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

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

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

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

Pearls, Pearls & Pearls

I'm a huge fan of pearls, traditional cream or white, yes, but I just love the multi- colored pearls available...last fall I did a post including Artbeads.com pearls and Pantone 2010 Fall Colors in the same sentence. It was very exciting to look over the "new" colors such as Endive, Golden Glow, Living Coral, Lipstick Red, Purple Orchid, Chocolate Truffle, Lagoon, Oyster Gray, to name a few...aren't they delicious names?



It is funny because as soon as I saw all the gorgeous colors I decided to look for pearls that would be in the same family...while I didn't find all the colors in one strand I found enough to satisfy myself.
You might remember I chose two gorgeous strands of multi-colored pearls along with a delicate sterling silver hook clasp and leaf link. Below is a better look at the beautiful silver items.
I new right away what I wanted to make...something simple, elegant and classy!

...there are 6 strands of pearls at the front, light but still substantial in appearance, I'm always conscious of weight when it comes to a necklace...I attached the strands with sterling silver ends...on one side, the leaf link and the other the hook clasp situated so both should be visible when the necklace is worn; I try not to hide such beautiful clasps and connectors when ever possible...the back is a solid strand of pearls.
(Please excuse the lighting in the photo below it's a bit bright)

I was trying to show something of the back of the piece, while still showing the front...rather hard with this necklace...below a close up of the clasp.
I loved these pearls so much I ended up buying more and made myself a triple strand necklace...I wear it constantly!

Many thanks to Artbeads.com.
Enjoy the weekend!

Cheers

*FTC compliance disclosure* the products attributed to Artbeads.com in this post where provided as a promotional gift by Artbeads.com in relation to the blogging program. My comments pertaining to these products are my personal opinion, no compensation has been received for the comments.

Artbeads.com is doing it again...another great contest...or shall I say a challenge!

They have just launched their latest jewelry design contest at Artbeads! The Make it for Mom Challenge is all about creating that perfect design for Mom while have some fun. The winner of this jewelry design contest will receive a $250 Artbeads.com Gift Card and their winning design will also be featured in the Artbeads Learning Center. All design submissions must contain at least 50% products available at the Artbeads.com website. Contestants must be 18 or older to enter and this contest is open to entrants worldwide. The winner will be determined by a public vote on Facebook starting at midnight (Pacific Time) on Mother’s Day.

As if that isn't enough they are also having a sale...hurry over as it ends tomorrow Saturday April 23rd, you can save 15% on your order of $45 or more in their Make it for Mom Sale going on right now. Just enter coupon code ZZ-MOM15 at checkout to take advantage of these fantastic savings. Don't forget to hurry over...

A heart felt "thank you" our friends from Artbeads.com...
Cheers

The beginnings of organiztion

Tomorrow I will be a vendor at the Powassan 14th Annual Maple Syrup Festival, in the community of Powassan, so this morning I'm beginning my organization/pack-up. This year the organizers offered space inside the Sportsplex so I jumped at the opportunity...the weather this time of the year can be so iffy! I have to say I'm so happy I did as the forecast is not good...I sure hope the weather forecast is wrong...otherwise the outside vendors are in for an unpleasant day!!!

"Cloudy. Snow beginning in the morning changing to wet snow mixed with rain and then to rain late in the afternoon. Snowfall amount 2 to 4 cm. Wind southeast 30 km/h gusting to 50. High plus 4".

I've cut back on shows this year, I actually started last fall, besides I'm in the finishing stages of a major renovation and it is taking up a great deal of time...not to mention emotions.

This is the first of my shows this season, (I missed all my Sudbury friends this year)...so everything is in a bit of a mess, time to go through it!
Thought I would let you see what I was up to this morning...

There is paper, jewelry, bags, tissue, etc., cluttered around right now...for some reason I seem to work in these kinds of conditions...not sure what it is?

My pretty organza bags, boxes, bags, not sure where my tissue is and a hand held mirror on the side...

In the past I've used hand held mirrors partly because I couldn't seem to find what I was looking for and partly because I do a great many out door shows/markets and I was always afraid the mirror would get blown over...which it definitly would have in some of the weather we've been in. Having said that I've managed to break 2 hand mirrors...I'm hoping the second mirror negates the first in the bad luck department? :0) I found this mirror the other day and decided, go for it...it is difficult to tell in the photo but it is just the right size for sitting on the table.

The some of the "girls" as my daughter calls them...

Enough...time to go get things under control!
Enjoy the weekend.
Cheers

$100 Artbeads Gift Certificate

Our good friends from Artbeads.com are have a great contest, just in time for Mothers' Day!

The prize is a $100 Artbeads Gift Certificate! You can enter this giveaway just by leaving a comment on the Artbeads Blog for Beaders, stating what your favorite Mother’s Day themed product is and what you would create with it. Hurry, this giveaway ends Friday, April 15 at 9am Pacific Time. The winner will be selected at random and announced on their blog.

I have a difficult time deciding on just one favorite...there are so many wonderful items on Artbeads.com

One favorite would be their porcelain hearts...

Wouldn't this beautiful heart hanging from a chain or leather cord be a wonderful Mothers' Day present?
They have others as well...how about this one?
I've had this black/white pendant and can say it is gorgeous...as are all Golem Designs!!!
So much to choose from...
Hurry to enter the contest...not much time left!

Enjoy your day.
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

Finally

Hello...

As you might have noticed...I've been away since the beginning of February...I've spent the last little while since my return catching up on boring issues!

I've finally made it back to my blog...

Last fall my Mother happened to see a onyx and black swarovski dangle bracelet that I was wearing(love dangles) and she thought she would like one in brown...she loves brown over black. So when I went to see her this winter I brought her this brown pearl & swarovski, sterling silver bracelet...she rarely ever asks for anything so when she does I'm on it!

She loved it but, has arthritis in her hands and found the claw too difficult...I used this swivel claw as I thought it might work well for her but it didn't so I changed the claw to a magnetic clasp and safety chain...I checked out a local bead store and found a nice strong clasp...I've not had a great deal of luck finding strong magnetic clasps lately. I order them online and I'm often disappointed in the strength when they arrive. If anyone can recommend where I can purchase strong magnetic clasps I appreciate it!

I'm an earring and bracelet person...without either I don't feel properly dressed when I go out...and I'm also one of those who likes my earrings to coordinate with something I'm wearing. (I know, I know, but I do) I decided rather than bring my whole earring collection I would bring one of my favorite pair of sterling silver earrings, they go with almost anything...I then made a pair of long kidney wires, after which I wire wrapped Bali beads, white, dark pink & lime green pearls, onyx, dyed purple & magenta jade, denim something or other, I forget the stone and sodalite...these are colors I wear most often/packed.
Worked for me...simplified the earring packing...now all I have to do is simplify the close issue!!!!

Cheers