Prong Setting

Being a self-taught metalsmith means that a lot of what I do is trial and error. Unfortunately mostly error! When I do try something new, I often make silly mistakes that a teacher would (hopefully) warn me against. My latest "learning experience" was one of those little mistakes: I tried a prong setting with a tiny little 3mm (did I mention it was small?) cubic zirconia. I eventually succeeded, but the dents in the wall from throwing tools illustrates why you should learn this technique with something a bit larger. The frustration level got pretty high while trying to solder the prong wires in a tiny space, hold the bitty CZ while trying to place it, and set the prongs on the little stone (did I mention it was small?). When will I ever learn to think these things through just a bit before I start off on these adventures?

That said, this cute, little (did I mention it was small?) Sweet Heart Necklace is now available in my Etsy shop.

Molecule Necklace

I'm trying to be better about listing new items in my Etsy shop. Really. (I'm just lazy about taking pictures is all.) So, here's my stunning, sterling Molecule Necklace. I like bib style necklaces and want to make more of them. With the right outfit, they can be real showstoppers.

For this necklace, each circle is individually made, then arranged and the whole thing is meticulously soldered. While I do recreate this design, each combination of circles and layout is different, making each necklace unique and one-of-a-kind.

Demispiral Earrings

Well, I was trying to break the record for the longest time going without listing anything new in my Etsy shop, but I don't think I made it. Yeah, it's been a while. No excuses, just laziness. But I did it! I finally listed my Demispiral Earrings.

I've been making these for a while and selling them at the Portland Saturday Market. They are a very popular style for me and I've been meaning to get them in my online shop and well... Anyhow, these little beauties are sort of like gauged earrings for people who don't have/want gauged ears. Just slip them in your earring hole and you're good to go. Demispiral Earrings can now be found in my Etsy Shop.

Numbers

I don't know if I'd call it a milestone,

but I like when numbers like this come up.
Huzzah!

Opening Day of the Portland Saturday Market

Today was opening day for the 2010 season of the Portland Saturday Market. The 37th season! It was a perfectly beautiful day and a huge crowd was out. (Some in tank tops! in March!) Also in attendance were some of the local media covering the event. A reporter from the Oregonian came by to chat with me and I was featured in his article, along with a few of the other vendors. It's sweet to be in the paper - even if he didn't get all the details quite right (um, I didn't do environmental work for 20 years, but hey, what's 10 years between friends?). Although it's a ton of work (the constant upkeeping of stock, setting up my booth twice a week, etc), I enjoy the market a lot: the camaraderie, chatting with my fellow sellers and the customers, the instant feedback on my work, and spending beautiful summer days hanging outside. And, most importantly, the Market allows me to make a living, doing what I love, working for myself, with great people in a community that is very supportive of local artisans. I hope today's happy crowds bode well for a prosperous season for all the vendors.
Photo by Oregonian photog Motoya Nakamura

Chartreuse Orbs

Couldn't resist. These big o' tasty chartreuse green beads practically screamed out at me from the website I saw them on, so I had to buy them. The beads are 22mm - just under 1" round. I've paired them here with two small square glass beads and a length of oxidized chain. They dangle a shoulder-dusting 3.25" total. Tasty, no? I call them (cleverly enough) Chartreuse Orbs and they are available in my Etsy shop.

Cube Studs

I don't usually make little, tiny things. Most of what I make leans toward the chunky, dangly, bigger side. (Guess it's because I'm big.) I had a smaller piece of some heavy square stock and thought how cute it would be to saw off little squares of it and make little posted studs. Voilà!

I think they are so cute. Solid sterling squares that are 1/8" on a side. I call them Cube Studs. Available in my Etsy shop.

4000 Hearts

You like me, you really like me! ... Or maybe just my Bitty Swirls

Festival Malachite Earrings

Another version of my Festival earrings. These lovelies with a forest green malachite. Festival Malachite Earrings are available in my Etsy shop.

Rainfall Necklace

Actually, this is a new version of a previous design. This style of necklace, with a bold graphic in wire hung from tubing on a thin black cord, is something that I really enjoy creating. I love the clean, modern line. Modern, but also somewhat tribal. Really appeals. I've done others of these and there will be more in the future. The response to them has been very positive, which is even further encouragement to continue making them! I currently have another design in stock, but don't yet have a photo of it. This particular piece, Rainfall Necklace, is currently available in my Etsy shop.

