An Interesting Proposal

I was recently commissioned to make a necklace for a customer who lost a loved one and would like to carry the ashes around her neck in a sealed vessel. She informed me that she had seen the above necklace on flickr.com and would like to hang the urn type pendant on the handmade necklace instead of the spiral that is usually the focal piece of this design. I didn't think this would be possible since I do not not solder, but apparently she has someone who will seal the ends of the tube that I will hang from the necklace. I came up with the above piece to hold the ashes and hope that this is what my customer had in mind. We all need a little challenge to get the creative juices flowing. To be continued...

Before and After Part 3

These photos represent the after part of this 3 part post. After spending quite a bit of time polishing my bracelet with #0000 steel wool, I put it in my tumbler along with some rings I wanted to polish and voila the finished piece is ready. This one was a custom order and went right out in the mail . I was pleased with the results and would love some feedback.

3 Pairs of Lovely Little Earrings that Won't Break the Bank

With the holidays rapidly approaching we are all thinking about gifts for people that will stay within our budgets. I chose three pairs of earrings from my etsy shop that will put a smile on your lady's face and will keep you smiling too. All are made with genuine stones and quality findings. I used carnelian, quartz, moonstone, pearls, prehnite,copper, gold vermeil, and sterling silver to make these one-of-a-kind unique earrings. These items will be sent in a lovely pouch or little gift box, if you prefer. Please visit my shop to purchase these earrings or other one-of-kind jewelry designs.http://elektrajewelry.etsy.com/

Antiquing with Liver of Sulfur

I am so glad I decided to antique this piece. Thanks to my readers who voted yay. i put this piece into liver of sulpher. Copper looks so wonderful when it's bright and shiny,but we all know it doesn't stay that way. This piece has such a wonderful rich look now, due to all the buffing with steel wool and finally taking a tumble in my tumbler. It has made such a difference. Would love to know what you think!

To Antique or not to Antique- That is the Question?

I am having a really hard time deciding whether or not to antique my latest piece of jewelry. I love the way the copper and silver look right now, but with time the copper will tarnish and will not have the same vintage look as some of my other pieces unless I decide to "antique" the necklace in liver of sulpher. I would love some feedback before I do anything. So please give me your opinions.

A Work in Progress

I have been working on new wire projects with a vengence since my Wild Wire Woman's Retreat and I am proud to present my lastest new necklace which is still unfinished. Stay tuned for the next installment. I will be asking for feedback and would love to have your input.

Matching Earrings

What is it about the combination of copper and turquoise that is so eye catching? These hand hammered, copper, 16 gauge, wire earrings seem to do just that. When I finished these earrings , I had a hard time deciding whether or not to antique them because the turquoise ceramic rounds looked so pretty on bright shiny copper. I decided that antiquing them would give a richer look and contrast just as nicely with the turquoise. Hope you like the results!

Great Instruction is the Key

I have been talking quite a bit on this blog about the wonderful Wild Wire Woman's retreat where I studied under master teacher Sharilyn Miller at her home in Idywilld,Ca. Even though some of the techniques we learned were challenging and frustrating, my persistence has certainly paid off. Practice really does make a big difference and having Sharilyn's DVDS has helped tremendously.

Although I still enjoy working with genuine gemstones to make some feminine and delicate jewelry pieces, wire working has been so much fun and I find that I love wearing the bold, chunky pieces as much as the delicate ones. Working with wire is a very satisfying experience and I particularly love antiquing my pieces in liver of sulpher. Check my blog to see my current metal pieces.

Proud to Present my Latest Creations!

These are two of my latest creations with wire wrapping. I learned wire working techniques and methods from Master Artisan, Sharilyn Miller, at her Wild Wire Women Retreat, at her home in Idyllwild, California (see my previous posts). Her wonderful books and DVDs are available on her website. Add these to your collection and perhaps you will be inspired to take one of Sharilyn's wonderful workshops. I did and couldn't be happier with the results.

The Joys of Wire Wrapping

I have been doing some interesting things with dead soft wire in the last few weeks and I am pleased the results. I love the way the wire cages frame the beads and give them an interesting dimension. I used carnelian and lampwork beads for the silver necklace and earrings. The bangle is made with copper and silver wire that I hammered and adorned with fresh water pearls and Hill Tribe pure silver beads. The necklace and bangle bracelet are for sale in my esty shop . The earrings have been sold, but I am more than willing to do a custom design. All my jewelry is one of a kind so if you like the earrings, yours will be unique.

Grandmother's Gift

The three owners of Lazy Cat have something in common. Their grandmothers taught them how to crochet. Allison, Kelly and Stasia have used this wonderful skill to create the pieces you see here as well as well as many other beautiful, handmade scarves, hats, and intricate necklaces. The results are amazing. Please take a look at their wonderful etsy shop and get your checkbooks ready!

Stack em Up!

I adore stacked rings and bracelets. These beautiful creations by Linda Chandler combine different metals, designs,and textures. Please visit Linda's shop to see more of her incredible work.