Wednesday, February 23, 2011

New from the bench...

Rectangular and spectacular moonstone.  High dome, thick and super flash.    Surrounded in sterling silver ball decoration.  Size 7.5  already made but I still have a few of these stones and I can make a custom size.


Gorgeous turquoise set in a shadow box of sterling silver.  I stamped the top piece and domed it so it is a great three dimensional piece with the stone inside the dome.  This is also a 7.5 to 8.  I make these my size so if they don't sell at least I can wear them!  I can do customs of this one too, with different pieces of turquoise of course.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Ladies, you gotta try these!

Looking to start your spring wardrobe?  Look no further!  I received this today and I couldn't be more thrilled. 


This is a wrap skirt from Mountainashdesign on Etsy.  It is such a cute and comfortable skirt and made so well.  It fits a range of sizes and, since I have been running and hope to continue to do so, it will continue to fit me as I shrink! 

She makes these skirts for you smaller gals as well as us bigger gals, so we all can have something beautiful, comfortable and oh so feminine for the warmer months.  And for those of you who maybe are expecting, this is perfect for the growing as well as the shrinking you'll be doing in the months ahead.

I recommend you check out her shop, Mountainashdesign .  There are many fabric styles to choose from.  You can have a simple plain black all the way to a yellow and hot pink print (which I have dibs on, by the way).  You will definitely find something to fall in love with there.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

February Favorites



Crochet Rock:  StitchHappens7  French Nougat: KettleConfections     Bunnies:  Heartfeltpassion   Vintage Mugs: allthebestvintage
Birdhouse: baconsquarefarm   Suncatcher: szaldesign
Canisters: TintedVintage   Bowl:  KelimPottery  

Keep Your Kitties and Small Dogs Indoors!

This was seen in your area!



This is a red hawk.  I wish I could have gotten closer.  It was beautiful!  It is quite a different sight to see in our residential area.  I have seen them in the more rural areas but it was very striking to see such a large bird just across the yard.  Its one of the smaller birds of prey but much larger than we usually see.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

I went to the zoo today

and while I was capturing photos of the animals I caught this one. 

I couldn't have planned that even if I tried!

Here are some of my other favorites.











Thursday, February 17, 2011

Custom Pieces

A customer asked me to design and make a few pieces that were empty so she could put her own images in them under glass.  These are the pieces she wanted.


The largest piece that I was having trouble with finally came together.  Instead of trying to add each piece of embellishment piece by piece, heating and cooling, fluxing and cleaning I finally did something I think was clever as well as added an extra layer.



See around the edges of these? I constructed them separately on their own back plate then soldered them all on together, a one shot deal. Woo Hoo! After melting two pieces already I did a little happy dance!

So off to my customer. I am hoping she loves them.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

From the Bench

Although it may look like I haven't been productive in the last few weeks I have actually been working my tail off on two custom orders.  I didn't take pictures of the first order because it was the same stuff I have in my shop.  I've finished the first part of the second order and was so glad to have it done I rushed it into the mail to meet my deadline.  Hopefully I'll have pictures of the second batch (crossing fingers) that will be done today. 

My hold up is I am stuck on one pretty large piece.  It is a 1.5 by 2.5 piece with details and embellishments and, honestly it is killing me!  For those of you who don't know, in order to get things to stick with solder a piece needs to be heated evenly and to a high enough temperature for the solder to melt and "glue" the pieces together.  Well, with such a large piece I am having a lot of trouble. I've melted two already.  Today will be my third time and, hopefully, third time's a charm as they say.  I've worked it out in my mind how to do it differently so hopefully it will all come together smoothly.  Here is the sketch I worked up:

For my mental sanity I had to take a break and create a couple of things that have been in my mind, just so I could get them out of the way and concentrate on this one last piece.


 This stone is called Pinolith.  It's is big, chunky, and round.  I love it.  I added the filigree on the side that mimics the white "feathers" in the stone.  It's pretty fun to wear.


A couple of months ago I bought two gorgeous strands of graduated turquoise nuggets.  They have sat and sat, tempting me into creating something but everything I have put them in just didn't do them justice.  I think these finally do it.  I clustered the smaller pieces together and the varying colors and matrix seem to really show them off. 

These aren't many pieces but they get me refocused on the work at hand.  Enjoy!

Monday, February 14, 2011

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Snuggly Things

These would be in my vintage trailer if I ever could get one.  Ah well, I can still enjoy them in my house.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

New Education



This is what I am going to be learning about.  I grew up in the Southwest and had a lot of Native American Design influence.  Funny, when you're a kid you don't appreciate things like that.  I disliked the whole "southwest" style.  I wanted houses with pitched roofs, eaves and trees..oh how I wished for trees. 

Now, still, I wouldn't move back there because I love the trees and green, but I have developed an appreciation for the jewelry style which thrives in that area of the country. 

I'm patiently waiting the arrival of this book so I can learn more about this stone and develop my own designs in the southwestern style.

Friday, February 4, 2011

Houston is a Popsicle

I know I will get little sympathy from most if not all of you, and I'm not really out for sympathy.  Honestly, I find this all a little rediculous.  If you don't know, the city of Houston is vertually paralyzed.  We have ice, people.  Not inches, not feet, no snow, no blizzard.  We have about one quarter inch of ice.  Ice everywhere, ice coating everything and we are paralyzed. 

No one should/can drive on ice so I am staying home, enjoying my kids, and making the best of it.  Here are some of the scenes from around my house.