Nan Porcelain Necklace

I bought a bunch of these vintage porcelain ovals a while ago and have just started working with them. I have several different designs. This one has a sweet floral motif. Bezel set in sterling with an antique finish, I think it has the feeling of an heirloom. The 6mm moonstone rounds that adorn the chain contrast really nicely with the dark oxidation. I call it Nan Porcelain and it's available in my Etsy shop. Look for more of these ovals to be coming out soon in various designs - although I'm sort of partial to the simpler design that focuses on the porcelain.

New Design: Miller

A new design!
I love the industrial feel and thought it looks like something that would be in a factory. I call them the Miller Necklace and the Miller Earrings. The balance between the chain and the metalwork is really achieved here. The brushed-back oxidation is another key for me, giving the pieces a wonderful pewter-y finish. The necklace can be worn several different ways: the hook in the back, the hook in the front, shorter with a link dangling... I'm very happy with the way the picture of the necklace came out too. Both pieces are available in my Etsy shop.

Persie Necklace

Another of the new necklaces and part of the Persie series. A pendant of three links in descending sizes hang from a ball chain. I like how versatile these links are. They can be sized up or down, so they can work for earrings, necklace, bracelet, or... (well, no, the possibilities aren't endless). The Persie Necklace is, of course, available in my Etsy shop.

New Necklaces

I've recently listed several new necklaces. I'd made these over the summer and was tabling with them. Since they didn't sell, I've listed them in my Etsy shop.

On the upper right is Rose Candy. Iridescent-pink, Czech pressed glass make up this asymmetrical necklace.

To the left is Autumn Leaf Necklace a heat-patinaed copper leaf-shape.

And, finally, Sunburst Necklace. A fluted vintage Lucite bead is the center of the sterling silver sun shape.

Delftish Necklace

I recently found these vintage porcelain oval cabacon in a bead store. Aren't they groovy? I have several different designs. Here's the first thing I made with them. It reminds me of the Delft blue china and I tried to compliment it with an antique finish on the silver. I call it Delftish and it's already found a new home.

Make A Wish Earrings

Brand new! These lovely and simply elegant posted earrings are wishbone shaped. When I was a kid, it was considered a privilege at the dinner table to be picked to break the wishbone and make a wish. (no, there weren't like 10 of us, only 3, but I was the littlest) Here is my modern interpretation of my pre-vegetarian-days talisman. Sterling and shiny, the Make A Wish Earrings are available in my Etsy shop.

I Love Synchronicity!

It's all about the sevens!

Persie Earrings

Buckle Ring

Chains Chains Chains...

Although time consuming, I really enjoy making chains. There's something about creating each link, watching the chain grow. I like seeing how the links work together and how it sits against the wrist or neck. Is exact repetition the way to go? or different sized links? My brain seems to like these challenges. Here's my newest chain, a bracelet. What I really enjoy about this piece is the dichotomy between the organic shapes and heat-formed balls, and the high shine polish finish giving it a very modern feel too. To be truthful, I wasn't really sure about this design until I had made many links and could see how they worked together. I'm very pleased with the outcome. Currently there is only the bracelet and earrings (seen in the background of the photo), but next burst of chain-making energy, I'm going to make a necklace too. The Persie Bracelet and Persie Earrings, as well as other chains I've created, are available in my Etsy shop.

DIY Booth Banner Making...sort of

Experiencing heavy levels of banner-envy is never pretty. I had shared a booth at a street fair and my booth buddy had a fabu banner. I wanted one too. Not wanting to wait for a "real" banner to be printed for me, I headed out to the Avery store for some foamcore to make me a banner.
- or at least a booth sign. On the way, I thought to find out if they had any vinyl that I could stitch up and paint on. "No." said Friendly Avery Person, "but you could try over there." "Yeah, but it will cost you a lot for us to do it." says Friendly Sign Guy, "Go over there. They have everything you'll want." Friendly Sign Guy was right! The Pacific Coast Sign Supply had me shivering with anticipation. If you're an art supply store and/or hardware store junkie, this place would make your knees weak too. I was able not only able to get vinyl there, but a perfect 3' x 4' finished banner with the grommets and all for the more-than-reasonable price of $8.50. The next issue was painting on it. The PCSS person insisted that I needed to prime the thing and use these (very expensive) special paints and then seal it. Yadda yadda. I asked about just using acrylic paints and was told they wouldn't stick.
Backing out of the store, I said I'd come back later for paints and took my banner home to try my acrylics. Maybe he just assumed the thing was going to hang outside in the elements or something, but, uh, acrylics totally work. That said, if I do another one, I think paint pens or somesuch would be a cleaner, faster method.
Here's how I made my new banner:
1) The rolled up banner. You can see the spot where I tested the acrylic. I let it dry and tried scratching it with my nail and erasing it and it wouldn't budge. I'm working on my dining room table as it is the only large clear space in the house...
2) The paper there is a print out of a computer design/mock-up. On the mock-up I overlayed a grid and then measured out and drew the grid on the banner. It helped me judge how to space the letters. I then sketched in the letters. As you (maybe) can see, I drew them out pretty roughly, not paint-in-the-numbers quality. It depends on how comfortable you are free-handing it as to how tight your drawing should be.
3) After I finished the basic drawing. I've pulled out my paints and brushes and picked the colors I would use.
4) Since acrylics dry so fast, I decided to start from the bottom because the smaller lettering is more difficult and I could roll it down in front of me as I worked.
5) Here I've just finished the basic lettering. I later added some highlights, in silver paint, to the Curly Girl Jewelry letters; added some decorations; and painted the border using the stitching as my "line".
6) My new finished banner!

