Pearls for Monday

I am in love with pearls!  All pearls--funky, classic, white, colored, round, baroque--these natural formed beauties are as treasured in history as they are today.  In honor of "the pearl," I decided to string up an assortment from my stash.  I hand-made the clasps in 18k yellow gold, 14k white gold, and sterling silver and selected what went with each strand depending on the quality and style. 

So here they are in no particular order:

These are the South Sea pearls I picked up back in March.  They are whites and golden yellows and are knotted on white silk and finished with an 18k yellow gold 'S' clasp.

 

These are large white, freshwater potato pearls strung and knotted on white silk.  The strand is finished with sterling bead tips and a sterling flower clasp with 18k gold accent. 

 

Pinks, silvers, peaches--these are the overtones in these keshi pearls.  Keshi pearls are formed when the oyster rejects and spits out the implanted nucleus before the culturing process is complete, or the implanted mantle tissue fractures and forms separate pearl sacs without nuclei.  These pearl sacs eventually produce pearls without a nucleus.  They are known for their lustre because they are made of 100% nacre and for their funky, unstructured form.  The photos don't catch the loveliness, but you can see their funkiness.  The clasp is a sterling silver 'S' clasp.

    

Saltwater, baroque pearls are strung and knotted on gray silk and finished with a 14k white gold double hook clasp. 

 

 And to finish off the day, here's another example of keshi pearls.  These are graduated and have more silver,  blue, and peach overtones. 

I'll be back to making new reticulated jewelry and flower designs soon.  'Tis the season to keep busy!

Flower Cuff

After my last post, my digital camera broke--Ugh!  So sorry for the delay in finishing up the bracelet blog and leaving you in suspense.  Here it is:

I've used the penny for scale.  The cuff is large, 2 1/2 inches wide and formed out of 18g sheet.  The additional dapped flower is 2 inches wide and soldered in place.  You get a great view from this angle:   

Then I added the hammered domed centers to all three flowers and highly polished them, while keeping the back piece of the three joined flowers brushed.

 

It's really quite a piece.  Great weight and size and wears with presence on your wrist. 

More pieces are in the works.  Will post soon.

Early Summer Blooms

The flowers in the garden are easily 2 weeks ahead of normal, so why not keep up with Mother Nature and create some new blooms of my own.  I started by cutting out different size flowers from 20 and 22 gage silver sheet and then played with them and decided what each would become.  I like to find new ways to cut and form jewelry with the flowers for earrings, bracelets, and necklaces.  These earrings are great in person.  They are about an inch across and have silver balls soldered in the centers. 

Next up was a selection of 6 six-petaled flowers that I thought would make a great bracelet.  I soldered half circles on the backs of each flower and then linked a large jump ring between each flower.  I got soooooo many ideas and new inspiration for additional bracelets, that I wondered if I needed to add anything to this one. 

I decided to keep it simple, classic.  The flowers are lightly brushed and the links are highly polished.  When worn, the bracelet sits flat and comfortably around the wrist.  Look for new designs based on this coming soon.

These are one of my favorite flower designs to create with.  I started with a flat flower and added an additional domed flower on top.  I decided to let these dangle from an earwire and embellished them with these yummy translucent blue chalcedony beads.  

One last thing that's in process: 

I started with 18g silver sheet and drew three different flowers joined at the tips.  Sawing the design out was a challenge with such thick metal--I think I broke at least five sawblades!  That's all for now.  How's that for a tease!  Watch to see this piece evolve.

Cuff Links & Clip Earrings

Delivered some new work to the Maine Craft Center in Gardiner today.  Stop by and see these selections and more. 

Cufff links:

clip earrings:

and a couple rings:

New work from this weekend will be posted soon.  Check back to see.

End of Day Finish

After a morning and early afternoon gardening, I got back in the studio and completed the three-dimensional flower bead necklace.  It looks really great--shiny appliqued flowers and brushed satin background.  I opted to string it with these simple-cut blue kyanite beads and a number of silver and gold bead accents.  Notice here that I continued the design of the flower to the clasp, where I made a user friendly hook and eye.  While designing, I pay attention to the details and notice the small things...because they matter. 

