Simple and Pretty ~ Pearls ~

Today I was back in action making jewelry.  It felt so good to put aside my many temptations (photography,) commitments (clubs and my husband's to-do list,) chores (too many to list,) and do what I love to do.  Make jewelry!  I feel very energized and creative today.

Unfortunately, I am at a forced stopping point because I blew out both of my hand-held torches.  Minor fireball and near disaster but I did not get injured.  At least, I got in 4 hours of quality jewelry time.

My first real customer (non-family or best friend) called me this week to order a piece of jewelry that represents something important going on in her life.  How touching and powerful.  I am very touched that she called me to create jewelry that symbolizes her place in life.  Think about what piece of jewelry you would wear that is special to you. 

I am starting a line of silver pebbles with the word "be..."  Be...what?  Fill in the blank.  Be...creative, joyful, happy, spiritual, loved, confident or just be...you.  My "be..." changes everyday.  I will share the finished jewelry soon.  In the meantime, have a look at my some of my simple and pretty pearls.

Silver and Pearls

Silver and Pearls

Have a great day!  Be creative and reflect on the things that make you happy.  Set time aside each day for you!  I did today, and my family will benefit.  Off to the pumpkin patch. 

Hampton Roads friends...I will be at Lee's Friends Oct. 25 and 26!  Come by and say hi!

Precious Metal Clay ~ Making a chain

PMC Pendant

 
I made the chain by hammering sterling silver, drilling holes at each end and attaching the jump rings.  The chain links are textured and oxidized.  The pendant was fired with a handheld torch for 7 minutes.  The pendant is thick and heavy giving the necklace a nice weight.  Heavy enough to not slide off center and light enough to wear everyday.  

Flower on Opposite Side

I've been doing some research about jewelry photography and read a tip from a jewelry show judge that you should never include the clasp in your photo.  Not sure I agree.  Maybe this is best for publication.  As a customer, I want to see what I am buying and as a seller, I'd like all the details to be up front for a customer.  

My goal is to enter my PMC jewelry into some competitions and book projects.   My next pieces will be layered and three dimensional. 

These photos are a bit darker than I'd like.  I had time in the morning to take photos and did not want to run around the house to find the right spot of sun.  My natural light photography should improve soon.  This weekend I'm headed to a photography class in Washington, D.C.   I expect to learn many things that will help with my business. I'll post more detail about my class on Wednesday.  

Flower PMC Pendant
Two holes for jump rings

This necklace is a teaser, because I am keeping it for myself.  Sorry!  I will make another someday.  In the meantime I'm ready to make some noise and hammer my silver.  Everybody is at school and work so I'm free to experiment. 

My steel block and yard sale hammer.
1 inch sterling silver  read for shaping

First Day of School

What do you call it when both of your children go to school all day for the first time?

Unemployed? No, not really. 

Empty nester?  No, that is when they go to college.

Confused? Maybe.  I'm a work in progress.

Happy?  Yes.  They're happy, I'm happy.

Invigorated?  Yes.  Time for jewelry and proper workouts.

I cannot put to words they joy I have to see my kids go to school together, with bright smiles on their faces, and ready to learn.

My daughter was so excited to get her hands on the school clothes we purchased over the summer which I would not let her wear until school started.  She wanted to wear a thick sweater dress and black go-go boots.   I suggested the sundress and she agreed.  The boots were another story.  We battled.   As a parent we have to pick our battles.   We both stood firm.  I was afraid for her to start her day in tears, but she accepted my many arguments (pleading) and wore a better choice of shoe for the first day. 

Her teacher let parents walk their kids into the class.  I loved to see how excited and anxious she was to be there and get on with the big day.  She found her seat, organized her desk, met a new friend (with glasses) and then gave me a look to let me know it was my time to leave.  I ignored her cue.  She had to tell me to leave.   

My son, was off like a rocket to his class with a backhanded wave "Bye, mom."  He tried not to make eye contact with me, however, when I caught his eyes with mine they silently told me "please don't kiss me in the hall."  He was on to me.   Darn, I should have snuck one on the top of his head during the walk to school.  

The second day, he  rode his bike.   No more holding my hand as he skipped to school.  That's okay, really.  It's good to grow-up.

