Reticulated Bracelets Continue

I've been busy working away in the studio and have been focusing on some new reticulated bracelets.  After finishing up the commission cuff, I thought I'd keep going and continue with some new ideas.  I'm happy to continue working in this series, as every piece is different and stiking on its own.  So, these are what I've finished:

I've overlapped two pieces of reticulated silver and added varying sizes of silver balls along the seam.  It's simple and striking.

Here are the two side views.  I really like how the edges curl and soften the profile and also the piece is a little more simple than others.

 



Next up is a full reticulated bangle.  I love the way the appliqued swirl continues around the entire piece.  Check it out from all sides.

There's no top or bottom--you can wear it either way--and the beauty of the embellishments in the round allows for interest while it rolls around your wrist. 

This is the last cuff I finished this week and it may be my favorite:

It's 20g reticulated silver with balls and wires soldered on.  In its earlier state, I was only going to have one 5mm cabochon on it.  But as I was finishing the piece, it seemed to need a little more.  So I added two additional bezel cups--one 3mm and one 4mm.  I set a green tourmaline in both the 3mm and 5mm bezels and a peridot in the 4mm bezel. 

I'm really pleased with the assymetrical quality of the design and feel I made the right choice by adding the additional stones.  What do you think?

Moments

Back in the fall while delivering some new jewelry to CRAFT, I had the opportunity to talk to a woman who was admiring my work.  The meeting and conversation was a chance--a moment--and it was really special.  I don't get to have the one-on-one talk about my jewelry very often, but this time was lovely--a young woman visiting Maine for the first time and connecting with its beauty and creativity.  I remember saying "Maine feeds your soul."  How true for me and apparently for her too as I would learn. 

I went about my day and later that week I arrived home to an email from an unknown name.  It was the woman I had spoken with now home from her trip to Maine.  She told me some details about the importance of her trip--for healing and new beginnings--about the unexpected loss of a love and how she wanted to "remember" their life together and how she hoped to fit my jewelry into the picture. 

She asked me if I would create a bracelet similar to the ones she saw and loved, but with a few special details, special for her--the vast universe, a green tourmaline stone (the color of his eyes), and to capture not just a memory but a "moment."  Tall order, but I thought I was up for it. 

Time passed and I found myself struggling to create--I was pressuring myself and stifling my creativity because I wanted the bracelet to be perfect for her.  So around the holidays I finally sketched out the basic design and emailed it along to her.  I expressed why it had taken me so long--my difficulty and struggle because of the meaning I wanted it to have.  Not really a surprise, I was given the OK to just create, as she knew whatever I made would be beautiful. 

And so, I did.

It is finished and is getting shipped this week.  It's a surprise, but I felt I could show it here.  It's a 1 3/4 inch wide reticulated cuff with an overlapping band.  A 5mm green tourmaline cabochon is featured off center amongst the silver baubles, and one lone 18k gold ball stands just aside from the others. 

It was my privilege to create such a meaningful piece of jewelry.  I know I put my positive energy and being into the creating of it, as did the surrounding beauty of Maine.  I also suspect that someone else had his hand (and heart) in it too.  



Back at It 2

Well, I didn't expect it to take me so long to get back in the groove after the holidays, but finally I'm back at creating.  I picked up where I left off with the reticulation series because my mind's eye has been seeing large substantial pieces--pendants, neck cuffs, bracelets, and the like.  Shown here is a new pendant:

It's 3 by 2 inches of reticulated silver with added silver balls and bars.  It hangs from a twisted sterling cable.  I'll have to get another photo to show the scale because it has weight and presence to it that doesn't seem to come through here. 

I also have three reticulated bracelets in the works.  I'm hoping to finish up at least one or two of them tomorrow. 

It feels really great to be on the creative path again!

A New Project

It's a new year and I've got a new, fun and exciting project started.  I had an idea--to document and commemorate one of my most wonderful clients with her style and flair and decided I could create a little book featuring her clothing and the jewelry I've made for her.  It turns out the process of creating this has been even more fun than I imagined--for both of us!  I borrowed a manniqueen from my friends' clothing store and booked 3 days of photography fun.  It was like a life-size Barbie doll to dress.  Here are some of the early results.

 

What style and fashion!  You might even recognize some of these pieces from when I posted about making them.  Keep a lookout, I'll post more information and images as the project progresses.  I can't wait to see how it all turns out!

A New Year

Happy 2011!  It's a completely new year and I'm looking forward to creating all sorts of new things--jewelry, hats, rugs, and more.  BUT, before all those creative juices start flowing, I'm cleaning up the studio.  A new year means cleaning away the dust and dirt and polishing up those well-used hammers and pliers.  I'll be back to jewelry in a couple days, so keep looking to see how it all starts.