Handmade Fused Glass Tea Light Holder Featuring an Autumnal Birch Forest Design: Cozy Art for Fall Décor

There’s something magical about the way autumn light filters through birch trees, and that quiet beauty inspired this handmade fused glass tea light holder. Each piece is crafted by hand, layering warm amber tones with delicate white birch trunks to create a glowing miniature forest scene 💕

When a candle is lit behind the glass, the design comes alive, the soft flicker mimics sunlight passing through autumn leaves, filling any room with a cozy, calming atmosphere. This tea light holder is perfect for fall décor, but its warm glow makes it a beautiful accent all year round.

Made with care and attention to detail, every holder is unique, making it a thoughtful gift for anyone who loves nature, handcrafted art, or the gentle ambiance of candlelight.

  

  

To see more of my fused glass creation click here

 

Handmade soap dish Fused glass art home decor

One of my newest fused glass creations - a soap dish in earthy autumnal color palette that complements my bathroom perfectly! 😊

 

   To see more of my fused glass creation click here

 

Fused glass handmade Autumn Birch forest tea light holder

My latest Autumnal Birch forest tea light holder made of fused glass. 

 

 

 

  To see more of my fused glass creation click here

 

Fused glass handmade Halloween Haunted house tea light holder

Boo!👻 Have a spook-tacular and fang-tastic Halloween everyone 🎃 

  Here is my version of Haunted house made of fused glass 😊

Fused glass cabochon and Argentium sterling silver pendant necklace. Colorful handmade jewelry by Arctida.

Here is a new addition to my fused glass jewelry collection. Fused glass cabochon and Argentium sterling silver setting. Inspired by Autumn 🧡

Fused glass handmade Autumn Birch forest tea light holder

Autumn is here so it is time to get inspired by all those gorgeous golden yellows and earthy orange colors. Introducing one of my latest fused glass creations 😍 - a tea light holder inspired by Autumnal Birch forest. 

Melite - Bridal earrings Golden Rutilated Quartz Pearls earrings in sterling silver. Handmade wedding jewelry by Arctida

Another pair of custom bridal earrings. This time the bride-to-be wanted a variation of my *Melite* earrings but with Golden Rutilated Quartz instead of blue gemstones. So here are the pretties that she'll be wearings on her wedding day - Golden Rutilated Quartz and white pearls in Argentium sterling silver (High tarnish resistance). If you want to order a pair of similar earrings (the Rutile Quartz gems will be different) just click on the picture.

For more of my bridal jewelry click here

Gemstone hoops Carnelian Citrine Garnet Peridot hoop earrings in 14K gold filled. Handmade gemstone jewelry by Arctida.

I love making custom orders. It is so much fun when people ask me to create things I otherwise wouldn't think to make, or things that I've been planning but just haven't gotten around to yet. Like this order for example. One of my customers fell in love with my gemstone hoops but she wanted them in Autumnal color palette instead. I've been wanted to make more gemstone hoops in different color combination for ages now so this time it was a perfect opportunity to do just that :)

So here are the latest ones with Carnelians, Citrines, Garnets and Peridots in 14 gold filled.

Bianca - Bridal earrings, white Keshi pearls Rock Crystal Clear Quartz in sterling silver. Handmade wedding jewelry by Arctida

So the final month of the winter is here. It is cold, snowy and icy outside and as I probably mentioned before I do tend to get my inspiration by present season, like most other artist I guess :) So what can all that shimmering snow and sparkly ice inspire you say, well bridal jewelry off course! :)

So here are my latest bridal earrings featuring Rock Crystal Clear Quartz and white Keshi pearls in sterling silver. The tiny shiny balls inside the Keishi pearls are handmade by me of Argentium sterling silver.

Oh and another thing, I have finally gathered some courage and modeled my own jewelry for the first time :) The model on the last picture here is me! What do you think?

