eilisain Customers Style Their Jewels

Here’s an update on how you style your Eilisain jewels. There were so many good ones from this holiday season (aka Halloween).

I really love seeing how you wear your jewels because it shows them in real life on REAL humans.

My friend Allison is dressed as the Goblin King (yesssss!) wearing her moonstone and badger claw pendant.

Below is my friend Rosie and her wild cat with the owl talon earrings. Rosie and I went to ECU together and she works with animals at home and work. She is such a badass.

My friend Katie is Medusa and how absolutely appropriate is it that she’s wearing several Medea pieces? Katie is a badass as well, she has gone thru the fire and back and I’m so lucky to call her a friend.

How fabulous is this lady and her red nails with the rose gold plated Hunted owl talon arch ring? It looks so good on her! I met this lady and the silver fox below in Norfolk at the New Moon Market last weekend. I always have such a good time when I do shows in Norfolk.

I truly LOVE photos of YOU in your jewels. You are a badass and you should show it off!

thank you as always for reading and popping on by!

Holidayzzzzzzz Events and dates to remember

It never fails that I am attacked by how quickly the holidays arrive, and they are here in FULL FORCE!

My dears please keep these dates in mind as you shop with me and your expectations of gift orders. Your orders are a priority for me, and I want to ensure you get them in time.

And if you want to shop with me in person, safely, come visit me at any of the in person shows below (there are virtual ones too so add those to your calendar as well).

Get Your Holiday Orders In Now

Goodness, every year this happens, the end of summer is one day and the next it’s November!?!

I guess I should let ya’ll know some dates for when you can order your gifts in time for Christmas. I do my best to ensure timely delivery, these dates are somewhat flexible depending on where you live. So if there is any hesitation, shoot me an email (info@eilisainjewelry.com) or DM on social media and I’ll respond as quickly as I can.

And friends, whatever you do this holiday season do your best to shop LOCAL and small. The big box stores will survive but your neighbors and family that are small business owners are doing their best to make ends meet, when you shop local & small you are literally putting money in your neighbors pockets.

Thank you and love you all!

Custom Made For You

We all love having something, or wearing something that no one else has. For example, I have this really cool Thai shirt my mom had custom made when we lived in Japan, and it’s the COOLEST shirt I own. It never fails to receive compliments when I’m out and about. My mother had a women sew three beautiful Thai scarves together and it’s simply stunning.

Case in point the eye patch I created for my customer Ana. Ana has worked with me several times and this time did not disappoint. She is a light healer and she works with various animals to bring about change and transformation. When she requested an eye patch, I honestly didn’t think she meant a literal eye patch but she did! And I can’t even begin to describe how fascinating this was to me. Ana wanted to use the eye patch for meditative and journey work. Ana said she wanted a black stone to ward away evil and to utilize some sort of snakeskin (not real though). So I drafted some designs and we settled on the above product. I purchased an eye patch and sewed on faux snakeskin and did the metal work separately.

What do you think? I mean no one will have a custom designed jewel eye patch like this except Ana! Now here is a more tame yet still beautiful collaboration with my friend Heather. We discussed several different types of jewelry but she decided a very powerful strong cuff would suit her best.

I mean, look at how happy Heather is! It just melts my damn heart and fills me with so much joy to work one on one with you.

“ I’ve been working throughout the years on custom jewelry pieces and it’s such an intimate beautiful experience. Especially because more often than not you come up with some pretty beautiful ideas. Ideas I never thought of, so it’s a co-creative experience. ”

— Lisette Fee, owner and designer of Eilisain Jewelry

This pink dragon vein agate really catches the light beautifully!

When you work with me on a custom design here is what you get:

• one on one design consultation

• stone selection, size and style of jewelry

• payment plans are available

I have a form you can fill out right here on my website so we can get this process started. When you are out and about wearing your custom design I GUARANTEE you will have someone comment and compliment you on your jewelry. And look, bottom line, it makes you feel good to wear a piece of your very own custom jewelry, one that you can pass on to future generations.

