New jewelry...

I have quite a few new pieces ready to list on Etsy and share! :) I love making jewelry, but have to admit I despise photographing it! I guess that's why I'm such a procrastinator when it comes to listing new pieces!

I have a few new wire-wrapped pieces, but mostly I have been experimenting with other techniques...forging, stone setting...

The thing I like best about making jewelry is that there is always something new to try. Although I would LOVE to go back to school and get a degree and learn the ropes in the classroom, for now, I'm left to my own devices. So, I just try to keep adding a new skill. I have to admit sometimes it can be challenging and frustrating, and it would definitely be easier if I had an instructor showing me the way, but teaching myself has it's advantages too...I guess! ;) LOL

Last week I worked on fine silver fusing. I know, you would thing as long as I've been making jewelry and using the torch, that I would've tried this ages ago, but I guess better late than never! :) Of course, you know me...I never start on a small scale...so, I've been making a chain. I have to say fusing is a lot more challenging than I thought it would be. I've soldered 26 and 28 gauge sterling with know problem, but boy, it's easy to totally melting the fine silver! :) Any tips any of you would like to share?

...but the chain is coming along nicely. I'm actually going to use it as a charm necklace and filling it with handmade charms! So, I can't say that I will work with fine silver that much on this large of scale in the future, but I will definitely use it for wire wrapping foundations...and at least I can say I know how to do it! :) LOL

New jewelry will be arriving @ artSHAK studio + gallery...

Just shipped 21 new pieces to artSHAK studio + gallery, in Southport, NC!

My Year of Jewelry...day 8...

Ice Queen - Earrings

This pair of handmade hoop earrings were crafted out of 14K gold-filled wire. They feature carved genuine crystal quartz beads, and are adorned with freshwater cultured pearls that dangle on vermeil headpins.

These earrings measure just under 1 3/4" in length (from the top of the hoop to the bottom of the center briolette) and are 1" in width at their widest point.

My Year of Jewelry...day 7...

Ocean Potion - Earrings

This pair of handmade hoop earrings were crafted out of 14K gold-filled wire. They feature a variety of high quality faceted gemstone beads. The large center briolette is London blue topaz. They are also adorned with aquamarine, peridot, and London blue topaz and sky blue topaz rondelle beads.

These earrings measure 1 3/4" in length (from the top of the hoop to the bottom of the center briolette) and are just under 1 1/8" in width at their widest point.

A piece of jewelry a day keeps the doctor away...

Ok...so I'm running a little behind posting pictures, but my New Year's resolution to make (or at least work on) a piece of jewelry a day is going well! It's definitely relaxing doing something you love! :) Although taking pictures still stress me out! LOL

Still have a few more pieces to take pictures of...

My Year of Jewelry...day 6...

Having a Ball...

This pair of hoop earrings were handcrafted out of sterling silver wire and feature freshwater cultured pearls.

These earrings measure just under 1 3/8 inches from top to bottom and 1 3/8 inches in width at their widest point.

My Year of Jewelry...day 5...

Strawberry Swing...

This pair of handmade hoop earrings were crafted out of sterling silver wire. They feature a variety of high quality faceted gemstone beads. They are adorned with prasiolite (green amethyst), pink tourmaline, and peach quartz.

These earrings measure 2" in length (from the top of the hoop to the bottom of the center briolette) and are just under 1 1/4" in width at their widest point.

My Year of Jewelry...day 2...

A-Tisket, A-Tasket...

Not sure why, but these remind me of this nursery rhyme...with a few adjustments of course! They make me think of a flowers in a basket. So, that's how I'm going to sing it! ;)

A-tisket, a-tasket,
Flowers in a basket...

These earrings are handcrafted out of sterling silver, and feature rhodolite garnet, peridot, freshwater cultured pearls, and vesuvianite.

My Year of Jewelry...day 1...

I named these L'Heure Bleue...

L'Heure Bleue, is a French expression, also know as the "blue hour." It refers to the magical blue light that is cast over everything just before sunrise and just after sunset.

They are handcrafted sterling silver earrings...wire wrapped adorned with genuine sapphire, iolite, and mystic green quartz beads.

Earth Day Challenge....

The Wire Artisans Guild had a Earth Day theme challenge due Tuesday. The theme for this project was "Au Naturale." For my piece, I created a asymmetrical necklace. I decided to name it "Au Naturale." .............really creative, right? LOL :) It is made of sterling wire and chain, and has flowers made of moonstone briolettes. The centers of the flowers and "sprigs" are made of freshwater cultured pearls.





These pieces (our Earth Day pieces) will be the first ones to be added to our team store on Etsy. Our team store WireArtisansGuild, is officially opening on April 22, 2008!


I can't wait to see the other members designs for the project!

Sunday Evening Post.... :) LOL

A lot has happen in the past week....some good, some bad.

I guess, bad news first....right??? Boy, Easter weekend and the first of the week just sucked!

First, my grandmother's sister, Dot, passed away last Sunday...March 23...Easter Sunday. She found out about 2-3 weeks ago, that she had cancer...I will miss her. :(

I can not believe how many friends and family members have passed away recently. It seems someone has passed away every other week since December. My great-grandmother's last living sibling, Edna, passed away March 10th.

My aunt, Liz, was in the hospital Friday-Tuesday...she had a terrible infection from kidney stones. Then, if that wasn't bad enough, Monday, my cousin Jessica, Liz's daughter, was in a wreck and totalled her car.

That is the worst parts...I'll spare you the rest. :(

Now for the good parts.....

The other day I was invited to join the Wire Artisans Guild. The members are very talented and their jewelry is just gorgeous! So, I was very honored that Sheela...also known as Eclettica on Etsy, asked me to join!

One thing that I think is really neat, is that they have weekly theme challenges. This weeks theme was selected by Susanna (aka suesun on Etsy). She selected "butterfly" for the weekly theme!

So, here it is...my butterfly for the weekly challenge..........

Charlotte (aka EmeraldDolphinDesign on Etsy), another member of the Wire Artisans Guild, included me in a Treasury on Etsy! ...Thank you Charlotte! Look at all of the pretty butterfly themed pieces!!! :)

I also posted another pair of earrings tonight....I named them Tranquility. I actually finished them a while back, but just getting around to taking pictures and posting them...I still have quite a few other pieces to take pictures of and post, too!

Well, that's all for tonight!

XOXO