Switching Gears

I am on a huge pendant kick, I don't know why. I used to be designing rings like crazy, but that has changed recently. I think I came up with five doable designs in one night, and they all use different techniques. I found that it's easier to draw up a design in a larger scale, and then shrink it to the actual size. It seems to get more of the kinks out, since I have to draw it a couple extra times.

I have a few stones heading my way this week, and depending on costs I might just order some gold. These are the stones, I have pretty solid ideas for 2 of the 4 so far.

Sunset Padparadscha Sapphire


Kiwi Topaz

Rhodolite Garnet

Mozambique Garnet

Will be interesting to see how the stones look in person. I'm still trying to hunt down a big round stone for one of the designs I came up with the other night. I suppose it would be better to start making the ones for which I already have stones.

So, I checked out this International Gem and Jewelry Show that is/was at the state fairgrounds this weekend. I had no idea what to really expect going into it, other than:

1. It might be super-tacky
2. It might be a great resource for loose stones/beads
3. It might be a waste of $7 and time

I found out:

1. It was full of middle aged and older ladies
2. Mom said it felt like Vegas
3. I have ridiculously expensive taste in beads - one strand I looked at was $150 (at 50% off, yeah.)
4. There is a great local resource for cabochons and unusual stones - bought a great piece of rutilated quartz...but I'll get to that in a bit.
5. There are a kajillion beads out there. Seriously.

So, overall it was worth going. I'm currently in the process of designing a pendant around this piece of rutilated quartz. I actually think I might do a sterling/14K yellow gold combination, since the rutiles have a slight golden color.

I feel like I want to do some one of a kind pieces for a while. Doing multiples is challenging and good practice of specific skills, but it doesn't seem to flex my design muscles enough. I feel like people appreciate unique jewelry pieces, too - at least I do.

I've added another deadline besides the Fall art crawl, which is good. I need to have deadlines otherwise I feel like I'll never get anything finished. A friend and fellow artist wants to have a jewelry party with my stuff in the Fall. It should be fun and hopefully I'll have things that will interest the people. Wine and excellent food will be involved, so no matter what it'll be a good time.