Perfume bottles!!!!

 Turquoise, Carnelian, Black Onyx, Red Jasper

 Each bottle has its own hand made chain which connects the top to the bottom so there is no "misplacing" it!

If you are interested in buying a bottle, please contact me for details at forest@ntcnet.com.

Each bottle measure 2 1/2 inches high and 1 inch wide. They are oval and not round in form. Sterling Silver and silver solder were used in creating them and all but the stones are hand wrought by me. Each bottle is $300 unless you are purchasing all four. The total for all four is $1000. I will accept paypal or check.

Crazy Lace Agate Pendent......Finished Piece

 Well here's the finished product from the sketches of November 22nd's post. I'm very pleased with the way it turned out. I may go back and straighten up the bezel on the square carnelian but other than that I think its a good job.

The chain is commercial however the closure is handmade. it has sterling and black onyx bead on the hook.

Christmas necklace and matching earrings

Just finished this set. I'm in love with the RED. OK so I have this strange obsession with red this year...as I look out the window at our two red cars!!! I purchased these glass lampwork beads from "Beatle Baby Beads" over a year ago but knew I wanted them for the Christmas season....

 These beads are the most beautiful shade of red. Deep, dark and with the sterling dots on them, they are stunning.

 I used a soft (almost sand blasted look) sterling bead along with the mirror cut sterling beads for a contrast....

The byzantine pattern is my favorite and I used it between beads but wove the rest of the necklace in 2 and 1 pattern to keep it from getting too heavy. There's a lot of silver in this piece but I love the weight of it because it feels like I'm wearing something substantial.






Let me know what you think by clicking on comments below. I really enjoy feedback. Thanks.

My Creative Process unfolding

 This is the sketch I began with minus the bar at the top with the 3/4 jump rings attached at the ends.











The triangle bezel has been soldered to its own back plate and soldered to the large piece which encompasses the entire design.

The reason the image looks so white is because it's been in a "pickle" or acid bath. There have been several solderings in this design. Eight bezels, a square piece of wire and a few squiggles! Slow and steady and keeping each solder in its own place.












Here are the eight stones which will go into my design. The main stone being the inspiration for this design: a Mexican Crazy Lace Agate. I purchased this beauty from Gypsy Vic online. It has a small druzy to the left front and has the most amazing color....probably the most red I've ever seen in this type of stone. It tips just a bit into the orange spectrum which made me want to add Carnelian to the design and of course that wonderful black onyx that my fellow jewelry designers often pass over because of its commonality. I find the combination of these stones to be a wonderful expression of creativity and design and color.

 

 So...... since I'm still knee deep in the process here, I will leave you to continue and I will be back with the end results and hope that you will "tune in" for it and find the "comment" button just below this post to write your thoughts and comments to me. Some of you email me with them, which is also fine, either way I genuinely love knowing you're out there!!!

 

Fall Palette new painting 3x7 Oil on Wood SOLD

Fall is here and my palette is changing. I'm still working small but plan to switch to canvas very soon. I'm hoping the quick and fresh brush strokes will transfer to the canvas. I love the freshness. Its so lovely to not over think and over work a piece. Maybe it's the fact that I'm no longer answering to anyone (education) but myself. Well its about time! I can't believe its been 10 years since I've retired from teaching.

Celadon Bowl and Scorpion Covered Pot

 Altered Porcelain Bowl above has a hand cut rim and water etched design. The design is added after the piece is dry, in the greenware stage varnish is brushed on to make a design and when dry the unvarnished clay is washed and removed. The piece is then fired and glazed and re-fired to the finished state.

This covered piece has a solid cast bronze scorpion finial. It has a threaded piece soldered to its base so that it fits through a hole in the cover and attached with a small nut to keep it in place. The design
on the pot is created by a technique called chattering. The piece spins on the wheel while a metal tool
rests on the surface and bounces to create the texture.