Custom Pieces

 Over my few years making jewelry, I have had a few custom orders.  These are pieces that people special order from me in a certain size or with specific stones.  These are some of my favorite pieces to work on because the customer is involved in the creative process.  Here are some pictures of custom orders and a little about what the customer wanted.

These rings were for a customer giving them as a gift to her sisters and mother.  Each ring is able to incur a minor adjustment in size and therefor makes a great gift.  I made these rings with each recipient's birthstone. 

These rings were for a couple doing missionary work.  When they traveled, they wanted to have something simple and relatively inexpensive to wear as they worked.  The larger, thicker one is for the husband, and the thinner one for the wife.  

This bracelet was made for a friend to give a s a wedding gift.  The wedding was at the beach, hence the sand dollar and the recycled glass.  The components are gold filled and was a basic assembly piece. 

These earrings were a graduation gift from a mother to her daughter.  Her graduation party had a theme of butterflies, and these were the perfect gift. 

These were a pair of earrings I had made with ear wires that the customer preferred a hook ear wire.  This was a minor adjustment but was very much appreciated by the customer. 

This is the beginning of a custom piece for a friend of mine.  She saw me wearing a piece I had made and wanted something similar with the birthstones of her two daughters and her husband. 

This is the finished piece with the stones set.  After much back and forth about which stones to use (there are multiple stones for each month), we settled on these.  I am extremely happy with the finished product. 

Keep Creating :)

New Studio

This winter we embarked on the journey of buying a new home.  We were very happy with our purchase and delighted to get into our new space.  I was particularly excited about the basement space that would become my studio.  Though it still looks a bit rough, it is now workable and is up and running.  Here is the progression.


In the beginning. . . .

 All the boxes that need to be unpacked and organized into my new space.  Also, my little apprentice is always willing to help.

 Here is the new professional jeweler's bench I purchased in January.

 If you recall, I had this large work table in the old house.  We deconstructed it and then put it up again in the new house.

 There is a closet but with minimal storage and we will be getting rid of it in renovation. 

  Here is the view from my window into the back yard. 

A couple weeks later. . . .

 My jeweler's bench was functional but not completely organized yet.

The table was being utilized but wait, it gets better. 

Currently. . . . 

I have added a torching station for soldering and fusing near a window for ventilation. 

 The jeweler's bench has proven to be very useful.  It's a perfect place for sawing, wrapping and planning out pieces.

 The closet is used for minimal storage and stays closed too keep things out of reach from little hands

The work table is now completely organized with enameling kiln up and running. 

And my little apprentice is always willing to lend a hand (or hammer). 

I hope you have enjoyed a sneak peek.  We are planning on finishing out the basement and revamping the studio.  So unfortunately, that means packing it up and taking another break.  However, I will be working until they begin construction.  Keep Creating

I took the best workshop EVER!

Recently, ok early December, I took a weekend workshop at Pullen Arts Center with Tim Lazure.  It was two days of metalworking heaven! I took what was described as a ring workshop but turned out to be applicable in so many other ways.  I have a new appreciation for and understanding of rings.  Especially how comfortable rings are made and how many things need to be taken into account. 

During the workshop I made two rings.  Here are pictures of the ring I made the first day. 

 I started with three bands and then spaced them using rectangle wire.  After it was all assembled, I added the texture to the top and bottom bands.  This was a great review of skills I already know and a few realizations about construction I hadn't made before.  I am thinking of making this one a part of my collection. 

Here are some pictures of the ring I made the second day. 

With this ring, I learned a new method of setting stones.  In this method, the top of the stone is flush with the metal.  I am very excited to use this new skill in my designs.  As for the construction of the ring, the extra piece on the back is to protect the wearer from the point of the larger stone.  Also, the texture on the front was made with a chasing tool.  Different methods of making texture in metal will also appear in some of my designs. 

Creating Chasing tools is another of Tim Lazure's workshops.  I would love to take that workshop and create some chasing tools of my own to use in the studio.  I am also excited to continue to take workshops and expand my metalsmithing knowledge. 

