Silver Linings

So, it turns out that the economy has caused my job to drop to two days a week instead of four. Not the best situation, although in a way it's beneficial. I now have five days a week to work on my own stuff, which is great because I only have 7 weeks until I have to show.

I visited family in New Mexico and went to an awesome bead store called Western Traders. There were insanely beautiful gemstone beads that I could not afford, but I did get some nice stone beads to work into designs. The show I'm in tends to have a lower pricepoint for things that sell, so I figure it can't hurt to put together some sharp beaded necklaces and earrings for the $30 and under crowd. They'll go up on Etsy if they don't go at the show.

I don't have any new photos of stuff yet, although I'm working on a copper mock-up of a pendant. It's going to be a sphere that opens, and locks with a bayonet. Possibly will have some stones on it. I drew up this insane idea in the wee hours of the morning a couple weeks ago, and now I've got it in my head that I need to make it just to prove I can. Should be interesting. I've missed the engineering end of design, work doesn't provoke that part of my brain very much. Hopefully I will have some photos of the copper/brass piece within the next few days. The first few steps have gone relatively quickly...maybe it'll be a continuing trend. I like how copper is completely unintimidating, so I am free to experiment and figure out this design without spending a fortune.

Something New...

I'm starting this blog to follow my works in progress, sort of a diary to shadow my creations. I'm sure this blog will evolve as I use it.

Presently I am preparing for the St. Paul Art Crawl, which is coming up in April. I hope to get some good local exposure, and if I'm lucky some sales.

I have a few series of jewelry in progress, eventually they will have names. This week I have been working on some sterling silver fabricated pendants which will be set with semi-precious gemstones. I've had quite a bit of success in getting these together - of course now that I've said that, something will go wrong. The design is based on a terribly rough doodle I did a year ago, and is turning out even better than I imagined. Below is an in progress shot of some of the components.

These five will become pendants, I will also be making earrings and possibly bracelets & rings. I had forgotten how fun hollow construction was, it's been a couple of years since I've done any.

Before this past Christmas I finished a couple of pieces - a ring for myself and a pendant for a friend's sister. I'm hoping to expand on both designs.


It's a bit scuffed up since I've been wearing it, but the groove is developing a great patina. Top stone is a created Padparadscha Sapphire.

Each side has three flush-set garnets.

This will be the only one of its kind, I am going to experiment with a similar design but not copy this one. I'd like to keep it so my friend's sister has something original and unique. The stones are both London Blue Topaz.

It's pretty amazing to see how my skills have developed in the two years since graduating. Stone setting was next to impossible in school, now it's not so daunting.