Bone Earrings

I made a cute little pair of bone post earrings out of sterling silver wire. I have a bone bracelet in the works and then I think that will be it as far as Halloween and Day of the Dead designs go. I prob should have made some sugar skull designs. Come to think of it, I have a sterling sugar skull already stamped that's been floating around my bench for months. I think the bone bracelet may have just turned into a bone necklace to accompany the sugar skull!! :)

These beauties can be found in my Etsy shop.

It started with...

this custom order:








The design belongs to my client, I was just the monkey that made it.
This piece has a long and dramatic history and I don't go for drama. I love this necklace who was very nearly rejected, but had a happy ending after all.

The same time I started the custom orders I took a length of sterling sheet and sawed out three more crescent moons.







Sterling silver and Rainbowmoonstone








Sterling silver and labradorite








Rainbowmoonstone and lapis

I really enjoyed creating this little series! All these necklaces can be found in my Etsy shop. Http://amynicolejewelry.etsy.com

Elephant ornament

My handstamped ornaments were a hit last year! This year I am creating new designs. This one is an Elephant. The design has been stamped by hand and can be personalized with any name or phrase. This one is made in brass but I also offer it in copper and Nickel silver. You can find this listed in my Etsy shop!

Bones

I've been wanting to fabricate some bones for ages now and finally got around to giving it a go.








Sterling silver bones handmade from heavy gauge round wire. You can find these bone necklaces in my Etsy shop!

Under the Sea....

I made a ring a few years ago that I kept for myself, and is on of my favorite rings.  I call it my Barnacle ring.  It inspired this bracelet made of sterling silver and gems.  Iolite, lab Sapphire, Lapis, London Blue Topaz and Aquamarine have been added to this bracelet along with sterling balls. 

Just listed in my Etsy shop!  

The trekkiest

A few months ago I discovered that Netflix had all the Star Trek episodes on watch instantly.

I've seen them all before several years ago, but it's been nice seeing them all again.

I started with Enterprise, the last televised series in the franchise. This show went off air way too soon IMHO...





A lot of the time I don't actually watch the episodes, I'm mainly listening to whatever is going on.

After Enterprise I moved on to Deep Space Nine. I think this might be my favorite of all the series. The characters are diverse and complex. Lots of different alien species involved.





Now I'm on the 2nd season of Voyager...





I'm finding myself missing the Deep Space Nine characters.

My family thinks I'm crazy, but I really do love Star Trek. I've tried to get into Dr. Who, but I just don't get it. You'd think a person who finds Star Trek believable could enjoy Dr. Who, but I just don't find it at all believable. Oh well. Different science fiction strokes for different science fiction folks. ;)

I was surprised to read that Dr. Who is the longest running sci fi series. I'll never give up on my Trek though.

Also, in case there is any confusion...

Ever learning....

I estimate that I am still about 5,000 hours short on the reported 10,000 hours of work one must put into their craft to be considered a master.





I sometimes think that by about half way in I shouldn't be making the mistakes I do.

My worst enemy has always been lack of patience. I had to replace a stone in the above earrings, and I should have annealed the bezel before resetting. It has taken me making that mistake twice to finally get it.

I read recently a comment by another smith that gave me permission in my own mind to embrace the way I work as "acceptable". I guess being self taught does that to you. Doubt.

The comment was: I spend as much time finishing as I do fabricating.

I am always learning. I'll "try" ;) to stop myself from periodically wondering if I wasn't spending too much time trying to get something finished. I feel like I am just now beginning to fully understand how important finishing is. The filing, sanding, polishing.....and that leads me to another comment I saw a few years ago that I still remember.

That comment was by a fine jeweler who was appalled at the finishing he sees. Lots of great new designers, but terrible craftsmanship. Ouch!




I'm happier with these. No weird bezels ;)

I look forward to continuing to learn. I guess one day it will just all come together and I'll remember to do it all just right. At least I hope!

It felt good...

...to make something. Just a little something.





It's been so long since I've been in the studio. I say that. Really it's only been like 4 or 5 days. But it seems longer.

My days are filled with life matters. Paperwork, tax offices, auctions. Getting our personal taxes done after finishing the business taxes last week. Ugh. Being a grown up sucks.

