Mother of the Groom Necklace--A Summer Project

This commission started with a phone call--a woman wanted to have a special necklace made for her to wear at her son's September wedding.  She found me and my jewelry online, liked what she saw, and gave me a call.  We set up a studio visit to discuss design thoughts and ideas.  We met in July and quickly figured out the colors, stones, and basic design--blue lapis lazuli alongside reticulated silver.  I drew up a few sketches and this is what was proposed and approved. 

 

Here are the beads and stones I found to use for the actual piece. I had never made a reticulated necklace that was half beaded, so I was looking forward to seeing the results.

The frontispiece started--silver rectangles reticulated and bezels and squiggles placed.

Next the silver ball accents and the articulated joinery.

The stones are bezel set in fine silver and the whole piece is getting laid out for stringing.

The full layout of lapis beads with the reticulated silver, hollow lentil shape beads I created.

And after the initial stringing, it was time to try on the necklace for length...I emailed this photo to J. and she loved it!  Upon her next visit north, she came with her wedding clothes and we tried it all on.  The necklace being an elegant accessory to make her simply classic outfit shine.

The length was almost perfect, but we decided on one minor design change--we added a chain closure for adjustable lengths allowing more versatility for wearing after the wedding.  Simply striking!

Thank you for allowing me be a part of this beautiful collaboration and special event!  It was a pleasure to work with you!

And after the wedding, in her words:

     "I'm wearing my necklace tonight, two weeks after our son's wedding at ....  The wedding couldn't have gone any better and I received many compliments on my "bling" , as one friend termed it, made specially for the event.

     Thanks again for all of your help. I shall enjoy my wedding necklace for many years to come."

Studio Helper

I had a little helper with me in the studio today.  Well, he really didn't help, but he sure was cute--all curled up and nestled in his box. 

While Tiger caught up on his sleep, I worked on this pendant.  It's reticulated silver that I cut in 2 and added a long sterling silver wire squiggle and balls.  A rose cut, tourmalinated quartz is bezeled in fine silver at the bottom.  The pendant is suspended from a sterling silver rolo chain. 

I like the movement flowing through the piece--it moves your eye from the top, through the body of the pendant and then around the stone and back up again. 

I'm pushing through the dreary January blues and doing what I know.  I'm hoping a surge of creativity will emerge soon!

Earrings for Everyday

I got back in the studio and went to town on creating some new reticulated earrings.  My next ad in Downeast magazine is coming out in the February issue and I feature a great pair of earrings.  The only problem (not really a problem) is that they sold after the ad was designed.  So, I thought what a good excuse to focus on making earrings.  Here's what I've finished: 

The seven pairs sitting pretty in the studio.

These are the smallest pair--with pink tourmaline seed beads.

I love the simplicity and clean lines here.

Stud backs on heavily reticulated silver with 4mm apple green chryso-prase cabs.

Squiggles and curves dangle on the hooked earwires.

The green aventurine cabs here add just the right touch to the clean lines.

These earrings are most similar to the pair in the ad.  The 6x8mm stones are black lace agate. The squiggle makes for a fun design.

Last but not least, another design featuring the balls and bars on the reticulated metal.

Well, back at it tomorrow.  I have a few pendants in the works.  We'll see where they go.