More finished work from my most recent firing

May 27th, 2009

Two new finished pairs of earrings from my most recent group that I blogged about previously.

Deco Lotus Earrings with Peridot

Deco Lotus Earrings with Peridot

I call this pattern “Deco Lotus” because it has that sort of Deco/Egyptian Revival look to it in my opinion.  The pattern is inverted (I usually use the “lotus” part on the bottom and the dot-textured part at the top) but I decided in this case I wanted to try it this way.  I am fascinated by unusually cut stones and I own several different types of stones with this cut (I’ve heard it called “rice cut”, “puff marquis”, and “full round marquis”), they remind me of little water droplets and I think the shape goes really well with the motiff of the silver component.

Art Clay Silver and Garnet Earrings with Baroque Pearl Drop

Art Clay Silver and Garnet Earrings with Baroque Pearl Drop

This is a new component I’ve never used before – it’s actually a fragment of a larger piece, I just used part of the mold to make these little football-shaped components.  I set garnets into the wet clay and fired them in place and then added these sumptuous freshwater pearls after finishing.

I like the agate geode as a background but I’m not sure whether it is too distracting or not and I’m still trying to get the lighting right – I’m getting glare off the metal or the stones – I’m going to have to invest in a light tent after all.

Finished necklace and first trial photo

May 22nd, 2009

A couple weeks ago I blogged about my newest group of metal clay jewelry components.  I’ve finished some of the pieces and took a few photos.  Here is the best one so far:

Deco Sunburst Station Necklace with Tanzanite

Deco Sunburst Station Necklace with Tanzanite

What do you think?

The pendant (I call them “door knock” pendants – I’m weird that way) was cast out of fine silver (Art Clay silver) from a mold I made of an Art Deco-era button.  This button really appealed to me as it is unusual to find buttons in any shapes other than round, particularly with so much detail.  The mold lost a little detail in the upper left area but I think that gives it a more antique feeling.  I set a genuine tanzanite directly into the clay and fired it in place.  I love the dissonance of the ultra-feminine, curvy pear-shaped stone with the straight geometry and faceted texture of the component.

When the clay was still wet I drilled a hole on either side so that I could later attach jumprings and chain.  Once the piece was fired, brushed and burnished I added my rings and several inches of sterling silver rolo chain and added an extender chain at the back so that it may be worn at different lengths.

I took the picture with my digital camera under a daylight lamp on one of a pair of agate geode bookends.  The drusy makes a nice resting area for making a small piece “stand up”.

I’m planning on playing with photography over the next few weeks and I welcome any suggestions for improving my technique.  I’ll be finishing other pieces from my last grouping of components and I anticipate experimenting a lot with backgrounds, color, lighting and methods of photography.

Gorgeous New Beads

May 18th, 2009

I just attended my first gem show in over two years and boy!  Did I come back with a haul!  I went over my budget but I found such pretty things I couldn’t help myself!

I bought these to use for my cousin’s bridesmaids:

Mystic Topaz

Mystic Topaz

Or potentially these:

Rose de France Amethyst

Rose de France Amethyst

Yummy:

Baby Swiss Blue Topaz

Baby Swiss Blue Topaz

London Blue Topaz

London Blue Topaz

Mystic Blue Topaz

Mystic Blue Topaz

Mystic Green Topaz

Mystic Green Topaz

Mystic Gray Quartz

Mystic Gray Quartz

Prassiolite ("green amethyst")

Prassiolite ("green amethyst")

Freshwater Pearls

Freshwater Pearls

Rhodolite Garnet

Rhodolite Garnet

YUMMY:

Lots of yumminess!

Lots of yumminess!

And some loose stones for using with my metal clay:

Mixed loose stones

Mixed loose stones

here’s some detail:

Alexandrite and Sapphire

Alexandrite and Sapphire

Rhodolite Garnet

Rhodolite Garnet

Rubies!

Rubies!

I also bought some pretty chain and some 18k gold wire.

Considering what I spent I think I made out pretty well!  What do you think?

I has technology!

May 11th, 2009

I figured out how to add the Etsy mini widget to this here blog and my Facebook!  I’ve added another techno-skill to my toolbox.

A few days ago I picked up my jewelry that I had left with the chair of a local cooperative school and found, to my pleasant surprise, that she had made several more sales for me!  I also made my second Etsy sale from my detash store late last week.

Next:  Photographing my jewelry for Etsy!  I’ll get there I swear!  I’ll do it!

It’s spring and a young bride’s fancy turns to jewelry (for her bridesmaids)

May 8th, 2009

I just had the most wonderful meeting with my cousin and her mother yesterday!  She’s getting married in July (I remember putting her hair up in French braids when she was just a little thing) and asked if I’d be interested in making the jewelry for her bridesmaids and her mother.

Of course!

So I’ll be making three pairs of earrings in this style but in either mystic topaz, green amethyst or Rose de France amethyst:

briolette_earrings

I’ll also be making one “Y” necklace for one of the maids and bracelets for the two other maids.  It should be fun because I’m making a new style of bracelet that I’ve never made before!

For her mom I am making a necklace of silvery coin pearls dangling from a very pretty chain with matching earrings.  I think her choice of the silvery coin pearls is an excellent one and they will go beautifully with her minty green ensemble!  I’m very much looking forward to seeing photographs from the wedding when they are ready!