Bake-A-Lite Beauties

I've recently been making an effort to go through the jewelry supplies I already have in the house. I thought they were cool when I bought them and it's time to start making stuff with them. A while ago, I bought these vintage Bake-a-lite cubes. They are sort of big, a bit more than an inch square, and I just knew cool jewelry was waiting to happen with them. I was right. Here is the first piece I've made with them. It was a piece that designed itself as I went along. I had a vague idea when I set out, but it veered and swerved and said no, go this way. I'm very happy with the way it's turned out. I love the combination of industrial and suit of armor, with a skoach of art deco. The brushed back oxidation gives it a great antiqued look. I also have these cubes in a tealy blue and a gold brown tan. Many new ideas are brewing.

Confetti Necklace

Bright and fun, this new necklace is created from vintage (70s) translucent plastic bingo tokens. I've had them for a while and kept pulling them out and putting them away. I finally (really) cleaned my workbench and decided to tackle some of these projects that kept calling to me. So here it is. I call it Confetti Necklace (and it's for sale in my Etsy shop). The vibrant colored discs stand out from the oxidized sterling chain they are connected to. I only have a few sets of the tokens and I'm thinking I might make one of these for me. I also really like the picture I took here on the upper left.

Everyday Loops

Years ago, I had a very simple pair of small hoop earrings that I wore all the time. Like 24/7. Sleeping, showering, whatever, they could be left in, so I always had earrings on even when I wasn't thinking about it. The other day I was digging through my earrings looking for a pair that met those criteria: simple, sturdy, hooked closed, plain but with a smidge of style. Sort of a fancy earwire. Couldn't find anything that I wanted, so I made some*. This is what I've come up with. I call them Everyday Loops (and they are, of course, available in my Etsy shop). I'm big and I have lots of hair, I wanted something bigger than the old pair I used to wear so they had some presence on me. I've also made a smaller pair for those that like it like that. I'll have pictures of the smaller ones in my shop soon.

*I love that I can do that!

I'm on a Vintage Lucite Bender

I admit it, I fell in love. I love the color, the design, the size. The second I saw these vintage Lucite flowers I knew exactly what the rings would look like. There you go. These wonderful burnt-orange (what? pansies?) flowers are big, but lightweight. They are riveted to a heavy gauge sterling band. Fun, but sort of sophisticated too. Definitely love. I bought all they had, which was only a few. I call it the Lamore Ring.

Then, I saw these too groovy beach-ballish, chinese-lanterny, fluted beads and I had to have them too. I've paired them with a long, slender brass tab. The are called Riviera Earrings in my Etsy shop. They make my jewelry making heart sing! Unfortunately I was too slow on the uptake. I only got a few when I saw them; when I went back... gone. All gone. I nearly cried - until I found other Lucite cuties.

Now: No. More. Supplies. I have WAY too much in the house and need to make with what I have before I allow myself to spend on anything else. Really.

Rainfall Necklace

I love the bold graphic of this new piece, Rainfall Necklace. It's simple and modern, but has a distinctly tribal feel also. The contrast in materials of the hard sterling and soft leather cord adds another dynamic that really brings this together for me. I guess I'm just really fixated on circles and should just come to accept this about myself!

This was another jewelry design that appeared to me fully formed that I was able to translate into metal. Lots of my ideas don't necessarily work out when I try to fabricate them and, literally, end up on the scrap heap.

I did discover something funny and potentially dangerous when working with tubing: when you apply fire to the piece after quenching the piece or pickling it, the water left in the tube quickly (in seconds) becomes steam and shoots out the ends. Scared the poop out of me the first time it happened! This necklace is currently available in my Etsy shop.

Posties - Bar

These have an industrial look, don't they? They remind me of piercing jewelry (but without the extra holes in your head - or wherever!). Kind of funky, they also have an almost classic look.

Another in a small series of post earrings I'm working on. Posties - Bar Earrings are available in my Etsy shop.

Posties - Round

Should I admit that these earrings were inspired by a towel rack I saw in a catalog? There, I just have. I definitely think this design will evolve as I make more of them. I also have ideas for other versions of these. I don't make very many post style earrings, I think, because I personally prefer dangly things, but I like how the design comes right out of the earring hole but isn't static like some other post earrings. The hoop can move around in the post. Also, it this particular design, some of the earlobe becomes part of the earring design, peeking through. I call them Posties (clever huh?) and they are available in my Etsy shop.

Transfix Sprout Ring

The latest in an occasional series of rings called Transfix because they are all designed around one side piercing the other. The new one, Transfix Sprout, is very graceful and fluid. I've been told it's really a heart even though *I* think it looks like a leaf and sprout. The other two Transfix rings are below.
These rings are fun to create and I really enjoy the organic feel of the finished design. The new one is made of a little heavier gauge wire than the last couple and also stands much taller. I'm a tall person, I guess I like making tall rings! Each ring requires quite a bit of work in tapering the one end, annealing over and over and hammering and filing, polishing, etc. Although they are one-of-a-kind, it's not to say I won't be making others really similar to the ones that exist.

Man Ring

My first real foray into men's jewelry. I have, in the past made a pendant (on the right), that was based on a more feminine version I was selling, as a custom order. And I recently made leeettle earrings for a male friend. But up to now, nothing in my Etsy shop specifically for men.
So I took it easy on myself and went for the clean, simple band, called Man Ring. Very heavy gauge sterling, hammered square and left with some of the hammering for texture. (Shhhh, I actually have something similar for myself) Although I think it's very masculine, a woman could just as well wear it. Bright and strong - just how I like my men!