- Jul 5, 2015
- 1 min
Why didn’t I purchase one of these years ago!
Truly, I should have, but a drill press always seemed like an expensive luxury…one I could do without. However, I do a serious amount of...
- 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 21, 2015
- 1 min
Happy Accidents…
Amazing what you can do with things that didn’t quite turn out as planned. I hadn’t used my hydraulic press in some time and I forgot how...
- Jun 15, 2015
- 1 min
There’s always something new to learn!
The scope of what can be done with metal is vast and even though I have been a metalsmith for well over twenty-five years, I’m always...
- Jun 6, 2015
- 1 min
The latest from my workbench…
I’ve just finished a somewhat ambitious project…a very large pendant measuring 65mm in width by 130mm in length. The substantial disk...
- May 25, 2015
- 1 min
My muse is in overdrive!
She’s dancing the Tarantella, turning cartwheels, rushing to and fro, bombarding me with ideas for new jewelry pieces. Lately, my mind is...
- May 7, 2015
- 1 min
And here it is…
Remember all those cast twigs, silver wire, drilled pebbles and pyrite nuggets shown in my previous post? Here’s the finished piece!...
- 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 19, 2015
- 1 min
Whew!
The cleanup of my workbench is completed and I’m ready to start creating with metal again! I’ve made some recent tool and equipment...
- Apr 16, 2015
- 1 min
With the money I’ve saved…
By not going to Bead & Button this year, I’m able to upgrade some of my jewelry-making tools! Having perused the Fretz tools webpages on...
- 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...
- Mar 23, 2015
- 1 min
After twenty-five years of metalsmithing…
My original set of disc cutters, which has served me well, has seen better days, so I’ve treated myself to the “king” of disc cutters…a...
- Mar 1, 2015
- 1 min
I finally “bit the bullet”!
I had been coveting an Ezel Beading Pal for the longest time. The folks who make the Beading Pal had a booth at last June’s Bead and...
- Jan 2, 2015
- 1 min
A new tutorial to start 2015!
I’ve just finished writing a tutorial for a mixed media bangle I’ve titled “Climbing Roses”. The bangle armature is made of 16 gauge...
- Jul 19, 2014
- 1 min
The tutorial is finished!
I love when I wrap up a project and finish a tutorial! My “Forbidden Fruit” Drop Earrings tutorial is now listed in my Etsy shop. A...
- Jul 12, 2014
- 2 min
Photographing jewelry can be a challenge…
I am by no means a professional photographer, but I’ve learned a lot since I started photographing my work. I’ll admit I know next to...
- Jul 7, 2014
- 1 min
It seems like it’s taken an eternity, but….
It’s finally here…I’m perusing Jean Power’s long-awaited “Geometric Beadwork – Volume 2”! For those who like beading books that contain...
- Jun 23, 2014
- 1 min
More handmade Czech Spike beads!
I’ve added additional colors to the Czech Spike beads and “ Baby Spike ” beads listings in my Etsy shop. Silky Matte Gold (which ranges...
- Jun 9, 2014
- 1 min
Post Show Treasure!
I never know what goodies I’ll come home with from Bead & Button! Besides purchasing a new Fretz hammer with interchangeable heads, this...