Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Coupon Sale! 10% OFF plus Free Shipping


I'm having a SALE!
10% off plus FREE Priority Shipping

Use Coupon Code:
"JULY10"

Lost Objects Dogwood Cuff

Dogwood Bracelet
Sterling Silver with Natural Stones
My husband and I just moved back to North Carolina and while unpacking the boxes, he found a satin bag with about 15 pieces of some of my original work from 2007-2008 when I was working under a Master Jeweler.


With each piece I sculpted he would turn into a lesson, this one was setting stones and showing me how to make a hinge for my bracelet. Volker would teach me how to make good jewelry, techniques from the past to the present.


For more information as well as other piece I have added, check out my Etsy Shop for 5 additional pieces from the past.

Friday, July 6, 2012

New Thank You Cards

My New Thank You Cards Personalized!

I went shopping today for new cards.
I wanted a pretty card just to thank you for purchasing my jewelry but I was
looking for something that I could also personalize,
So went into Michaels, just to see what they had.

I saw stamps, ribbon, Zot Dots (?) a lot of stuff from Martha Stewart, stickers, markers, cutters, and puncher to make cute flower cards...but not me.

So I grabbed the ribbon, tissue, grabbed some blank cards, and about 5 markers and I was out of there but still clueless.

Sat in my studio (my cat is eyeing the ribbon) ...I love sketching, love designing, so I thought...I'll sketch out a quick
Jewelry design and sign it for my customers. Inside I can add my notes...

I hope my customers like them, I like them...it's just me.

*The design is actually based on my very first sketch, a style I have used many times to create my asymmetrical necklaces.





2007 Art Clay World Contest Piece and its production.

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Tree Frog Pendant - LuLu

I should post more of these but this one was so special to me and 
I think once you read it, you'll agree.

Dearest Dawn,

I just received Lulu and she is truly magnificent !!!!
My daughter and I are speechless. I have many frog pendants but this one is a 
true work of art.

Hibiscus have a very special meaning to me and now I have 2 of the works of 
art from Mother Nature combined.

I feel like you created Lulu just for me. (egocentric as that sounds)

She will be appreciated and loved.

Thanks so much!

Fondly,
J. in Texas

LuLu has a good home in Texas!

Sunday, July 1, 2012

My Third Hand for Sculpting




Sculpting in soft wax has its pluses and minuses. The plus, I love sculpting wax rather than carving hard wax with a Flexshaft that sounds like a dentist drill, annoying when you're trying to design.

Now the Minuses, because most lost wax artist, carve their waxes instead of sculpting them, they have a nice selection of tools to choose from including Turret Holders for their metal mandrels.

As a "soft wax sculptor" (that's my new title) I don't need an iron mandrel because I don't bang on wax. Fabricators bang on metal so they need a heavy mandrel plus a steady holder...I just need a holder. Plus, wood mandrels are awesome, it's lightweight and to be honest, I like the design in the wood, kind of earthy.

Another pet peeve of mine...Wolf Carving Waxes that have a Gold Color instead of the traditional ugly green & blue sheet and wire waxes that I use. My customers could visualize their jewelry a lot better if I could show them their sculpted jewelry in gold wax.

BUT, thank goodness I have a husband who's very handy with the tools & wood. He has built so many tools, holders, and benches for me. 


Work Bench Vise





What am I working on? My new Starfish and Fan Coral Cuff Bracelet



And this is Lexi, she is my Lynx Point Siamese Kitten,
always there to lend a hand.



Friday, June 29, 2012

Sterling Silver Starfish Ring Up Side Down Ring

 
Sterling Silver Starfish Ring Up Side Down Ring - Adjustable!
Available to Ship August, 8, 2012 (see note below)

I'm pretty sure this little guy was posing for the camera. That one little tentacle standing up with a flip at the end is just a tease but I also love the second photo showing the side of the ring...that's just cool. I really love sculpting starfish rings, I feel they come alive when I start roughing out my wax...the personality starts coming out immediately. I laugh when I see my Starfish creations...I'm a grandmother and yet, I think starfish tentacles are cool!

Also, because I make jewelry that is a bit weighty, I can make good adjustable rings...so to change the size you'll need to put a little finger muscle into it. So please add your ring size (close as possible) and I will size your ring prior to shipping.