Juggling Being a Mom and a Boss Babe

For some reason it's really hit me over the past several weeks how overwhelming it's become to be a stay at home mom/working mom/part time worker.  Maybe it's because Tallulah is now 5 months old and we're reaching the age where she's really becoming a person, aka laughing, smiling, babbling and almost eating real food.  I lay in bed at night mulling over my business, how to be creative and make it all work.  I know, it is a bit unrealistic to 'make it all work' because really it won't ever be perfect.  And I can't have one part of my life be fantastic without one chunk of it taking a hit.

Tallulah and I on a mommy and me lunch date.  She was about three months old.

And I want to share this with you because I want to be transparent and also provide some background as to why it's taking me SO long to get new designs and pieces on the website. 

I also know that as a consumer myself, I like seeing new and fresh ideas come from the makers and people I support as well.  I'm slowly learning how to schedule my free time, with sketching, creating, organizing my studio and workspace along with finishing custom orders, regular orders AND the upcoming holiday show schedule.

“...a giant swell of emotion came over me - I am doing what I love, what I envisioned close to twenty years ago when I was only dreaming of becoming a creative person. ”

I volley between feeling completely overwhelmed and lost to determination and resolve to prioritize my time.  What usually ends up throwing my confidence is when I do the comparison game, and knowing that there is SO much that I want to improve with my business.  Then my mind spirals into an abyss of all the tasks I want to accomplish. 

So here it is folks - it's going to take me time and understanding to get to a place that flows.  In the end I have to say that I'm incredibly blessed with a supportive family and worklife that allows me to spend time with my daughter as well as run a business that I love.  Last week, as I sat at my desk journaling these exact same feelings a giant swell of emotion came over me - I am doing what I love, what I envisioned close to twenty years ago when I was only dreaming of becoming a creative person.  And I knew in that instant that I am willing to fight and work incredibly hard to keep my dream alive. It may sounds cheesy but in this current world where many individuals feel helpless or unworthy, one can not take for granted the opportunity to do what you love. 

I hope that this post gives you encouragement to follow your own dreams, because it is worth it.  Allow yourself to dream to incredible heights with limitless possibilities.  It is what gives the rest of us hope and light.

thank you for dreaming and allowing me to dream!

Why You Should Sign Up For My Newsletter

I'm sure you get inundated, like myself with lots of emails.  And half the time you may not even open them.

However I will tell you that there are probably a handful of newsletters that I truly enjoy getting and that I KNOW I'll learn something new.  And that is what you get when you sign up for Eilisain Jewelry Newsletter.

Taking the time to smell the flowers....that's what my newsletter is about!

Here are some very good reasons as to why you should sign up for my E-LIST.

• I'll tell you how to take care of your Eilisain Jewelry, as well as all of your jewelry. Such as, how to remove tarnish on silver or repair it yourself.

• You'll understand how to wear your jewelry - new and fun ways to be creative with adornment

• You get special invitations to shows and events across the country
  

• Learn about tarot, herbs, essential oils and more from other artists and people in the local NC community.

• Find out more about our future collections and what we're doing in the studio

• YOU get FIRST dibs on new collections and SALES
  Whoops, last and BEST reason why? You get 15% off your first order when you sign up!

I provide to my subscribers the first chance on sales and first pick to new pieces.  And also I won't spam you, yes I email about once a week which pales in comparison to the deluge of emails you will probably get from other sources.  

So I hope these reasons will only further encourage you to sign up. 
As always - stay golden!
xoxo
Lisette

5 Ways You Can Celebrate Earth Day Everyday

As ya'll know I'm a big environmentalist and lover of animals and protecting their habitat so it's no surprise that I'd give you a blog post on Earth Day.

I don't think there's ever been a more urgent time or call to action to do more to protect Mother Earth - the current administration is removing protections to sacred lands and animals everyday.  So with that said, I wanted to share some super easy ways you can help reduce waste, recycle and reuse everyday!

1.  Use your own shopping bags - This one is a no brainer and super easy to do.  Keep several large shopping bags in your car and take them with you when you shop.  I probably have 5-6 in my truck, from small to large.

2.  Refuse a straw - Okay, this one has been a bit hard for me to do but I find I'm resisting straws more often now.  You'd be amazed how this small item has directly impacted animals in the ocean to land fills.  Granted I understand it'd be harder to do this when ordering from drive thru but every little bit helps.

