Sizzlin Summer Challenge - Solar Flair

Vote for my piece in the

Etsy Jewelry Artists Guild's

Sizzlin Summer Challenge

July 1 - 15th

VOTE HERE - http://www.etsyjewelryartistguild.blogspot.com/

I had to design a piece that was artistic yet wearable and within the theme. I call it

Solar Flair

This necklace is a Byzantine Crown pattern made from copper.

It started out as nothing more than a strand of wire on a bolt.

Each jump ring was molded and cut by hand.

The back of the necklace is composed of 18g copper. As the necklace comes forwards, it gradually tapers into larger 16g copper rings to form the Crown. A fire red glass bead is fixed at the center. The clasp is also forged by hand from 14g copper wire. The entire piece took 3 days to create.

Precious Metal Clay Class

This morning I attended my first Precious Metal Clay class. We worked with PMC3 (3rd generation Precious Metal Clay). Each member of the class got 10grams of PMC3 to work with and I was able to make these 2 pendants and still had some PMC3 to bring home.

Precious Metal Clay looks and feels like modeling clay. You can mold and shape it into almost anything. After being fired in a kiln at 1290 degrees, the finished pieces are 99.9% pure silver. They can then be oxidized (like mine are) or left a shiny silver.

I also made this little fall leaf, but I haven't committed to a necklace style to attach him to...yet.

Lights! Camera! Action

Check out my new light box!!! My wonderful husband built it for me! I attempted to make one myself this afternoon out of an old Pampers box and tissue paper....it didn't work. He whipped this baby up with some scrap lumber and old t-shirts. It's pretty sweet and works soooo good!

2 Custom Orders

As I scramble to finish my To Do list before leaving town, it was nice to take a break and work on these pieces.

This was for a return customer who wanted 2 photo charm necklaces.

And a Penny Charm necklace!

Metalsmiths In Action (MSIA)

I am a proud new member of Metalsmiths In Action!!!

So who are the Metalsmiths In Action?......

A group of Etsy Metalsmiths and Metalsmiths-in-training who are:
~ Actively supporting, teaching, and promoting one another.
~ Working to bring knowledge of the art of Metalsmithing to the general audience.
~ Doing our best to give back to the community through our own charitable causes in a team store.
~ Actively trying to lead people into this art form and to help them expand their knowledge of metalsmithing skills.
~ Providing current information regarding materials, tools, supplies, exhibits, contests, schools, etc....
~ Providing an opportunity to share with other metalsmiths without the strict regulation of a jury process.
Come see our team website at:http://metalsmithsinaction.webs.com/

Come to my YART SALE!!

I'm having a YART sale!! From now to the end of the month, select items in my shop are 20-60% off.

Click HERE to see the discounted items.

YART = Yard + Art (like a garage sale). It's the newest Etsy craze.

Say Cheese!

This week I submitted my Etsy store for a Shop Critique. A shop critique is just what you think - other Etisan's visit my store and give feedback on anything from prices to descriptions to how to better classify my products to increase sales. The majority of the feedback was about my photography. Everyone feels my beloved blue/white china plate is too distracting a background to be used as my primary product photo. See, each product is allowed 5 photos. The primary photo is the one used in your shop. When looking at my shop as a whole collection, it was hard to distinguish the piece of jewelry from all the blue backgrounds. Their suggestion was to replace each primary photo with picture featuring the piece on a solid background. Then the remaining 4 photos could be on the blue plate or mannequin.

So....I gave it a try and rephotographed 2 pieces. And, they are right. It's much easier to see them when looking through my entire shop. Now I'm in the process of rephotographing as many as I can. It's not too time consuming, cause I only need 1 photo of each, but it is a bit of a chore. Oh well, if it gets me more sales then it's worth it!!

Speaking of sales....I hit up the Thunderbird Supply Super Sale last weekend and my shipment arrived today!! Be on the lookout for new pieces in the shop!

Cocktails Anyone?

My grandmother gave me several vintage broaches and I turned this one (my fav) into a cocktail ring. I simply snapped the pin backing off and created a simple ring setting using a wire wrapping technique from one of my design books. (similar to the Flower Ring in my shop)

hm....I think I need a new outfit to go with my new ring. Don't you? ;)

The Family Jewels

A few weeks ago, my mother's house was broken into. One of the things they took was her jewelry box. It only contained costume jewelry so it wasn't that big of a deal. Since then, my mom has been picking up beads and findings at local craft stores and having me create new pieces for her. Here are just a few...

Here Marty!! Pet ID Tag

I made an ID tag for my neice Marty McFly and I'm gonna start offering them in my shop. This tag uses a split ring jumpring to attach securly to her new red colar.

Custom Order - Charm

The translation for this charm is "you are not without me, I am not without you".