Custom Bracelet Done

Hello again! I went to the studio this afternoon to re-do a custom order I had a loooong time ago. It is a bracelet for my friend's daughter's baptism/confirmation present (a person gets baptized at 8 yrs old in the LDS church). I made custom charms and put the bracelet together but it wasn't quite right...actually, it was all wrong! My friend gave it back to me to re-do and I'm glad she did because it is a 1000% better now. In fact, I might just have to make some different versions of this little beauty!

Here are the charms in detail. The dove (representing peace, baptism, purity, etc) has her baptism date on the back. The center has her name and tiny little CZ. And the crown (representing 'remember who you are'... a child of God/King) has her birthdate on the back. The jade beads are from a trip to China (just for show... gorgeous aren't they!?) and the pearls represent purity, virtue, being cleansed from sin, etc.

Here is a very crappy image of my Summer 2009 (part one?) line for the galleries. I have apparently been inspired by one of my new favorite artists from etsy, Carrie. As I look at this image I feel it reflects some of her classic style. It's funny how what you look at influences your work without you realizing it. I have always done some kind of hoop/loop layering. Circles seem to always work there way into my jewelry! I just got the beaded wire a couple of months ago and I am loving the effect! It really adds to the rustic-feminine look I am so attracted to.

I thought I'd just throw this one in here. This is a recent inventory picture from one of the galleries I'm in. They've really sold a lot in the past month or so! My space looks rather empty (they have my summer stuff now, that should beef it up a little) Sometimes I feel like I can't keep up... I suppose that's a good thing :) One thing I cannot keep up with in this gallery is the demand for my rustic pearl studs. I had just brought them several pairs and now they are down to one! The funny thing is that the other gallery gets absolutely no interest in them. I don't even bother making them for them any more. However, they go through my silver moon series and my simple hoops like water. To each his own, right? That's the gallery I just got an email from asking if I can keep a 4' case stocked with all of my own work. What a great (and a little bit intimidating) opportunity! I told them I'd give it my best shot. I am really looking forward to losing myself in the studio to get ready for that. Well, It's almost time for dinner. Being at home is really going to be nice, my mom is a fabulous cook! Have a great night!

A Little Out of Touch

Hi All! I apologize for not posting very often lately. Honestly, nothing much has been going on besides packing, cleaning, and sorting. We have been getting ready to move and my life has been consumed by the endless errand running and all of the other stuff I just listed. I haven't been in the studio lately. I can't focus while I'm there because of everything else I have going on. I think I'm going to go pack it up tomorrow. We'll see. Take care and I'll be in touch more when we're moved and settled.

Aveda & Herbal Tea

My new tea! I made the tea pot and mug (set of 4) in college. There is a tray to match as well.

It's been a while! I don't have any exciting business news (other than the fact that it's going really well lately). Nor do I have any fascinating projects that I'm working on (other than my Summer 2009 line). However it was an exciting day for me as a self proclaimed Aveda Lover! As you may know I am moving so I need to find a salon closer to home. Over the past several years I have fallen in love with Aveda: salons, service, and products. Today a co-worker told me about an Aveda salon she goes to in the town we work. I checked it out and made an appointment today with her stylist. My appointment isn't until the end of June, but I am looking forward to it already. My favorite part of the Aveda experience (besides the awesome head massage) is the Aveda brand herbal tea. The salon I used to go to offered tea, water, wine, etc while you waited for your appointment. I always had the herbal tea...it's amazing! They sell it in the salons and I have often thought about buying a jar of my own. The problem is it costs an arm and a leg (or $22 for those of you who don't have a spare arm and a leg to sell)!!! And you only get about 2 or 3 ounces. I'd drink that up in no time, and then want more. I can't afford that addiction so I've never allowed myself to buy it. Well, it just so happens that there is a cute little 'earthy-granola' gift shop right next to my new salon that sells a huge variety of loose teas. I found one EXACTLY like the Aveda tea I love so much!!!!! Plus it's only $2.25/oz!!!!! Score! It gets even better, the company that makes the tea has a website and you can buy any of their blends directly from their site (even in bulk)! The 'Aveda' blend is called Vita Blend. It is $4.95 for a 3 oz. bag. Here's a link to the site Mountain Rose Herbs. Check it out! So, I've spent the last hour or so sipping tea, burning my new Fiesta Lime insence and doing my virtual rounds. Now it's time to crank up the ipod and start going through my closet. Life doesn't get much better!

New Ring!

I was able to spend the entire day in the studio! I love Saturdays like that. I made my first wrap ring and am really pleased with it! The pictures don't do the stones justice. I just took them on my kitchen table and not in my photo studio so the lighting is awful. But you get the point, right? I used two of the four moldovite stones I got at the gem show last month. The green is amazing! I had an unexpected guest spend the entire afternoon with me while working. Thanks for coming over Debbie! I enjoyed your company so much. Thank you for your incredible support and business; and interest in the process.



