Pearls for Chris

It's February! Already! While I've been trying to settle in to the new year with happy thoughts and dreams, it hasn't been even close to that. My dear friend Chris lost her 4-year long fight against ovarian cancer. She's no longer suffering and I'm thankful for that, but I miss her terribly! There wasn't a day that went by without a check in text or email. It's been tough! I'm distracted and depressed and the gray weather certainly doesn't help. Chris was my partner in crime when it came to sewing projects and always a great sounding board for new jewelry designs--she was a jewelry maker too. Her most favorite jewelry accessory being pearls. We had that in common--I've never met a pearl I didn't love. So as I wander through these days of gray and loss, I'm trying to figure out a way to honor Chris and our friendship, knowing every time I design with pearls, she's there with me.

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!

THE Book!!!

You might remember me talking about a book project I started quite some time ago that involved one of my most fabulous collectors.  Well, it is finished!  And all I can say is WOW!

This is the cover:

It's a hard-cover coffee table book with a dust jacket to boot!  44 pages in all featuring our amazing collaboration--the fashion and clothes of Linda and the jewelry I've created for her.  (If I can figure out how to upload a pdf, I will show the whole book, but until that time), here are some of my favorite pages:

I was fortunate that my local paper did a story about the book project and you can read that here:  http://www.boothbayregister.com/article/artist-and-collector/10003

Another exciting result from the book is I'm giving a talk at the Boothbay Harbor Library on April 17th.  I'll be talking about how to make a book online using blurb.com, including all the steps from start to finish.

A great big 'Thank You' to Linda and Tom for inviting me into their lives and home!  I treasure our friendship!

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!

Going South

I've been getting ready for my jewelry feature at Coco Vivo Fine Art Gallery in Charleston, SC.  I'm focusing on pearl jewelry and am adding 11 new pieces to the show.  Here's a sampling of some of the new jewelry:

Sterling flower studs with freshwater pearl drop.

48 inch long freshwater pearls necklace--can be worn long or wrap it around twice.

Sterling silver curved bars with freshwater conjoined pearls.

These funky freshwater pearls are strung with sterling joined bars.

  

Featherweight sterling silver links with freshwater pearls. 

Please stop by 25 Broad Street Gallery Row, Charleston, starting February 3. 

FMI: http://www.cocovivofineart.com/

New Photos

I am so excited!  I finally had some professional pics taken and they look great.  Thank you Robert Diamante for doing such a beautiful job.  These will be used for show applications and advertising.  Here are some of the flower series: 

What do you think?


And here's some from the reticulation series:
 

 
I can't wait to see them printed on 8 1/2 x 11 inch photo paper--they are going to shine!

Pearls for Charleston

Now that the fall is here, I've been madly working on some new pearl jewelry to go spend the winter at Coco Vivo Gallery in Charleston, SC.  Here's a sampling of some of the new designs:

EARRINGS

NECKLACES

hand-sculpted fine silver starfish on freshwater pearls

And these new bracelets:

coin pearls with hammered silver links

freshwater nuggets with silver links

Stop on by 25 Broad Street in Charleston, South Carolina and see!