I don’t know about you, but I don’t have much need or space for lords-a-leaping, maids-a-milking (not to mention the cows!), drummers, pipers, dancers, geese, swans, calling birds, French hens, turtle doves, or a pear tree with a partridge. I mean, can you imagine the noise and the mess all of that would make?
The gold rings? Okay, maybe I could find a spot for those. But wouldn’t this be a more practical and modern version of that extravagant gift for us jewelry designers. Continue reading
Chainmaille jewelry is one of those things I’ve often looked at and thought “that must take forever to make.” I could just imagine the hours of opening and closing all those jump rings.
I admired the skill and the patience I assumed it must require to create the intricate patterns but didn’t feel compelled to try it myself. I know me. And patience is not one of my virtues. Continue reading
I signed up for a jewelry design challenge with the theme “Welcome to Faery.” I had visions of making delicate shimmery translucent earrings in the shape of wings. I was going to do a “light” fairy version and a “dark” fairy. Or maybe I was going to make fairy wings for each of the four seasons. Yep. Grand plans, I had.
Because all these diaphanous winged earrings looked so spectacular in my head, I didn’t worry about getting off to a late start with the actual making of said wings. I didn’t wait until the very last minute. Neither did I allow enough time for the “error” part of the trial-and-error process of designing something I’ve never done before. Nor for a plan B when things went pear-shaped. Continue reading
Polymer clay seed pod beads.
The theme for the November We’re All Ears earring design challenge was seed pods. Our hostess, Erin Prais-Hintz, shared botanical prints as inspiration.
The prints were mainly in black and white, which Erin hoped would lead us to be inspired by the form of the pods and use our imagination for the rest. My imagination got a little carried away. Not so much in a “whoa, what the heck is that” way. But in a “I ended up with a bumper crop of seed pod-inspired earrings” kind of way. Continue reading
Welcome to reveal day for the Superstition Blog Hop and jewelry design challenge. The participants, all jewelry designers, have created jewelry based on various superstitions of their choosing. Some of them are using Lucky Black Cat beads, made by yours truly, in their design.
This is my first time hostessing a jewelry design blog hop. I’ve participated in quite a few and felt it was my turn to come up with an inspiration/theme and invite some friends. You can read more about why I chose “superstition” as the theme in the post where I announced sign-ups for the hop. Continue reading
The fall art/component theme on Art Jewelry Elements is ravens, in mythology and in nature.
As the subject of many myths and legends, ravens are also a popular subject in the art of many cultures. They make great focal elements for jewelry designs as well. I took this challenge as an opportunity to create a small collection of raven-themed jewelry featuring artisan components from several of my favorite artists. I threw in a few components of my own making as well.
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Welcome to my reveal for the Danse Macabre Blog Hop. Our hostess, Lee Koopman, challenged us to create jewelry, or decorations or other crafts, inspired by a “Halloween type character.”
The Danse Macabre has some symbols and imagery in common with Halloween, including skeletons. Those are what I decided to focus on for my creations.
I also borrowed from another fall holiday – the Day of the Dead – for my design inspiration. Skulls and skeletons are featured prominently in decorations for that day, as well as bright colors and flowers. Continue reading
My newest jewelry-making technique involves a bit of chemistry and physics. I gave metal etching a try this month. Etching and electroforming are the techniques featured for the Self-Representing Artists in Jewelry Design challenge in August.
I began researching etching weeks ago, and decided on salt-water as my etchant almost immediately. My studio, which is sometimes otherwise known as my kitchen counter and dining table, is not equipped for harsher chemical techniques that generate more toxic fumes. Continue reading
I’m quite pleased at the turn-out in sign-ups for my Superstition Blog Hop. As this is my first time hosting a design challenge blog hop, I wasn’t sure what kind of interest was out there. Happily, I managed to lure 28 jewelry designers with the enticing theme.
Or maybe it was the chance to win a Lucky Black Cat bead that drew them in? As promised, the first 13 people to leave a comment on the sign-up post and complete the sign-up process will be receiving a free Lucky Black Cat focal, handmade from polymer clay by yours truly. Continue reading
The inspiration images for this month’s We’re All Ears design challenge are from my home state, Arizona. Specifically, they are photographs of Antelope Canyon – a famously picturesque slot canyon in the northern part of the state.
This is the second time I’ve participated in a jewelry design challenge where images of Antelope Canyon were the inspiration. Last year I designed a necklace and bracelet for a Self-Representing Artists in Jewelry Design monthly challenge. I think the universe is telling me I need to make a trip to see this place in person. Continue reading