My Dogwood Collection - UPDATED!

I have been sitting on this design for about 4 months and I think it's time to start.

I like to keep a few projects going at one time, it allows me to walk away from one, think about it while starting another. I guess I get bored easily.

I have already started the necklace part of this design plus I've made and cast the Dogwood buds. I wasn't pleased with my first Dogwood flowers, I guess that's why I put it aside.

I had joined "CageyCrafters" a wonderful forum a while back and a few of them gave me thumbs up on doing the Dogwood Flower, or the push I needed to start back on this design. They also gave me some great feedback on what flowers they would like to see me sculpt. I'll be posting their suggestions once I go through the list.

I pulled out some of my designs for this project that I thought I would post. I have designed a a beautiful bracelet, ring, a single Dogwood Pendant, plus a slider. I had also designed 4 sets of earrings plus one very elaborate necklace shown.

I plan to use a small cluster of Peridot Stones inside each flower and I feel with the detail I have in the pedals...the stones will make the flower. Another stone suggestion would be garnet or pink quarts. If done in 14K or 18K, I would like to consider emeralds, rubies, or green tourmaline...all equally beautiful.

As always the first product being produced will be in sterling silver plus I really have my heart set on peridot in the center.

I skipped over the necklace and started on the Bracelet. It just popped into my head, no drawing this time but woke up and started sculpting on it this morning. I wanted a few buds, definitely some leaves but three dogwood flowers for sure.

Don & I will be picking out stones tonight. I have about 6 designs that I just completed and the next step is setting the stones. I know that I will be looking for 3 mm, 4mm and 5mm peridot for the center of each Dogwood.

Well the new pieces are starting to take shape and I would like to introduce my first pair of Dogwood Earrings with 5mm Peridot Cabs in the center. They are 3/4" from tip to tip.

I have chosen a few beautiful Gems such as Peridot, Citrine, Blue Topaz, and Garnets. On these I have used 5mm Peridot Cabs for the center of the Dogwood Flowers.

Update! The Dogwood bracelet below is a one-of-a-kind Dogwood Bracelet with three Garnets set into each dogwood flower. This bracelet set beautifully on your wrist.

If you love Dogwoods, this collection is a must!

This one-of-a-kind Dogwood Slider is one of the most beautiful pieces I have sculpted. The detail is amazing. If your not into Sliders, this beautiful piece can made into a pin.

I will list the Dogwood Collection on Etsy.com with additional pictures including the back of each. The workmanship of this collection is worth seeing.

Additional items will be added this weekend.

Sterling Silver Cattleya Pierced Earrings

These earrings are adorable. Only 7/8" across with the detail you would fine in the original Potinara Susan Fender Cattleya found on the front cover of the The World's Most Beautiful Orchids by Greg Allikas & Ned Nash.

These earrings have post for pierced ears.

8 total grams of silver

Cost $89

Now Back In Stock

New Cattleya Orchid Ring with tiny buds & leaves.

Potinara Susan Fender Cattleya Orchid Ring

There is so much character in this little ring. I hand sculpted this Orchid using the Lost Wax Method.

The Orchid is a Cattleya Orchid with 3 small buds with two tiny leaves to the left and two small leaves on the right.

This is ring is a size 6.5 but can be sized at no charge.

Weight 9 grams of Sterling Silver. Orchid Measures 7/8" wide

Available in 14kt & 18kt

Cost $85

Hand Sculpted Phalaenopsis Orchid Pendant

Phalaenopsis Orchid

From the Greek Phalaina (meaning "moth") and opsis (meaning "appearance")
I sculpted this Orchid from a book called "Growing Successful Orchids" by Mark Isaac-Williams. The orchids name is called P. "Little Hal" so it's only fitting that we give credit to the grower of this beautiful orchid and call it "Little Hal"

This pendant brings elegance to my new Orchid Collection.

This orchid is available in Sterling Silver although it can be ordered in 14kt or 18kt Gold. Pendant measures 1 1/4" x 1. 1/4"
The 18" Chain is a 2.6 mm Sterling Silver Byzantine Chain made in Italy.

I hand Sculpted each Orchid using the method called Lost Wax which allows me add the detail I want in each piece.
This Pendant can be purchase without the Chain.

Small Pendant: 1.25" Pendant with 18" Byzantine Chain

$145.00

This Pendant is available without the Chain.

Pendant Only Cost: $89.00

Click on link to purchase this piece or e-mail me to reserve one.

http://www.rubylane.com/shops/dawnv/item/SPCO-177

Custom Designs

How I start a Custom Design...

I'm in the process of designing a new Bangle for one of my clients. I was asked to design a new bangle based on one of my smaller bracelets sold in my Ruby Lane Shop. Here is the letter I received...

...This bracelet is wonderful, as are all of your designs. Can you give me an idea of what kind of ballpark $$ on having 2 and/or 3 of these made? I would like the sterling and differences in individual designs. I really like heaver jewelry.I would want you to choose the particulars of the appearance. I am not opposed to stones, patination, use of and inclusion of different metals, etc. Please forgive me for my endless questions and be assured that as this would be a purchase for my use, there would be no time constraints. Thank you for the help and I hope this is and will be a beautiful season for you.

Based on my original Leaf Bangle and her request, I designed this bangle for her. I was planning on 2 or 3 bangles like the one I designed to the right but each having their own unique design.

I like the design but was concerned about her width after further discussion. She was looking for a Bangle that was about 2" if not wider so I redesigned this bangle to one large bangle instead of three.

This (to the left) is just one bangle measuring 2.25" wide. I want to use several stones that sit next to the stems. Some of the stones that I'm considering 5 or 6 stones such as Citrine (yellow), Amethyst (purple), Topaz (blue), Tourmaline (Pink)

I would like to also incorporate 14K or 18k into this bracelet. Possible gold surrounding the stones.

But to get an accurate price, sometimes you have to spend a little more time on the piece. So I'll take you on one of my projects from start to finish.

At 9:45 am I started to lay out the stems for this bracelet. The process I use is called Lost Wax. I actually sculpt wax to make the piece. At 6:45 pm...this is what I had. It's only half finished but this will give me a good idea about the weight, cost and of course, how the bracelet will look once cast in Sterling Silver.

I have a lot of shipping to do today but I will continue to form this piece tomorrow so that I can get a weight from the wax to converted to the weight in silver.

I hope all of you find this interesting, I personally think it's all pretty amazing!

Hopefully I'll see you tomorrow! I will be starting another project at the same time. This is an amazing piece that has a wonderful story behind it.

Dawn

Asymmetrical Leaf Necklace with Amethyst Stones

Words can't describe how elegant this piece is.

When sculpting this piece I was thinking of a leafy vein just curling around whatever was in it's path, so it gracefully curled around my byzantine chain.

My Leaf Design was made in Sterling Silver which makes the Amethyst Stones pop!

I used two hanging Amethyst Teardrop Briolette Beads plus a beautiful 10mm x 8mm Oval Royal Purple Amethyst at the top of my leaf design.

The 2.6 mm Byzantine Chain is 18" long and has a "S" hook in the back but it can also be adjusted lengthwise from the front. It has a clever little clasp that holds the chain in place.
10mm x 8mm Oval Royal Purple Amethyst & Amethyst Teardrop Briolettes (HT)

I will be sculpting matching earrings, bracelet and a ring all with Amethyst stones to match the necklace.

For more information about this Necklace, please e-mail.