Random

Today must have been "send random photos to Amy day". :)
My sister sent me this pic:




Snail in Utah

And my husband sent me this:




Lizard in New York

I'm so happy they did. So really. I'm officially declaring every day to be "send random photos to Amy day". Keep it clean. :)



In silver news I'm making this:



The stone is Riviera Jasper. It has been in the horde for at least 2 years. It's a custom order for a fabulous client. This piece is going to be big and beautiful.

It's bird week

I just pulled these sterling silver pieces out of the kiln. They are made out of PMC and molds. I love making my own components for use in my jewelry.
I'm really pleased with this batch of pieces. I think technically speaking they are my best batch yet. They still need more finishing. Sanding and polishing. Then they'll be ready to be made into jewelry!
I'm particularly excited about the birds. I love the peacock, and I see the birds as earrings, necklaces, maybe even rings!

Shop update

I added several pieces to my shop today.





















All these and more in my shop.

The Big Rock Ring

I've had a love for rings since I was a little girl. I was never the type of girl who planned a big, romantic, fairy tale type wedding. But I did know I wanted a big rock. ;)

This is a big hunk of silver that I added random facets to. Set on a beaded band.

I made the silver "stone" ages ago and it's just been sitting on my bench. I have a tendency to make components and leave them to wait their turn in becoming a piece of jewelry. I think I'll make more. :)

Dream Catchers

Still in process, but I'm happy with the way they are going.

I've been thinking of making dream catchers for a long time now. I want to explore this theme more.

http://www.dream-catchers.org

Here is a link to some info I found online. I'm in love with the idea that the webs catch the negative and allow only the positive through.

WIP

I made this today. At first I was thinking earrings, but I'm afraid they are a smidge heavy. 7.2 grams. Then I started thinking pendant. And that has me thinking about chains. I want to do a special handmade chain of some sort. I think ;

Anywho I'm continuing with the poppies.




Here are the first poppies. I have spent a lot of time thinking about the best way to form flowers. The 2nd go round I did two layers with poppies and a different center. I like them both. :)

A Beautiful Mess

A Beautiful Mess is a photo editing app I just found and started playing with.




I also am trying some new jewelry boxes. I needed something new :)

Meh...

I didn't exactly have a great day at the bench today. I had a ring to make for an order and ended up having to make it twice. Sometimes things just don't go as planned. I guess that's what I get for spending so much time away from my work shop :(

On a positive note, I did get the above ring finished. I'm back on the vintage inspired rings. :) I still want to have 10 made before I list them. This would have been the 4th, but my Mom bought this one:





And, I like the design so I think I'll make another. Sometime. :)

Summer has begun

It's official. We've been to the waterpark twice so far this week. I'm spent. My girls 11 and 8, each had a friend of the same age.




(Mine is on the right)

8 year olds and 11 year olds don't always want to do the same things. The big girls were all about the "Green Extreme" and the "Accelerator" the "Viper" and so on. The little girls loved the wave pool, the slides with the rafts, and the endless river.

They are all really responsible girls and really good swimmers and I knew they would be safe. But still. I can't relax. Things happen. I allowed big kids 15-20 minutes at a time on their own before I felt I had to locate them and make sure they were ok.

The little girls it was more like every 5 minutes. I'd read a page in my book, and then find them. But that was only when they stayed in one spot for awhile. The rest of the time I followed them around. All I have to say is: kids have a lot of energy. :)




I made this little bracelet for my daughter's friend for her birthday.
Today she asked me to make her some charms like these so she can add them to her necklace. :)

I am itching to make something. I haven't been able to just sit and make for awhile. I'm going to work all day tomorrow. I can't wait!

Last but not least I have a few pieces that have been finished for awhile that need to be photographed and listed. I'm making it a priority to get that done by the end of the week.

If you follow me on Instagram, you'll have seen pictures of my works in progress and the finished results too! I'm amy___nicole come follow me if you are interested in behind the scenes shots.




And last, but not least..... Team Jase!!

Colores earrings

Do you guys remember the Colores necklaces?





Well, I've been working on some earring ideas to go with them. The thing about seed beads is that when you buy them you get thousands of them! I need to find something to do with all of them ;)

And I just ordered more in pastels. I'm enjoying working with beads in the evenings while hanging out with the family watching movies.

If you follow me on Facebook, you may have seen my announcement about increasing the prices on the necklaces I have listed in the Colores collection. I had a feeling when I first listed them that I was pricing them too low, and I am. So, heads up to all my followers! I'll be raising the prices on listed necklaces this week when I hope to have some earrings and more necklaces ready to add.

I am loving playing with pattern and color, and these necklaces and earrings are perfectly lightweight for summer!

Wonder

This book is on my daughter's summer reading list. We got it on kindle and I read it in a few hours. It is heart wrenching sad, and heart warming good. It made me cry and have hope that children with differences all over the world have happy endings like Auggie Pullman.

This is a book written for the middle school age group. It is a fast read and a really great story about a kid with severe facial deformation.

Talking to my kids about acceptance of all people for all things is something I've made a priority. This book really made me hope that if my kids were the ones that had an Auggie in their classes they would be the ones with the courage to be his friend.