On a Roll Here

Custom order for a coworker. Gorgeous sardonyx, quartz, and blackstone from Magpie Gemstones, with a beautiful striped sardonyx pendant. Pewter findings and antique silver beads.

Custom order for a friend. Candy magnesite and copper beads from Magpie Gemstones.

Purple magnesite from Magpie Gemstones paired with lime green and copper.

New Jewelry. No, Really.

I got to spend part of Memorial Day weekend actually making jewelry. No joke!

I saw this cross and just had to get it knowing I had these purple magnesite beads from Magpie Gemstones at home. To pick up on the bling in the cross, I used pearls and cubic zirconias. Brass spacers and a hand forged brass wire clasp complete this necklace.

Sold. This necklace is convertible. Two strands of white and turquoise magnesite with pewter beads can be worn in several configurations. The cross pendant can be detached as well. Little black beads provide the oomph of contrast.

Copper Swirl, Amethyst, and Abalone

Last year I played around with heavy gauge copper wire, bending it into different shapes and wiring on different beads. I just sold this abalone, amethyst, and pearl pendant to a coworker. I realized I didn’t have a picture of it, so I took my homemade photo cube to work and took this picture in the trunk of my car. You read that right, in the trunk of my car! I set up my shot, waited for the sun to go behind a cloud and snapped two pics. I think it came out really well.

I didn’t have matching earrings already made, so I whipped these up for my coworker. I thought miniature versions of the pendant would be really cute. The pearls dangle and swing freely. I took this photo in my home studio set up. I had to walk away for 5 minutes to wait for the earrings to stop swinging.

I really like these copper shapes and want to do more.  I bought The Great Book of Celtic Patterns by Lora S. Irish, and I hope to translate some Celtic patterns into copper wire shapes.

New Earrings and Rings

Purple pearlized button and silver button earrings

Brass button, green glass pony bead, and brass wire ring

Purple polka dot glass bead, silver button, zinc washer, pewter dangle, copper wire ring

Purple button, silver flower button, purple dangle button, copper wire ring. This one is my favorite.

Purple button, silver button, silver star dangle button, copper wire ring

Copper washer, purple glass pony bead, purple dangle button, copper wire ring

Pink button, brass washers, red glass pony bead, brass wire ring

Green pearlized button, red bead, brass wire ring

Blue pearlized button, zinc washer, copper wire ring

Blue button, silver button, copper wire ring

Blue button, faux Chinese coin, brass wire spinner ring. My other favorite ring.

New Necklace and Earrings Sets

I have been out of artistic commission for 6 months due to medical issues, and I’m finally getting back in the saddle. I felt a bit uncertain at first, but I’m getting my confidence back.

I started this piece back in September. I just finished it up by adding the pendant and clasp, and making the matching earrings and bracelet. Two  shapes of fancy jasper, a fancy jasper pendant from Magpie Gemstones, faceted red quartz glass beads, rhodonite tear drops, blackstone rondelles, pewter beads, and steel and silver wire. Sold

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I created this necklace a year and a half ago, and then we moved and I couldn’t find it. I finally discovered it in a drawer in a box of odds and ends from my studio. I made the earrings, and it found an owner today. Serpentine jade, fresh water pearls, vermeil beads, steel wire. Sold

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I loved this red and green combo, so I made another.  This is the first necklace I’ve made in 6 months, so it’s special. Two  shapes of fancy jasper, fancy jasper calla lilies, faceted red quartz glass beads, blackstone rondelles, pewter beads, and steel and silver wire.

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I had another go at using this stand in my photography. This time I added a light pointed at the front, but it still wasn’t enough.

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This weekend was really warm, the trees are all leafed out, and the flowers are all blooming, so I decided to make something that said SPRING! Serpentine jade, rose quartz from Magpie Gemstones, pewter beads, and a steel and silver clasp.

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Feelin Blue

Purple, white, and blue. What I did on my 4th of July weekend.

Sold. A lizard suns himself on sky blue turquoise howlite boulders and shell heishi sand. Purple jasper and pewter beads provide pops of color. Steel and silver colored wire clasps. The two strands can be worn separately. Inspired by Szarka.

Sold. Peruvian Opals, sterling beads and earwires, vermeil clasp. Light and summery. Perfect for wearing on your beach vacation. Opals from Magpie Gemstones.

And now for something different. These sweet chevron glass beads have a sand blasted finish, giving them a trade bead feel. Sterling beads lend elegance with a classic blue and silver color combination. The gun metal bike chain adds some rock n roll to this symphony.

Purple Cat Jewels Lampwork Beads

This funky swirly copper pendant is made with beads from my talented friend, Purple Cat Jewels. Purple beads of course. The set comes with light and dark earrings, to match your mood.

Kim’s Earrings

A customer brought me some bracelets she didn’t wear anymore, and in exchange, she asked me to make her some earrings with some of the beads. Here are the results.

I Break for Purple

Taking a break from all the custom brown work I’ve been doing, I turned to my favorite color. I had purchased this kiwi stone pendant from Magpie Gemstones, then searched for matching beads. A friend brought me a strand of purple crystal beads she found while estate saleing, and this necklace was born. The copper swirl holding the pendant is a component from Egyptian coil. I originally used coils for the other two components, but the necklace didn’t hang right. After a suggestion from my friend Helen, I traded the coils for flat spirals. The coils didn’t go to waste. I used one in the necklace below. Click on this picture to see a larger version.

I hung the coil from this nice copper chain and added the sparkly crystal beads. The above necklace is juicy and substantial, and this necklace is delicate and pretty.

June Custom Jewelry

My customers are keeping me busy with custom orders. Continuing on the brown kick is this warm bronzite and blue tiger eye necklace with steel wire. Beads from Magpie Gemstones.

More brown, paired with lime green magnesite and copper.

Another candy magnesite necklace. These are popular. Maybe I should do a whole sideline of these? Beads from Magpie Gemstones. Matching earrings and bracelet. Matching bracelet for the first set I made too.