3.  Purchase products with less packaging - This is one that I've become more aware of.  Think about it, why is there a need for tons of wrappers and plastic? For example, panty liners (lol I know a bit personal) but why do they need to be individually wrapped, or tampons too. 

4.  RECYCLE and REUSE - another no brainer, set aside a special recycle bin in your household.  And if your neighborhood doesn't collect recycling find your own center to recycle.
And reusing take out containers, bags and more helps save you money and time.  We love using old chinese take out containers for left overs.

5.  Buy less - So this is a win-win situation, buy less 'fast fashion', make up products etc.  And repair old items, buy items that are long lasting and well made.  Think of them as investment pieces.  You'll save money and cherish your items more. 

Photo by Katerina Plotnikova. 

So if anything, try as much as you can to be conscious of your shopping and lifestyle habits that impact the earth.  For as much as our planet gives us, we can give back.

Thanks for reading!

The Nesting Period Is Over

I'd be remiss if I didn't elaborate more on my pregnancy; despite being my own boss I still answer to someone and that's you!  With that said, I'm due any moment now and I'm quite thrilled, nervous, scared and ready.   And I wanted to share with you some of my thoughts and plans on this new phase in my life. 

Tallulah's room.  I had such a fun time decorating it.

As an artist and jeweler I create for a living but now I'm creating something that will be my most precious treasure and it will change everything.  The most beneficial part of being my own boss is that I work from home (most of the time) and I'm so incredibly blessed and thankful for that, I'll be able care for Tallulah and have the flexibility to work in my home studio.  Yet it'll be a balance of juggling home life and work life all in the same space. 

What changes can you expect with your Eilisain Jewelry orders?
I'm taking three weeks of 'maternity leave' - it won't be official as business never really stops but I will be more removed from social media posts and marketing.
With that said, it will take me a bit longer to respond to inquiries and direct messages, perhaps 2-3 days.
I will of course continue to take your orders, as I've already prepared stock inventory and new one of a kind pieces ready to ship.  It may take a bit longer though for select pieces of jewelry.  And as you know I'll communicate with you the timeline of your order.

Leading up to the pregnancy it's definitely been a bit of struggle using my hands, which I didn't think would be an issue.  No one really talks about the bloated and swelling feeling you can get in the latter stages of pregnancy.  As well as being constantly tired.  It's been frustrating as I'm used to being able to run around and get things done.  

I think I was about 30 weeks pregnant in this photo. 

It's a strange feeling carrying another life in your body and feeling the movements.  It'll be strange when she's actually born to meet someone that has been in the womb for nine months.  I've been reading as many books as I can get my hands on, reread them and imagined what it'll be like holding her and as you'd imagine, it probably won't compare to the real thing.  I've compared it to taking a test or preparing for a marathon, you can train and study all you want but you won't know the experience until you actually have it.

Anywho, I wanted to share with you a little bit of what I've been going through personally.  And those of you that do know, thank you so much for your constant support and generosity - it has meant SO much!

As always thank you for reading. 

Repurposing Your Old Jewelry

Back when I worked at the Jewelry Doctor, the jewelry repair shop in Greenville NC, I learned SO many tricks and ways to repair and assist people with the smallest of jewelry woes. 

You wouldn't believe how many times people would bring in costume and mall jewelry that was honestly so cherished they couldn't stand to see it'd broken and not wear it.  We also received beautiful antique gold, silver and plated jewelry that needed extreme sensitivity. 

Ellis Cutrell, the Jewelry Doctor and my mentor.

So with this post I want to give you some insider secrets on how to make your jewelry last and turn it into new and beloved pieces of jewelry. 

1.  Buy yourself flat nosed pliers and epoxy -  These are the two main tools that you'll need for very simple repairs.  Whether it be from connecting a jump ring or gluing back rhinestones or faux gemstones.  Often times customers would need just a simple connection of parts that had come undone. 

And epoxy is fantastic for all sorts of things, especially gluing back rhinestones or costume jewelry.  But one word caution DO NOT USE IT ON REAL GEMSTONES.  Leave that to the experts. 

Simple silver jump rings can save your jewelry!

2.  The MISSING earring - It happens to all of us, you've got those awesome cocktail earrings or chandelier earrings as we say and the other falls off or simply gets lost.  It's the worst because you really love them.  The SOLUTION? Turn that single pair of earring into a pendant! Yes, it'll be a perfect centerpiece on your neck AND eye catching.  You may need to buy a small box of steel wire jump rings (essentially small round rings to connect pieces) and these can easily be purchased at your local Michaels or AC Moore. 

