Silver Flowers in All Sizes

It's April and time is flying! I'm starting to get a little nervous about my inventory as I've been slowly updating things at my retail locations. So, I focused on some basics this weekend and set out to create new silver flower earrings--all sizes and styles.  This is what I came up with:

I love the various sizes and finishes, hydrangea inspired and daisy inspired. A pretty good bunch with a few more pairs ready to go on the bench. Can't wait to get them all together.

This and That--Filling in the Blanks

This week finds me working in all directions.  Maybe not the most inspired way to create, but with 3 upcoming shows in November, I'm making things to fill in the holes in my inventory.  I've laid it all out to assess--and yes, I'm in a bit of a mess. 

 

After taking a visual inventory, I realized I needed some important pieces like reticulated earrings with stones, some flower chandelier earrings, and more bauble rings.  So, I set out on my mission and here's what I've done:

New reticulated earrings with carnelian cabochons & black onyx cabochons.  

Two new pairs of sterling silver tiny daisy drop earrings.

And three new bauble rings, L to R: 

 

4mm Tsavorite garnet bezeled in fine silver; sterling silver and 18k gold; 3mm blue sapphire with overlap.

A few fun pieces are in the works too.  Be sure to check out next week's blog to see!

Inspirational Flowers

What an amazing time of year!  There are shades of green that you only see now, so I took the opportunity to walk around the yard and capture the colors and flowers of spring. 

The azalea shrubs are coming into full bloom and look beautiful! 

I like the up close and personal shots of the flowers.   I can definitely see some new flower inspired jewelry in my future!

The crabapples have also popped with color.  And the bumble bees are happy! 

It's a wonder I get much of anything done during this time.  The gardens call to me daily and today I answered!  No studio creating today--today, my hands were deep in dirt and pulling out weeds.  A much needed break to soak up nature and to inspire and refill my well. 

And here's a sneak peak of what's coming up next--

  It's lady slipper season and there are LOTS more on their way. 

Enjoy the season!

Deliveries!

It's that time of year--I've been running around delivering jewelry to my retails shops to start the season!  Be sure to check out Rock Paper Scissors in Wiscasset, Casual Interiors in Boothbay Harbor, and Gleason Fine Art in Boothbay Harbor.  Lots of new designs and the series continuation of some of my favorites.  Next Saturday I'll be delivering to CRAFT in Rockland. 

Reticulated cuff with Umba sapphire at Rock Paper Scissors

Coral necklace at Casual Interiors

Hydrangea cluster earrings at Gleason Fine Art

Yes, More Flowers!

I was thinking spring was on its way, but I guess we're in for another round of snow!  Looks like a foot of snow--UGH!!! 
In the meantime, I've been playing with more flowers.  This time they are tiny four-petal flowers--they remind me of forget-me-nots, but still based on the hydrangea idea.  These are clustered along a curly, sterling vine with a 6mm faceted peridot that is tube set in fine silver. 

I also made this pair of earrings along the same idea and design as the pendant.  4mm faceted peridots are also tube set in fine silver and circled with a sterling wire vine and earwires. 

Lots more jewelry coming.  New designs for inventory and lots of commissions too.  Let's hope the weather people are wrong!  But it's a little too early for April Fool's Day!

Flowers for February 2

Here it is! 

The newest hydrangea neck cuff hot off the bench!  I love this piece!  The open front for easy wear.  The way it hugs the neck.  It's very wearable--and incredibly striking!

Details of the two flower clusters:

12 flowers here

and 8 flowers here. 

Not the best photo, but this is what it looks like around your neck:

Oh, what will be next?! 

More Flowers in February

So, I mentioned in my last post that I've been working on a new flower series--inspired by hydrangeas.  I thought I'd show some pictures of the work I've made in the last 2 weeks.

This is a neck cuff that I LOVE!!!  It simply goes around your neck and sits.  The cluster is made of 17 flowers of various sizes soldered on to 12g sterling vines. 

I made these earrings out of a heavy wire swirl and added the small flowers.  They have stud backs and look so very graceful on your ear. 

Here's another version of clustered flower earrings.  These have an earwire and sit just below your earlobe. 

And here's the ring I made before my last post.  It's a heavy 10g sterling silver wire wrap shank with 3 clustered flowers.   

More to come soon.  Another neck cuff is on the bench, so check back soon!

Flowers on a Snowy Day

Here we are, BURIED in snow.  A whole winter's worth of snow in 2 days!  Winter storm Nemo is finally winding down after dropping over 2 feet of snow and leaving an unsettled feeling over me.  Normally I would enjoy being hunkered down working in the studio, but storms like this--BIG storms--make me worry about my husband out plowing for hours on end and the possibility of losing power, and keeping 3 woodstoves burning.  But after several calls to Mom and attempts at shoveling, I got myself in the studio and just started working. 

It's so fun to watch an idea come together.  I've been working on a new flower series based on the hydrangea flower.  I started the series in November, but I was so busy with shows, that I wasn't able to explore it.  I made a few pieces before this, but thought I'd show you today's project and I'll show more soon.  

This is the start of a ring.  It's 12g sterling wire that's wrapped to form the ring shank and vines.

Next, I added 22g flowers to each stem.  I formed them first and added a center ball to each small flower and a fine silver tube setting to the large center flower. 

And here's the finished ring.  A 5mm yellow sapphire sits in the center, while the flowers have a soft, brushed finish. 

Just look at the sculptural quality here.  I love pushing dimension and creating wearable sculptures!  It's comfortable too!  More soon!

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!

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!!!

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!

Happy Easter!

We had a great dinner with my parents today.  Enjoyed yummy ham, potatoes and asparagus and of course--lots of chocolate!  Hope you had a great day too! 

Alot of new designs happening in the studio--rings, reticulated pins, and belt buckles too.  This photo shows a new necklace with silver flowers and faceted pink sapphires.  Here's the full piece--sterling silver wire vines linked to silver flowers.

More to come later this week.