Time...September Ends

So it's the last day of September and I really thought (and hoped) that I would be writing regularly here on the blog. But...obviously I haven't!!! I swear I try to fit it all in--designing, creating, making, photographing, web updates, social media, shows, etc--but there still are not enough hours in the day for me to get it all done.

I've created some beautiful jewelry this year, both for inventory and on commission, and will try (note the try) to show you some of them over the next few weeks. However, I am leaving for back to back shows next week, so I will try to post before then.

For now a recent photo of some new things from this weekend.

Reticulated silver bauble rings with amethyst, rhodolite garnet, and oxidized with 18k yellow gold. Reticulated silver cuff bracelets wave with 5 peridot gemstones and oxidized with large moonstone.

Thank YOU!

A great big thank you to everyone who came to the studio sale on Sunday! It was a pleasure seeing all of you and thank you for your support! And a big thank you always to Mom (Andrea Peters) and Dinny for sharing this fun event. Going to take a little break and enjoy the holiday season and jump back to it for the new year.

Next Show: ArtFull Gifts at Point Lookout

Here we are--the middle of November and my next show is here. I'm getting ready to head to Lincolnville to set up for the ArtFull Gifts Show tomorrow. This is my third year exhibiting at this venue. It'll be great to see familiar faces of clients and artists alike. I'll have a bunch of new work for sale including 4 new cuff bracelets. Hope you stop on by!

Reticulated silver cuff bracelet with 5 blue sapphires.

An Amazing Weekend with Linda Kindler-Priest

In the doldrums of this long and cold winter, I received a mailing from one of my favorite small metal schools--Metalwerx. It was annoucing their upcoming summer series called "Summer with the Masters" and I started perusing and dreaming of summer. I was thrilled to see that a favorite jeweler of mine--Linda Kindler-Priest--was teaching a class on the ancient art of repoussage. Normally I wouldn't consider taking time off in the summer, but this was an amazing opportunity and I jumped at it. It seemed so far away!

The summer weekend came quickly. And I packed up my car and headed south. Wow!!! I loved every minute. Linda taught us the technique--the basics--and now it's up to me to take that knowledge and practice. Hammering metal for 3 days was incredible and exhausting. Here's what I learned:

Structure--we hammered pyramids into the copper as an exercise.

Motion--swirls and curly-cues.

And lastly, our realistic project--I chose a dogwood flower. It was suggested to make our project on the simpler side--not many petals, and/or profile view.

Still needs some refinement, but coming along--tap, tap, tap.

What I've been up to--finishing commissions

I started into the winter with a number of jewelry projects to be designed and then created. Slowly, I've been ticking away at the list and here are photos of some of the finished projects.

This pendant was made with vintage jade buttons that were carved and suggested butterfly wings. the client and I came up with a butterfly inspired pendant set upon reticulated silver and baubles--touches of 18k gold.

Reticulated silver earrings with 4mm diamonds that are tube set in fine silver. The lower disc swings on the Inspired by a pair the client purchased a couple years ago and wears every day.

This cuff was inspired by one in inventory but added several little diamonds that were from the client's own ring--she didn't wear it anymore and thought let's use them in something else. 

This ring is 18k gold and silver with carnelian and lapis lazuli stones. The colors were chosen to correspond to an antique Navajo bracelet.

A lot more work is coming out of the studio. Will write again soon!

Rings--silver, stones, and more!

I've been working on a lot of rings lately--rings with funky and unusual stones and settings. Sometimes the stone does all the talking. Like this fire agate:

Simply brushed sterling silver shelf around the stone accentuates the cloudy edges and then the pop of the orange y-brown fire and the iridescent green--gorgeous stone!

And who can resist a large turquoise with black spider-webbing?! Oxidized to set off the large silver hammered balls. Everything is over sized and makes a statement in this ring. 

I am highly inspired by Native American and Mexican silversmiths from days of yore and can truly appreciate their skill and craftsmanship. I feel I struck a real Modernist look with this next ring.

