Opals and Pearls

Sometimes it's hard to get work done during the winter months-- it's too cold and freezing in the shop just doesn't sound like much fun.

I started working with this dainty little 3-leaf flower motif a few months back. They look really easy to make, but you have to be careful--they are easy to melt with a little too much heat!

Here it is again but I've added a few more. I love how it looks! Sometimes you just have to play with a design and it's amazing what new ideas spring up! I've added little seed pearl drops to this one-- can't wait to wear them! I'll have to add some updated pictures of it.


Here is another new little design that I'm playing with. Since this is the time to celebrate Chinese New Years I created a "money plant" necklace. Still playing with the design.... I really want to incorporate more mother-of pearl into my work. We'll see what happens!

Little Drops Part II

Sometimes I just want a little earring that I can wear with whatever....

These little drops are made in fine silver with little 4mm light blue Swiss Topaz stones

New materials, New projects!

So I finally decided to try out some of those epoxy resins with my jewelry. I love the colors that are available--they remind me of hard candies!

(Sorry for the yellow-looking pictures-- it's freezing over here so that means taking pictures indoors)
Instead of finishing one project and moving to a new project-- I've been starting lots of little projects and not finishing anything! I have so many new ideas-- I want to try a little bit of everything.

The silver I use is fine silver (sterling for the ear wires). This resin stuff is so much fun and I love the endless array of colors you can create, but boy, this stuff can get messy! You really have to be patient too-- some of this stuff can take a few days to completely dry.

I can't decide if I like a matte finish (sanded) or glossy finish better! I go back and forth-- now everything is back to glossy.

More pictures to come!

Back in the shop!

It has been too long! Sorry for the absence but things have been so busy!

First off-- I finally got my own work shop at home that's finally operational! This has been a great thing and a long time in the making!



I've been working in a few different mediums-- resins and enamels-- I should have new pictures for you soon!

Here's a few pictures of a cherry blossom necklace with briolette cut pink tourmalines. this necklace and its matching earrings are both for sale at Spindle in Seattle!

I can't believe that I haven't posted these pictures yet!
Lots of new stuff in the works and now I just have to hunker down and set a bunch of stones! Luckily, we are well into fall in the Pacific Northwest and soon the rain will be keeping me indoors!

Nice cuffs

I can't believe I haven't posted pictures of these yet! Sorry for the delay in posts-- summer has been flying by!


These are the first cuff links I've made. These are sterling silver and the stones are golden obsidian. The stones have a lovely, warm gold hue--very unusual and different for obsidian. Some people believe that obsidian is too soft to be bezel set-- but I think for cuff links these should be fine
Wow--I love how these look! Sharp!

Rubies!

So I just got these beautiful man-made rubies. What are man-made rubies? These are identical to natural rubies except instead of being mined from the Earth, these were created in a lab. They have the same physical characteristics (hardness, color, crystal formation)-- it would take an expert to distinguish a natural-found ruby from natural man-made one.

(Check out the article in the June issue of Art Jewelry magazine too)
http://www.artjewelrymag.com/en/Magazine/Current%20Issue.aspx

These cute little Ruby Flower Drop Earrings are for sale at Spindle in Seattle--check them out!
She also has lots of cute items for yourself and your home!
http://www.spindleshop.com/



The great thing about these stones--they cost less than a found ruby but you get great quality--amazing clarity and color, plus the environment isn't destroyed searching for these!

These are little Ruby Jacks. As soon as I get my home studio up and running (I figure later this month)-- I'll make another pair to post on Etsy! I also have a matching Ruby Flower Drop Necklace in the works!

Collecting Pretty Little Dreams

One of the really fun parts of jewelry design is buying and collecting stones for future projects! Future jewelry dreams! I figure I spend about 20% of my time collecting stones and beads for some future project. Some times it's so hard to resist them-- it's almost like they look like little candies!

Pictured here are some opals, topaz, peridot, and rubies!

Also in the mix are a few earrings that are also in the work. Finished pictures to be posted soon!


I have stones that have moved with me from city to city--some that I bought in NYC and some that were gifts from friends that have traveled from the other side of the world!

Each stone has so much potential--the hardest part sometimes is finally deciding how you will finally set it-- sometimes there are just too many wonderful ideas!

Chakra Power!

So how are your chakras doing? What? I have chakras?

This one is for all my friends who love their chakras and want to wear a little something to celebrate their powers


In this pendant we have the following:
Muladhara--Garnet
Svadhisthana--Carnelian
Manipura-- Citrine
Anahata--Chyrsophrase
Vishuddha--Swiss Blue topaz
Ajna--Sapphire
Sahasrara--Amethyst

and in the center a clear quartz crystal!

This one is a proto-- more fun things to come!

I have another 2 chakra necklaces in the works and lots of earrings!

Bezels, Bezels, Part II

Finally! The second bezel ring is finished! Cushion cut pink tourmalines and oval gray moonstones set in silver and fine silver. I've had these stones for years! I think I bought the moonstones back in 2001 when I took my first metal class at City College in San Francisco! I didn't know, back then, that small oval stones are not the easiest to set when you're just a beginner, so I've been saving this stones for awhile now--waiting for the perfect project!

Here's a picture of the 2.
I love wearing them. You might think they're a bit much, but actually, they're quite easy to wear. The stones are small enough that they're not distracting.

So glad to have a dry, sunny weekend!

Little Drops--April Showers....

Just completed these for a custom order! They're so cute-- little 5mm swiss blue topaz drops set in silver

These will be so easy to wear-- I think I'm going to have to make me a pair!

As you can see in this picture-- the weather in Oregon has been a bit dreary! It would almost be perfect for working in the shop-- but man, it's still cold! I'm looking forward for the temperature to increase a few more digits!