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'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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Like a talisman, this handsome hematite bead hangs on an extra long sterling chain. Hematite is said to be a good healing and grounding stone. The sleek hourglass shape feels wonderful in your hand (and it's fun to fiddle with). I call it Juncture Necklace and it's available in my Etsy Shop.
Another creation from the metal thingees I got at the hardware store. These Riddle Earrings have a wonderful chartreuse bead. I just love the yummy color, and the shape reflects the steel disc and the holes. I used oxidized earwires with them for a bit of
contrast. Of course, any bead can be used. Because the discs are so light, even a larger bead wouldn't make them too heavy for comfortable wear. There is something about these found discs that I really dig. I guess I'm just a circle person. Or maybe I'm holey.
I love learning new skills and, of course, I always want to improve and expand my jewelry making. I've just started making bezels for holding stones. It's one of the things on the long list of new techniques that I want to learn. I'm mostly self-taught, so it's sometimes slow going to pick up new things, particularly if I don't have the tools (or the correct tool).
work. This was taking a LONG time. Hours. Then the best bit broke. *much gnashing of teeth* The next day I run out to the hardware store where I spend $7 on a new drill bit. Back at home I finish drilling the holes and link the shell pieces together. Just as I'm about to finish and box up the necklace, one of the pieces breaks just where the hole had been drilled. I file down the shell piece and try to make it look natural, drill a new hole, attach the wire, and gingerly put it in a box before anything else happens. The necklace is now winging its way off to the customer and I think she'll be pleased. I do not blame the customer at all, but she gotz herself one heck of a deal. Between the time it took to finish this little project and having to spend on a new bit and all, I think I actually lost money on this one. Live and learn?
So I had to go to the hardware store for a couple of things and, being a sucker for hardware stuff, I spent some time wandering around. I found these thingees - I honestly don't know what they are "supposed" to be for - and thought I could make some jewelry out of them. Took them home and started to play with them. They are steel and lightweight and have all those wonderful holes
in them. Lots of possibilities. Of course the first thing I did was blast one with the torch to see what would happen (me loves my fire!). I LOVE the rusty patina that came out of it. Pair them with some contrasting
sterling earwires and BAMMO! groovy, slightly steampunky earrings. There are so many other things that will be made from these. I love when jewelry making is so fun and spontaneous. I call these new ones Riddle Earrings (Rust) and they are available in my Etsy shop.
I was asked to make a pair of my Lana Hoops a little different than I have them listed. This customer wanted them longer , oxidized and she wanted 14k gold earwires. On my suggestion, I tumbled the oxidized hoops to a wonderful gun-metal gray. I think it works really well with the gold. I love making custom orders and it's fun sometimes to see what ideas others come up with that (I hope) I can make real. It's also fun to see a "gee I love these earrings but would love them better if they did this..." idea. My customer was really pleased and that makes me happy too.
On a whim, I bought this rolo chain when putting in a supply order. It's small gauge, but because it's rolo, it's got a really nice weight to it. I stared at it for a while, played with it in my hand, trying to decide what to do with it. I finally chose just to let it be, to let the tight sparkly links speak for themselves. So
I made simple, long, dangly post earrings that I'm calling Trickle. The small links make them lightweight, but they have a little heft giving them a nice swing. Simple and elegant and fun and sparkly. Available in my Etsy shop.
I find something really sweet about this new necklace I call Primavera Posy. It's kinda got that 60s mod thing going, I like the verigation in the "leaf" beads, it's simple and charming. I'm trying a new clasp system of two hooks instead of a hook and eye.
Curow Earrings are another example of jewelry designing on the fly (and one of the things I like about jewelry making). These started out as a very clear picture of what I wanted to do, but several of the elements didn't work out - the hinge, for example, needed to be modified to function and hang how I wanted. They originally began as hoops. For me they didn't have the right look and so I altered them to hang, changed up the earwire and oxidized them. I'm pleased with what did eventually result. I may attempt something similar, but this pair is a one-of-a-kind and now available in my Etsy shop.
De La Sol Earrings. A splash of sunshine of bright yellow fluted glass rounds and vintage Lucite cylinders. Hanging on rectangular oxidized sterling wires. Available in my Etsy shop.