The color is a little more true to real life in this shot. It isn't very clear, but you can kind of see the detail in the stones. They are really indescribable. You can see a better shot of them in a posting from last month. Check it out! Have a great, relaxing Sunday!

For Amanda and Carrie

Amanda - Here is a picture of your prom jewelry. Is this what you were looking for? If you see any issues with it please let me know and I can fix it. Otherwise I can bring it to you tomorrow night. The shortest strand is 17" to 18" and the longest is 20" to 21" long. There is a 2-1/2" extender so you can adjust it to fit your dress neckline. I thought the earrings turned out cute. The hoops sway independent from one another so there is lots of flash. I hope you like it! (but don't hesitate to let me know if you don't). It's $20 for the set, I'll let your mom know.

Carrie - here are pictures are some metal clay pieces I've made for myself. I think if you click on the picture you can see more detail. Let me know what you think!

Fine silver pendant with hand building. If you look close there is a tiny cubic zirconia nestled into the flower. The stones are faceted tanzanite.

I cast leaves and twigs with the clay. I cast these two sweeties to remember a camping trip with my entire family last summer. I wrote the date of our trip on the back of the leaves.

This is my version of an identity bracelet. The organic circles/ovals have my name, my favorite scripture, and other favorite things that describe me.

I learned how to make hollow form beads out of the clay as well. They're a pain to make but worth it. These beads are strung onto sterling box chain for to make a sturdy bracelet. I wear this one and my 'id' bracelet all the time.

These earrings were part of a series I did on a poem by Walt Whitman "Give Me the Silent Splendid Sun". I did parts of the poem on various pendants. These never sold...hmmm?

A Wonderful Day!

It has been absolutely beautiful out the past couple of days...highs in the 80's! Of course that is way above normal for this time of year; but it has been nice to be outside in short sleeves and feel the warm breeze on my skin. It is supposed to be a rainy/stormy weekend, but I love a few days of that every now-and-then. Plus we need the rain.

My sterling order finally arrived today!!!!! It was supposed to be here Wednesday so you can imagine my anticipation the past couple of days. I ordered some different types of bezel wire, regular round wire, and some fun textured wire. Plus 10 4mm turquoise cabochons. I just love to look at all of the perfectly wrapped coils of brand new wire! I know - I'm a dork! But I would bet that almost every metal jewelry artists can relate! For all of you non-metal-jewelry artists, here's a couple pics so you can see what I'm talking about:

Here it is in all of it's glory! I know it doesn't look like much right now, but just give me a few weeks. When I look at this pile of supplies I see rings, herring bone wrapped pearls, rustic bezels and all sorts of other stuff!

I laughed when I took this spool of 26 gauge wire out of the box; the spool they wound it on is GINORMOUS! I'm used to Rio's conveniently sized black spools (once again, metals artists will know what I'm talkin' about). I'm thinking this will have to be re-spooled onto one that will fit inside of my wire drawer...that can be a very scary task to undertake. Imagine 140 feet of fine sterling wire set loose all over the studio...it's a tangled and kinked up mess, but worth it in the end!

Well, I'm off to the studio soon. I might have some pictures of new work to post later today or tomorrow. Bye!

A Good Day!

I've been having a wonderful day! I got to play around in the studio this morning, meet my husband for lunch, and I listed some new stuff in my Etsy shop. While working in the studio a couple of really nice ladies stopped in on their lunch break. It's always fun to show people around the studio a little bit. One of them found a couple of pairs of earrings to go home with! Here are a couple of projects I finished up in the past couple of days. Enjoy!

I put a spin on one of my classic designs. I have sold countless pairs of coin pearl drops at one of the galleries I am in. I put a spin on the design with a scalloped bezel, a large loop to dangle them from, and a handmade forged earwire. I LOVE them! I can't seem to take them out of my ears!

This is the first in a new collection called "Nature's Harvest". Everything in this collection will feature a beautiful gemstone cabochon in a unique rustic-feminine setting. This one was so fun to make. I'm trying not to get attached to it!

I had a 1-1/4" plain cuff bracelet that I never wore so I thought I'd do something with it. I sawed in into three pieces and this is what I did with the middle piece. I soldered two strips of fancy bezel wire together and then soldered them to the cuff. It sounds simple enough but I really challenged my soldering abilities making this bracelet. I learned so much and am in love with the result. For now I plan to keep it for myself. But I tend to get tired of things easily, so maybe it will end up on etsy for sale. I'm not sure if it's done yet. I like it the way it is because it will go with everything. But I'm thinking of ways I might further embelish it. We'll see!

Here's a detail of the wire.

This is what is left of my large cuff. I'm not sure yet what I'll do with these pieces. I'm thinking I'll do some kind of set with them.

This is what the wire looks like. Like I mentioned above, I soldered two strips together. It's fun to find new ways to use bezel wire.