Soups On!

February is Heart Month!!!!!!

I'm in the midst of preparing for what is called "Soups On", which is a fundraiser for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of North Bay. February is Heart and Stroke month so there is much happening across the country. For Soups On, local establishments in and around the area prepare a "pot of soup" which they bring to a meeting place where people can come for a small fee and enjoy a hearty lunch taste testing all the wonderful soups...last year the lunch included coffee, water, veggies and fruit. On a cold winter day what more could you want?

I've been a supporter of the Heart and Stroke Foundation personally for years as my father, grandfather and both grandmothers died from heart disease and one of my brothers had a massive heart attack 9 years ago at the age of 43...he has since recovered and is leading a healthy life. It is my strong belief research is the primary reason he is alive today, which contributes to why I support the Heart and Stroke Foundation financially.

I love the color of these lampwork beads, purple and lime green with a touch of gold in there...I know it is a little difficult to see...

In December of 2007 I decided I could do a little more to contribute to the Heart and Stroke Foundation so I decided to make jewelry, each piece with a heart, big or small it didn't matter...as long as the item I made had a heart on it someplace I would contribute a portion of the sale from that item to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. For the past year I've made all different manner of items, but this year I also plan to focus on one special piece that will be produced regularly, but until I perfect the idea I'll keep it under wraps...for now here are a few of the items I've just made to display at Soups On...I don't sell my product at this luncheon, but make the public aware of what it is I'm doing and what is available...

One piece of Argentium wrapped to make a heart and the ear wire...simple which we know I like!

A great pair of turquoise hearts...for wrapping the hearts and the ear wires I've used anodized Niobium, which is strong, corrosion resistant and hypo-allergenic wire...for those who aren't familiar anodized is "To coat (a metallic surface) electrolytically with a protective or decorative oxide" courtesy of www.dictionary.com . The coating give it the great chocolate brown color, but it comes in a rainbow of colors. I've decided to try this product as I've had a number of people ask me about it in the last year or so as more an more people are having issues with allergies. It has also come to my attention not all stainless steel is nickle free...so...I now have nickle free stainless steel ear wires in stock.
One piece of Argentium Silver wire wrapped into a heart as a pendant...all that is left to do is hang it from a chain or necklace...you never know I could also add a gemstone or crystal , or I could hammer it a bit!

The red set at the top is a very pretty set of lampwork beads, wire wrapped of course with Argentium silver....

Take a moment to visit the Heart and Stroke Foundation website...their motto is "Finding Answers. For life"
Cheers

New pieces for a New Year!

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season...

I'm working on my next birthstone the Garnet...should be up in a day or so, but in the mean time here is a little something to look at!

This is a pyrite stone (fool's gold) wire wrapped with Argentium silver...this makes for a great conversation piece!!

I love these cuffs...simple and elegant on their own but put a couple together and they certainly make a statement!! This one is narrow, approximately a 5mm wide piece of sterling silver has a nice ridged detail on both edges, the center feature is stamped with an .S. feature...cut, stamped, sanded, polished and tumbled by me!

Now this cuff makes a "wide" statement...a 28mm wide piece of Argentium silver has been hammered, sanded, polished, shaped and tumbled...love this one!!


This simple ring was made from sterling silver, a base ring was made and the remaining silver was then wound around it...

This is a great necklace...simplicity at its best, you can dress it up or down...your choice! This "bean" shaped sterling silver bead is approximately 16mm wide and of course hanging from a sterling silver chain!

As you can see, for the time being I seem to be leaning towards simplicity...classy but not stuffy, allowing the piece to speak for itself!! Who knows what I'll do tomorrow or the next day???

Cheers

Finally, new photos!!!

Here are a few new photos...I'm so slow at getting around to taking photos that unfortunately many of my pieces where sold on the weekend before I had the chance to take the photos...
These wonderful pink chalk turquoise balls are wire wrapped in Argentium silver, with a sterling silver lobster claw... these lovely turquoise beads remind me of pink bubble gum, you know the kind that is individually wrapped...used to love that kind as a child!

~~~Argentium sterling silver for those of you who will want to know is a sterling silver in which the metalloid germanium is replacing a percentage of the copper. Sterling silver is 92.5% silver and 7.50% copper. Argentium sterling silver is more expensive than sterling silver but it is tarnish resistant which for many is a worth the extra cost!~~~

This is a stunning piece of chalcedony with a naturally occurring cavity in which crystals have formed...this is called a "Drusy"...I often had people ask if the pendant was broken...it sold on the weekend to someone who knew exactly what it was and was thrilled with it!


Ahhh..some of my favorite charms...I'm a "sun, sand and water" person so I love everything to do with the water...here is a gorgeous all sterling silver bracelet made with me in mind...but...it went to a good home on the weekend...I will make another!!!


A sterling silver pendant, hand cut, sanded and stamped, hanging from a black leather cord...simple but effective!


This striking pendant looks like turquoise but it actually is a form of jasper...strung on a black leather cord it does make a statement!


Now from the retro collection...isn't this fun...glass circles attached to a black leather cord...


Brass, brass, and more brass, with a lovely delicate yellow glass bead...


I like these...in fact I wear a pair myself, without the stones, often...sterling silver wire, with three sparkling clear quartz rondelles...


Another retro piece...large resin beads, tied on a natural colored leather cord...it looks short in this photo but it is acutally a long piece...this went to a great home on the weekend as well...retro is popular this season!

Watch for the August "Birthstone of the Month" coming soon!
Cheers