- Jun 30, 2015
- 1 min
It’s a metal clay play day!
I’ve already sold out of the collections of fine silver metal clay Ammonite components I listed several days ago so it’s time to make...
- Jun 24, 2015
- 1 min
Like Christmas in July!
Look at the goodies that just arrived from Potter USA. I can hardly wait to play with these! There are two flower-shaped pancake dies, a...
- Jun 12, 2015
- 2 min
Things don’t always work out as planned…
And that may be for the best. My “Petal Drop” pendant is a result of serendipity. I had originally planned to surround the center bezel...
- May 31, 2015
- 1 min
Creating hollow forms on the hydraulic press…
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...
- May 4, 2015
- 1 min
What’s on my workbench today…
Fine silver cast twigs, sterling silver wire, drilled pebbles and nuggets of pyrite…I’m sorting through and selecting the pieces that...
- Apr 25, 2015
- 1 min
One cuff made with more to go!
I’ve been working along to Bill Fretz’s instructional DVD, “Basic Jewelry Hammering and Forming” and have just finished my first piece…a...
- Apr 6, 2015
- 1 min
I needed a break from sorting beads so…
I’m tackling the task of cleaning and reorganizing my metals studio. I have the TV rolled up to the door so I can listen and occasionally...
- Dec 13, 2014
- 1 min
Having fun with the NTAJ!
Granted, these bangles could be formed with a variety of round-nose pliers, but the NTAJ (Now That’s a Jig), makes the process far more...
- Nov 20, 2014
- 1 min
Am I having fun?
You bet! I can’t believe I’ve neglected polymer clay and metals for so long. I’m thrilled to be working with these materials again! I...
- Jun 27, 2014
- 1 min
I’d been thinking about getting one of these for several years and…
This year at Bead and Button, I “bit the bullet” and splurged on Brenda Schweder’s “Now That’s a Jig” tool along with almost every...
- Jun 2, 2014
- 1 min
In light of the fact that…
I’m taking a metals class from Jeff Fulkerson at Bead&Button, I’m packing my travel case with the required hammers (ball peen, chasing,...
- Mar 17, 2014
- 1 min
A new beading adventure…
Spring is coming very slowly to northern Illinois. In anticipation of its arrival, I’m creating a beaded flower. I have a vague idea of...
- Jun 14, 2013
- 2 min
Lots of Loot!
I tried to be very good this year by not buying more of what I already have and I think I did pretty well. With so many classes...
- Jun 11, 2013
- 1 min
Spinner Ring Redux!
This is the spinner ring that I made in Robyn Cornelius’s class at Bead & Button. The ring is made of silver and the interior spinning...
- Jun 9, 2013
- 1 min
Goodbye Milwaukee. Goodbye Bead and Button!
The last five days I’ve spent at the Bead and Button Show have been fun-filled, exhilarating, exhausting, and awakening. I’ve met with...
- Nov 5, 2012
- 1 min
Here it is…
It’s been quite a while since I’ve created a new kit and pattern, but the “Faux Beach Glass and River Pebble Bangle” jewelry kit and...
- Nov 3, 2012
- 1 min
I like to use beach glass and pebbles in my work, however…
Drilling holes in stone and glass is a time-consuming task and not a lot of fun to do. And the heavy weight these elements add to a...
- Oct 22, 2012
- 1 min
New jewelry listings in my Etsy shop and a Bonus!
I don’t often have finished jewelry pieces for sale in my Etsy shop. Most often, I put my jewelry making efforts into creating pieces...
- Oct 8, 2012
- 1 min
Of all the texturing tools I own…
This decorative tool is one of my favorites. I made it seven years ago while taking a PMC certification class taught by Barbara Becker...
- Sep 24, 2012
- 1 min
Polymer Clay vs Epoxy Resin Clay…
That’s the title of an article in the 2012 issue of “Handcrafted Jewelry” magazine . I’d been experimenting with Epoxy Resin Clay when...