Booooo!

The beads for the teacher's gifts came by Fed Ex tonight. The girls gave the teachers their necklaces on chains today. They both reported that they put them on straight away. But, I am still bummed that I didn't get to use the onyx for a bearded necklace. I am lamenting that they didn't made it on time. So, in trying to turn a - into a + I have pulled out my black cabochon box and am dreaming up a way to use those onyx beads after all! A couple of the stones in the black stone box are perhaps stones that only a mother could love. And that got me thinking about Don Norris and his thoughts on design. Don Norris, you'll remember, is my teacher from the one and only fabrication class I took. According to Don, when you have an ugly stone, you do elaborate silver work around it so the ugly stone is less noticeable. A pretty stone, you don't need all the extra mumbo jumbo. And I remember looking at him and thinking, "well, now why would you work with an ugly stone to begin with?" Beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder. It might be time to let the ugly ducklings fly!

Fiesta Del Sol

Cool Tools is having a contest.  The only requirement is to use one of their antique molds.  I chose these floralesque, sunburst oval shaped conchos.  Paired with two Kingman Mine Turquoise cabochons cut by Ed over at Stones in Motion on Etsy.   The conchos were made with PMC sterling.  It was my first time to work with it and I gotta say I LOVE it!  And I love this bracelet.  Really and truly.  I will be listing it in my Big Cartel shop after I find out I didn't win the contest ;-)   Oh!!!!  I really should be more positive!  :-)  Either way, it is a win for me.  I am anxious to build more bracelets! 

Oh, BTW.  I am asking for help in deciding which photo to enter the contest with.  Go to my FaceBook page and vote please!!!  

Keeping my fingers crossed

Tomorrow is the last day of school! I made these for the girls' teachers...





Now I am hoping that the black onyx beads I ordered to make the necklaces with come in today. If not I'll put them on sterling chains. Please beads be here today!

Just a peek...

Hammer elbow...

More commonly known as tennis elbow. Only I don't play tennis. Too much metal stamping and swinging that hammer. I'm starting to worry that it will be something I'll always have to deal with. I already have bouts of carpal tunnel syndrome. You guys oughta see me with all my braces on. Not pretty. I looked up proper hammering postures and such. Of course I've been doing it all wrong. It feels like learning all over again, but I really must try to baby my elbow. I also started lifting hand weights to strengthen my muscles and hopefully take pressure off my tendons. Anyone else out there with hammer elbow? What do you do to treat it? So, I spent the day fabricating. Easier on the old elbow. I made a bracelet to enter in the Cool Tools contest. Grand prize is $500. I'm thinking $500 worth of pmc sterling would be sweet!! She's in the tumbler now. I'll share with you tomorrow! <3

Moonstone Love

Wide band adjustable from size 8 up with a beauty of a moonstone

Aluminum

It's interesting to work with. Very light weight. Eerily looking like silver just sitting there. Pick it up and you can tell the difference immediately.

I'm making necklaces for my daughter to give to her friends.

Also, the letter font is new. I love it!

Butterfly

Taking a bit of a break from feathers and moving on to other winged things...

I stamped the radiating feather like pattern on the wings of the butterfly.  All metal is sterling, and the anklet is 9" in length.  It is already listed, and can be found here.

I have at least 3-4 design ideas in my head for anklets and bracelets, I wish I had the time to get them all out!  The girls are busy today with field day at school, they have a birthday party and piano recital tomorrow.  It will be one thing after another now until they get out of school next Thursday. 

Things will change around here when they are off from school.  I will gradually stay up later and later, in turn sleeping in later and later.  It is lovely that the girls are old enough to be trusted to entertain themselves in the mornings.  I will have no schedule at all, unless I impose one, which I've never been good at doing.  This also means that my working hours will change, there will be girls to entertain after all!  I'm a little bummed, because I feel like I am just getting my confidence back as far as my work is concerned.

I spent too long questioning myself, and worrying about what someone else thought.  I guess it's good once in awhile to be shaken, it sort of forces you to examine yourself truthfully.  It just sucks when you do all that examination only to find out you were ok in the first place.  I'm not going to let anyone do that to me again.  Life is too short, and I need to remember what and who truly matters to me.

Sorry for getting deep on you....;-)  Have a great weekend all!  It's a three day weekend here!  Yippee!!

Feather Anklet

I've got summer on the brain.  I guess it's because the weather here has turned HOT and there is a lot more skin showing that begs to be adorned!

Brace yourselves!  I am officially hooked on the feather.  I just adore this anklet, and it has already inspired a bracelet that I hope to get made today.  It seems I have shied away from making anklets and bracelets.  I think it's high time that was remedied.  So, you will be seeing feathers from me until I get it out of my system and then I'll move onto something else.

