Year of Jewelry- Week 1

After years of watching the year of jewelry, I decided to join them this year.  One piece of jewelry per week, for a year.  It's not that I don't make jewelry regularly- that's not the challenge for me.  For me- the challenge is to finish and photograph a piece a week.  This will form the habit of finishing/ photographing.  At least I understand that it will form a habit & I'm hoping so!

Organic Rustic Copper Blooms

For week 1- I revisited an old design with a different metal.  These rustic blooms are made of copper with a sterling center- on sterling ear wires.  I wanted to use copper for two reasons- I love the warmth (and it won’t be touching skin) and I wanted to play with a patina.  The patina was to be blue and I still don’t really see blue.  I don't mean a hint of blue- I'm talking about a bright cobalt.  And since they are sealed- I’m not getting the glow from the copper that I love so much- except for around the edges.  I want to play with the process some more.

Little Flowers

Every year, just about this time, I want a garden.  I remember my aunt & uncle's garden when I was growing up.  It was huge.  However, I have what is lovingly refferred to as a black thumb.  No garden for me.  Yes, I've tried.  And I am seriously in trouble if I ever have to rely on myself for food.  LOL.  Serious trouble. 

But, it seems that I'm in a flower phase with metal.  Not sure if these are more like Frogbit or Spiderwort Lily.  Both are flowers with three petals.

Cute little posts for spring.  In the shop now.  Maybe one day I'll figure out the other. 

Baby Blooms

The baby blooms here. Both in post and dangle.

I love these little guys.  Myself, I prefer the dangles.  They are no fuss earrings and I like that.  A lot. 

Life has been so busy lately.  Running here, running there.  A busy month for cub scouts.  My little guys look so handsome in their uniforms, and it sure does this Mama proud when one of them does a flag ceremony.  Mama's boys are growing up fast.  Very fast.  

Until next time!

New Earrings Listed

Finally got a decent photo of these Bloom Earrings. Very rustic, organic. I just love them. The texture is fantastic. I have a pair too & they are very comfortable.

Gotta post & run....I'm off to class! Yay!

Tiny Bubbles

Every so often I have some frustrating torch time. Where it seems I melt things constantly. Never wanting to look a gift horse in the mouth- I save it. Afterall- who knows what it could become one fine day! Some of these were supposed to be head pins which ended up too short for what I needed them for. So on a better torch day I balled up the other end too. They happened to be on my bench next to a lonely pair of rectangle hoops that just needed something else before they felt done. You know the feeling right? So they were lovingly wrapped around the hoops to finish up this pair of earrings. I like them but have been undecided about whether they need a patina. Any thoughts or opinions? If so- tweet me. Otherwise, these will be listed on 1000 Markets soon.

BTW- you can find me on twitter @StacieWilliams


edited to add: Thanks for the tweets! They're in the store now

A great trend

I got gas today and it was only $3.89. I never thought I'd refer to that as "only", but just a couple of weeks ago I paid $4.18 so I think this is a great trend. And milk is really high too....$4.49. We need a cow.

On the jewelry side of life, here's a new pair of earrings. These tabs are etched with vintage text (from the late 1800's) and sterling ear wires were soldered onto the back then smoothed into shape. Added patina, tumbled and polished. Once I get a few more decent photos I'll add them to the shop. Hope you like them!

Some new things

It's late and I should be sleeping. But instead I'm going through some photos. Took almost 100 pictures off of my camera tonight so I've been tagging and sorting. But here's a few that I wanted to share.



This first one are some inchies that I did for a swap on the BookArtz group. They are 1 inch square. I did 16 of each color & rec'd some wonderful returns. They were fun to do.

These are the the beginnings of the pile of returns that I sent back from the charm swap that I hosted. I wrapped up the packages before I stuffed them into envelopes. They've been received by the participants and everyone is enjoying their returns. It was another fun swap. I had started to make a second set, ended up using some for fill ins, and a few became earrings before I was even finished- I'll have to grab a photo of those too.....I liked those!

Copper and sapphire swarovski crystals for a swap on Adornmentz. The copper was treated to a heat patina then hammered around the edges for texture.

Oh, these are terrible photos. But they are on the other side of the country now so these pix will have to do. For the same swap- copper washers hammered, then married with indicolite swarovski crystals.

And lastly, for the same swap, hammered and heat treated copper together with emerald swarovski crystals. The theme was earrings using swarovski crystals in case it wasn't obvious. Although I don't use them very often, I did really like this design. I'm going to do some more with little gemmies. Iolite, garnet or moonstone- I've got some pretty little rondells of those 3 stones. And all three would be pretty with copper. Notice how there's a crystal on the ear wire too? It was a nice touch to bring the design together, however.....I think I should have given them a LOS dip. Next time.....it was an after thought. I should have the returns from this swap in the next week or so. Looking forward to it!

