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.

Another year - another word.

Another year has flown almost completely past me.  I won't go into a litany of apologies because I've become such a bad blogger.  And since I don't really *do* new years resolutions, I won't promise that I'll wake up in 2011 and magically become consistent.  But I am wrapping up my year.  Shows are all finished for the year.  This is the time of year when I do a lot of reflection, clean off my bench (hopefully), reface my hammers, spend some time with my family and; friends, and figure out my *one word* for the year to come.  Next year's word, or at least what I think will be next year's word, came very easily to me.  In the past they haven't. 

This year my word was focus.  And I tried.  With some success.  Better than before.  I am grateful that this year new doors opened up for me.  I've had the pleasure of meeting some wonderful people.  And I'm sure that it will continue in 2011. 

Unless my mind takes a drastic turn in the next couple of weeks- my word for 2011 is stretch.  It's what I need right now in so many ways.  Well that and a haircut.  But haircut wouldn't work as a word for the year.  LOL.  Stretch.  It suits me.  I think I'll add it to a piece of jewelry as a gentle reminder.  What's your word?  You don't have to comment.....email is fine if you're not quite so ready to share.

Sterling and Tanzanite CZ

Sonora Angel

An angel to watch over you.  This pendant is a sonora sunrise stone and sterling silver.  The stone has both bright & muted blues mixed with a reddish black.  This is a stone that I cut myself.  A rustic angel.  Not quite listed to sell as of yet because I haven't been happy with any of the photos that I've taken of this piece.  I've had months where I've been very camera challenged.  Not quite sure why.  I'll work on it once school starts. 

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!

I saw an angel

 

Last October I wanted to make a pendant for myself.  I knew which stone I wanted to use, it was the first Sonora Sunrise that I cut myself.  {For my first stone I didn't grab the part with the vivid reds & blues, this stone is more muted}  When I was almost finished, it looked like an angel to me.  Then someone else told me that they thought it was an angel.  It wasn't intentional, just serindipitous.  So the angels were born.  This one is mine & I've cut stones and started setting for two others.  One of those will be a necklace and the other, maybe a brooch.   Those who know me know how much I love angels.  I like this one, it suits me just fine!   ;-)

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!

Bloom...The Ring

I know I'm just dropping quick photos & running....life's been that way. But I wanted to post a pic of a new ring. I haven't been able to get a great photo to post it in Azoho yet, but I'm close. It's a "bloom" ring. I love it. Wearing it on my pinky right now. Earrings are close to finished. And a ring with a little bezel set stone is finished except for some patina & polishing (& setting the stone). Hopefully some time in the metals studio tomorrow morning & I'll get it all done. Then photographs. The last part is still the tricky part for me.
The kids are almost finished with school for the year. At this point I'm usually thinking that I'll have more time....but this year I'm not kidding myself. My time will have to be stolen moments here & there. Unless I can work out some sort of schedule. Hmmm....will have to give that a try!

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

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.

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!

Silver Hearts is finished

Because I'm scanning instead of photographing, I'm not sure how much difference you'll see, but the piece looks totally different. No longer the shiny bright silver, it's now aged & worn looking. I prefer this look for this piece. This will be packaged up and sent to it's new home with my next mail run. I sure hope she likes it.

Silver Hearts

This is a bracelet that I'm making for a friend. I want to artificially age it now so it'll have a little bath in some yummy smelling liver of sulfur. (Yes- I'm being sarcastic because the stuff smells horrible!) Then I'll tumble it, polish it & take a pic before I send it off to it's new home.

This bracelet is made from 18 gauge sterling silver. It really looks pretty on, very feminine. A swan clasp will hold it together. I really like this clasp- I thought it would be hard to attach the bracelet or fall off or something like that, but it's a great clasp for the pieces that I've done so far.

The charms for the swap on ArtTechniques are starting to come in. I rec'd so much inspiration from the other charm swap blogs that I'd like to do one for this swap too. Just need an okee dokee from the participants. I posted a message asking for permission but only a few have responded so far- we'll see how it goes. I could always just add a page to my website.

Website.....yeah- haven't had much time to spend on it the last week. Been trying to wrap up a few things. "All in good time", one of my mantras that I seem to keep repeating.

I am going to spend the next couple weeks trying to finish things to add to my little space on ETSY. I did post the "African Pin" that I posted here in August. I'd keep it if I was going out into the world every day, dressed for a job......but that's not my life right now.

Currently working on a Spring Collaborative Swap for BookArtz, some decos and I'm building a necklace around one of the Mother of Pearl pendants that I wire wrapped. All projects are coming along! Will post as they finish ;-)

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.