Moonstone Blossom Pendant

 

 

I created this sterling silver blossom pendant for the Art on the Wabash exhibit at the Ivy Tech campus in Lafayette, Indiana.  The petals were individually roller printed from real hydrangea petals, creating delicate veined detail.  The piece was then hand fabricated. I soldered each petal to a decorative back piece and bezel set a moonstone in the center.  I individually hand formed each petal for a lifelike appearance and created a soft appearance and depth with a hand painted liver of sulfur patina.

 

Below is a photo of the back side of this piece bearing my maker's mark and quality stamp.

 

And here is a progress shot of the blossom, once it was soldered together but before setting the moonstone and adding the patina.

New 2013 Designs

I've been busy at work in the studio this month.  Here are a few new designs for 2013:

Inspired Initial Jewelry

A couple years ago, I wrote about the engraved initial necklace given to me by my grandmother.  Since then, I've wanted to create an entire alphabet of etched handwritten initial necklaces but never found the time to do.  I was thinking about this project again at the end of August and decided it was time. Tears came to my eyes when I realized that day 2 of this project, August 28, was my grandmother's birthday.  How fitting since my initial series was very much inspired by the necklace my grandmother had given to me, which was given to her when she was born.

Owl Necklace

A couple months ago at the Indiana Artisan Marketplace, a sweet customer asked if I would consider making an owl necklace.  She loves owls and wanted a necklace with a cute little owl.  I thought of her as I was sketching some new designs last week.  What started out as a doodle turned into this tiny owl sitting on a branch.  I thought he was rather cute (especially since for some reason he also reminds me of my cat, Rufus), and I said to myself "why not put him on a necklace?"  I hope the customer who made the request checks out my shop and discovers him there.  She did say she'd be watching for an owl, and I think she would be delighted with this little guy.

A Personal Project

This week I've been working on a special personal project, a necklace to honor the memory of my dog who died on March 23 at the old age of 16. We had been together since he was just 7-1/2 weeks old, and he had been a constant studio companion since I started my jewelry business. I am grateful for the time we shared together, and I miss him deeply.

For the necklace I created a sterling silver, locket-style piece with his photo etched inside a cupped pendant, to be worn close to the heart. A sterling disc nests within the cupped piece and bears a Native American sentiment that I've handwritten and etched into the metal: "We have walked together in the shadow of a rainbow." These words have special meaning for me and remind me of our years together.

Rest in peace, my sweet boy.

Indiana Artisan Marketplace

While I've taken a bit of a break from blogging this year, I've been busy at work in the studio creating many new pieces. This weekend I'll be exhibiting at the Indiana Artisan Marketplace. If you are within an hour or two of Indianapolis, this event is well worth a road trip. It's a great opportunity to purchase some fantastic artwork from Indiana and Kentucky artists and sample and purchase edibles from the food artisans. Visit the website for details. I hope to see you there!

Green Amethyst :: Ring No. 52

My final ring for the Ring A Week challenge features a 10mm cushion rose cut green amethyst that I've set in sterling silver. I've given the ring a brushed finish. I fell in love with this pale green stone.

Participating in the Ring A Week challenge has been an incredible experience. At times, with a full schedule, it was hard to keep up but I'm so glad I was able to finish in time. I've really enjoyed seeing the creations of other challenge participants. You can see the entire pool of Ring A Week rings on Flickr.