More pieces out of the tumbler and photographed.....but it's time to me to head off to dreamland.



Be happy!

Love those pearls!

I'm currently having a serious love affair with pearls. Although earrings are the only items that have been finished and photographed, there are rings, bracelets & necklaces in the works. And today I hope to put the finishing touches & photograph a whole wad of them.

Last night, after I ordered our pizza, I posted a pair of gray peacock pearl earrings on Etsy. And I'm happy to report that they were sold before I went to bed. I love it that others love pearls as much as I do. Pearls just make a girl feel special and with contemporary design.....it's just the icing on the cake. My earrings have been simple, and that's what makes them so versatile.

Better Pictures

I'm on my way to better pictures. As soon as I really figure out how to use the camera. Look at these earrings:


Now, this picture was taken with them sitting on my desk. Using the overhead lights, macro setting & the flash. Because it had only been 5 minutes since I opened the book & turned it on for the first time. So I haven't experimented with any white balance settings, or used the light tent, or- gotten to the page in the manual that shows me how to turn the flash off. But, this is the same pair of earrings that I posted on June 7th. (scroll down for the ugly pictures) I was shocked & excited about the detail in the stones- you can't even see that with your naked eye.....well I can't! I never put them up for sale because the pictures were so bad. Originally I was going to keep them, but ya know....gotta support my buying habits somehow!

So.....I'm on my way. And so very happy about it. Just gotta figure out my new toy! Woo- hoo!

Mixed Metals & Pearls

This first pair marries different metals- Sterling, copper & stamped brass. Also a bit of hardware and some Greek ceramic beads. This is a fun pair!

These beautiful white coin pearls have such a beautiful iridescence. Simply added to a long kidney wire, this is simple elegance for everyday wear.

I'm impartial and of course I love them both. Guess which to pick would depend on one's mood at the time.

Same basic shape (Sold)

I'm really enjoying making these earrings. This pair includes some green jasper. I'd like to make another similar pair for myself, this pair already is sold. Will also make a pair in sterling as soon as I can lay my hands on my smaller pliers which I still can't find. (It involves a child & hiding things) I've been using my other pair, but I really do favor the missing ones. Maybe this is just a way of pushing me to get the Lindstrom's that I'd really like to have.
I've spent an inordinate amount of time on a bracelet this week. It's been more wrestling it than any kind of wire wrapping. Causing me many more grey hairs. Seriously it annoys me when a simple piece of metal can get the best of me. I've got some things to do today, then I'm going to twist it into submission, or scrap it & try again another time. I didn't think it would be too difficult when I started....well, ya know how that goes.

Anyway- just wanted to share these beauties with you. Another pair that has a great swing to them.

Earrings & Update

I seriously love these earrings. And I'm torn between listing them on Etsy and keeping them for myself. And someone else has already expressed an interest in them. LOL. They are antiqued copper with green glass. They have a fabulous swing when I hold them up. And I think I finally took a decent picture. I photographed about 4 different things yesterday before storms rolled in and I lost my good light. So I hope to post more pictures soon.
Website update: I've done some redesigning but haven't uploaded the new stuff yet because (of course) I broke some things while I was doing it. Seems weekends are the only time I can really get some work done so it'll probably be next weekend before anyone but me sees the changes.
Swap update: The house chunky has been announced on BookArtz so I'm starting my pages for it & been wrapping beads here & there for Patti's bead swap. It's all good. ;-)

Too Much Nature....

