A Secret Project Revealed & Friendship Can Happen Over the Internet

 
It was killing me not to post about this big project!  But, I had to keep it a secret...because the friend who would be wearing it is my blog sister, and I didn't want to spoil the surprise.

The story of this jewelry starts way back before my Etsy shop, my jewelry studio, and even living in Oregon....it began as a sketch, an idea, a project that I wanted to get to some day...but didn't at the time have any idea how that would happen.

During that same time I started blogging...and I met Chandra, of A Stylish Little Lady.  I can't remember how I stumbled across her blog?  But we were fast friends!  Actually thinking about it, I can hardly believe we have known of each other for so long...maybe two years!?!

Following Chandra's blog, I began to know her style, fell in love with her dog, drooled over some very good food posts, and eventually found her planning her wedding...

All the while, she was here at my blog cheering me on when I designed a new piece, or set up shop, even putting some of my jewelry on her christmas list last year.

So when Chandra came to me to design her bridal jewelry, I was thrilled.  I was excited, nervous, inspired...but I knew immediately just what I wanted to make for her.

It just felt right.

Over only a few emails and photographed sketches, we discussed the necklace design and birthstones...and then Chandra gave me free reign with the project.

I didn't send her another picture.

I just went to work.

I have always believed that metal and stones hold a person's energy.  When I create jewelry in my shop, I always make sure to create with good intentions, and positive energy.  With this project, even when the process could have become frustrating, or I was working on a particularly tricky part (soldering tiny jump rings, or filing and sanding contour to the branches...), everything went smoothly.  

The necklace turned out exactly how I had envisioned it!  It is hard not to think that way back when I originally designed it, that somehow it was for Chandra even then...

Matt made an especially big box for the jewelry to fit in, and I mailed it off.  I can tell you, I was holding my breath for that package to arrive, and to hear what kind of review my work would receive on the other end!

It is one thing to work on a commissioned piece for someone, but knowing I was designing something for the most important day of my friend's life...her wedding...added an extra bit of intensity.  

Having a lot of experience with commissioned work in all different art mediums (murals, prints, illustration...once I was even hired to paint a logo on a sailboat), I know things can get tricky....but there was not one hitch when it came to this project.  

While her jewelry was in transit, Chandra emailed me...she forgot that she needed some silver post earrings as well to wear on her big day.  Just our luck, as a surprise, I had added a pair of silver posts to her package!  

She loved everything.  

And I loved making everything.  

The wedding is in a few short days, and I will be sending beautiful thoughts that way...

Simply Beautiful

Everything has been so incredibly beautiful lately, no amount of photos seems to pacify me!  Autumn is one of those sneaky times that slips past so quickly.  I want to soak it in, every leaf, every fiery shade, and hold this time a bit more still.  Already trees are looking more bare and I feel a bitterness in the cold at night.  Darkness is coming so early...reminding me it is that time to start burrowing in for the winter.

Every year, the simple beauty of the season's change is startling, and still surprises me.

I designed a pair of hoop posts, very organic shaped, and beautiful in their simplicity.  Sometimes minimalism is so refreshing.  These earrings made me appreciate how pretty plain silver jewelry can be.

 “Beauty of style and harmony and 

grace 

and good rhythm depend on

 simplicity."

Plato –

WOYWW: Natural Bling

One. Two. Three. Four.

Five.  Six.  Seven.  Eight.  Nine.

Lately, I have been obsessed with making dangly beaded earrings.  My style leans towards natural stones, and I patina the silver to give them an antiqued look.  There is something mesmerizing about wrapping the wire and creating little ensembles of color and pattern.  I'm completely hooked.

One of the reasons I have been spending so much time at the bench is that MyGirl has been enjoying being out in the shop with me.  I taught her how to burn a mixed CD and she puts her music on and sits at her little work bench where she paints or draws or builds with sculpy.  This explains why Taylor Swift and Katy Perry (only the PG songs) are running through my head.  MyBoy is spending his summer reading reading reading.  Sometimes I forget I even have two kids, he is so content and quiet with a book in hand.

Hope everyone is feeling creative, and sunny!  Happy WOYWW.

To see more creative work, visit the Stamping Ground here.

WOYWW: Airplanes Too

My shop has been a busy busy place as usual, but I was able to design a new pair of earrings.  Matt's favorite co-worker is retiring next month from her job with Matt as an Air Traffic Controller.  So of course, I made her some airplane earrings (she already has a pair of my mushrooms...so I knew she would just love it...and she did!).

Copper Studs:  Your Aeroplane, Airplanes

The earrings are adorable on, they can be flying towards each other, or away.  Too funny.

Happy WOYWW, to everyone!

Linking up with Julia for WOYWW.

What's on My Workbench Wednesday

Earrings From Tarnished & True

Antarctica Statement Ring

I've joined in with some other artist bloggers in showing my work/progress in the studio every wednesday!  (It is the button on my sidebar that says WOMWW if you're interested in joining in too!)

I had a lot of fun making a bunch of dangly beaded earrings.  You may remember that MyBoy gifted me a new hammer...well I tried it out and look at all the fun texture I added to the metal teardrops!  I love texture (and hammers).

Maybe the piece I am most proud of to date is this big turquoise ring!  It took me forever to make it, and some serious trials, sweat, and blood...but isn't it fantastic?!?!  I love to push myself when I am designing, and this ring was definitely above and beyond my comfort level.  I must have soldered that bezel four times before I got it to sit solidly.  Working in metal certainly isn't forgiving, that's for sure, so I am just thrilled to have finished this piece (I am in love with the stone!).

I hope you've enjoyed seeing my work.  I leave you with a quote I was recently inspired by:

"I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it."
~Pablo Picasso

What I've Been Making

Persimmon Triangle Earrings

Lapis Lazuli Teardrop Earrings

Emerald Green Turquoise Earrings

Chunky Wire Wrapped Aventurine Earrings

Charming Bird Necklace

Lost Stone and Feather Ring

Whew!  I've been busy!  I guess we all are this time of year.  I have been looking forward to sharing this new work with you all.  Favorites, anyone?  I love making earrings because they make so quickly, but making the more complex items, like rings, is so gratifying because of the difficulty of the process.

I wanted to get some work done in the studio before Thanksgiving takes over all of my time.  I am so looking forward to dinner and a whole day for nothing but my little family.  For me, Thanksgiving Day is honestly my favorite holiday.  You don't have the stress of presents, like Christmas,  just the day reserved for quality time with each other.  That's my kind of holiday.  I can't wait!

New Handmade Earrings (lots)

This week has been very productive!  I kicked out a handful of earrings and even listed them all...photographing and listing items on Etsy is half the battle beyond the making and designing.  I also spent some time designing packaging to ship my jewelry in (fun!).  I've got my assistant, Matt, in on that project (what a swwwweeeety).  He has committed to making little handmade wooden boxes for each item.  We then use eco-friendly aspen wood shavings as packing material.  

AND<<<<<<<

Because Matt is so sweet....I made him a ring.  It's a big manly ring, very chunky.  The metal was so thick I had to really lay my hammer into it!

ALSO>>>>>>

Because I love my little girl, I made her a chain bracelet.  She feels super special.  :)