Grab the brass ring!
Friends and I have been playing around with these new brass ring clasps. What is so nifty is that you can change out the pendant in a snap. I got such a good price on the chain, I can sell a piece like this one for $35. I have two styles of chain and can make them to any length. When you want a new look, pick up a new pendant for $25 and change it up! A chain with 2 pendants makes a nice little gift for $60.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Birds of a feather...
Last night's birthday happy hour was so fun. I spent today making even more pieces for tomorrow's cake and coffee. I was thinking of calling this necklace "Migration" but keep recollecting when Heather was about 3 years old and we were trying to decide where to eat lunch. My mother was in town for a visit and she said: "We'll put the burden on daddy." After more deliberation about our restaurant options, Heather offered: "I want to go to the place with the bird on daddy."
Sea shells...
When I was photographing these I recalled Marcel the Shell on YouTube. Enjoy if you haven't seen it. It's really goofy.
Penwork!
My friend Susan Meyer is bringing her penwork pieces to my Birthday Open House. I especially love the 'bling' dish! Even more fun, she does custom work. You should see her dog portrait bowls!
Ahoy!
We have a niche in our bathroom that you can only see when you are looking in the mirror so it is the perfect place to put a surprise. I went to Marshall's and created my version of a Chihuly shipwreck. Now all these shells and globes are on my dining room table for my upcoming Birthday Open House.
I'm heading down to Sarasoata to visit my parents and assemble lots of new stuff. I can't wait to tinker with my new glass and my new brass.
Jewelie sports coin necklace...
James experimented with photographing my jewelry on my dressmaker's form ("Jewelie") so that my web-site can give everyone an idea of scale and how the necklaces fall. It was tricky to get the lighting just right, but this shot gives you an idea of how fun this kinetic piece is. The bead chain is adjustable so you can play with how long to hang each glass coin. In this shot, all the length it to the center.
James suggested we get Natalie in on the act. She's much better looking than Jewelie, but a little mouthier. (Don't tell her I said that or she'll never model for me.) I also have a video project in mind for my film-student son if I can inspire* him. *(I think that means cash.)
Top brass, brass tacks, brass ring... brass sings!
Whenever I try or order something new I have to overcome dread of the unknown, so I didn't open the box containing my new brass chain when it arrived last night. How happy am I? Perfect for beachy summer laid- back tan and flip-flops, or a balmy pina colada night on the town. Not only that, you get the look for a fraction of the cost of sterling.
Last night, I fired up some bronze coins and shells with the same trepidation with regard to the unknown. Firing copper and bronze has been the proverbial 'crap shoot' for me. With stomach knots and unspoken 'please let these turn out' (well, maybe it was spoken) I opened the kiln. My heart sank. The pieces looked like dirt until I polished them! Voila! Can't wait to see what new designs will come out of pairing these with my new chain and glass. Hope you can come to my Birthday Open House where I'll have a limited edition for sale... limited by how much time I have until Thursday! Better run get on it! 
Hot lips sink ships! Actually... floats my boat.
Found a post on the internet on how to acheive hot pink glass. It involves layer upon layer but acheives this amazing swirl of orange/ purple/ pink. Groovy, right? It's got me inspired to crank up the torch again. 
Flipping a coin...
I've been intrigued with making coins lately, my own little alchemy going on. I like this version of combining my copper clay coins with my glass versions. The bead chain runs through the glass centers and can be adjusted to create different looks depending on which coin you tug on the hardest! Kinetic, gotta love it. See more images on my etsy site.