3.  The missing stone - I think this is the worst loss for any piece of jewelry, and sometimes it can be irreplaceable.  Here are several solutions to this conundrum:
SOLUTIONS:
-If it's semiprecious or gold/silver jewelry, take it to your local jewelry repair shop and ask if they can locate a matching stone. 
-Redesign the piece using the old gold/silver with your local jewelry pair expert.  They can again, turn it into a pendant or a new ring.  The cost is not as much since you'll be reusing the same gold and silver with the time of your expert. 
-Mail in the gold/silver and leftover stones to a metal supply company such as Hoover & Strong.  They will either give you credit or send you a check!
These are honestly your best options when it comes to a missing stone.

4.  Your silver jewelry is tarnished and black -  It's a fact of life, oxygen begins to slowly blacken and tarnish your silver, especially the silver you want shiny! Thus there are several at home remedies that can work wonders to fix this problem.
-Keep a spare piece of chalk with your silver to ward off tarnish.  This handles the issue from the beginning.
At home silver tarnish removal:
Line the bottom of a glass baking dish with aluminum foil
Fill the dish with steaming hot water
Add salt (sodium chloride) and baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) to the water. Some recipes call for 2 tsp baking soda and 1 tsp salt, whereas others call for 2 tablespoons each of baking soda and salt. Personally, I wouldn't measure the amounts... just add a bit of each substance.
Drop the silver items into the container so that they are touching each other and resting on the foil. You will be able to watch the tarnish disappear.
Leave heavily tarnished items in the solution for as long as 5 minutes. Otherwise, remove the silver when it appears clean.
Rinse the silver with water and gently buff it dry with a soft towel.

5.  And lastly, if all else fails.  Take your cherished pieces to an expert.  It goes without saying that repairs are best done by those that know what they're doing.  And if you're completely clueless, that's okay! Invest the money and you will be glad you did!

I hope that my advice and tricks help you maintain and repair your own jewelry.  It'll make you feel empowered and satisfied!

Traveling with Your Jewelry this Holiday Season

We've all been there, you're getting ready to go on holiday and you've got to put your jewelry selection in a safe and secure place when you hit the road, but where do you put it?

Growing up my Mom collected jewelry and she always had the cutest little bags and pouches to hold her most sacred pieces.  And I reveled in going through them! So I had good practice in protecting all my favorite jewels.

Thus enters the jewelry pouch; a soft cloth bag that can hold rings, earrings and necklaces.  I have one that looks exactly like the DIY pouch below.  It's awesome because you can carry all your favorite pieces together and it barely costs any money! You can also purchase one like this at your favorite outlet shops or here on Amazon.

I hope this post and video tutorial help you this season to care for your most cherished pieces of jewelry. 

As always thanks for reading and stay lovely!

How a Custom Order Works at Eilisain

Custom orders are one of my favorite processes/parts of being a jeweler.  It's intimate and refreshing.  I get challenged and I get to make very special people happy with their very own custom designed piece of jewelry.

So how does the process go? Well, the first stage is really up to you, the client.  What do you envision? The color and type of stone, if you want a stone at all. And what metal?

Once I receive an email with the inquiry/request, I begin the process of asking these questions, along with providing a timeline.  Then when we set parameters, I provide a sketch or we’ll meet and discuss various versions of the final piece if the client is local. 

Many times I have clients come to me with a stone that they've had in their possession or inherited from a family member.  To me, this creates a sacred part of the jewelry.  To work around their special object is an honor for me. 

Throughout the entire process of working on their custom jewelry, I provide in progress photos and ask for their input.  I want to ensure that, when finished, they are completely satisfied with their custom jewelry order.

And if at any point throughout the design process my client isn't pleased OR I feel that our aesthetics don’t align, I am always happy to refer them to one of my many fellow friends/jewelers that can better assist their needs. 

I hope this post provides you with further insight into the custom jewelry design process as well as how I work with clients.  Perhaps in the future, you may want a piece designed.  Just shoot me an email, or call me!

Stay lovely dear friends!
Lisette