For more of my bridal jewelry click here

DIY autumn home decor Falling Leaves tutorial - how to make a fall hanging

The fall has left us already and winter has not taken a real grip on south Sweden just yet. All leaves are gone and it is wet and cold outside. I miss fall colors, so me and my daughter decided to preserve some of the autumn leaves that we collected and make a pretty window hanging with them. We used maple leaves because they come in the whole range of autumnal colors, from golden yellow to burgundy red and me and my little princess really love the shape of these pretty leaves :)

So here is a fun DIY project with fall leaves to remember the Autumn.

Supplies: colorful leaves, candle wax or beeswax, double boiler, monofilament, clothespins

1. Slowly melt candle wax or beeswax over a double boiler; never allow wax to boil. Dip leaves in wax one at a time, holding by stem. Gently shake off excess wax. I used candle wax in this project.

2. Hang leaves on clothespins to dry. Some may be dipped again, depending on desired look; let dry between coatings. I used an old newspaper underneath the leaves to avoid wax stains on the floor.  

3. Hang finished leaves from lengths of monofilament.

I love how this project turned out. The leaves look like they've been frozen in time while falling down from the tree. And it gives us a chance to enjoy fall just a little bit longer! Next weekend it is time to start decorating before Christmas here in Sweden. I'm thinking of maybe making a Christmas decoration out of these leaves so stay tuned :)

More of my DIY projects

Citrine - November Birthstone

Do you have a birthday in November? Happy Birthday! One of this month’s birthstone, is a lovely Citrine.

The name Citrine comes from an old French world, “Citron”, meaning lemon. One of the more rare forms of quartz, this gemstone ranges in color from the pastel yellow to dark brownish orange named Madeira because of its resemblance to the red wine. The citrine quartz was actually once considered part of the topaz family and can be seen being referred to as the gold topaz, Madeira or Spanish topaz. 

This golden gemstone is extremely popular, very collectible and affordable. Citrine is one of only two gems on the entire planet that do not hold any negative energy. As a result, it is said to support vitality and health while encouraging and guiding hope, energy and warmth within the wearer.

Citrine is very much in vogue and is the latest trend hitting the red carpet. (In fact, according to the recently released pantone report, yellow is considered to be one of the hottest colors in spring 2013. Besides, Citrine complements a fall and winter wardrobe and adds a pop of color to your wardrobe.

So here are a couple of my new minimalistic designs with Citrine: golden Citrine necklace and pale pastel yellow Citrine earrings.

  
and here is a little selection of my previsions designs with Citrine...

PMC Oak leaf, Amber, Carnelian, Citrine, Garnet, and Pyrite mixed media gemstone necklace. Handmade jewelry by Arctida

I've been learning to work with the coolest new media in jewelry making -  PMC (Precious Metal Clay) since last spring and I'm finally starting to list pieces of jewelry that are made of it.

What is PMC? A unique form of pure silver (mainly composed of recycled silver particles) suspended in an organic binder. In this clay-like state it allows PMC artists to form and sculpt metal clay by hand. When fired at high temperatures by torch or in a jeweler's kiln, the binder burns off and the silver particles are fused together. The result is a one-of-a-kind pure silver piece (.999) purer than Sterling silver (.925).

So here is the first piece of many :) The focal pendant was made PMC using real Oak leaf from my garden as a template. The leaf has gone through a lengthy layering, drying and firing process that allows its physical properties to transfer to the silver replication. After firing, I hand polished the silver leaf pendant and applied multicolored iridescent patina, to make it look like a real fall leaf. So of course the necklace had to be made in autumnal colors as well. I chose different sizes of Amber, Carnelian, Citrine, Garnet and Pyrite rondelles and wire wrapped them into a handmade chain.