Funny thing about being a grown up. I just noticed I was one after I turned 40. That kinda sucked. I need to get myself out of a funk! 40 isn't 60, or 80. 40 is just the beginning of middle age right? Gads, even admitting that depresses me! Do women have mid life crises? Ugh... All I know is after I wade through the muck and come out on the side of acceptance it will be really awesome.

I can almost see the spot where I can stand not giving a fig about what anyone thinks. I might just surprise you one of these days and tell you what I really think! About any and everything. It will be controversial, it will be fun (for me!), it will make us laugh, and it will make us cry. I'm in the middle of the mire but I can see the shore and I am rallying my strength to complete the journey.

Isn't life interesting?

New Earrings!

I began this series of earrings last year in December.  They have grown slowly.  All the while I have had a vision of what I wanted these earrings to be.  I wanted the craftsmanship to be perfect.  I must say that I am very pleased with the way they turned out. 

Ornate and elegant.  Sophisticated and beautiful.  Everything I was hoping they would be. 

I do have one problem though.  I envy artists who are able to put into words their exact inspiration.  Inspiration often comes for me as a thought that continues to grow and evolve.  Feelings and emotion all tangled in there as well.  I have trouble defining and communicating my inspirations. 

I began this series while deep in the throes of A Game of Thrones.  I have read all the books, and am currently watching the TV series on DVD.  I've always been fascinated with Kings and Queens,  Ladies and Lords.  The court and the finery.  Gowns and jewelry.  Swords, plate, crowns etc....

One of the reasons I have been so slow to put these up for sale, is that a name for the series escapes me.  I feel that the perfect descriptive name is just beyond my reach and I can't quite put my finger on it.  It's not Victorian, or Renaissance.  It's not Edwardian.   It still eludes me.  Maybe it will come to me and maybe it won't.  In the meantime my work must speak for itself.   Earrings fit for a Lady.

All these earrings have been listed in my Etsy Shop I hope you'll get a chance to stop by and check out the other photos. 

Coming soon...

I made a good luck charm. Sterling and lab Emerald. I have a few other green stones and plan on another necklace and maybe a pair of earrings. :)

I have three pairs of really lovely sterling and gemstone earrings that I need to photograph. I've been working on these off and on for the past couple of months.

I'm also currently obsessed with: Game of Thrones. The books and the TV series.
Alaska The Last Frontier.

I'm also avoiding: watching the last several episodes of Downton Abbey.

Doing the taxes.

Have a great week everyone.

Love Necklace

*Sold*

Oh my poor sad, neglected blog!  I'm not sure what my deal is with blogs and blogging lately.  It seems that I have just lost interest.  Pooh!  I only read blogs once in a while now, and as you all know I blog myself even less.  

I've not really been making much since the Christmas rush.  I guess I'm in a bit of a funk.  I did make this necklace with sterling silver and fresh water pearl.  I love the combination of oxidized silver and fresh water pearl.  It is rustic and elegant all at once.  

I am having a Valentine's Day sale in my Etsy shop.  20% off all ready to ship items.  

The social media place I am most active is on Instagram if you want to follow me there.   My account name is AmyNicoleJewelry.  

Have a great day all!  

Tomorrow....

I create! I hope. I've been filling orders, and have been fooling with some Amy style pet tags.













I'm using my brother's and sister's pets as testers on designs.

Except the yikes! one. Turns out that one was actually supposed to be Yipes! Thankfully it was for my brother and not a real customer. That would have been horrifying! And I've learned design ideas that I'll keep, and ones that I won't. I am being mindful of function. I'm taking my time developing pet tags I really love before I put them up for sale. :)

But really I haven't been feeling creative lately. I've been likening it to the times when farmers let the fields lay fallow. You know? Letting myself rest so I can be more fruitful.....At least that's what you hope it is. The other nagging voice is that you'll never have another good design again.

Happily I have a couple ideas floating around that I'd like to work on. First a Valentine. Next a belt buckle. Wanna know why? Because I want to see if I can. And ...my oldest needs to dress western :) Perfect reason to give it a go.

I am looking forward to spending some time making something tomorrow. I'll be back soon to share :)