Just the face a parent wants to see!
A happy face after walking out of school on the day of Kindergarten.

My kids.
First day of school 2010-2011

A good outfit.

Attention!

Outtakes...
I tried to get one last photo before they went into school.
They are so irritated with me.
This photo is too funny not to share.

Outtake...
I walked her to the class and lingered.   We were allowed in on the first day.
"Okay, mom, you can leave now."
Boo-hoo.

Simple and Pretty ~ Silver ~

Butterfly and poetry.
Precious Metal Clay.
Garnet.

Long charm holder.
Precious Metal Clay.
Textures.

Oxidized sterling silver.
Purple Czech crystals. 

One of the funnest parts about creating jewelry is the actual crafting including pounding silver with multiple hammers on a steel block, melting silver until it balls up and firing silver clay to a bright orange glow with a hand held torch.  All therapeutic. Once I was making a collection of hammered silver necklaces and my neighbor walked by and heard all the pounding.  Later she told me she thought I was getting my kitchen remodeled (I wish!)  My kids often yell, "mom, you are too loud!"

The jewelry in these three photos are the products of what I love to do with silver.  With manipulation it transforms into something pretty to wear.  Sometimes I have a plan, but often I create as I pound, bend, and melt. 

This summer I purchased a real jewelers tool (real, as in real necessary) called a flexshaft after I nearly took off a finger with a handheld rotary tool.  Have I used it yet?  No. Waiting for a day to myself to bring out the big guns.  The kids will be in school soon enough.  The flexshaft is powered by a foot pedal, like a swing machine, and looks a lot like the machine the ladies use when you get your nails done.  My flexshaft came with a how-to DVD and beginners kit of attachments. 

I found my rotary tool kit at Costco.  It was a helpful beginners tool. One year, I held it up to my husband and said this is all I want for Christmas.  He said, "really?"  I assume he could not believe his luck.  For years I handed him the little blue Tiffany catalog and said "all I want for Christmas (birthday, Valentines Day, anniversary and Mother's Day) can be found here, and I circled my favorites."

On my blog I will also explore jewelry photography.  Jewelry photography has been a challenge for me.  As you can see I played with a brick and marble round.  This weathered marble is my favorite.  I dug it out of the garden this week and washed it off.  I've been hauling it around for 10 years.  Antiquing one day near Middleburg, Virginia, my mother saw two marble rounds and said that I should buy them because they may be useful someday.   Thanks, mom!  Both the marble and brick give the photo a nice texture and keep the jewelry from washing out.  My photographs on white turns the jewelry dull or washed out and the black shows every single piece of lint. 

Funny story:  My kids got to meet their teachers today and see their classrooms.  I put on a simple skirt and my daughters exclaimed "mom, you have not dressed up since your twenties! Let me get you some high heels!"  No thanks, flip flops will do.  

I will post my favorite tools someday and keep posting about jewelry photography as I learn more.

Have a good one!

Wendy

Photography Assistant ~ age "five and a quarter"

Thought to myself "if I just put bunny to the side I can crop later"

My photographer assistant (age "five and a quarter") insisted bunny being center stage.
She promised I'd sell more jewelry.



For all the women who have a home business and have children at home you can relate.

This is good example of how our days get highjacked and why I need to work at night.

"Mom, whatcha doing?"  "Oh, can I help?"  Ugh, no.  "Sure, hold this filter and stand in front of the sun while I take photos."  She was helpful for about 5 minutes.  The boredom dance began.   She had suggestions....  "Oh, wait just a minute, I have an idea."  Off to her room.  Back with a handful of stuffed animals.  Oh, boy, the highjack begins.  

"Mom, if you put the jewelry on my beautiful birthday bunny, your customers will love it and buy it"

The bunny did make an appearance in some of my jewelry photos in my Etsy site.

So, excited that this sea glass bracelet will be going home this month and stored away for a Christmas gift for a grandmother.  We are putting fine silver fingerprints of 5 grandchildren on it and a few more handcrafted sea life charms.  It is going to be so special!  I will post photos when it is complete.

Today, I print 2 more grandchildren.

Pure sea glass
Sterling silver
Fine silver
Italian chain
Mermaid charm

More "highjacking"
Pup swiped the bracelet during a shoot.