happy new year

In honor of the upcoming Rosh Hashana holiday I am posting my "rocking" Jewish star necklace, which I created from PMC (silver). I've been wearing it alot recently and have gotten a lot of positive comments on it. Initially, I wasn't that happy with the design, but it's definitely growing on me. I think I will continue to develop this motif. I am also working on my next PMC project with will be a mezzuzah cover inspired by the Little Tower necklace.

100 paper origami lillies.....

only 200 more to go. Check back to see the progress on Abigail's Bat Mitzvah centerpieces.

my little island house

Well here is my new little silver tower necklace I created out of silver PMC clay. I love the way it turned out, but I am not sure I like which necklace chain I selected. It doesn't hang as gracefully as the previous tower necklace I made with the double chain necklace. Even so, I think it was a good attempt.

This clay is not easy to work with, and making it do what you want it to is not easy. I am struggling with it more than I thought I would. I know it takes practice, I just wish the clay was not as expensive as it is...but alas, it is pure silver.

everyone has a cold this week...

so no time for any creativity. All we've been pretty much doing is watching TV and drinking lots of fluids. Oh well, hopefully tomorrow we will all feel better. Meanwhile enjoy this great article on this super cool house in Rhode Island. It's one of those places you've always wondered about...at least I wonder about stuff like that.
Here's the link to the New York Times Article:
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/08/07/garden/20080807-CLINGSTONE_index.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

why I love project runway.....

So in my previous life I was a sportswear and knitwear designer in New York, and let me tell you the Bravo show is nothing like real life. Those designers on Project Runway do way more stuff than any one designer I ever met or worked with. These guys have to know how to drape, sew, fit on a model, they have to select appropriate fabric, buy the right amount of fabric and notions and all this in an incredible short time frame. I give kudos to all the talented designer on this show, they will never work this hard again.
That being said, I love to watch this show, and now that I have a DVR, I don't have to miss it. Here are my predictions for whom I think should win at this time....This season the guys all suck so I think the final three are going to be Kenley, Korto and Leanne. Now personally I hate Kenley, but for some reason, the judges like her and she will probably last a while. I think her 1940's aesthetic is alittle tired. Right now I can't decide between Korto and Leanne. Leanne is a real design driven designer and is winning alot of challenges lately. Korto makes everything look easy with great wearable sportswear looks. I think Leanne is funny cause she looks all innocent but she is pretty much a bitch, but I like her anyway. We shall see, hopefully it will be a girl on girl finale at Bryant Park.

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...

it has finally arrived!

Today the Paragon Kiln arrived. I am so excited. Of course I am not nearly ready to use it. I have to finish a few other projects first. I am hoping to be able to do some new PMC work next week while the girls are away. In the mean time I and sketching some idea so I will be focused and can use my clay wisely. It's expensive.

This is not where the kiln will live. I am not sure where I should put it yet, but it will probably live in the garage which is the safest place for it to go while it's firing.

Today it rained all day, and the kiln was delivered while the girls and I were seeing Mama Mia. The UPS guy left it under the awning of the garage so I brought it in to the ouse to unpack it.

girls,girls,girls.....

Summer is great, but always about this time when I look a little forward to school starting again. This week promises to be another when I don't get alot accomplished, but the girls and I have a really good time.

Tamara took a KidzArt class last week and as you can see she is very talented. The theme was Caribbean, hence the pirate pictures. I was a little reluctant about this course because the kids copy alot of the pictures from what the teacher displays on the board. But I have to say, Tamara really enjoyed the class. The kids stay very focused and develop alot of basic skills. I think Tamara gained alot of confidence in her drawing this week. Her teacher recognized she was very creative and encouraged her.

My niece Alena is in town this weekend visiting. Isn't she adorable? The girls are really enjoying having her and their Uncle Josh here for a visit.

frustrated and exhausted

It's another hot humid day in St. Louis. It was a perfect day for the girls and I to enjoy the afternoon swimming at our friend's country club. We are all tired, that great summertime type of tired when you are exhausted and can't move a muscle.

I am a bit frustrated though, since both the girls are home and not in camp I am finding it hard to carve out time to work on any jewelry projects. Plus the butane torch and PMC tools I ordered from Anne Mitchel have yet to arrive.

So in between projects for the girls, cleaning up the house, and weeding the garden, I am trying to use some of the gemstones and findings that I already own to create some new things. This choker necklace is strung tiny andalusite faceted briolettes separated by gold vermiel Bali beads.

friendship bracelets

Abby came back from camp more interested than ever in making friendship bracelets. She made them for the entire family and is taking orders for more. Some are simple braids and others more intricate. She used to wear at least ten at a time but she sacrificed them at the end of her 5th grade year for the class's time capsule.

Here is my version which I finished today. I made the triple strand bracelet from my favorite Thai Silver beads from the Keren Hill Tribes. I mixed these with these cool African beads I found at the Tucson gem show years ago. They are lapis, jade and coral and very delicate. I hardly have any left and I have not been able to find them again.

The day I got my ears pierced......

I was 21 when I finally got my ears pierced. I went to some shop in Harvard square with my boyfriend. I remember I chose square gold cubes for my starter earring. They were very modern and new wave.

I don't always wear earrings. Sometimes a necklace is enough. But I love making earrings that compliment one's face without over powering. This style is one of my favorites. It gold fill wire and chain with tiny andalusite and whiskey tourmaline.

My daughter Tamara just got her ears pierced today at Libby Lu in the mall. She's nine. I am very proud of her because she was so brave. She really wanted to do this. She chose tiny gold topaz flowers (her birthstone). They are very classy.

I've been experimenting with wire, paper and old magazines to come up with some earth friendly centerpieces for Abby's Bat Mitzvah next year. I think this attempt has some potential.I used galvanized aluminum wire for the stem, with origami lilies and leaves made from rolled up magazines. Try to imagine many stems like this in a tall vase or cluster of wine bottles.
This I'm not sure about, and neither is my cat! I am attempting to create a sphere like arrangement using the rolled up magazines. It's not looking as I planned, but I am not ready to give up.