I love the versatility that PMC offers to the artists and all those endless possibilities to incorporate colored gemstones, the reason why I've entered the world of jewelry making in the first place. So stay tuned as more jewelry pieces are on the way :)

For more of my pmc fine silver jewelry click here

Fall themed northern Nature close up macro Photography - Lichens, Mushrooms and Moss

The snow is starting to fall all over Sweden so I guess the winter is almost here and I should enjoy the last days of Fall and all the things that comes with it. One of my most favorite things about any season is different opportunities in nature for macro photography. So here is a selection of shots that I took last fall in Northern woods of Sweden. I just love the way Mushrooms, Lichens, Moss and pine needles look together, like tiny little Fairy gardens :)

and don't they look pretty together on a wall? :)

The scientific names of some of the species you can see on the pictures are: Cladonia cristatella (British Soldier Lichens), Cladonia fimbriata (Pixie cup Lichens), Cladonia rangiferina (Reindeer Lichen), Hebeloma mesophaeum, etc...

Aurora - Gemstone necklace with Citrine, Cognac Quartz, Garnet, golden Rutilated Quartz and Mystic Rose Quartz. Handmade jewelry by Arctida

I love all seasons of the year. I usually try to ignore the bad parts and concentrate on the positive sides because each of them has its own charm. For instance even thought its getting really cold and wet outside, the colors of Autumn continue to amaze and inspire me. So here is yet another gemstone necklace inspired by autumnal color palette. Only best, premium grade and hard to find gemstones were used in creating this decadent statement necklace. Rich shades of berry red, cognac, yellow and dusky pink mix exquisitely with the gold of the wirework and will make any girl feel like a real live Goddess every time she wears it :)

Aurora - Statement necklace wire wrapped 14K Gold filled pendant with gemstones - Citrine, Cognac Quartz, Garnet, golden Rutilated Quartz and Mystic Rose Quartz.

 

 

Alanna - Emerald jewelry. Emerald and Golden Rutilated Quartz earrings wire wrapped in 14K gold filled. Handmade jewelry by Arctida

As I mentioned in one of my latest post, the cold and Autumnal colors are dominating now outside, after all I do live in Northern Europe :) So in order to remember the warmth of the summer and the pretty greens, here is another pair of pretty jewelry in bright emerald green and golden yellows. And this time I used genuine Emerald rondelles and sparkling Golden Rutilated Quartz briolettes. I love how tiny needles of gold inside of the Quartz glitters when hit by light, it surely reminds me of sun, heat and summer :)

Oh! and apparently this is my 100th post on this blog. I guess I should celebrate or something... :)

Esmeralda - Emerald green Agate necklace wire wrapped in 14K gold filled. Handmade jewelry by Arctida

The Autumn is already here and gorgeous fall colors are starting to erase the greens. So I decided to make a simple necklace in bright green color to keep a piece of summer to remember :) So here is my Esmeralda - Emerald green Agate necklace wire wrapped in 14K gold filled.

Lanlea - Gemstone earrings. Citrine, Garnets, Keshi pearls, Pyrites and Smoky Quartz earrings wire wraped in 14K gold filled. Handmade gemstone jewellery by Arctida

A couple of years ago I've got an old pair of earrings from my grandmother with gorgeous faceted Smoky Quartz briolettes (aka Smokey Topaz). The earrings were made of dark pewter (sorry no picture it was a couple of years ago) and did not make any justice to the truly stunning gems they had *hidden* :) I decided to upcycle the gems by making cluster earrings with more golden yellow and burgundy red gemstones and Keishi pearls for extra sparkle and make the setting in gold. So here is the final result!

~Lanlea~ Gemstone earrings. Smoky Quartz, Garnet, Citrine, Pyrite and Keshi pearls earrings wire wrapped in 14k gold filled and 18K Vermeil ballpins.

Mint necklace, Chalcedony in sterling silver. Handmade mint jewelry by Arctida

This spring, the mint color burst into the world of fashion and immediately took the lead. It is hard to ignore the minty madness when the shops, streets and magazines are invaded by this fresh and airy color. So I couldn’t let this latest trend just slide by since I looove all kind of mint shades :) So here are the first simple necklaces in aqua blue mint and sea foam mint green.

I'm planning to make more luxurious gemstone jewelry in mint shades later during this autumn. So stay tuned :)