Thursday, December 30, 2010

Honeysuckle?


Pantones color of the year for 2011, named honeysuckle, even though I can't figure out why since the color is really more of a pink.

Anyway, I bought these for my husbands niece and then realized that they are the color of the new year!

Also, I've been using this app on my phone to blog and that's why my pictures are so gigantic. I need to figure out how to make them smaller when I have time.
**edited to add:

In person these were more of a pinky orangy...this picture really makes them look hot pink!

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Oh no.

It's actually not as much as I thought. Hmmmmmm.....

Torch fired enamelling


I've been experimenting with torch firing enamels.

I read somewhere that enamelling takes a minute to learn and a lifetime to master.

So far I'm having a lot of fun, but am quickly realizing that I would probably get better results with a kiln. And that my friends is a big expense!

Back to my experiments! :)

Torch fired enamelling


I've been experimenting with torch firing enamels.

I read somewhere that enamelling takes a minute to learn and a lifetime to master.

So far I'm having a lot of fun, but am quickly realizing that I would probably get better results with a kiln. And that my friends is a big expense!

Back to my experiments! :)

Friday, December 24, 2010

Sopapillas


Santa gets sopapillas when he comes to our house!

Santa Fe



                                  Just listed Santa Fe!  You can find them in my Etsy shop!  :)

Guideposts and Trifles

Winterberry

Huckleberry

Trifle earrings are a little not a lot, but still worth more than a jot.  Perfectly petite pops of color for your lobes...

I have been on a bead and wire wrapping kick. I have all these really lovely beads, and they've just been sitting in their boxes.

So, I combined larger gemstone beads with smaller beads on top. Just a little something. You know...a trifle.

The first two pair I made have reddish "berries" on top. I love that deep red color in the wintertime especially. I'm not sure why. I guess it just goes with the season.

Maize

Fiesta

Watermelon

Then 4 pair of Guidepost earrings. The sterling silver had been acid etched with a random dot pattern, and then I sawed them into different shapes. Such small beacons of light need a riot of color I felt.

I have one more pair coming.  Sometime today.  Maybe.  It's stormy, and I don't know if I'll be able to get good pictures.

I have had a lot of fun with these earrings, but I've wire wrapped so  many beads, that when I close my eyes.  I still see little wire wrapped beads.  And my carpal tunnel is all flared up too.

I think it will be back to smithing for the next shop update!  ;)

Thursday, December 23, 2010

A sneak peak!

Listings and more pictures to come later!  I've had so much fun exploring color combinations, and have found joy in the repetitive action of wrapping teeny tiny little natural and gemstone beads with wire.

I'll be back....eventually ;)

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!



Last night precisely at midnight, the chance to win this beauty ended.  

This morning, I included every entry on my blog, every person on facebook, and everyone who purchased something from my shop in the months of November and December...

Cut them all up,

put them into a box,

and asked my youngest daughter to pull a name out of the box...

(I thought it was more fun, but just as fair as the random generator)

and so, 

without further ado,

the winner of my Holiday giveaway, 

is.....

Diana Young!!!

I will be contacting you Diana to get your address!

Thank you all so much for playing along and for all of your continued support.  I hope you all have a very Merry Holiday Season!!!



Wednesday, December 15, 2010

A digital Nativity...

I'm not sure if it's a good idea, or a bad idea to post this. 
There is a part of me that finds it a little sacrilegious.
But another part of me that was quite amused.  
It blows my mind how times change. 
But the feeling stays the same....

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Concha Earrings

Teacher gifts!  :)

I really hadn't given much of a thought to teacher gifts this year.  Last year I gave bars of handmade soap from DeShawn Marie. 

This year I wasn't sure what I was going to do. 

Then I started getting some orders for some really nice teachers gifts.  Nicer than anything I've given teachers in the past. 

And I started thinking.  And then I started feeling like a cheapskate.  I mean, these ladies give a lot to my children.  I really wanted to do something special to show my appreciation for everything they do throughout the year.

Rounds of sterling silver, richly textured by a hand stamped pattern.  Stone beads securely wire wrapped to each.  Brushed by hand for a matte finish.  
About that hand stamped pattern....I sat down with my metal stamps and a piece of copper.  I began stamping, and this pattern is the first that came out.  I tried some other things, but nothing came as quickly or as easily as this one did.  

So I went with it.
A distinct Mexican, Southwest American vibe.  And as I sat sanding each patterned round, I realized that they reminded me of something.  

Conchos?  So I looked up Concho Jewelry, and sure enough....Very similar concept.  

I know it sounds crazy.  But sometimes a design comes from your soul, and this one came from mine. 

We recently  had a challenge with the Aspiring Metalsmiths.  It was to make something that represented where you came from.  

At the time I read it, I remember wondering what in the heck I was going to make that represented me, and where I had come from.  

My Mother is Mexican.  My Father always called himself a mutt, and my Grandma said, English, Irish, and German Jew.  And I know my Grandpa had a Native American Great Grandmother somewhere in the family tree.  

My people are from California, Nevada and New Mexico.  I am from the American West.  I grew up influenced by the Mexican culture, and it continues to influence my life today.

So when I made these, at a time when I just sat down intending to make some teachers gifts I came out with much more.  

Just sitting down and creating.  No pre planned designs in mind.  I am so satisfied at what I created.  I am really proud to give these gifts to some wonderful ladies this Christmas season.  

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Christmas cards!

I had the girls design and paint our Christmas cards this year.
By Isabella

By Isabella

By Adriana
I have the cards ordered!  I can't wait to see them.  If you'd like to see one of these cards in your mailbox, send me your address!  I'd love to send you a Christmas card.  amymarez@yahoo.com