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!

River Arts Fine Crafts Exhibition

Three pieces have been accepted for the River Arts Fine Crafts Exhibition!!!  The show is May 6 through May 30, with an opening reception Friday, May 6, from 5 to 7 PM.  This show will be held at River Arts Gallery II on Route One, near the intersection with Business Route one in Damariscotta.  Please stop by to see the first showing of my flowering vine jewelry at this fine crafts exhibit.

More Flowering Options

Lately, I've been too busy creating to post, but thought I'd take some time to catch you up on one of the new pieces.  The flowering vines series has been occupying my thoughts and designs, so I've been pushing the idea to some new heights.  First, here in process is a new cuff bracelet:

I wish I had taken more photos during the process, but I think you see the base structure in the picture.  The vines are 12g sterling silver wire and I formed the base flat and then curved it around the mandrell.  I added the flowers one at a time, deciding the design as I went. 

And this is the finished piece:

Here's what it looks like on the wrist:

I LOVE it!

Following an Idea

I've found so much inspiration with the flowering vine piece that I've been working non-stop on translations and variations.  From the initail inspiration piece, I started making a necklace.  Here's how it started:  sterling silver flowering vines much like the original element; I tried different stones and loose flowers and leaves.

I kept playing with elements and then turned them into this:

To finish, I set an opal as the featured stone and linked the vines together with wire scrolled links.  I particularly like the clasp--a flower and leaves to bring the design around the neck. 

Here's a detail of the front:

After the necklace, I opted to make a pair of earrings.  Here are 22g sterling silver flowers and leaves on 18g sterling silver vines.  They have stud backs behind the swirled stems and are about 2 inches long. 

More designs are coming including bracelets, earrings, and more necklaces!  Check back soon. 

Flowering Options

It's amazing what can happen with the making of one component.  I had an idea--flowers and leaves on a vine--that was going to be a delicate necklace frontispiece.  As I put all the pieces together, it took on a life of its own.  Now I don't know if it should be a pin, situated like this:

or like this:

Or I had a thought that I could create similar pieces and link them to form a necklace that would be similar to this:



Try to imagine these two pieces meeting at the center of the neckline.  I think it would be beautiful!  What do you think?   I think I need to make many more of these vines and create all of the options, as well as the ones that will present themselves during the process.  Time to get busy!