Saturday, November 24, 2012

Today




My dad handed me these today and said "these would make a pretty piece of jewelry". He is always looking for and finding interesting tidbits.

Star seed pods! I was struck by how similar the shape was to my original star seed pod inspiration...





The centers of each form a perfect star. I am so happy to have been the recipient of his treasure hunt today. :)

Sunday, November 18, 2012

I love new tools

My latest acquisition is a digital caliper!  I've been wanting one for ages and finally decided to get one.  So glad I did....

 It came in a nice little storage box.


 Nice and secure for when I just chuck it in my drawer!



 Here it is in action. 






It even has a handy conversion chart on the back!

I bought this caliper from Rio Grande.  You can find it here.  I originally purchased it to help me measure wire for rings.  Since getting it I've been measuring virtually everything!  Stones and beads.  I've even been using it while designing to place components equal distances from each other.  

If you have ever thought that owning a digital caliper would be handy, the answer is yes!  I wish I had gotten one years ago.  There are many brands on the market, and many with more options than this one has.  I find this one to be perfectly suited for my needs and would recommend it.  





Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Custom




 My lovely client asked for a long necklace with a  large feather, the apatite and feather detail at the closure.  I modeled this piece on my "Embrace Change" necklace.  :)

A few new...


Sterling Melanite and Almandite Garnets
The setting was inspired by my recent Earth Moon Sun cuff.  The Melanite is a really thick cut, so I played a little with raising some of the other elements.  The faceted garnet on a thick slab platform, and the Woodland Rose on a pedestal.






 I love running things through my mill to get beautiful textures.  This one is a sea weed pattern.  Sort of scaly.  Sea dragons maybe?   Yes.  Now that I think about it they look like sea dragon scales!





 While making charm catchers for custom order necklaces, I decided that they would make great earrings as well!  This pair has already sold, and I like them so much I need to make more!



 More playing with textures on my rolling mill.  



 22 gauge sterling

20 gauge sterling

And last but not least, a few new pairs of fancy headpins for Ruby Mountain Metal



If you'd like to view my jewelry, it can be found by clicking 

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Turquoise Star Seed Pod









I've had this piece of Nevada Turquoise for nearly 4 years now.  I've always called it "The Robin's Egg" 

I had a request to make a star seed pod necklace with Turquoise and my client chose this beauty from my Turquoise collection.   I'm sad to see it go.  But at the same time I feel like I have done it justice.  This piece came together beautifully, and I really do love the star seed pod setting.  Especially since I have mastered the art of making the silver bullets.  :)

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Copper Headpins






New Copper decorative headpins!  Just listed in my Artisan Findings shop. 

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

It's Fall in Texas!



I did some Fall Gathering on my run yesterday morning.  Fall in Northeast Texas is strange.  We have a lot of trees that stay green year round.  The ones that do lose their leaves have a tendency to just turn yellow then quickly to brown.  We don't get the gorgeous displays of leaves changing colors on a large scale.  I'm always excited to find trees that are turning the colors I associate with Autumn in my mind.  Growing up in Northeast Nevada, the leaves did turn colors and fall to ground.  They blanketed our yard, and Mom and Dad made us help with the raking and bagging of leaves.  Of course we raked big piles and ran jumping onto them with glee.  All to be raked again and again into mounds.  And eventually having to bag them. 

Here Fall weather comes and goes.  Cool one minute.  Hot the next.  The month will be spent in this transitional phase until the weather finally decides to stay cool.  I can't wait.

As is typical for this time of year, I am crazy busy.  I'm working on not stressing myself out.  And making it a priority to exercise regularly.  It's the thing I need most, and the first thing to fall by the wayside when I get this busy. 

I have been happily busy with custom work.  And a large earwire order.  There at least a dozen things I need to do for RMM that I've not done.  I am, as usual distracting myself with making jewelry.  I'm trying to concentrate on making a line of affordable, all silver, rings that could be used for stacking or worn alone.  I had the happiest of accidents the other day while working.  I managed to make the most amazing texture on the wire I'll be using for the ring bands.  I can't wait to share!  Maybe tomorrow or even later today....   :)

I'd be lying if I didn't say that I wasn't nervous about today.  Election day.  I'm not going to get political.  I personally hate politics with my art, and don't follow any artists who are blatantly political.  It just turns me off.  So take it as you will, but nonetheless I have butterflies in my stomach. 

I've seen recently a few friends making statements about their work being copied.  I, like everyone have an opinion on copying.  My opinion is that copying is most certainly going to happen.  I take it as a given.  That being said.  I've felt the stab.  And it does feel like a stab.  A great sinking feeling right smack in the center of your chest.  For me though there has to be absolutely no doubt that your artistic abilities were taken.  That means to me an 80% or more has to be exactly the same.  Not the use of an element, or a technique, or the same commercial findings, beads, stones etc.   These things are all readily available and NOBODY owns the right to think they should be able to use them exclusively.

In the case of at least one of these friends, I've seen the copy.  It was a 90% rip off of this fabulous artist who has spent years refining her amazing style.  An artist who works from raw material and brought that design to life with her heart and hands.  I could feel her pain when she saw the copy.
I don't know.... it's a subject that will never go away.  It continues to rise and sink in my mind.

If you haven't yet, go exercise your right to vote!  See you all again soon.... 

Friday, November 2, 2012

November!

I can't believe it's November already.  I have been delightfully busy, with no end in sight.  I have a feeling it's going to be one thing or another from now until Christmas.

My Mom, Dad, Sister and her girlfriend are coming for Thanksgiving!  They'll stay about 10 days, and we have all sorts of activities planned.  I'm grateful and thankful that they can come to visit.

Halloween was a success! 

 The girls had a lot of fun.  The oldest was invited to go trick or treating with her friends, but we made her stay home.  She ended up having a blast, but I know she still felt left out on fun with her friends.  She moves on to Middle School next year, and I'm not sure I'll feel right about not letting her go out with her friends again.  My babies are growing up!


I just finished this piece yesterday.  Oh my God!  Can I tell you how happy I am with this?  My cousin wanted a cuff bracelet.  Approved the stones, and told me she wanted the Boulder Opal to represent the Earth, the Citrine to represent the Sun and Silver for the Moon.  :)


































Handstamped by me.  One little impression at a time.  Building a pattern.  This particular pattern shows up a lot in my work.  I'm struggling a little with what to call it.   It has so many layers of meaning for me really.  I think that's why I'm having trouble narrowing it down.  Sunburst, flames, leafy floral.  Peacock.  Phoenix.  Rising out of the flames, up from the ashes. 

Anyway, I like the pattern a lot and I'm sure you'll see more of it from me!  Have a great weekend all.