by Barbara | May 31, 2015 | An Aside, At the Bench, Beads and Materials, Components, Embellishments, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind
It’s something I haven’t done in quite a while. I’ve had my hydraulic press for over twenty years and when I first acquired it, I worked with it a lot! I sawed my own die forms and made a lot of beads and components as shown in my “Harvest” necklace above....
by Barbara | May 28, 2015 | An Aside, Beading, Beads and Materials, Delica beads, Designer Patterns, Embellishments, Handmade, Inspiration, One-of-a-Kind, Seed Beads, Techniques, Tutorials
I’ve just received notification from Fire Mountain Gems and Beads that my “Sea Dragon Wrap Variation” and “Mermaid Cuff” have made it to the second round of judging in the 2015 Seed Bead Jewelry-Making Contest! These designs, inspired by...
by Barbara | May 25, 2015 | Art to Wear, Found Objects, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Polymer Clay, Resin, Techniques, Tools
She’s dancing the Tarantella, turning cartwheels, rushing to and fro, bombarding me with ideas for new jewelry pieces. Lately, my mind is swirling like a whirlpool in a never-ending spiral and I’m loving this newfound flow of energy! Having cleaned my...
by Barbara | May 22, 2015 | Art to Wear, Classes, Components, Embellishments, Faux Bone™, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Techniques
I’ve accumulated a really nice stash of Faux Bone™. If you haven’t heard of it, Faux Bone™ is sold by Robert Dancik and used as an ivory substitute. It can be sawed, carved, colored, heated and bent and it is a really wonderful product! I’ve made several pieces using...
by Barbara | May 19, 2015 | An Aside, Beads and Materials, Classes, Designer Patterns, Handmade, Inspiration, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Tutorials
Instead of taking classes, I’m watching jewelry-making and wire-working instructional DVDs and I’ve ordered quite a few of them recently. Somehow I managed to order two of the same DVD. So I’ve assembled a really nice kit that includes a brand new, still in the...
by Barbara | May 16, 2015 | Art to Wear, Components, Embellishments, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, Metal Clay, One-of-a-Kind
My work is influenced by what I see. Being exposed to so much Medieval period jewelry worn by damsels in distress is partially responsible for the creation of my “Cross of Alisee” earrings. Made of hammer-textured sterling silver sheet and Argentium silver wire, they...
by Barbara | May 13, 2015 | Art to Wear, Found Objects, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, Metal Clay, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Techniques
Several posts ago (Upcycling Bicycle Chain), I showed a bead woven pendant dangling from a bicycle gear chain that I had found some time ago. I really like the way the chain fits and find that it is extremely comfortable to wear! It is also sturdy and versatile as I...
by Barbara | May 10, 2015 | An Aside, Beads and Materials, Components, Found Objects, Handmade, Inspiration, One-of-a-Kind
As I have time, I’m assembling collections that will contain many elements! Game pieces, dominoes, dice, drilled shell beads, wire cages, shell casings, chain, beads, bottle caps, and more compose the above collection. I’m offering this collection packed inside...
by Barbara | May 7, 2015 | Art to Wear, Components, Embellishments, Found Objects, Handmade, Inspiration, One-of-a-Kind, Techniques, Tools
Remember all those cast twigs, silver wire, drilled pebbles and pyrite nuggets shown in my previous post? Here’s the finished piece! I’ve titled it “Rockabye”, inspired by the lullaby, but it’s also a play on the granite pebble and...
by Barbara | May 4, 2015 | An Aside, Art to Wear, At the Bench, Beads and Materials, Components, Found Objects, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Techniques
Fine silver cast twigs, sterling silver wire, drilled pebbles and nuggets of pyrite…I’m sorting through and selecting the pieces that will comprise my next pendant. I envision the piece I want to make…engineering it is the next step. I know I could...
