Just for me..

Over the Holidays, my cousin commissioned me to make a cuff bracelet for her Mother in law.  I had about a 4.5" strip of 18 gauge sterling sheet 1/2" wide left over, and decided to run it through the rolling mill until I could get enough length on it that I could make myself a cuff.  I think it ended up being maybe 21 gauge.  I don't know for sure since I don't have any calipers.  Which, btw are on my to get wish list.  I think they will come in handy especially since I'm processing my own scrap.

Anyway...The last cuff I made myself also had a similar silhouette, which I didn't realize until I thought to try wearing them together.   I guess I just love the scalloped edge!

This one I stamped in a concentric circle using 3 different sized dot stamps, with flowers in the center.  I set three 4mm iolite cabs on there because I love iolite.  It is a gorgeous shade of violet blue. 

The thinner gauge is ok, for me, but I wouldn't sell one that thin.  I've decided to offer it as a made to order item with choice of stone, in 18 gauge sterling.   I have it listed in my online store, but not yet on Etsy.  


I recently made myself a nice pair of sterling earrings too.  I don't often set about making something I know will be mine.  I have pieces in my personal collection that I have made,  but usually because they never sold!  lol  It's kinda nice to treat myself once in awhile.  How about you?  Do you make things just for you? 

Coming full circle....

The latest (and biggest!) in my Concha series.  This time in copper with silver as a highlight....

Coming Full Circle

A bit of a cliche I admit, considering it is a bracelet (circle!).  But, given that I've been working on this all week I've had plenty of time to think.  And what did I think of?

Pretty much what I think of every time I'm called to make conchas.  There is always a part of me that is surprised to find myself making jewelry with a distinct southwestern flair.  

As a youth, I was so familiar with this type of jewelry that it was just a given.  I wanted to see what other kinds of jewelry were out there, and for many years only collected "fine" jewelry.  

But here I am.  Making jewelry that is southwestern chic....I have this theory that many of us have the chance to come full circle.  There are those things that touch you along the way in your life, that you develop a great love for.  And then for what ever reason, you put it on the back burner and move on to other things.  But inevitably it seems we always come back to things that were true loves.  I'm grateful every time I get the opportunity to reaquaint myself with a past love.

This bracelet is rich with weight.  Two bezel set cabs of turquoise, each flanked by hand stamped conchas.  Little pops of silver on each piece as a highlight.  Sterling silver wire holds the components to the leather.  

And the leather!  Hand cut, hand dyed, and with a closure I came up with that I am calling the "corset closure".  I really wanted to do something other than snaps.  So, this cuff laces up the back, and has a sliding knot that can be loosened to make the cuff fit over the hand and then can be tightened back up.  

And....That's all I have this week.  I did get some PMC components made that I'm really excited about.  May is always super busy with the girls and their activities.  I spent a couple of days this week running the girls here and there, getting them both eye doctor appointments and new glasses.   Tomorrow we are going to stay at this big hotel in town that has an indoor water park.  Our Brownie troop is going as an award for their hard work selling cookies.  And the Mom's get to go too.  They let you get extra passes to the water park so Hubby is going to bring the little one to play too.  The girls are so excited!  They will not stop talking about going.  Me, I'm not as excited.  The girls are getting more and more independent, and we (the parents) don't really need to follow them around to make sure they're ok all the time.  But they are still too young to be unsupervised.  At least it is a cool group of Moms.  But I'm really not looking forward to the lack of sleep.  11 giggling  9 year old girls?  There's no telling what time they'll go to sleep!  :)  (I'm getting so old....)

Have a fabulous weekend all!