It's a large round red agate cabochon that's bezeled in fine silver and off set in the larger circle. The outer edge is heavy square wire that frames the design. The inside is oxidized to set apart the areas of the ring.

Because I often don't repeat ideas or thoughts (sometimes on purpose, sometimes not), I thought I'd use some of the same design elements in another ring, but boy does it have a completely different look and feel.

A 6mm faceted blue topaz gemstone is tube set in the center of a silver bauble field. The background is oxidized to give depth and texture, while the outer square wire creates the same frame as above. I think it's pretty cool!

So many other things are on the bench, including some commissions that I'm finishing up. Lot's more to come!

Silver Flowers in All Sizes

It's April and time is flying! I'm starting to get a little nervous about my inventory as I've been slowly updating things at my retail locations. So, I focused on some basics this weekend and set out to create new silver flower earrings--all sizes and styles.  This is what I came up with:

I love the various sizes and finishes, hydrangea inspired and daisy inspired. A pretty good bunch with a few more pairs ready to go on the bench. Can't wait to get them all together.

Rings -- Back at it!

Rings -- they've been a calling. It's been a while since I wrote and I've been mostly processing and struggling through the days in the studio. While I've been working and creating through it all, finally I feel I have broken through the void and back toward inspiration.

I started with a visit to one of my local wholesale accounts to check in and see if there was anything in particular she might want for the upcoming season. We chatted and caught up and I saw what was left for my stock (only a few things--yeah!) and got feedback for what people reacted to. I felt awakened and alive again and ready to jump in creating--starting with rings. Rings of all sizes and shapes, but with a focus on interesting stone centerpieces.

Here's where I started:

This is a square mahogany obsidian stone set in fine silver. The rest of the ring is sterling silver and the face is oxidized. I love it!

Next up:

a soft triangle dalmatian jasper stone also set in fine silver. The ring is sterling silver with shiny balled dots of silver around the face. I thought about oxidizing it like the first, but have kept it polished so far.

Saturday I picked out a large oval fossilized dinosaur bone stone and a Norwegian emerald pearl stone to work with. Both are unique and offer completely different looks.

The dinosaur bone (pictured in the left ring) is a substantially sized stone, so I added larger, flattened balls to help balance the scale. The shiny finish offsets the reddish brown textured surface--very cool.

The Norwegian emerald pearl ring on the right has balls and circle embellishments. I've cut through the circles and I like the way the negative space shows through. It's an idea worth exploring further. I chose to partially oxidize the face, but have cleaned away a lot of it to offset the accents.

Four new rings--all different, but work as a nice grouping. Not bad for a weekend's work! Hope to keep the momentum going!

January Rings

It's more then a week into the new year and lots going on!  In weather news, we've been -6 degrees with a foot of blowing snow, now we're 47 degrees with pouring rain--very unsettling.  I spotted and rescued a kitty who was homeless and starving during the storm.  I'm now weighing the idea of introducing her to the others.  I've worked in the studio and am ticking things off the to-do list, as well as trying to create new designs for inventory.  Here's a sampling of what's going on.

This is a commission piece with a 4mm rhodolite garnet gemstone and silver and 18k gold balls.

I thought I'd continue making a few rings and this one is still in process.  I've placed a little 3mm ruby in the setting, but am not sure if I will choose a different stone.  What do you think?

And then I thought to do a simple all silver version. 

So much more to do--getting back to work!
 

Merry Christmas Eve!

Yes, it's that time--already!  Christmas is here and I'm still trying to catch up from all the busyness from the year.  I was lucky enough to be able to create a few beautiful pieces to be given as Christmas gifts this year.  One being this necklace for a special woman. It has a reticulated silver pendant with a square black onyx and strung upon a strand of faceted black spinel beads.  A lovely combination!

Another piece, a simply classic reticulated silver cuff. 

I hope everyone enjoys their new goodies!