Valerie Earrings

I love when my customers suggest something that's a great idea that didn't necessarily occur to me. I created a necklace that used these elongated riveted loop elements with a bead as part of the chain. The customer asked if I make earrings like that. *doh!* Well, I do now! I currently have them available with three different beads: a warm, orangy red aventurine, a cool green aventurine and sweet yellow jade (see photo). I've oxidized the loop, then tumbled it for a nice gun-metal grey. The earwires wrap around the top. A design that I'd like to think is sort of unique. I call them Valerie Earrings and they are available in my Etsy shop.

Starry Night Necklace

A new design that's actually an old design. The original (which has already been sold) was something I made and it sat and sat on my bench. On one recent foray into bench cleaning, it got put in the "I've got to do something with this" pile. I did. I finally cleaned it up, oxidized it, brushed it, tumbled it and put it on my table at the Saturday Market. It sold the first day out. Seems people really like things like moon and stars (and hearts and suns and stuff like that). So I made more. Here's the Starry Night Necklace, available in my Etsy shop and on my table at the Saturday Market.

Festival Carnelian Earrings

Brand new! Bezel set 8mm carnelians are the focus of these fun danglies. I'm liking this design and may expand it to necklaces. Guess I'm just partial to curly things...






I call them Festival Carnelian Earrings and they are available in my Etsy shop.

Lamore Ring in Celadon

I have this ring in three colors: a burnt orange, a lovely purple and this light mossy celadon. The flower is of vintage Lucite with a small glass, ivory-colored bead for the center. It's riveted onto a wide (.25") sterling band. This is the first one I've made in the green. The Lamore Ring in all three colors is available in my Etsy shop.

Forest Fably Necklace

Another take on a design I've made before. It was similar, but, um, different. The large honey-colored agate is bezel set in sterling. Oxidized and brushed back for an antiqued feel. Chalcedony heishi decorate the chain, which clasps in front with another swirl. The pendant of this necklace is almost 4" long. Not for the faint of heart! This is what you wear when you are galumphing through the tulgey wood. If you are going, you can get this Forest Fably Necklace in my Etsy shop.

After The Rain Stacking Rings

This is actually a design that I've made before. It was a while ago and I only made one. I saw it again when I was flipping through my design sketch book and thought I'd made a newer version of it. This time I've forged a wider, heavier hammered band for the main ring. The two side rings are also heavier and hammered. It gives the whole thing a more organic feel. I like the look of the three rings not being the same width. And, of course, they can be worn together or individually. Obviously, due to the way the mushrooms? droplets? antennae? are created, each ring is one-of-a-type. This one is a size 7.5. I call this design After the Rain and it's currently available in my Etsy shop.

15

Fifteen. At the time I'm writing this, that's how many sales I am away from the huge milestone of 1000 sales. I've been trying to be cool about it, but I'm obsessively checking my shop (not that I don't check it a bazillion times a day anyway). And, of course, sales have slowed to an absolute crawl. It's like turning 40; it's just a number, right? Wrong, I'm way excited about it. Come on 15!

Caught Necklace

I had been doing a few Floating Heart necklaces and was making another when one thing lead to another and I created this one with a sort of web in it. It can mean many different things to different people. I know what it means to me, but I ain't tellin'. Because of the way they are made, this necklace is one-of-a-type (I may make more, but none will be exactly alike). This Caught Necklace is available in my Etsy shop.

Twitter

Soooo, I joined Twitter. There's a part of me that feels like I've gone over to the dark side. I started an account not because I think there's anyone out there that really cares what I had for breakfast, but I'm seeing if it will drive any people to my Etsy shop. I'll give it a go for a bit and see if it results in traffic. It's all about marketing. Now that's the dark side!

Sway Earrings - Bevels

Created from the bevel pieces used for making beveled glass windows, these new earrings catch and refract the light. They are foiled and soldered using the stained glass technique. I've hung the 1" squares on the corner for a bit of diagonal dash.



Although they are glass, they aren't too heavy, but have a nice weight. Another addition to my Sway Earring line, these Bevels are available in my Etsy shop.