Big Project Reveal and Process: Ancient Valkyrie Necklace

Ancient Valkyrie Statement Necklace in Natural Turquoise and Sterling Silver

This big beautiful piece of turquoise was in my collection for over a year...just waiting for inspiration to hit.

This project began as a few stones, a design idea, and just silver sheet and wire.  It inspired a lot of silver details; a pierced cut out design at the back, a complex handmade foxtail chain, silver granule accents, and a hand forged fringe.  By the time I finished the piece, I was almost a little sad to be through with it....making it was such a fulfilling process!

I have another beautiful piece of turquoise stone, one that I have been holding onto for myself...I think I'm ready to work on that now, and very inspired to start another handmade chain.

The important thing is to keep producing. All artists have that quality. You have to be tenacious. 

~Mary Frank

How I Made A Big Complicated Necklace & Good Business

Aedre Necklace in Sterling Silver and Chrysoprase

 

Meet my Aedre necklace!  I played all day yesterday finishing this big piece.  What made this one so much fun was all of the designing, and detail that went into the process.  Each link, every aspect was a design choice, and every bit was done by hand (except for the tiny accent chain that hangs from the clasp...making a chain that small would make me crazy, I'm sure).

In this design, I played with texture, asymmetry, and of course the sculptural element of the pendent.  You can see in some of the process photos how I made the links, and how I cut the flower from sheet silver.  The feel of the handmade chain is so organic, I love the irregularity of it, and how chunky and heavy it is.  I added a textured and oversized "S" clasp, and a braided round link to give the chain even more artsy charm.

My confidence in the shop is growing by leaps and bounds.  Part of this is because of some good business lately.  I mentioned the huge wholesale order in my last post, which I finished and got great feedback about!

Happy customers make me overwhelmingly courageous when it comes to designing new work.  After that sale, I made a ring in turquoise using a design that had been mulling around in my head for some time.

It was this ring:

The same day I finished this ring, I listed it up on the shop, and went to bed.  The next morning...it had sold!  Thrilling!

All of this success just makes me want to make more jewelry...and meanwhile, we have ripped out all of the walls in half of the first story of our house!

Busy life as usual, but a good busy.

Until next time....who knows what will happen between now and then. *wink*

A Few New Things Just in Time For the Holidays

Arctic December Ring /// Size 7.5

Love is Golden Heart Posts

Design Your Own Sterling Silver Personalized Band

As if the season weren't keeping me busy enough!  I added a few new things!  It must be that just being in the shop so much lately is keeping me inspired!

I can't take full credit for those cute golden heart post earrings.  A customer special ordered the pair, inspired by a different design in my shop.  As you know, I love listening to my customers, they come up with the best ideas sometimes!

I also finally got around to making a prototype of and photographing a personalized band that is wide enough to hold horizontal lettering and much more substantial than its daintier, and best selling cousin...which you can see here if you are curious.  Again inspired by the customer and so very very many emails asking if stamping can be horizontal and not vertical, which it is in my original personalized band.

I think the first band speaks for itself, a labor of love, and inspired by my infatuation with all stones turquoise, and an artsy design. I live for the free time to create those kinds of pieces and love it when they find the perfect home.

The christmas lights are up...wrapped high around the tall cedar trees that line our drive, and dangling from the roof line.  The christmas spirit is here!

Gratified Fridays

>>>P.S. (at the beginning):  Come ***WIN*** a pair of my earrings over at Clussster!  All you have to do is be a follower of my blog and you can even get extra entries!  I would love to see one of you be the winner!  AND....you should follow my friend Fi at Clussster because she has a beautiful blog, and she just combined her old blogs into her new blog.  So go give us both some support and GOOD LUCK if you enter!!

Back to the regular post...

Good news, everybody!  I finally got a new Iphone, so you can expect better photos on my blog from now on!  Really, I got the phone just for you, sweet readers.  See:  Here are two really good photos of all the work I've been up to this morning:

Much improved, no?

On to being grateful for things other than the latest material gains...I want to talk about how great my customers have been.  Seriously, they have the best ideas sometimes!  I have listed three new things this month that customers came up with.  I know if I just listen and take these great ideas to the bench that  my shop will continue to grow.

#1     I got an order for my Isis Hoops, but she wanted them a bit smaller...totally cute that way!
#2     Instead of copper, these rough diamond studs were requested in golden brass...bling!
#3     Over Christmas a customer turned my copper dot ring into a copper heart ring...so cute!

And then there's these two:  Matt & Ruby  *LOVE*

Happy Friday all, I hope everyone has a lot to look back on and be grateful for today too.