Friday, May 27, 2011

Colors galore...

I made this necklace from glass, quartz and a beautiful citrine wire wrapped pendant back in April, I put it away in my case and waited for my first Market day...it sold early in the day to a very excited lady...

She had me remove the toggle, then add 6 inches of sterling silver chain so the necklace could be worn short or long...a truly versatile necklace to be worn with almost any color/style, dress it up or down!

I'm going to be doing some consignment...I've always stayed away from consignment in the past, there are a couple of reasons but the main reason being, I'm not there to make sure the piece fits properly...or make any necessary adjustments. This necklace is the perfect example...if I wasn't there to adjust the piece the customer would have gone home without her necklace!

I feel things work the way they do for a reason...maybe it is time?

Enjoy the day
Cheers

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Gotta love rings!

I find rings to be very popular...the only problem for me is to have the right sizes! It is not easy to do...the only rings I have a variety of sizes in is the fine silver stacking rings...like the one below with out the silver ball fused on top...

Here is another style that people seem to like...the Egyptian design...at least that is what I call it!

These are great as they are somewhat adjustable, and can be designed many different ways, textured, smooth, curled ends, flat hammered ends, flattened balls at the end, etc....I think part of the appeal is they are wide and spread over the finger...I have to say I prefer wide rings myself.

The twisted rings are fun to make as I'm guaranteed no two will be the same...just won't happen!

I could make the two rings like the one below but even then the curves would be a different shape and size...

I'm beginning to experiment with setting stones in my rings and pendants...photos to come soon!
Enjoy the day...
Cheers

Monday, May 23, 2011

May 21st...first North Bay Farmers' Market for the 2011 season!

Someone was watching over us...we had the most perfect day, great conversation with people, many of whom we'd not see since last fall...a gorgeous, sunny, warm 1st Market day...fabulous entertainment...couldn't have asked for a better day!

Our first entertainer of the morning was 11 year old, Rachel Barber...she did a wonderful job and I heard she had a great time...I'm gong to do my best to have her back again during the season...unfortunately I didn't get a photo, but her mother saved the day..this is one Rachel's mother Amy posted on Facebook!


Next we had the great jazz/blues sounds of Tim Beckett and his niece Paige Cipparone...they are amazing performers...Saturday was their first appearance at the Market...a second date is definitly called for!

Early morning...flowers from Spring Hill Farms! Just beautiful of course as many of you know I'm partial to purple everything...


Crowds beginning...we had a great turnout for the first day!
My good friend JoeAnne Ribout, Mountain View Weaving...showing a customer one of her beautiful hand woven blankets! I couldn't resist I bought two of Joe's hand woven dish cloths...I had to the colors are perfect for my kitchen! :~)



Jamie Board from Board's Honey Farm/Northern Nectars...explaining to the ladies all about her great honey products.
Another friend, Audrey from Matthew's Maple Syrup...doesn't she look comfy! She had surgery last week on her foot, that's why she has it up on her cooler...don't worry, her daughter was there to help her!


Thanks to everyone who stopped by the Market On Saturday...you helped to make the day a wonderful success!!!

More to come about this Saturday later in the week...
Enjoy the day!
Cheers

Friday, May 20, 2011

North Bay Farmers' Market begins...

Tomorrow is the opening day for the North Bay Farmers' Market!

For those of you who live in the North Bay and surrounding area here is a bit of information about the Market!

This photo was taken May 2010
North Bay residents of all ages will soon be able to wander through the booths of local growers of bedding plants and vegetables, producers of baked goods, preserves, jams, jellies, wood products, soaps and unique handmade goods. The 2011 season begins Saturday May 21st, with more than 30 LOCAL vendors. Many of your favorites are returning but come out and see who and what’s new at the Market!
  • The North Bay Farmers’ Market, in its ninth year, will be open every Saturday 8:30am to 1:00pm – RAIN or SHINE through to Thanksgiving . Once again the Market will be located in the McIntyre St. Parking Lot #11 – across from City Hall (behind TD CanadaTrust on Main St.). There is NO CHARGE to attend the Market and the live entertainment adds a festive flare to the visit. You never know who you’ll bump into that you haven’t seen in ages!
  • Many exciting things are happening at the North Bay Farmers’ Market this year including the 3rd Annual PANCAKE FESTIVAL which will take place May 28th. Check back for more information next week!
  • Our entertainment for the day will be Rachel Barber-Scarrow from 8:30am to 9:00am...and the jazz/blues sounds of Tim Beckett from 9:00am to 1:00pm...come out and enjoy their performances!
For upcoming Special Event dates & information or to learn more about the Market’s vendors, visit the Market website at: www.northbayfarmersmar​ket.com

I'll try to remember to bring my camera and then remember to take photos to post next week!

I look forward to seeing everyone at the Market...

Cheers

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

"Birthstone of the Month" Emerald...again

***I've decided to re-publishing my previous "Birthstone of the Month" posts...they were, for the most part well received...I've been contemplating doing a series of post regarding the healing properties of semi-precious stones but thought I would begin by re-publishing these...enjoy! ***

Emerald is the most precious member of the beryl family; the name is derived from the Greek “smaragdos”, which means “green stone”.

