Getting ready for Christmas, again

I found some colorful aluminum beads, which inspired me to create the first Christmas earrings for this year.

Hearts

A customer asked me to design copper hearts that she could give her bridesmaids to wear as pendants. I liked the design, and decided to make some silver earrings in a slightly smaller version.

Scribbling Away

I enjoy making scribble earrings in both copper and silver. Fortunately, my customers love buying them.

Bracelets

I love bracelets. Why don't people wear them more? Here are the ones I finished recently. I think I should make one of the kissing fish bracelets for myself. And maybe one with the serpentine nuggets.

Christmas earrings

Last year, I sold out of Christmas earrings early in the one show I did. This year I have several shows, so I'm going to make sure I have enough. So far, I've made big and little snowmen and lovely crystal Christmas trees. I'll be making some elves once the supplies I need arrive. I was hoping to make some angels, but the vendors who sell angel wings all seem to be sold out. Still searching for wings ...

Having fun with copper

I love copper's rich warm color, and the freedom it gives me to explore new techniques.

Tricky Colors!

I'm finding I have to play with the colors of my photos to get them to look like the actual jewelry. The carnelian beads that suspend the Hill Tribe pendant were deep red in the original photo, rather than the true red-orange. The rhodonite flower suspended from a unakite and rhodonite necklace was very intensely pink before I toned it down.I'm glad I have PhotoShop to correct the colors. Sometimes I think I spend more time getting good pictures than I spent making the jewelry.

Chains for the ears, too

I combined several base metal chains and hung them from sterling silver ear posts to create these earrings.

In love with chains

I love the look of multiple chains, but they cost a fortune in silver. Fortunately, wonderful brass chains are available in a variety of colors, from bright gold to rich brown. These two necklaces were made with brass chains, open circles in wood and horn, and ceramic beads from Greece. Yummy.

Working on My Photographs

I got the light tent and lights, and they have really improved my photographs. But I'm still learning what works and what doesn't. Here are a couple of pictures taken with the new setup.

The chocker features lampwork beads by talented glass artist Sandra Hyler, plus Swarovski crystals and sterling silver. The earrings are fashioned from copper wire, twisted, hammered, and polished. They hang from niobium ear wires.

Hardware Store Find

I found these cool washers with an iridescent coating at the hardware store. Here's my first try at making jewelry from them.