by Barbara | Aug 29, 2015 | Art Jewelry, At the Bench, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Techniques, Tools
I had lusted after one of these for some time, but a set of shaped cutters are a bit of an investment so I waited and when I saw that Otto Frei was offering a discount on them, I nabbed one! The stars range in size from 15mm x 15mm up to 23mm x 23mm. Granted, I have...
by Barbara | Aug 25, 2015 | Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Bronze, Cabochons and Gemstones, Components, Earrings, Handmade, Inspiration, Metal Clay, One-of-a-Kind, Patina, Sterling Silver, Techniques
As the first wife of Henry VIII, Catherine of Aragon fared somewhat better than Henry’s second wife, Anne Boleyn…Catherine, at least did not lose her head! Raised as a devout Roman Catholic, which factored largely in her later life, she was the daughter of...
by Barbara | Aug 21, 2015 | Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, At the Bench, Components, Earrings, Embellishments, Handmade, Inspiration, One-of-a-Kind, Sterling Silver, Techniques
Another pair of earrings is in progress…this time a variation on a Maltese cross known as a cross pattée. This form of the cross appears very early in medieval art. The die-cut sterling silver crosses will be subtly hammer-textured and accented with tiny dots of 18k...
by Barbara | Aug 18, 2015 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Bronze, Cabochons and Gemstones, Components, Earrings, Embellishments, Handmade, Inspiration, One-of-a-Kind, Patina, Sterling Silver, Techniques
That statement has been attributed to Marie Antoinette when she was told the people had no bread. Born an Archduchess of Austria and married to the Dauphin of France at the tender age of fifteen, young Marie led a sheltered and privileged life. She had no idea of what...
by Barbara | Aug 14, 2015 | Art to Wear, Bronze, Cabochons and Gemstones, Earrings, Embellishments, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Sterling Silver, Techniques
That title may very well become my alias if I keep making heart-themed jewelry! I’ve just finished this pair and they are my favorite at the moment. The hammer-textured sterling silver hearts on the front are patinaed with of liver of sulfur…I love the deep...
by Barbara | Aug 11, 2015 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Bracelets, Inspiration, One-of-a-Kind
Well, if this poodle has anything to say about it, the answer is definitely yes! Last weekend we dined in a restaurant that is located in a large hotel and it just so happened that a dog groomer’s convention was being held in an adjacent ballroom. The...
by Barbara | Aug 8, 2015 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Earrings, One-of-a-Kind
I’m always on the lookout for storage for my jewelry and I love this piece! It’s made from an antique drawer that once housed type-setting paraphernalia. It holds thirty pairs of earrings and has hooks along the sides and bottom for hanging necklaces,...
by Barbara | Aug 5, 2015 | Art to Wear, At the Bench, Bronze, Cabochons and Gemstones, Earrings, Handmade, One-of-a-Kind, Sterling Silver, Techniques
I’ve been at my workbench dismantling the three pairs of heart-themed earrings I had recently made and reworking their designs. They are a bit too heavy to wear for an extended period of time. The silver and bronze sheet I used is 22 gauge, but the set stones...
by Barbara | Aug 2, 2015 | An Aside, Cabochons and Gemstones, Components, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind
I’ve realized that I need more organization. For years I had been storing numerous packets of both tiny and large cabochons and cramming them into several narrow drawers in my workbench. It really became frustrating when looking for a particular type, color, and size...