Sidewalk Score!

I live in a neighborhood where, on occasion, people will leave out a box in the easement in front of their house. This box, a "free box," will have stuff they don't want anymore but don't want to landfill, so they hope someone will take it home. Generally, it's junk or books or clothes. Sometimes there's cool stuff - I guess almost everything is cool to someone - and I'll often check out a box as I walk by with the dog. I've been known to pick up a book or two or a plant pot or such. Yesterday, I peered into a free box sitting out and found this. Score! A vintage Leonard silverplate candle holder. It's actually in pretty good shape, just very tarnished. The last picture shows an attempt at cleaning part of it. This is going to take a while - and some elbow grease, but I think it will clean up well. Groovy, huh?

More Chiaroscuro

I so like the contrast of the oxidized vs. non-oxidized sterling together in one piece, that I've created some simple yet striking earrings that feature this. Pictured here are the bigger hoops - still only about .75" - of the two sizes of these that I've made. I'm also liking the pairing of the basic, plain hoop with an earwire that's just a little out of the ordinary. The hammered wrap still allows the hoop to swing, but it's something different than the usual wire. This line is called Chiaroscuro (Italian for the play of light and dark). These are called Chiaroscuro Hoop Earrings - Bigger. Find them in my Etsy shop. A slightly smaller version is also there.

Sweetheart Mint Necklace

Going through my stuff looking for something, I found this heart link chain that I must have bought for last Valentine's Day and did nothing with. I pulled it out and paired it with these tiny Czech glass beads. The beads were used for an earring design that I don't sell anymore, so I had a few different color pinks, some red and a delicious iridescent green. The beads are clustered at the center and then sprinkled up the rest of the chain. It's a little different for me - a beaded chain - and it's also longer than I usually make at just over 24". The finishing touch was the decision to oxidize it which really makes the little spots of color pop. I think it would be perfect for that little black or red Valentine's dress. I call it Sweetheart Mint Necklace and it's currently available in my Etsy with free shipping (in the US only).

Today's Reality Check

"Displaced by war: A Pakistani child waits with women from the Bajur and Mohmand agency tribal region to be registered at the Jalozai refugee camp near Peshawar. More than 200,000 people have fled the fighting in the region to camps in Afghanistan and Pakistan."

Sproing Ring

Talk about evolution! The original design for this ring looks nothing like how this turned out. It's sort of a mish-mash of that design and my trying to figure out spinner rings. (A friend had left me her spinner ring to fix, so I got some "huh, how do they do that?....ooooohhhh" time with it.) And no, this isn't my version of a spinner ring though the rings do spin. Sort of looks like a spring that's sprung, hence the name Sproing. It's one-of-a-type and currently available in my Etsy shop. It's cute, huh? Vaguely anthropomorthic or bug-like or robotic. Or Sproingy.

Aperture Earrings

A new series of inexpensive earrings I've recently created based on simple earwire designs that have a small gap (or aperture) that is gently flexed to the side to slip onto the earlobe. They are all available in my Etsy shop.

The Inauguration

I consider myself more politically aware than the average bear. I've been voting since I was 18 years old. Now in my 40s, I can say this is the first time I voted for someone as opposed to voting against his or her opponent. Today as I watched the inauguration proceedings, I was genuinely moved and proud to be an American. I don't know if it's because he's the first African-American elected and it feels like we taken a giant step in that regard, or if it's his youth and charisma or his apparent straightforwardness - a welcome change. I don't know how Obama will do, he's got huge problems on his (our) plate, but I have faith - for the moment - that his intention is true and that he has the power to provide inspiration to a country that disparately needs it. The last 8 years have been a national and international nightmare. Perhaps we can begin to wake up from that and face a new, brighter day.

Floating Heart Necklace

Sweet sterling heart in time for Valentine's Day.
This Floating Heart Necklace is in my Etsy shop.

Groovin' On A Sunny Afternoon

Chiaroscuro Twist Earrings

I'm really fond of the look of tumbled oxidized sterling. It becomes a stunning, shiny gunmetal grey. Here is what I hope is the first in a series of pieces that contrast the gunmetal of the oxidation with non-oxidized sterling, both brought to a high shine. The word chiaroscuro is Italian meaning the play of light and dark. It usually refers to painting and drawing (Caravaggio is a prime example), but I thought it was fitting here too. I call these Chiaroscuro Twist Earrings and they are available in my Etsy shop.

Roco Earrings

Roco Earrings, oxidized brushed back sterling, hammered and riveted. In my Etsy shop.

Geometry Earrings

New design. They weren't originally supposed to be asymmetrical, but hey, design happens. With the first one I put together, the larger ring was just a bit too small to sit directly half and half through the rectangular piece. It really worked for me. Guess I'm just an asymmetrical kind of gal! They sat on my bench a couple of days while I picked an earwire I liked and decided to go with the loops I use a lot because I liked that they reflect the circles. Repeating patterns are another of my design fallbacks. I'm liking the strong clean lines and the high polish of these earrings. I call them Geometry Earrings and they are available in my Etsy shop.