Thursday, January 10, 2013

Scooter, my Treefrog Pendant

My little Scooter is getting a makeover...

Meet Scooter!

I've had the pleasure of sculpting some adorable tree frogs in the past years and needless to say, to pick just one to expand the line on was a difficult decision.  

Scooter is approximately 2" tall but will be reduced to 1 1/8" tall and around 3/4" tall to expand the collection to include a smaller pendant, left & right ear wire earrings as well as an adorable charms for your charm bracelet.


The New Scooter Collection will also be available in 14k Gold & 14k Gold Plated

Available by Feb. 1, 2013
For more information, please contact me at dawnvertrees@gmail.com




Thursday, October 18, 2012

I have a new toy!


New Tip for my Kerr Waxer II

Just completed a huge job so I decided to treat myself to a new toy! It's still pretty shiney, haven't had a chance to use it but it's going to help clean out the wax from the back of my cuffs. I'm hoping to find the perfect temperature for scraping the wax out. If too hot, it will just melt through to the front of the cuff but the Shell Cuff has been a labor of love. When you're matching the  design in the shell, you have to get as accurate with the design as possible...you don't want someone saying, What Is It?

Once cast in silver...it's going to be awesome, totally unique!


Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Seahorse Ring

Personally, I think this is some of my best work!


It was absolutely a joy to sculpt this little guy and have never had so many request to resculpt a piece. This is a one-of-a-kind ring but I do plan on resculpting him with a smaller pearl.

Monday, August 20, 2012

Ocean Reef Martini Glasses

Ocean Reef Martini Glass
Another Design Request...I'm going to make these for myself.

This Martini Glass is made up of Fan Coral, Sea Weed (just a little at the base) 
Plate Coral and two types of branch coral. 
The base, stem and bottom of the glass is all Sterling Silver, 
only the top part is glass. 

September 4, 2012 Update

Slight change to the top, I like this better.

Sorry for the dirty glass, wax is a bit oily.

Still all in the rough but it's coming along nicely.
Sept. 5th.
REDESIGN!!!

Just added up the weight and converted it to silver...OUCH!!!

Here is the new design....

...much lighter and I like it better.

And I love the flow to the base of the glass.

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Update: Twig Cuff #1

TWIG CUFF
Hand sculpted branches and tiny vines make up this back to nature design.

I love nature themed jewelry because it takes my mind to another place instantly, just one look at this cuff reminds me of the dogwood trees that line the edge of our forest.  I'm anxiously waiting for the small leafless trees to start budding in the spring. Once they start to bloom, the tiny flowers resemble delicate white lace that trims a cold black forest, an excitement that leads to the beginning of spring.

True to nature, I've included little vines on my cuff and although vines do not grow on our dogwood trees, they live together in nature. In NC, we have a large sweet grape called a Muscadine Grape Vine. Once winter comes and the leaves drop off the Dogwoods, you'll notice that these vines have had a grand time sharing space with our trees. Little curly vines wrapping themselves around the branches as if they grew together trying to catch the warm rays of spring. 

So, if you look at our Dogwood Trees quickly while heading down the highways, no, they do not bear fruit even though it may look that way.

For more information as well as addition photos, 
please visit my online store at Etsy.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Single Whale Tail Ring


I love this Ring!

I call this a ring a "Ring and a Half"

The cool thing about this ring is that it's a high quality adjustable ring.


Seahorse & Pearl Design


Seahorse with Pearl
Design Request

Sterling Silver Seahorse with a Rhodium Finish and a 16.5mm Tahitian Pearl,
I would love to see an antique finish on this ring.



Day 1

Thought you might like to see 1 day in the sculpting process.
It's taking shape and I'm getting a bit more confident that he will have tons of personality once completed.

You are not seeing the whole picture, I removed his pearl and the part of his tail that holds it close to him. He's very tiny, my customer loves big rings but only has a size 5.5 finger...
anyway, more later.

Shell & Fan Coral Pendant Design

Shell & Sea Fan Design
I worked so hard on this design but yet I draw a dorky starfish on it...
sometimes I wonder about me.

I love textures and colors so I choose a satin finished shell with black 
Rhodium Fan Coral with a solid 14k yellow gold Starfish.

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Sea Shell Cuff - Murex Shell Art

The Murex Shell
My Inspiration Piece
Known for their spectacular frills and spines, you can see why I was drawn to this piece,
the design and texture are pretty awesome.

My husband and I both saw a cuff in this shell and it was just a matter of finding the time between sketches and casting to sculpt a new piece.


I think you can see where I'm going with this, before I added the holes it looked more 
like a Sea HareSo I quickly cut out the holes and photographed it. 

I have a couple of projects I'm working on today, but in the morning I should have more of the ridges and points carved into this piece, right now I'm still building the wax up.

Day 2 Progress


I think you can see where this is going...
...this is where "silver" sheet wax would come in handy for visualizing this peace before spending a week carving on this ugly green wax.


Day 3
Not much I can say, still carving away but at this point I'm starting to bond with the piece and I'm starting to add character...this was someones home, it has history.

Friday, July 27, 2012

My Side Kick Lexi

Lexi
Just finished fine tuning 7 pieces to cast on Tuesday, my cat is exhausted!!!

...now look closer 

Such a drama queen, I think she's telling me it's 5 o'clock NOW!