I'm your Fan... Friday

Hey check out these earrings! These gorgeous earrings are by Melissa. Don't ya just love these?

  These gorgeous earrings are by Melissa. Don't ya just love these?These are incredible. I have been forging a few things lately, but nothing like these. I think I need lessons getting them as even as Melissa does. I love all of these in her post, but this pair is my favorite.
Melissa, I'm your fan.

I also love these "snowflakes".

 This would be the only time that you might find 2 exactly alike. I don't know how  Philippa does it, when I try to make chain maille pieces, I never seem to get the aspect ratio just right.but..She does get it just right and these are gorgeous.
Silverheart, I'm your fan.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. I am planning to stretch mine out a bit, then on Monday, I will post pictures of the pieces I have been working on.

I finally got a "Roun'toit"...

Do you remember being on vacation and stopping in one of the normal touristy type stores and seeing a "rountoit"? Basically It was just a circle of wood with the words " round to it" painted on it. It was simply a reminder to stop procrastinating and get around to doing whatever your project may be. Well, someone must have wished me one because I finally got "around" to photographing some of the jewelry pieces I have been making and decided to share. I am still learning a lot about metals and design, but so far I have only made a few things I didn't like and needless to say, you won't see those. I truly thought I had made more, but tonight as I was photographing my pieces, I realized I must have dreamed it because I didn't have as many as I thought.
Anyway, I have learned some forging, some wire weaving, some beading and some wire wrapping. These two peices are my attempts at forging.

This pair combines hemimorphite stones with some tiny seed pearls. They are surprisingly comfortable too. I love the aqua color of the stones mixed with the copper.

This bracelet I forged from brass wire. I was using it to practice with and I think I like using it as well as copper. The brass is a little stiffer and just seems to hold it's shape better than the soft copper.

The next 2 pieces are green onyx that I made a woven Bezel for. I was really happy with it, because I haven't ever woven a bezel before now.

I love these open circles with the weaving between the frames too.

These are pebbles I picked up off of the beach. I love rocks and I have loved picking up these little pebbles for as long as I can remember. I have wrapped them as pendants, which is strange because I don't wear any necklaces but I think they are just too big for earrings.

Wire filigree caught my eye and I had to just try it. This is my attempt. I believe next time I will use a smaller guage for the filigree than I used for the frames.

Freshwater pearls are hard to beat. I wrapped these coin pearls to a hand forged teardrop frame and put some 1/2 ear wires on them. They are incredibly comfortable and fun to wear.

I will post more later on, I am just getting started and I am trying out some new designs too. I have so much to learn, but right now my hands are sore and I need a little break.

Maybe next I will design something with crystals or faceted gemstones.

Boy Time sure flies....

Wow!
I cannot believe how long it has been since I have posted. This summer brought many changes into my little world. My son became a vegan in June, so I feel as if I am failing cooking school. It is really not easy to adjust to cooking with no animal products whatsoever especially when you have never cooked without them. Most of the things I have made have been okay, but not wonderful, some not edible and very few that were requested more than once. I am spending lots of time searching the net for recipes and tips and tricks that will make things look and taste better and if they can be a little more convenient.... ( well I can dream right). I had planned to post some recipes and pictures of things we have made, but I just haven't gotten to it yet.Hopefully pictures and recipes will come soon.

Another thing that changed for me this summer, was I revisited an old craft. I took copper working classes in school and have fiddled with it on and off since then. I have a great friend who is a fine jewelry designer and who makes the most beautiful jewelry and she has shown me some methods of forging and soldering metals and so I have branched into silver as well as copper. You can follow this link to her website and see why I am so crazy about her designs. Barbara Umbel Jewelry Designs . I have made many earrings as well as a few bracelets and I will list them in my etsy shop soon.

I am hopelessly addicted to plants. Most people who know me, don't bother to question the fact that I have an extra refrigerator for seeds, but it is quite a pleasant addiction. I have heard it said that "Good things come to those who wait" and 2 nights ago good things did. I have amassed an extensive collection of Epiphyllum (orchid cactus) ( some started from refrigerated seeds) and 1 bloomed for the first time. These are nocturnal cacti and the blooms don't even begin opening until late in the evening. By morning, the blooms have finished and they only last for 1 showing. The variety that bloomed for me this week is Epiphyllum Oxypetalum. Also known as Queen of the Night. She put on quite a show and although I was too tired to stay up all night watching, I was able to see bloom. Here she is in all her glory.


Thanks for stopping by and look for updates on a regular basis real soon.

My Soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
Luke 1: 4-6