Starfish, lapis and scrap!

I managed to take a few photos yesterday on my iPhone...I was at my studio and forgot to bring my camera...it was either go home or give the iPhone a try. I'd taken a few photos with it a few weeks ago so I felt it was worth a try.

You know the iPhone actually takes good photos, in fact all I did to these photos below was crop them! That is amazing...my camera has never taken "great" photos" I always thought it was the operator but now I'm not so sure. With my camera I could take 10 photos, sometimes more, of something before I took a photo I could use...all of these are first shots...while not perfect they are much better than what I usually get from my camera!

My signature starfish...cut out, stamped, brushed finish and tumbled on a sterling silver chain.

As most of you know I'm a fan of cobalt blue...these lapis stones are gorgeous...I only had four stones like this...the first pair of earrings sold so I made these...they could be mine, you just never know? I've always liked this particular style but was a bit unsure of making the ear wires...they actually were not difficult once I sat down and thought about it.

Another "scrap" piece...fine silver fused together.

By the way the starfish came from the east coast...my daughter brought them back for me when she visited there last summer with her family!

Have a great day!
Cheers

I did it again!

Well...what can I say...time flies!!!

I've one more three day show this coming weekend and then I'm done for the year...can you hear me sighing? Well, I am...

I've a few things I want to do for the next little while and if I'm happy with the results I'll do a few posts.

I'm not taken photos for the last few months(which is not a good thing) so I don't have much to show you in the way of new pieces...

This bracelet is one I wear...Just Breathe! Which is how I was feeling this summer... :0)


As many of you know the starfish is part of my logo so I decided to make myself a starfish pendant...this is my first attempt. I wear it all the time and while I've had many compliments I'm looking forward to the day I can use my saw...right now I cut the metal with a pair of shears and that doesn't allow for a great deal of control!


One of my favorite pair of earrings to wear...of course purple, my favorite color! I love the kidney wires as I can wire wrap any color bead I want and I have a new pair of earrings! I made myself a bit longer ones at first but I find I like this length...still a nice dangle but not too long!


Enjoy your day.
See you later...
Cheers

Precious metal

This winter I was planning to spend as much time as possible working with silver, be it argentium, sterling or fine silver...love it all! Well that didn't happen nearly as often as I would have liked, not for lack of wanting to though...

Below is fine silver links fused together and linked with sterling silver rings, I've added two tiny stamped argentium silver circles,one with my signature starfish and the other with two butterflies. Finished with a hand crafted hook...

I've had a bit of a thing for circles lately...here we have three argentium silver circles randomly soldered to a larger lightly hammered argentium silver circle.

Argentium silver rectangles hammered in two directions...domed slightly... three balls each made from my scrap pile of silver, soldered to the rectangles, hanging of course from my own ear wires.

There is something new on the market... in January, Pearl from the Beading Gems Journal did an interesting post on "silver filled" wire...basically the same idea as gold filled. I've ordered some of the wire from Fire Mountain Gems...they are saying it handles like silver, can be hammered and soldered. Once I've had a chance to work with it I'll let you know what I think.

Thanks for stopping by...
Cheers

Update!

I thought I would keep everyone up to date with what I'm doing with my lovely pendant from Artbeads.com . I've a number of ideas swirling around in my head and I'm not sure exactly which will emerge...

The stones you see in the photo below are from a collection of un-drilled stones I have...I do think they work well so I searched for just the right stones and I think I found them...I will post the photo when they arrive.

I've just made my first purchase from Artbeads.com...I have to say it is a great place to purchase products, as you can imagine I purchased more than I intended to, I couldn't help myself as they have an amazing selection of product.

While browsing I found this fabulous Hill Tribe silver starfish clasp...I love it, unfortunately it is out of stock... :0( This would be the perfect clasp for me to use as a signature clasp. I can't wait until it is back in stock!!!!! I would love to use it for this pendant as the colors and movement make me think of the ocean, crashing all around! We will see...

I've ordered a sterling silver fish clasp set, if for some reason I don't end up using it with this pendant I know I'll use it for something else.

As I mentioned, I've ordered a number of other great products from Artbeads.com with this order ...they have all the beading basic as well as many truly unusual and interesting products...when the package arrives I will post a photo so you can see what I bought. Believe me I could have purchased much more than I did... :0)

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