Still Snowed In!

I'm still snowed in- can't get my car over the berm of snow created by the snow plows! I have so many ideas that I can't wait to start working on...It's so frustrating having all this time at home and away from work-- but no equipment to get any jewelry done! Oh well-- the shop is most likely an icebox right now.

I'm posting an older piece that I made a while ago. All handmade chain with a white moonstone set inside the medallion. I made a matching one for my best friend:) I have earrings with the same motif.

Roman Settings

I finished these earring awhile ago but it's taken some time to finally get pictures to post. These are hollow settings so they are light as feathers. I found some beautiful mother of pearl to set these with.

It's been snowing in Portland so I haven't been able to make it into the shop--very frustrating, especially since I have all this time from work ! I have several new pieces that I'm finishing up and hope to have new pictures up soon.

These Three Rings

I just started a collected of rings that I can mix and match with each other. So far I have a white moonstone, pink sapphire, and cushion-cut pink tourmaline. I twisted the wire for the shank, but I just bought some half round wire that would be fun to mix in with these. I also have some beautiful aqua blue swiss topaz and I'm looking for some fun green tourmalines or garnets too! Check back to see more!

Grapes!

I finished these last weekend and I can't wear them enough! The stones are white moonstones and the little "grapes" are tanzanite. I bought the "grapes" several years ago-- they were so yummy looking --I couldn't resist! I'm so happy that I finally was able to use them!

More Jewels...

I bought this stone while I was in NYC back in 2007 at Robert Bentley's. It's a rutilated pink tourmaline. If you're in NYC, I definitely recommend visiting Robert's show room. He has some of the most amazing stones out there--seriously! They are also very knowledgeable and very friendly. The chain is entirely handmade.

Granulation

I love granulation! Each one of the small dots has to be made individually and fused, one row at a time. You have to be careful-- not enough heat and they won't fuse and too much heat and the piece will melt and be ruined! I have set these with garnets. Eventually, I would like to begin working in gold-- as you can imagine--these earrings done in 20K would be very nice!

Rings and Things

I made this ring this summer while in NYC. The stone is untreated chalcedony--this picure doesn't do justice to the beautiful violet color it is! I've been working on a set of stacked rings--mxing in round and cushion cut stones (yummy pink tourmaline!). As usual, more pictures are in the mix!

Cherry Blossoms

Here's the picture of the Cherry Blossom Earrings I had promised. These are made from fine silver and the stones are beautiful cabochon-cut pink sapphires. These little guys are so easy to wear-- I plan to do some more in moonstones and some gorgeous blue Swiss topaz I just found!

Shop Stop

I rent use of the jewelry space at Shop People in Portland, Oregon. It's a great environment for creativity with artists from different backgrounds rubbing elbows at the same space. They also have a coffee shop and gallery up front-- as soon as I get my new cards, I hope to have a few of my items on display for sale!

On Sunday I finished some "Cherry Blossom" earrings-- I hope to have pictures up soon!

A Great Gift

This necklace is a favorite to give as a gift. All the links are hand made sailor links and the filigree clasp is so pretty--I like to wear it off to the side so it can be seen. I like to use fresh water pearls, but other gem stones could also be used. I'm working on matching earrings that incorporate the clasp and the pearl design-- I'll post them here as soon as they are finished.

My Favorite

This necklace is one of my favorites! If you go to the NY MET Museum you can see this same setting done in gold by the Romans! This one is fine silver and everything, right down to every link in this chain was hand made. The stone is a beautiful gray moonstone.

Getting Started!

Finally getting some pictures to post:) Working on getting more and better ones that have softer lighting--stay tuned!

Above is a picture of my Etruscan Leaf Earrings made in fine silver. These are about 35 mm high. I also make a smaller version (pictures are in the works). These are light as feathers and very eye catching!