This one has a story...

It all began with a request to make the above earrings in a different size.

The buyer said she liked to wear "huge but light weight earrings", 

and could I make these in a 2.5" diameter?

So, I had some 24 gauge copper on hand, and made the first earring.

When I tried it on I quickly realized it was way too heavy to be worn as an earring.

I ended up making them in 26 gauge which worked out well, and got the earrings shipped off to the customer. 

I was however, left with the first piece I made. 

Now, I've never made earrings that were 2.5" wide.  I'm not sure I've even made a pendant 

that big before! But I thought this would make a gorgeous pendant.

But, it needed something really special to go along with it.

Something just as big and fabulous.

So I pulled out this strand of rough cut, BIG blue quartz beads that I've been hoarding for a year.

So.

Perfect.

The color of these beads is sort of an icy aqua color.  

So delicious.

And to give you a sense of the scale of this piece.

It is a rich and weighty necklace.  Not for one who doesn't want to be noticed, 

because this piece makes a statement.

********

And, on another note,  

I got my rolling mill home!!!!

I dragged a friend with me to pick it up. 

(What a trooper!)

It is currently resting on a table in my garage because it was so heavy all I could do was drag it onto a table from the bed of the truck.  

I can't wait for my husband to get it bolted down so I can give her a spin!!!!

And on one more note, I got a confirmation of sorts today about something I've long suspected.

How many of you have had people you know ask you for a quote to make something for them, and then when you give them the quote, you get the sense that they think it's way too expensive?

I'm not talking about Etsy buyers.  I feel that most people who buy from me on Etsy are quite savvy and now exactly what they are getting.  In fact I think they are probably some of the smartest buyers around considering most of us still don't charge what our work is really worth.  

I'm talking about "friends" or  friends of friends that heard you make jewelry.

It just really irks my gizzard.  I don't know if it's just ignorance.  Or if they really think that I'm trying to gouge people with my prices.  I mean seriously.  Have you seen the price of silver?  Is my time worth nothing?  Do you think I take time away from my kids trying to improve my skills so I can make you a necklace?  And that I should be happy to do it for next to nothing?   That the supplies and tools themselves aren't a fortune?  

I just have one question.  Do you expect to get paid when you do your job? 

Ok.

I just had to rant a little there.  

And now I will let it go, because it doesn't do any good to rant.  Maybe I'll be in a better frame of mind to want to educate people in a nice way sometime.  

But not right now.