This piece can be blackened like my other Starfish Ring at:
Starfish Ring - Blackened
...I personally love both concepts, silver and blackened. Just send me a convo with your preference.Sizes Available: 5-9 (showing a 9)
Materials: Solid Sterling Silver 92.5 Tarnish Resistant Sterling Silver
Free Priority Shipping & Tracking.
Please Note: Due to Studio Move and Vacation,

this item is available to ship Aug. 8, 2012

$150.00
 



 

Sterling Silver Branch Coral Ring


Sterling Silver Branch Coral Ring

Adjustable!
Today I signed a pledge not to use Real Coral in my jewelry. In my earlier years I used real pink and red corals, but since I have started my Ocean Collection, I have gained a deep respect for our oceans.

"
Too Precious To Wear" was a pledge started by SeaWeb.Org .
Jewelers and Designers such as Tiffany's, Lilly Pulitzer, Stephen Webster, Nicole Miller, Me&Ro, and now me, we pledge not to use real corals. See the whole list here:

Corals need your help. Found throughout the world, these animals are threatened by climate change, ocean acidification, pollution and increasingly, consumer demand. Reducing the impact on precious, deep-sea coral varieties that frequently are used for jewelry or decorative objects is one area that can easily be addressed by conscientious consumers and those in the jewelry industry.

There is hope. By refusing to use real coral in jewelry or home décor, we can help protect these species. By exercising your right as a consumer, designer or jewelry retailer, you can reduce the pressure these species face, allowing their populations to recover.

Now, about this ring...My designs are free-form, I re-create nature and nature is not symmetrical. My father, a wild life painter always told me, nothing in nature grows straight. So I have combined two types of branch corals in this ring.

Also, because I make jewelry that is a bit weighty, I can make good adjustable rings...so to change the size you'll need to put a little finger muscle into it. So please add your ring size (close as possible) and I will size your ring prior to shipping. Reserve your Branch Coral Ring in our shop here Today!

Sizes Available: 5-9 (showing a 9)
Materials: Solid Sterling Silver 92.5 Tarnish Resistant Sterling Silver
Free Priority Shipping & Tracking.
 
Please Note: Due to Studio Move and Vacation, this item is available to ship
Aug. 8, 2012 

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Artist in the making...

McKenna's Fish
I put a frame around this picture because it deserves one. 
My granddaughter, age 6 drew this fish.
Personally, I was blown away when her mother, Sandra gave it to me. 

The hearts, the cute kissing lips, the fins as well as her frame around her 
cute little fish....I see so much potential.

I think we are seeing the next artist in the family, although 
with three grandchildren, I think we will see more.

I think I want this on my coffee mug, it just makes me smile.
Thank you Mckenna for making me smile everyday.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Stingray Ring



Stingray Ring

Sterling Silver Stingray Ring - Adjustable!
Available to Ship July 31, 2012 (see note below)

I was working on a three foot glass Stingray when I thought, this would make an awesome ring design so I started Goggling Stingray rings, and guess what?...they were not many out there, actually I found ONE! Totally different than mine but I was blown away by the popularity of the Stingray...but hardly any rings were out there available to purchase, well anyway, I started sculpting my wax model and now it's here. 

One cool thing that I've been doing for several years now, is making my rings adjustable. I don't make lightweight rings so making adjustable rings works great. To adjust them you need to get a good grip to tighten the ring or loosen the ring so please give me a ring size if you can so that I can adjust the ring on my metal mandrel before I ship. 

This is also a great middle finger ring

Size: Wing Span is 1 3/8" wide
Sizes Available: 5-9
Materials: Solid Sterling Silver 92.5 Tarnish Resistant Sterling Silver
Free Priority Shipping & Tracking.

$93.00

Visit my online shop for more views.

Please Note: Due to Studio Move and Vacation, this item is available to ship July 31, 2012



Saturday, June 23, 2012

Sterling Silver Ginkgo Ring with Seeds

Ginkgo Ring

Sterling Silver Ginkgo Ring with Seeds

I'm wearing this one as I write, It's Super Unique!

When I sat down to sculpt this ring, I download a lot of pictures of Ginkgo leaves and what I noticed about the leaves is that they are in clusters and they have the coolest seeds. So I sculpted three leaves and then added three seeds as a center piece for the ring. I put a satin finish on the leaves and then put a high polish on the seeds, which now look like little silver pearls.

One each side of the ring, I sculpted six very small Ginkgo leaves and added three leaves to each side of the ring shank. This ring came together beautifully, can't wait to make another one.

Also, we use a tarnish resistance sterling casting grains when we cast my pieces, they call this De-Oxidized 92.5 Sterling Silver, it's a bit more pricey but you'll love the non-resistance feature.

$149.00



Materials: 92.5 Sterling Silver
Finish: High Polished and Satin Finish
Size: little over an 11/8" wide x 7/8" wide
Current Size is 7.5

Please specify your ring size when ordering and allow 10 days to ship.