Early January Updates

Just a quick post to show off some of what I've been working on in January. The gallery that shows some of my work (Studio 54 in Enumclaw. Check them out if you are in the area!) is swapping out inventory so I'm trying to get some new artsy stuff made to send to them.

This filigree ball was just a little quickie project that I saw in the current issue of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist. I like how it turned out.

This is a fun bracelet with curved copper links connected with sterling rings and riveted on rhodonite circle beads. I found these beads a while back and just thought they would be perfect to try riveting to something.

This is a large brick red brecciated jasper with a coordinating colored leather and silk cord necklace. I even handcrafted the end caps from tube and wire.

And (almost) matching red jasper earrings. Very simple because they are larger stones and I didn't want them to get too heavy.

In non-jewelry doings, I managed to verrrrryyyy slowly haul my out of shape butt up to the top of Rattlesnake Ledge last weekend. Cemented the fact that I need to dust off the treadmill in the basement. Too bad I can't do jewelry and treadmill at the same time!

I also had my first casting class last Sunday. I think wax carving is kind of fun. The jury is still out as to whether I'm ever going to be any good at it, but it was something I wanted to learn. I go back again tomorrow. I'll make sure to take a few pictures of what I'm working on.

Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2014! It seems like 2013 absolutely flew by! And it will probably take me three months to remember to write the correct year when I have to date things... (yes, cliche but true...)

Check out my New Year's Eve present to myself - a reward for good holiday sales!

An upgraded workspace! I found a local supplier that sells jeweler's benches, so I now have a real bench (no more crick in my neck when I try to saw things!) I also got a flex shaft - the weight of my Dremel has been giving me wrist pain when I use it for too long, so I figured it was time for an upgrade. And a new rug to save the room carpet from dropped hot metal (melting carpet smells bad!) My old desk is now a soldering station.

All I need now is a better chair. I'll probably inherit the chair that's currently in my husband's home office; we just need to pick him out a new one.

It's been a little while since my last update! Here was my table at the jewelry trunk show at Studio 54 Gallery:

And here are a few things I've made since Thanksgiving:

A psilomelane pendant that I made as a gift for my mom for Christmas.

And I got a few jewelry technique books for Christmas so I made my first completely handmade basket prong setting and put it on a ring with two tube set CZs. It's not good enough to be anything but a practice piece, but not bad for a first try!

I start out the new year a little later today with the (un)enviable task of inventory... Counting and measuring and weighing all of my metal and stones.