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!

Commissions

I've been lucky enough to have some commission work to do this winter, so I've split my studio time between creating the commissions and mixing in a new piece for inventory.  Here are some of the completed commissions:

A silver reticulated cuff with balls and silver curves.

 

Reticulated silver earrings to compliment the above cuff. 

Sterling silver clip earrings with 18x25mm black onyx cabochons and 1 3/4 inch double dome beads with stamped pattern.  These are to wear with this:

A three-strand renewed necklace with carved beads, black onyx, and stamped double dome beads.

Another reticulated commission is this cuff--a little thinner with silver balls and a 4mm faceted apatite gemstone:

Isn't that turquoisey color gorgeous?!

Next up--some of the new inventory pieces.

Necklaces

Have I ever said that I really LOVE making necklaces?!  Well I do and I can't help myself.  Long, short, chunky, fine, beaded, metal, or pearls, I love the impact of jewels around the neck.  Whenever I go into my studio and I don't know what to do, I'm always drawn into creating a necklace and here is one of the latest designs:  

  

Flat turquoise beads are strung with two sizes of handmade double dome reticulated beads and finished with a sterling hook and eye clasp.  I used little 3mm round sterling beads between all the beads--it brings attention to each and allows for a gentle separation. 

Here's a close up of one of the double dome beads.  It is one inch around, knowing that you can see the turquoise beads range in size from wider than 2+ inches to the smallest at about 3/4 of an inch wide.  The turquoise color is bright and clean and fresh and mixed with the silver beads exudes a modern, yet classic look. 

Spring has been in the air the last few days.  Just wait to see what's coming next!

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. 

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.