Keep Creating :)

Reflection and Projection

This past year, my resolution was to learn and refine my finishing techniques. While I am still learning new techniques and products, I feel my work has come a long way in the finishing department.

My go-to finishing product is silicone carbide. I am learning a lot about more traditional methods, including finishing compounds like red rouge with a muslin wheel. I am excited o continue exploring different methods and techniques.

Looking forward to the next year, I am going to focus on narrowing the amounts of collections I carry at once. Right now I have quite a few, some I don't even unpack at shows because I don't have room for them! I am going to rearrange and focus my creative efforts on pieces that have been received well and more on enamel pieces of various price points.

Also, the most immediate task for this coming year is getting the new studio set up at our new house. This is an exciting task as I get to start from scratch and design my space as I wish.

It started as a Facebook Post. . . . .

I had started commenting, like many others, on the tragic happening today at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, CT.  I soon realized I felt strongly about many facets, too strongly to put into one Facebook post.  As I see it right now, there are many sides of this story and many opinions to be heard and considered.  Here is my humble opinion. 

As a mother and human, let me first say, I am praying for all the victims of this horrible crime. 

The children who left the earth today, I have no doubt they are with their creator and at peace.  They will never have a graduation, first love or future.  This was taken from them by another. 

For the children left behind to live with us, we need to leave no doubt in their minds how loved and cherished they are.   Children are our future.  They deserve all we have to give, because when we are gone, they are all that is left of us. 

It is our duty as adults to ensure our children feel safe.  I can't begin to imagine how helpless the parents of those children must feel when that duty was taken from them by another.

As a former teacher, I want to applaud those that work tirelessly day in and day out to give our children the best education in a safe a nurturing environment.  Teachers give everything they have to the classroom.  Not just time, but money and love.  If you don't already, appreciate your teachers and all the work they are putting into educating your children. 

When something like this happens, we all take a step back and realize how blessed we are.  I urge you to regularly take a step back and realize how blessed we are, not just when something like this kicks us in the face. 

Already, folks are commenting on gun control and how we can prevent something like this happening again.  I personally feel it it extremely important to make mental health care available and accessible to all, especially those in need.  I choose not to comment on gun control.

Whether it be a school, a mall, or a movie theater,  shootings are terrifying, pointless and sick.  I refuse to feed into the morbid curiosity about the shooter or his motives.  That is the job of the police.  I am concerned with the healing of the victims and restoring their faith in humanity.  I hope you will do the same. 

It's been a while . . .

Yes, I know.  I havent been as dilligent about my blog posting as I was in the past.  But here's the good news, I'm Back! I have a lot of things to share with all of you!

First of all, we are in full swing for the holidays, and all that implies.  I am producing work as fast as I can manage for upcoming shows.  I will be participating in a Mompreneurs Sip and Shop on November 30th and The Boylan Heights Art Walk on December 2nd.  And there is the never ending list of gifts, events and functions that happen around this time.  Even though we are all very busy, it's nice to still be able to create and do something I love. 

Second, I have made some new pieces that I am looking forward to debuting.  I have ventured into gold! I sent some of my "bread an butter" pieces to be gold plated in something called Vermeil.  It is a very specific Gold plating that is done over silver and is the thickest plate you generally see.  I am very excited about these pieces.  They really add another dimension to my collection.  For the plating process I worked with a company called Red Sky Plating.  They were very accommodating and pleasant to work with (but that is another post).

And Lastly, In the midst of all of that, we are purchasing a new home and move the first week of December!  I am very excited to get into the new house because it has an unfinished basement, which will be my studio (pictures to come).  Of course, we have been showing our house and I have been working in the garage.  This really makes you prioritize what needs to get done and what tools are needed for the job.  I will enjoy unpacking all my tools and getting all set up again :)

Keep Creating

Great News!

I was very excited to receive an email from Rio Grande, a jewelry supply company, telling me I won the "What Are You Working On?" contest for the month of October.  I submitted my last blog post and was chosen as a feature for the month.  I was very excited to receive this news and very appreciative toward Rio Grande for choosing me. Click here.