Feel free to recommend something that my brain can brew on for awhile.  These feathers have been brewing in my mind since a friend asked me several months ago if I could make dream catcher earrings.  The hurdle had been coming up with a feather design that I loved.  I'm working up to the dream catcher earrings.  :-)

This has been listed in my Etsy Shop.  I can adjust the size if need be, and I also think it would make a really cute bracelet too! 

At the post office...

:-)

Revelation WIP

Anklets! It is almost summer time after all! I can't believe I've not thought to make any before. Woo hoo!

WIP

Feather in the Wildflowers

I wish you could see the details better, handstamped floral pattern on the disc. The feather has been imprinted with a real feather.

I've been thinking a lot about dream catchers lately. The design is based loosely on dream catchers.

I'm going to put the pendant on a long chain with different stones wire wrapped on it.

Sunstone and iolite and maybe others, but I haven't quite been able to decide which other stones...we shall see! ;)

Last time today, I promise!

Oh my, is this not the funniest thing ever?

Ok seriously, I need to get off the computer now... ;)

Food for thought..

This one is for those of you out there trying to run your own small art business.

http://designinganmba.com/2012/04/18/what-your-price-says-about-your-brand/

Why is this always so hard?  Ugh.  I had a friend and colleague send me a message today to tell me that she loves my new work, and I need to raise my price on the Sea Horse necklace. 

I look at a lot of handmade jewelry.  I think to myself all the time that people need to raise their prices.  Why is it so hard to see it in your own work? 

The sweet spot.  I like it. 

Thank you Carole for the kick in the arse.  I did indeed raise the price on that seahorse... ;-)

New work..

 Rose cut faceted Prehnite

 Large sterling silver discs imprinted with a floral pattern

 On bezel ear hooks

 Sterling Silver Sand Dollars with Fresh Water Pearl

 

 More bezel ear hooks

 Rose cut faceted London Blue Topaz

 Large Sterling Silver discs imprinted and hand stamped with a Cornflower pattern

:-)

All these earrings are really special.  I made all the silver components of these earrings out of my scrap sterling.  That my friends is a long drawn out process,  but I find it amazing and utterly fascinating that I can take a pile of metal scraps and turn them into something beautiful. 

It is truly a labor of love.

I also explored a novel way of adding a stone or pearl to a design other than my usual of a bezel setting on the focal.  My Prim & Proper earring I made last month inspired my brain to think of using the small bezel set stone as the ear wire it self.  

I am looking forward to exploring this concept more.  I have a lovely client who has suggested making earrings that can be worn with interchangeable pieces.   This concept would be perfect for that idea.  

I have a fabulous stone supplier whose stones are so gorgeous.  Pricier than most on the market but worth it.  I am never, ever disappointed by these stones.  This time around I worked wit rose cut stones in Prehnite and London Blue Topaz.  

The gorgeous green glow of prehnite is perfect for this time of year.  And London Blue Topaz?  Well, I have long loved this stone but this is my first time working with it!  It is generally pricey, but my is it worth it.  Golly I love these stones.  

All these earrings are special in different ways.  The sand dollars are a companion piece to my Seahorse Necklace

Because this time of year the sea beckons to me.   And I can't help but answer her call.  I'm certain I am not finished with ocean themed jewelry. 

The Prehnite with the flower doily's are so fresh and lively.  They are announcing that Spring is here and Summer is just around the corner.

The Cornflower earrings are my especial favorites.  I am utterly captivated by the pattern.  And paired with the London Blue Topaz?  Oh catch me before I swoon!!!!!!!  

:-)

I will be taking reserves on these pieces.  If no reserves are taken I will be listing them in my Big Cartel shop in a few days.   Please contact me at amymarez@yahoo.com with any questions you have about these earrings! 

New stuff...

New leather cuffs for summer with hand made sliders on them!  :-)  Love, love, love these!  Especially the cornflower with Labradorite.   Yum! 

A Seahorse necklace.  I also have 3 pairs of earrings that are some real beauties!   I just don't have the desire to get them photographed and listed right now.  My butt has been sitting here for hours and I need to move! 

I also added 5 pairs of simple sterling silver and gemstone earrings to the shop as well. 

I hope to be back tomorrow with the earrings.  TGIF!  I hope you all have a fabulous weekend.

These pieces are all listed in my Etsy shop.  I am offering the leather cuffs with your choice of color on the bracelet.  15 colors to choose from!  I hope you'll get a chance to check it out.