Thursday, September 8, 2011

The Starfish and Fan Coral Cuff is taking shape...

What can I say...just dots but once polished
they will take on a pearl look.
 
Well after 10 hours of solid work...it's still far from being
completed but loving the concept of this design. I had my doubts
when I took a cut into a perfectly good starfish but
I realized my fan coral always looks pretty
crappy in the beginning so I kept cutting!

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

New Project...Updated with Sketch

After a week of thinking, I've decided to incorporate my fan coral design into my
starfish design.  It will be a combination of an embossed as well as
cutting through the wax as if you were looking through the fan coral.
I'm sure it will change...atleast 20% once I start cutting, so hopefully
tomorrow I can show off the finished wax piece.
My Inspiration Photo for a Starfish Cuff requested by
one of my customers.

Only a quarter finished but I'm trying it on for size...another great
quality about sculpting a wax model.

No detail on the starfish yet, still working with
character, comfort, legs before I continue...
 

Friday, September 2, 2011

Which one will she pick?

I was asked to come up with an "Asian inspired design" using her 44 beautiful 11mm round Jade Beads her husband surprised her with several months while on a trip overseas.
The first thing to come to my mind was the dragon but I wanted to put a bit of a spin on the traditional Chinese Dragon plus consider the Koi as well...so here is what I came up with...also, before I forget...I want to thank all of those Tattoo Artist for their inspiration as well, my hat is off to their wonderful talents!

Butterfly Koi

Lady Koi

Dragon Koi
Each design incorporates a single Jade Bead within the design...sort of my trademark on that one...anyway, each pendant will be sculpted about half the size show and my talent will be in removing the wax from the back to reduce the weight to hang properly!

I have put this on a one day delay because she will be seeing them for the first time on her Sept. 1st Birthday and hopefully she will like one of these designs.

Finished product will be VERY three-deminsional and then cast in Sterling Silver with gold accents (maybe) and each bead, hand knotted by Frances...she's the best!

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Custom Bamboo Pendant & Earrings


Bamboo Pendant
14k Yellow Gold & Sterling Silver
Total height including Bail 2.5"
1.25" wide
Bamboo Earrings
14k Yellow Gold & Sterling Silver

Bamboo Set

Original Sketch
About Ametrine
Quartz which occurs in bands of yellow and purple has been given the name of ametrine (amethyst + citrine).

Initially cutters favored windowed emerald shapes with a 50/50 split of colors, and much of the rough is still cut this way.
For additional information, please call or e-mail me.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Ok, so I'm a matchie matchie jewelry designer...

This ring exhibits the natural features of a 12mm South Sea Pearl wrapped up in a very daring contemporary design with Sterling Silver Fan Coral and 14K gold starfish accent.


...the other side.

Showing the Tahitian Pearl


Saturday, August 27, 2011

 This striking Sterling Silver cuff features a very
contemporary design, yet retains the natural look of
fan coral as it wraps around the wrist as if it grew that
way in the ocean currents.

Chrysocolla stone and starfish add
color and contrast.

Sideview showing overlapping fan coral,

...even the back is pretty.
For more information, just e-mail me at dawnvertrees@gmail.com

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

May 11th Lionfish Update

...still tweaking.
I'm still about half finished but here is my latest Pics...
For my base (also not finished) I have started sculpting my Finger & Cabbage Corals which will sit on black granite.
Sooo much work to do...a lot of smoothing out, filling in and tweaking.



Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Updated...

I'm taking my art in a new direction...I'm still making my jewelry but just flexing my art a bit and trying my hands on a new "Bronze Lionfish Sculpture". My galleries have said to go for it...and I am!
I'll be starting next week and I'm so excited! I have decided to use wax instead of clay...wax is just comfortable in my hands.
This is Next Week...
Well after another three days of work...he's starting to take shape but he's a long way off from being completed. I know I have at least a week of just cleaning him up. More later...



May 6th 2011...I started on the side fins yesterday...and I now know why I haven't seen but a few bronze Lionfish sculptures especialy realistic ones...all I can say is that this is tough to do!
This is about 3 days of work but he is starting to take on a bit of personality.

Don had to make a wooden cradle for this guy, he's about 15" long and starting to take shape.
Getting better at sculpting him, it's a bit different from sculpting jewelry but I'm enjoying this project. Today I'll be working on adding some more personality to his fins. The part that makes me a bit nervous at this point is the side fins...the part that makes him so unique.



I'm sculpting this guy based on around 100 photos and this is the main photo...this is what the end product to look like.
...and this is what the side fins will look like. Needless to say, I want to get as much practice in before I attempt these awesome fins.
more later!

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

 3 New Awards
It's been a busy month! Gasparella, Award of Merit for my "Bamboo Foliage Necklace", Mainsail Art Festival, Award of Merit and Islamorada, FL...Best of Show! ...and I'm so tired!

Thursday, March 24, 2011

2011 Award for Gasparilla Festival of the Arts

Bamboo Foliage Necklace

 Awarded Individual Award of Merit

 All I can say is that it's always an honor to win an award 

at Gasparella. 

Thanks Gasparella and to all of the volunteers!

About the piece: Bamboo Collection

Mediums: Sterling Silver, 14K Solid Gold with 14 diamonds

$3,600.00