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!

Snow Day

While it was looking like this outside:

I was busy working away at my bench, pushing my way through some new earring designs.  Between shoveling the decks twice and playing with the dog, I managed to make these:

The small pair on the left are reticulated silver with 6mm aventurine cabochons; the pair on the right has chalcedony beads dangling below; the bottom pair is larger and all silver.  Not bad for a day that kept me preoccupied watching the robins eat the remaining berries off our winterberry shrubs.

A Week In--Already!

Well here we are, a whole week into the new year!  How the time just flies by!  I started the new year off by cleaning and am still at it.  The whole studio is in such dire need of organizing that I've put off most creating until I achieve some sort of order.  Not that I create in a clean environment--I don't, but there comes a point when one must put some things away and start the whole process over again. 

And when I give myself a little break from all the dust, I created this new reticulated pendant:

It's about 3 inches long and fully articulated.  Not the best photo, but you get the idea.  It's suspended from a sterling cable neckwire.  Simple, classic, and very versatile. 

Best get back to it!

Goodbye 2012!

Here we are, the last day of 2012 and I have to say I am happy about it. Not that I'm not thankful because I am so very thankful and grateful for everyone who supported me this year and in years past, but I'm ready for change and to move forward. Now I'm not really a resolution person (at least in January). I always seem to make resolutions in September, but that aside, I'm ready for new things--with my jewelry, with my job, with my life. So, as 2012 comes to an end, I eagerly await 2013 to begin--with new opportunities, new experiences, new ideas. A clean slate! And soon a clean studio! I invite you to watch as I push my designs to new heights--literally and figuratively. And also share my life as I'm living it.  It's going to be a good year!

2013

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!



A New Bracelet Commission

As the end of the year approaches, I've been trying to complete the remaining commissions that are still on my to-do list.  One of those projects is for a friend who's been wanting (and waiting for) a labradorite piece.  So back in the early summer, we came up with a rough bracelet design and picked stones.  I admit the style was different for me, so I knew I'd be working through some technical difficulty and probably the reason I delayed making it. 

So, I started with sketches:

Then I worked up the base of the bracelet in heavy rectangular sterling silver:

I made the fine silver bezels for the labradorite stones:

And then soldered on the 3 bezels, set the stones, and gave the bracelet a nice brushed finish. 

The finished bracelet in 3/4 view to the left:

You can see the simple yet effective hook clasp for easy wear.

3/4 view to the right showing my hallmark on the back band:

  

Back view:

Top view:

And the final shot on my own wrist.  Look at those stones glow!  I think she's going to love it!  (And definitely worth the wait!)

Another Thank You

Sunday was the open studio sale held at my mom's house and what a huge success!  Thank you to everyone who came and thank you to Diana for being a special part of the sale this year! (and for all your help preparing and during.)  This was my last show for 2012 and I'm ready to slow down and catch up and maybe enjoy the season.  Look at who made a surprise visit during the show--

This amazing Barred Owl renews my awe and amazement in Mother Nature and somehow re-fills my soul and makes me want to create again.  Thank you!