Ya know, I'd like to think that I love nature. But when push comes to shove, I'm an indoor girl who likes to watch nature through the window while in the comfort of cooled air. It's not that I dislike it, I think that most little critters and things of that sort just scare me. I had always dreamed of living out in the country, or a ranch- or a farm.....but then reality hits- I'd be a mess. Since we've moved up here (about 4 years now), I've had more encounters with things than I'd like. Which brings me to today. Today was the first day of summer vacation. School is finished, the boys are home.....all day. So the day was going nicely, minimal fighting. Lunch was in the toaster oven & I decided to grab the mail. I was waiting for something that I had ordered so of course I run to the mailbox every day. I had already been out front a few times this morning. And every time I head out the door, there's someone behind me yelling- I wanna come too.....and they never close the front door. It's just what they do. So the trash went out, the recycle stuff went out later, more trash....then I run out to get the mail. One said he was coming too- I just hollered back....stay here- I'll be right back. I walk to the mailbox....nothing yet. I'm walking back to the door wondering where in the world my mailman is because it's been so sparse lately & my mail is never like that. I come around the corner to the front door & let out a scream. A very loud, shrieky scream. There's a rather large (3') snake at my front door. Now I just know that any second one of my boys is going to open the door, and that snake is going to be as surprised as them.....someone might get hurt....then he can just slither into my house. I'm freaking out. I get closer & move to close the screen door, at least that way if the boys open the door the snake can't get in, and I can ask them to open the garage so I can get a broom or something to scoot the thing away. Just as I shut the screen door the snake darts & ends up between the screen door & the front door. Well now I'm really a mess because if the door opens.....well- you can imagine. I reach in again to open the screen door and he comes back out to just in front of the door. Yup.....he's looking at me.....I'm looking at him. (And no.....I don't believe that he was anywhere near as frightened as I was) I get the screen door closed. Whew! I pick up a little rock & roll it next to him.....in the hopes that he'll scoot away. Seems he's as stubborn as I....again....then finally he just slithers on his merry little way. I back up to see my oldest looking out his window. He heard the commotion & decided to look out his window instead of opening the door. (Yes....we have a little Guardian Angel) And the little one was deeply engrossed in the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. My hands shook for quite a while after that. Then about an hour later I was sitting on the porch out back (indulging in my nasty habit) and there was another snake (smaller- 2') slithered by & up a bush after a lizard. My oldest walked out onto the porch just in time to watch that. See I'm okay when there's a wall, window, screen or fence between us. LOL. And then later.....Mr. Snake went back by the other way. Towards the palm trees (that we need to trim this weekend). Seems that's where they run to....should make for some fun yard work. So.....too much nature. Ugh. BTW- we don't think the snake is poisonous but we're no experts & frankly....I don't want to be close enough (again) to get lots of detail.

On a happier and more relaxed note, I posted another pair of earrings to Etsy tonight. A dainty pair of Petite Pearls. I like these ear wires, they are squared and sit in your ears ever so nicely. You can't see them in this pic but if you click on the link there's a pic of the ear wires.

New Earrings

I love these pearl earrings. They are oxidized and that gives the wire wrapping such dimension. I've just listed this pair in my Etsy store. All of the findings: the oversize ear wires, the jump rings and the headpins were made by myself. Then I wrapped the pearls, oxidized them and hand polished them to a beautiful shine. (Can't tumble pearls). They have a nice swing to them as the pearls move around as your head moves. And the color feels very much like spring to me. Someone will enjoy these for a long time. ;-)

And there's one more pair....

This pair starts with a scroll made from a vintage dictionary. It's then wire wrapped in sterling silver and a spray of gray and peacock pearls dangle from the bottom. My camera didn't pick up the iridescence on some of these beauties. This pair can also be found on Etsy. This is similar to the pair that I made for myself (a few posts ago) and I got so many comments by email and people walking up to me that I thought I'd make another pair. The only difference with this pair is I've used the oversize ear wires on these. The sterling findings on this pair were also made by me.

I also made my Mom a pair of earrings for Mother's Day but didn't get a photo of those. And today after weeks of waiting.....a very special pearl order was delivered. Loads of pretties in that box & I can't wait to get started playing with them. I got some copper, black, peacock, green and this batch has some larger pearls.

New Earrings- Paper & Pearls

Those that know me know what a tough day today is for us. DH did a major project to keep his mind busy. But it wrecked my creative space until the "improvement" is done. LOL. So I didn't get as much done as I had hoped~ I was rather hoping to keep my mind busy too. On a better note, the improvement is in the space where I create so it should allow me more room & better storage for all my junque!

I did finish a pair of earrings & dug out the camera to take a pic. (yes I know....still need better pix) These are sterling silver & a variety of pearls with a vintage paper "bead". I really like these, they are long & feel kinda sexy swirling around. The drop just happens to be a great length. This pair is for me but I think I'll make a similar pair for my etsy space.

I'd love to hear what *you* think of them!

Happy New Year

I love the new year. I tend to spend the first couple weeks of the year (up till my b-day) reflecting on the year past & planning for the year ahead. Still in that mode I guess. And watching my DH work on his website so much really makes me want to add some finishing touches to my own so that I can share the address with my friends & family. Right now it's just too......empty. LOL. Anyway- I needed to post my lottery entry to the group so I thought I'd post it here too. I scanned it instead of photographing it (I'm on a deadline here & taking the picture, playing with lighting.....it would just be late!), so it looks a little wonky to me. (They are both circles, not wonky like the one on the left looks in the picture) A pair of sterling silver hoop earrings, hammered for stability. The theme was winter & I thought the colors of the beads with the silver helped convey that. At least winter in my mind. LOL. Realistically- it was 82º today. Doesn't feel much like winter. I digress.....
I'm working on a bracelet right now. I'll post when I've finished it. LOL- just remember that there's a bunch of different projects going on in here so I'll probably finish something else first.