Here's the full necklace.  It looks even better on.

 

Next up on the bench, the reticulated bead.  We'll see where inspiration leads. 

CRAFT

Exciting news!!!!  My jewelry has been selected to show in the new gallery CRAFT at 12 Elm Street in Rockland, Maine.  Barbara Michelena its owner and founder, is dedicated to promoting fine contemporary craft as an art form, presenting fine artists working within the craft tradition. The gallery’s emphasis will be on craft artists working in Maine, taking advantage of the state’s natural materials and inspired by its beauty and way of life.  I am so excited and honored to be included in this great new venue.  Barbara selected 13 pieces for the gallery!  Necklaces, bracelets, and earrings in both my reticulated and flower series.  For more infomation call 207-594-0167 or email info@craftonelm.com.  Stop by to see this necklace and all the beautiful work. 

Finishing up

Here's the finished bead from yesterday.  It's strung with the amber nuggets and I think it works.  Definitely a substantial piece--the problem with photos--it's hard to tell the scale.  I like the way the amber beads hug the center silver bead and reflect off the shiny surface. 

I also worked on another double dome bead.  This one with appliqued flowers.  It's sterling silver with one 18k gold flower.  I love the look of this bead, but it has taken me almost as long to polish and finish it, as it did to make it!  Not sure what I'll string it with, but am leaning toward some beautiful faceted blue kyanite beads.   

Until next time...thanks for reading.

Double Dome Day

I revisited one of my favorite things to make--the double dome bead.  I like to use them as pendants and string them with different beads like this--it's sold, but still one of my favorites:

Today I started with 2 two-inch discs that I stamped and hammered with a multi-flower design and then domed them.  After doming, I filed and sanded the edges to make a nice even fit where the two circles meet.  Before soldering, I filed 2 small holes in either side (where the string will go through), which allows the air and gases to escape while soldering.  Here's what the bead looks like so far.  It's highly polished so it's very reflective in the photos.

front

back

I'm thinking I'll string this new silver bead with these funky amber beads.  Check back tomorrow to see the finished piece. 

This is another double dome bead.  It's one inch around and reticulated, and will look great strung with some small black spinel or green tourmaline beads.  I'll figure it out tomorrow.

Stormy Saturday

Stormy outside, but smooth sailing inside.  I approached work in an orderly fashion with some "to dos"--large, lightweight reticulated earrings; reticulated bracelets; flower jewelry; etc.  Sometimes just having a sense of direction is all I need to get me started, and then I'm engulfed in full create mode.  The need for the large reticulated earrings came about when a client earlier this week fell in love with a pair of earrings, but felt they were a little heavy and pulled down her earlobes.  But, she (and I) thought the earrings looked fabulous and I didn't have another option in that size.  So...these are a new alternative version:

They are reticulated 1 1/4 inch squares with sterling balls and bars suspended on an earwire, so they dangle from the ear.  The original pair (at right) is 1 1/2 inches sqaure and in a heavier gauge silver.  I think the two designs compliment each other and offer another option for the wearer.

I was able to get going on a new bracelet as well.  I opted to create a new cuff bracelet fashioned very similarly to this bangle.  I like the overlap design and the cuff style seems to be popular.  It's reticulated and I added my usual silver balls and bars, but added one lone 24k gold ball accent. 

What I really like about this new cuff is the opening in the back.  I've curled the edges and softly melded them together for a comfortable fit and easy to put on and take off. 

We'll see what Sunday brings for new designs. 

Flower Power

These peonies are freshly cut from my garden and happily sitting on my dining room table in all their glory.  Talk about some flower power!  They are highly fragrant and fill the house with a lovely soft scent.  The magenta flower isn't as fragrant, but the color glows.  I am hypnotized by the ruffling of petals which always amazes me--I hope I can use it to create some new flower-inspired jewelry.