catch up day

Today my girls were with their dad so I had some time to devote to my jewelry work. I am making several pieces out of the precious metal clay (PMC) which I fired last week. When I work I tend to work on several pieces at once and I create a big mess on my workspace. First I work harden the PMC pieces by pounding them with a hammer. Then I add ant fine silver components, using my new torch to fuse the links. Finally, I add sterling wire wrapped gemstone components. I worked all afternoon and evening and the time just flew by. I finally just stopped cause I cut my finger on the bench block....ouch!

Here is the silver multi-heart necklace I am working on. It is inspired by a necklace which I made several years ago. This Y-style necklace was made from an old sterling silver charm bracelet that my dad gave me when I was a little girl. He said the bracelet had belonged to my grandmother. The hearts on the bracelet were very banged up, but I saved what I could and created the necklace. The new PMC heart necklace has 9 pure silver hearts which I created out of the silver clay.

I still have oxidize the metal and final polish it. Check back and I will post the finished necklace.

you wouldn't think.....

that I would be making a rosary, but actually I've made a few. The most recent for some good friend's of mine, whose son is getting baptised next month. Making a rosary is like making a necklace without the clasp. You have to make she there are 5 series of 10 beads separated by a larger bead. At the end of the necklace is a series of 5 beads, 2 big and 3 small, with a cross at the end. The rosary's number of beads and placement of those beads is important as it is used for a special Catholic prayer. After I make the rosary the family will take it to their priest to be blessed.

This rosary was made with sterling silver wire wrapped pearls and faceted blue topaz disks. I think it came out beautiful, pretty good for a nice Jewish girl.....

working silver

I spent all afternoon and evening working with one of the packets on precious metal clay. It was challenging, as usually. I think I am getting a little more confident with the medium. First challenge is having to work quickly in the beginning so the clay does not dry up and becomes unusable. Then you must have the patience to wait for the clay to come to the right consistency so you can cut and build with it. Today I tried to plan a strategy, so I could make the components for the jewelry I wanted to create. Hopefully in the next week or so I'll post a multi-heart necklace, little house necklace and another link bracelet.




Here are some of the great textures sheets I use to texture the silver clay.

clay is king

A new shipment of PMC3 arrived today. That's Silver Precious Metal Clay. I ordered it from clay-king.com, which is a company I found on the Internet. The company sells all types of conventional clays, pottery supplies and kilns. The clay was $73.95 for 50 grams, which is a good price and no minimums and no charge for shipping. It took a little over a week to get my order which was shipped by US mail. That's a little longer than from Cool-Tools or Rio Grande. but, I liked no shipping and no minimums. Hopefully this weekend I should have some time to work with it.

Abby starts school on Wednesday, but Tamara is still hanging with me till after labor day. So for now, I am still only a part time artist.

gone swimming

The girls and I celebrated Michael Phelps 8 Olympic golds. Watching the medal ceremony made us all tear up a bit. I remember watching Mark Spitz win his 7 gold medals. I even had a life size poster of him in his swimsuit wearing them!

I came across these really cool pictures by UK photographer Gigi Cifali, which are of abandoned pools. Very cool and kind of creepy. Check it out
http://yatzer.com/postDetails.php?post=1129

You can also access the artist's website from this link. You'll have to cut and paste it cause I can't figure out how to make it a link.

alot of hoop-lah

Here is my version of the trendy, popular wrapped gold hoop. These hoops start out 1 1/4" in diameter before they are wrapped with gold fill wire and black onyx, green or brown stone, silver or turquoise. I just made these 5 pairs and they will be available for purchase at Ladue's best boutique, Essential Elements, tomorrow for $70. My thumbs are killing we from all the wrapping! But they looks great.

crown jewels

I've been finishing up some of my clay metal pieces these last few days. Here is a crown pendent, that I made from a mold of an old button.

today is clay day

Well I opened my 50 gram pack of PMC (precious metal clay) and made some pieces that I will be firing in my new kiln. First of all let me tell you that the whole process today was a bit intimidating and a little scary. Sure the silver clay is expensive, but it's also hard to deal with. I want to make the components as fast as possible so that the clay will not dry out and crack. This freaked me out and some of the pieces I was planning to make did not come out as I would have liked. After working for a couple of hours I have decided to take a break, and refocus,(of course keeping the unused clay sealed up to stay fresh.

Here is a picture of the beautiful bracelet I finished yesterday. I made it from links and toggles that I made in previous workshops. I attached the links together with fine silver rings which I fused.

little tower

I completed the tower pendent that I made in my class with Kate McKinnon today. I strung it on a long 36 inched double stranded silver necklace which I oxidized with liver of sulfer to match the silver pendent. The acent bead is carnelian. I like the way it came out.

I am working with fusing fine silver with my nifty new blazer micro torch tonight. It so much fun, I've lost track of time. I'm making lots for silver rings and bails to add to my PMC clay projects which I plan to start this week. Stay tuned...