Goodbye 2012!

Here we are, the last day of 2012 and I have to say I am happy about it. Not that I'm not thankful because I am so very thankful and grateful for everyone who supported me this year and in years past, but I'm ready for change and to move forward. Now I'm not really a resolution person (at least in January). I always seem to make resolutions in September, but that aside, I'm ready for new things--with my jewelry, with my job, with my life. So, as 2012 comes to an end, I eagerly await 2013 to begin--with new opportunities, new experiences, new ideas. A clean slate! And soon a clean studio! I invite you to watch as I push my designs to new heights--literally and figuratively. And also share my life as I'm living it.  It's going to be a good year!

2013

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!



A New Bracelet Commission

As the end of the year approaches, I've been trying to complete the remaining commissions that are still on my to-do list.  One of those projects is for a friend who's been wanting (and waiting for) a labradorite piece.  So back in the early summer, we came up with a rough bracelet design and picked stones.  I admit the style was different for me, so I knew I'd be working through some technical difficulty and probably the reason I delayed making it. 

So, I started with sketches:

Then I worked up the base of the bracelet in heavy rectangular sterling silver:

I made the fine silver bezels for the labradorite stones:

And then soldered on the 3 bezels, set the stones, and gave the bracelet a nice brushed finish. 

The finished bracelet in 3/4 view to the left:

You can see the simple yet effective hook clasp for easy wear.

3/4 view to the right showing my hallmark on the back band:

  

Back view:

Top view:

And the final shot on my own wrist.  Look at those stones glow!  I think she's going to love it!  (And definitely worth the wait!)

Another Thank You

Sunday was the open studio sale held at my mom's house and what a huge success!  Thank you to everyone who came and thank you to Diana for being a special part of the sale this year! (and for all your help preparing and during.)  This was my last show for 2012 and I'm ready to slow down and catch up and maybe enjoy the season.  Look at who made a surprise visit during the show--

This amazing Barred Owl renews my awe and amazement in Mother Nature and somehow re-fills my soul and makes me want to create again.  Thank you!   

Open Studio Sale!

Please join me, my mom Andrea Peters, and friend Diana Kerr for the 2nd annual open studio sale at Andrea's house in East Boothbay on Sunday, December 2nd, from 11 to 4 pm.  It will be great fun.  Come on by! 

Andrea Peters's oil painting of the blueberry barrens in fall.  36 by 36 inches

A flamingo and feather decoupage plate by Diana Kerr.

Reticulated silver cuff with 22k gold and rose cut emeralds by me.

Being Thankful

It's been a long few weeks, full of shows and traveling away.  Some success and some doubt, but always great people with beautiful wares.  During this season of thanks, I'd like to take a moment and thank you for your continued support and enthusiasm.  It keeps me going and I'm truly honored to share my work and my life with you. 

Thanksgiving is all about good food, no expectations, and napping--spending quality time and chatting.  This year I'm looking forward to a small but intimate celebration at my mom and dad's house--4 people and 2 dogs--perfect after such a hectic month. 

I hope everyone enjoys their day of thanks! 

These are fun little felted acorns that I made to fill a bowl for turkey day--aren't they cute?! 

Thank You OMAA!

I'm back from my weekend arts and crafts show at the Ogunquit Museum of American Art.  It was a well-run show full of wonderful artists in an amazingly beautiful setting.  Thank you to everyone who came out--especially my sister and niece for making the trip up!!!

Here's Olivia and I in my booth.  And yes she is taller than me!

Prolonging the Season

I wonder if I make enough flowers, can I fill the gardens with shiney silver petals and make the season stay?  I love the fall, but I don't especially like what comes after--cold, gray, snow, no light, no work, etc.  I've been of the mind that if I keep making flowers, it will eternally stay lush and alive.  But, I know, the winter is inevitable, but spring will come again.  Until then, I will continue to create happy flower jewelry.

These are 1/2 inch sterling flower studs with slightly curved petals and silver raised centers.

I love these tiny flower dangles.  The flowers are daintier, about 3/8" and feature 3mm faceted yellow sapphires that sparkle like the sun!

Another sterling flower stud, 1/2 inch that are textured and feature 4mm chrysoprase cabochon centers. 

More flowers to come.  Stay sunny!

Lexington Trunk Show

I'm back from a wonderful (yet quick) trip to Massachusetts for a jewelry trunk show and sale.  Hard to believe it had been 3 years since our last party together--where does the time go?!  Thank you to everyone who came and enjoyed the jewelry, the wonderful food created by Trisha Kennealy and the beautiful setting designed by my sister Melissa Stewart, both from the event planning business Artistry Boston.  Now it's time for me to get back in the studio and start creating some wonderful new jewelry for my upcoming shows in November.

Shrinking the List--Commissions Complete

I've had 2 nice and productive days in the studio--ticking to-dos off my list.  I'm happy to have completed a group of commissions for a friend who wanted to use stones from some jewelry she inherited from her mom.  I sketched up some earring designs:

a pendant:

and a ring:

and after a meeting to discuss them, we selected from the options and chose to go with one of each! 

I completed the earrings:

And the pendant:

And the ring:

I'm so happy with how everything came out and so is the client!

Model Shoot

A great opportunity opened up to have my jewelry photographed on a live model.  Robert Diamante, the best jewelry photographer around, and who has taken my publicity shots previously, told me about a live model shoot that he was doing and invited me to participate.  I jumped at the chance and boy am I happy!  The model is lovely and wears the jewelry so well.

Here's my aquamarine slices with reticulated silver necklace.  It sits beautifully around the neck!

Here's the flower neck cuff that I LOVE! with the simple flower stud enhancing the overall look.  See, it's very wearable!

