WIP Wednesday

Custom Summertime Necklace with Laguna Agate

Just listed...

 Doily Hoops.  I made these before we left for vacay.  It took a little trying of this and that to come up with a good ear wire.  I like my jewelry to be really functional and secure.  Once you get the hang of it, these are easy to put on and even easier to wear!

 Carry Earrings~ I made these before we left too.  They are a free form sort of elongated octagon shape.  I really wanted something other than just round,  square or rectangular.  In the end, this shape pleased me to no end.  And the finished product made me think of little bags that would be used for carrying things in.  And then that got me to thinking about all the baggage we carry around with us on a daily basis...

 Henna Earrings with roller printed and hand stamped detail.  Inspired by Henna tattoos, and with one of my favorite stones,  Iolite.  I just love this color!

 Battered and Blue~  This slice of sterling took a beating.  It is fantastically rustic, and imprinted with my new favorite Chrysanthemum pattern.  I added a beautiful 8mm Rainbow Moonstone.  I was also excited to try this type of bail with a rivet for the first time!  I rather like it!  :-)

 To confirm my suspicions that many times designs can be eerily similar without having been copied, I was happily reading my blog list this morning when I saw these almost exact hoops on someone else's blog.  The execution is different, but the overall design is the same.  These were the first things I made when we came home from vacation.   I had in mind that I wanted to try fold forming.  I didn't even look up how to do it.  I just flew by the seat of my pants, remembering a little of what I had read on the technique ages ago.  I knew exactly what I wanted to make.  Feather Hoops.  After I got that ear wire figured out on the Doily Hoops I knew I wanted these to have similar structure.  I love them.  I love the patina.  I feel like I need to make these in silver for the dark haired gals. 

Finally,   I am making, a few at a time little necklaces out of my antique mold collection.  Very reasonably priced, I hope they will be good for the Holidays and shows. 

Also, direct your attention to the pop of green pottery in a few of my photos!  My 10 year old wants to be a potter.  She's been taking private lessons this summer.  We are so blessed to have such great teachers in the area.  

My girl has decided that she wants to buy her own pottery wheel.  She found the one she wanted,  It's $ 650.  We are talking about a girl that when she gets money she has to spend it almost immediately.  I've been looking for the thing that I could use to help her learn a lesson in saving for what you want. 

My deal serves me as well.  I can't lie.  I've always loved pottery, and I've always wanted to try it out.  I told her if she save $ 300 by Christmas, I'd buy the other half for her Christmas present.    She's going to have to teach me how to use the darn thing, but I have great visions of making pottery.  In particular little dishes that can be used for holding jewelry. 

Her Dad doesn't think she can do it.  And told her so.  I didn't like that.  I want to teach her that if she wants something bad enough she can do what it takes to earn it. 

She already has it figured out where we can put the wheel.  Looks like I'm going to lose my shipping desk to a pottery wheel in my shop....She has $ 120 saved.  I'm really proud of her.  I think she'll make it!

All the new work is listed in my Etsy Shop

if you want to pop on over and take a peek! 

Seahorses

From the Secret Lives of Seahorses exhibit at The Monterey Bay Aquarium. These and the Jellies were my favorites. This is an amazing aquarium. Highly recommended!

Somewhere between Mammoth Lake and Lake Tahoe

Wagon wheel!





We loved the freckles on his hind end.




I got to introduce Smokey to my girls. Smokey is a fond childhood memory.

We got home last night, but I'm still on California time. It's 10:00 here, but I feel that it is only eight. I'm going to the gym in the morning and going into my shop to see what comes out after 10 days of traveling. My gamble on betting that silver would go down further has left me low on silver. I need to make some small things, they will be a good warm up after being away from the bench for 2 weeks. Now I must buy the silver, high as it is. And before it climbs higher. See you soon with something new!

Lake Tahoe

Winding up our vacation with 3 days in Lake Tahoe.






This 2.5 million dollar boat was the talk of the marina. It was in the process of sinking. One and a half stories of a 3 story boat were already under water. Yikes!




My view from the back of the boat.





The girls had a blast. Isabella drove the boat but I didn't get any pics of her with my phone though.




We anchored in a spot where we could see the bottom. All of us crazy birds jumped in the cold water. I could only stand to be in there for about 3 minutes.





Emerald Bay. My very favorite spot.




The sun setting over the lake.

We are heading into Reno tomorrow, and after a quick visit with my Aunt we'll be heading home.

As much as I have enjoyed our vacay, I can't wait to get home.


See you soon!

Jellyfish

Inspiration......















At The Monterey Bay Aquarium

Day 1 and 2

Room with a view




Quintessential San Fran icon




Trip to China Town




The Palace of Fine Arts. I will never tire of visiting this place.


The underside of the dome reminds me of honeycomb.





Golden Gate Bridge




The afternoon spent on the beaches of Santa Cruz.

For real this time

Ok. These really are the last pieces I made before we leave. I just can't seem to stop fiddling with this and that in my shop.





I started these awhile back. An experiment with the green patina.





Doily Hoops. I'm still not 100% certain about the hooks on these. They require a bit of wrangling to get hooked. But once they are on I love them. I really like my jewelry to be easy to wear and put on.





These have my new Fave Chrysanthemum print on them. I love the shape, and how they look like little bags. I'm calling them "Carry" earrings. They got me to thinking about all the things we carry with us. Both things that are seen and unseen.