On their way

Packed and sent on their way to the Lubeznik Center for the Arts
Just in time for Valentines Day!

Tough Guy Bracelet

Finding ways to use those fold formed pieces

For tough guys and girls

I'm working on more and more and more!

Prototype Bracelet

Playing around with a basic fold form, a student brought in an older magazine with a pair of earrings made using this fold and I thought it would be lovely on a cuff. Must play with it more, but I think it is a winner, just look at that raised edge, it's like an added element on top, it just begs to be felt and made in sterling. Oh boy I can't wait to try this in sterling!

Fabulous Fossils!

I had a wonderful opportunity to design some custom pieces for a friend to give to his wife (also a friend). These are fossilized crinoids they found together on the beaches of Lake Michigan. Bob brought me their entire collection just before Thanksgiving to choose and design around, what a treat for me! This is the bracelet I came up with.

I wanted to keep the shapes organic so I free-hand cut out around the stones.

I also wanted to do little windows on the back so you could peek at the backs of the stone, many have crystals and star shaped patterns that I couldn't stand to cover up, even with silver.



Many of the crinoids have holes that go all the way through, this one had not only the hole but a wonderful knobbly texture that had to be included. It's perfect for the transition from bracelet to toggle.

Banded Bead Bracelet

Frosted glass beads, fine silver and sterling.

Golden Knots Workshop

Long radio silence here, 'tis the season!

In early November I was able to take a workshop at Krasl Art Center with Loren Damewood of Golden Knots. I was thrilled, I've been wanting to take a class from him for several years but just never worked out...this time he was going to be teaching in Chicago, I was going to head over to take it but I had already committed to teaching then. Rats! I talked to our education director Julia Gourley and she was more than willing to host him at Krasl if he was willing to come. Can't hurt to email him and ask so I did, he was happy to swing by before going on to Chicago, we worked to find enough folks to take the class and BAM I was set! Not only that, but it was during the Holly Market Sale at the art center and they invited Loren to bring and sell some of his finished jewelry, there were many, many happy women wearing some of his lovely rings and bracelets. Good for all!

First thing in the morning, Loren started us out making the Prolong Knot cuffs.

In the afternoon we started working on Turk's Head knot rings, I made one during the class and have worked on several more (between commissions) since then. I feel like I am getting the hang of it. It's a bit tricky to take a single strand of wire and turn it into something like these. A few of them didn't come out this nice...but I won't show those knots.

Just these.



It's going to be a nice holiday here, my gifts are all done. *wink wink*Are yours?

You gotta' hand it to that girl Nancy...

She comes up with some of the best ideas. My friend Nancy passed this fun ring display idea on to me, thanks Nancy! And if you think that is a great idea you have got to see her work at her her etsy store. Wonderful I tell ya'!

I decided to make my hands multi-functional so I hung some of them from little hooks to show off bangles.

I used some scrap bits of marine grade 4mm plywood (from a friend), traced my hand on a piece of paper, cut it out, transferred the patterns onto the wood, cut out one set with my handy-dandy scroll saw, sanded the rough spots, used the first set as a pattern to trace out more, cut them all, sanded some more, painted some and VOILA!

An idea that just came to me

This is a bracelet that I made from felted sweaters, copper and sterling. I made one for myself and it wears very nicely, seems to be pretty durable too. I have a friend that has studied fibers for many, many years and she says "Well, of course it's durable" I guess that's the nature of felted knit.

Bonus.

It all started with a pile of wool sweaters that were too worn in places to wear anymore. I washed them in the washer and dried them in the dryer and they shrunk up into beautiful, very dense felt

Next I cut out and sanded several copper disks, marked their centers and drilled a few holes in each

All clamped up in my bending break and ready to bend

Nice clean, straight bend

Add copper headpins

Cut squares of felt larger than the disks

Thread the squares onto the headpins one layer at a time

Push the felt down into the fold and twist the headpin wires to hold the felt

Clip the end of the wires way down inside

Trim away all extra felt

Bunches of felt tacos! Ha!