I'm hoping to blow these up and make advertising posters for my show booth.  Thank you Robert for doing a beautiful job!!!

One Down...

I've been busy, busy, but am back in the studio and ticking the to-dos off the list.  First one done is a commission for a reticulated cuff.  She really liked the overall design of this cuff:

But wanted to have different colored stones, no gold accents, and possibly 2 or more stones.  So I sketched a few designs--one with 2 stones and one with 3 stones:

The client liked the 3 stone design, so with a few modifications, I started the bracelet.  Here's the cuff formed with the selected 3 rose cut, rhodolite garnet stones.

And here's the finished cuff:

Compared to the drawing--a pretty good match!

More to come soon!

Thank You!

A great big thank you to everyone who came to the Laudholm Farm Crafts Festival over the weekend.  It was a great show!  And the weather held out and made it a perfect weekend.  Now it's back to the studio for me.  Time to get creating! 

Laudholm Farm Crafts Festival 2012

Please join me Saturday and Sunday, September 8th and 9th for the 25th annual Laudholm Farm Crafts Festival in Wells, Maine.  This is a wonderful show featuring 100 juried artists. 

Here's Anita and I at last year's show.  Can't wait to show my new designs and talk with all the show's visitors!  For more information:  http://wellsreserve.org/visit/calendar/398-25th_laudholm_nature_crafts_festival

Thank You!

A quick thank you to everyone who came to the Jewelry Show and Sale on Tuesday night.  I appreciate all your support.  Next I'm heading back into the studio to get some inventory made for the Summertime Show in August in Falmouth.  Busy, busy!!!

Jewelry Trunk Show and Sale 2012

I can't believe it's that time of year--again!  Where does the time go?!  Tomorrow, Tuesday, July 17th is my "Almost Annual Jewelry Trunk Show and Sale."  Join me from 5 to 7 pm at Gleason Fine Art, 31 Townsend Ave., Boothbay Harbor.  You'll see new designs in silver and gold, many with semi-precious and precious stones and beads.  You will also see my friend Diana's decoupage dishes, floor cloths, and Guatemalan textiles turned into pillows and poufs.  Stop on by!

MCA and Me

The MCA or Maine Craft Association is a wonderful organization that I belong to.  They support all Maine crafts and for the last 3 years have operated a retail shop in Gardiner where I am fortunate enough to display some of my jewelry. 

Each year 2 craftspeople are named Master Craft Artist and this year tThe Maine Crafts Association has named ceramic artist Lynn Duryea of Deer Isle, Maine as its 2012 Master Craft Artist. Duryea is one of Maine’s established, nationally renowned craftspeople with an extensive career in making, outreach, and innovating in craft.  Each recipient receives a gift of a unique Master Craft Artist pin made especially for them by a Maine jeweler and this year's jeweler is ME! 

I created this heavily reticulated silver pin with added silver balls and 3 turquoise cabochons.  The balls travel down the pin from the top stone and wiggle their way down to the bottom stone.  I think its abstract quality will speak to Duryea. 

This is the back of the pin--highlighting the award and event.  Wednesday evening, July 11th, the award will be given during a special reception at George Mason Gallery in Damariscotta Mills, Maine. The award ceremony will accompany the opening of the Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts Founders Exhibition, featuring work by Lynn Duryea, George Mason and Chris Gustin.

I am honored to be a part of this!

Newly Finished

I jumped back into the studio last weekend after nearly a month of crazy busy-ness.  I'm so happy new designs are happening!  Here's a sampling of what I've finished:

This necklace with pendant follows along the design line I was working on back at the end of April.  This is a natural amethyst and quartz druzy bezeled in fine silver with an 8mm amethyst cabochon.  The hammered silver curves around the stone and forms the loop bail.  The bail easily slides over the small faceted amethyst beads.

This sterling silver pendant is file carved with a brushed finish.  The Peruvian opal is bezeled in fine silver and a freshwater pearl dangles belong.  A large sterling bail slides effortlessly over a necklace of amazonite and freshwater pearl beads.  This pendant is also versatile as it comes off of the beaded necklace and can be worn on a silver chain or wear the beads alone.

These sterling silver earrings were designed to compliment the opal necklace.  5x7mm turquoise cabochons are set in the file carved, brushed silver face.

Another idea I've wanted to explore is creating my double dome beads and featuring them singly on sterling silver cables.  Here are a couple I've just finished.

 This is 1 inch diameter and features stamped squiggles & dots that are liver of sulphured and then brushed.

This is 1 1/2 inch diameter with varying sized holes pierced through.

I made another double dome bead with stamped flower silhouettes on both sides and decided to string it on an amber nugget necklace.  

Similar to past necklaces, I made a fun flower clasp to complete the look.

And... last but not least, this flower is a new belt buckle.  It's made of 18g and 20g sterling silver.  Just need to go to the leather guy and get a belt made!

A Couple New Things

I've been working and creating in the studio and have been focused on using stones and beads that I've had in inventory.  Sometimes working with what you have gives enough inspiration to spark new things.  That's what I've found with these two necklaces. 

This design started with the Picasso jasper cabochon and I worked from there.  It's bezeled in fine silver and has a black onyx bead drop.  The pendant has a nice brushed silver face and can be worn on the black spinel beads or can be removed and worn on a silver chain. 

This second necklace design started with the soft triangle pyrite stone--its black motherstone infused with gold flecks of pyrite.  A fine silver bezel is mirrored by sterling silver wire that becomes the bail for the faceted pyrite beaded necklace.  Dropped below is a pyrite nugget that my dad found in Brunswick, Maine.  This pendant can also be removed from the beads and can be worn on a silver chain.

I'm continuing on this road until a new one presents itself.