cat skull

                      A bit more progress with the cat/skull necklace.

Here's this year's squash blossom completed, we made 70 beads for this one! It has a really nice weight to it, I've enjoyed wearing it. One of these days though I still want to make myself just a choker of the beads.

Bird in the Clouds

Finished this necklace and earring the other night. Feels good to have one of my fancy pieces done for the Plaza art fair coming up. Still in the beginning stages of making beads though for this years squashblossom necklace.

Work in Progress

Working on an enameled cat/skull necklace for the Plaza Art Fair next month. Thought I'd share a few in progress shots of the forms I cut from plexi and wood to make my enameled skulls.

Flower Skull ring

Finished the ring this weekend and ended up changing the flower design, just couldn't resist putting in one of the skulls! I really loved how the band turned out so think I will just make a few of those in different widths.

Current projects

Im not often compelled to make rings but the feeling struck me this week to make a large flower one. Feeling pretty excited to finish this piece this week. I've also been feeling the mood to get back into painting and started off with a little collage of my sweet Sugar kitty.

New work

A few new pieces that are in the etsy shop now.

In progress

I've finally gotten started on some new beads, this time I'm putting some stamping on them. They are just so fun to make, there's is definitely a satisfaction after making these.

Also have a few pairs of earrings and a necklace in the works. Time to get super busy in the studio. The Plaza art fair in September will be here before I know it.

ideas

Working on some earring ideas for the Plaza art fair this fall. I was looking at my calendar yesterday and realized that I only have like 14 more weeks to prepare for this!! My inventory is pretty much nil right now other than a few brooches from last years Brooch A Day challenge.

I've still been working on trying to clean my studio and get old supplies packed and donated that I'm realizing I am just not going to touch. Managed to clear off a bit more space from my bench top last night which makes me feel sooo much better.

Bryan and I have been putting together an engraving area in the studio this week as well. I'm anxious to add this new element into my pieces(and get Bryan more involved with the jewelry!) He really took to the engraving well when we were at GRS 2 weeks ago for a week long intensive class on engraving.

Are you learning any new techniques or taking fun classes/workshops this summer?  I'd love to hear about them!

The making of a tiara

A couple of months back I was invited by Phoenix Gallery in Lawrence,Kansas to participate in a challenge to create accessories for a vintage gown. I always love a challenge like this and immediately accepted. I was given a photo of this cute 1950's party dress to design for and my first thought upon seeing it was rockabilly queen!

I knew that I would want to do a double bird necklace but had originally pictured it more like the Citybird necklaces that I've done in the past using the street signs. Im glad in the end that I went with sterling and brass, it really looked nice with the burnt orange dress color. The tiara was a definite challenge for me, I've never done a piece that large but Im planning on doing more headpieces for sure!

Rusty Inspiration

A little more urban inspiration for a new line that I'm working on.

"Light" Inspiration

beads

I think it's time to make some more beads! Bryan and I had a good time last fall making these for the big squash blossom necklace. This time I'm going to add some stamping texture to them and go BIG! I'll get them started this weekend and share the progress next week.

More bear progress

I've managed to get in a couple of good nights in the studio so far this week, loving it! I have school tonight so may only sneak 30 minutes in there today. So, the bear cuff is coming along nicely I think. Can't wait to get the patina on it. This one is a commission piece but Im thinking I will have to make myself something along this line but I'm going to use that European Bison as my subject. Look at that face, he's too stinking adorable!!

Back in the studio!

Well, I think I've finally gotten over my slump. This was the longest time I've ever spent out of the studio.

These little charms are for the 13th Etsymetal charm swap. I've titled them " 13 course dinner,a.k.a. 13 unlucky little fish".

Then last night I got in there and started working on a new bird earring design and a long awaited custom cuff incorporating the bear I made on a brooch last year.

This cuff is going to have so many layers it's kinda boggling my mind how I'm going to get it all together, fingers crossed!

  Playing around with a new logo design.

branding

Been playing on the computer way more this year than I've been in the studio, very strange! I've been taking some computer classes for the last 2 years and it's time to put a small portfolio together. This is what I've been messing around with this week. Please ignore the photo quality on these they are just placeholders for now.

inspiration on sunday

 I was sitting at the coffee shop on a chilly Sunday afternoon soaking up some sun through the window when the tree grate(similar to the last pic here) caught my attention. I did some jewelry sketches based on this then thought Id take a look on the internet for more styles of grates. There really are some beauties out there for an item that probably goes unnoticed by most folks.

Just for fun

I finally lit up this letter A that I made for my workroom at my day job. Making me smile today along with listening to some Stevie Ray Vaughan!

Have a good one!

Creative Slump

I've been in a horrible slump lately. I think I just need to get the studio completely cleaned up and maybe some rearranging done. It's amazing how after a busy streak and the studio becomes trashed that the mess just wears you down! 

So, I came down to clean a little and to think of some new earring ideas. I played around with some old earring scraps that I had put together several years ago and am excited at what I came with.

I'll need to clean up a bit more though before I begin these!