The wonderful green color is produced by chromium present in the gemstone. The vibrant color won’t fade, as it is stable regarding light and heat. As with many gemstones the color varies depending on the source or the location the gemstone was found. Apparently the most favorable color is a strong slightly bluish green.

Colombian emeralds are a pure green with a slight tint of blue. There are significant deposits, especially in the Muzo mine northwest of Bogotá.

This magnificent emerald was mined in Colombia, set in white gold, with yellow gold claws, encased in diamonds...what more could you ask for ladies!!!

A 60 carat Colombian emerald set with approximately 25 carats of diamonds on yellow gold. Market value US$240,000

Brazilian emeralds are a slightly lighter color of green with more yellow noticeable, often slightly cloudy, but most often without inclusions. Deposits have been found in Bahia, Goias, and Minas Gerais and while relatively new deposits, discovered since the 1980s, Brazil has become one of the most important suppliers of emeralds!

From Northeast Brazil...A fully terminated, semi-gemmy Emerald crystal...Measures about 1/2" across...semi-gemmy means "clear in spots but not completely"

Zambian emeralds have good clarity are are a deep green.
Other deposits have been found in Russia, Afghanistan, Australia, Ghana, India, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Tanzania, Vietnam, China and the United States.
These lovely emerald crystals are from Wenshan, near Kunming, Yunnan Province, China
Here is a natural, grass green Emerald (Beryl) crystal from the Lao Cai Province of Vietnam
Famous Emeralds can be found at the British Museum of Natural History in London, England, the American Museum of Natural History in New York, in the treasury of Russian, in the state treasury of Iran, in the Treasury room in Topkapi Palace, Istanbul, Turkey and in the Viennese treasury in a vase is a gem 4 ¾ in (12cm) high, weighing 2205cts, cut from a single emerald crystal.

Most emeralds are not clean, having some imperfections such as cloudy, cracks, inclusions of fiber, tremolite rods, some of which make the emerald sensitive to pressure…hence the emerald cut was designed to maximize the color while the rounded corners help to minimize chipping and breaking of the corners.

These semi-gemmy emerald crystals are from the Jiangsu Prov, in China

It is common for emeralds to be dipped in a specific type of oil or sometimes prepared with an artificial resin in a vacuum if they have hairline fractures or other faults…this is usually done in the country of origin. The FTC in the United
States requires a disclosure of this kind of treatment.

While not my favorite gemstone I have to admit these lovely gems have grown on me…a nice set of emerald earrings or perhaps a bracelet would be nice…what do you think???

Cheers

Natural gem photos courtesy of "Orbital Joe"

Emerald jewelry courtesy of "Swamibu"

I thank both Orbital Joe and Swamibu for allowing me to use their wonderful photographs! More of their amazing work can be found on Flickr.com

Information courtesy of:

Gemstones of the World, Walter Schumann, Third Edition, Sterling Publishing Co. Inc.,
The Jeweler's Directory of Gemstones, Judith Crowe, Firefly Books, 2006

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Earrings...

These are kind of cute, very tiny though...only 10mm long! They look a little crooked...the bangle they are resting on is a bit slanted on the starfish...I actually just checked them out as I thought the ear wires might have been off. I always make at least four at a time so there shouldn't be any difference but you never know...

Again...these were cut from scrap silver then 4 pieces of sterling silver was soldered onto each...



More scrap pieces...before I began doing this I would have cut a piece of silver from the larger sheet for this...not sure why I didn't start doing this earlier? The curly Q's are small pieces of fine silver fused on the rectangle.

The elongate diamond shape was cut from my sheet silver...to which was soldered the left over silver wire pieces...
I am please with the recycling aspect of making these pieces but the fact they allow for one of a kind jewelry makes it even more appealing to me...besides it is fun searching around in my boxes of metal for just the right piece to work...

Cheers

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Gotta love rings...

I find rings to be very popular...the only problem for me is to have the right sizes! It is not easy to do...the only rings I have a variety of sizes in is the fine silver stacking rings...like the one below with out the silver ball fused on top...

Here is another style that people seem to like...the Egyptian design...at least that is what I call it!

These are great as they are somewhat adjustable, and can be designed many different ways, textured, smooth, curled ends, flat hammered ends, flattened balls at the end, etc....I think part of the appeal is they are wide and spread over the finger...I have to say I prefer wide rings myself.

The twisted rings are fun to make as I'm guaranteed no two will be the same...just won't happen!

I could make the two rings like the one below but even then the curves would be a different shape and size...

I'm beginning to experiment with setting stones in my rings and pendants...photos to come soon!
Enjoy the day...
Cheers

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Recycled silver again

These two pieces were done a while ago but I hadn't taken the time to photograph them...I'm not happy with the lighting here so I put off taking pictures...won't be long now before I move...the end of June, hopefully the lighting will be better suited to taking photos!

As you can see this was four pieces of scrap silver that I soldered together with a horse shoe bail...sort of...if you look closely that is what it looks like?

This was a piece of silver left over from something else that was cut out and I liked the shape so I punched two holes in it and soldered on all kinds of little scrap pieces...fun to do!

Enjoy the rest of your day...
Cheers

Sunday, May 8, 2011

This is a photo I took of bloom in Key West this winter...the colors were gorgeous!
Have a wonderful day Mothers...doing what ever makes you happy!
Cheers