Tigger

A lot has been going on around here lately and in other ways not a lot at all.  This is Tigger, he is one of our newest family members.  He has one brother and one sister.  They are now over three months old-where does that time go?

At the end of this year I will be done delivering newspapers.  I will miss it in some ways-I will miss seeing all the does, bucks and fawns along with all the other wildlife.  I will miss the peacefulness of the wee, early morning hours, sunrises on the horizon and hanging with my sons.  In many ways it has been one of the coolest jobs I've ever had.

What I won't miss is being constantly sleep deprived with reduced brain function, never having a day off and not knowing the pleasure of a good night's sleep.  Waking up enough to get started on the day and finding it already over.  Rarely getting to see family and friends.  

I found that the world runs in the day and if you work nights/early mornings the world doesn't care.  You are expected to give up your sleep to do the everyday, mundane tasks that daytime never even think twice about. 

So Many New Possibilities!

I'm not sure how many of you remember this simple pendant I made as a commission piece for a lovely lady to match her earrings.   

After my friend who makes silver jewelry returned the cab to me refusing to set it because of it's irregular surface I had to really think and improvise on this piece as I don't like making "traditional" bezels where they are backed with sheet metal. 

 Why?  Mainly because of the grinding, sanding, polishing and buffing required to finish it.  Without a proper ventilation system I won't set up the Genie for this.  I can do it with a rotary tool, BUT  working on that small of scale takes forever and I don't have the patience for it.  Also I really wasn't all that happy with the few pieces I have previously set.

After a bit I had the brilliant idea to use flattened wire shaped to fit the bezel and solder them to the bezel back. It worked wonderfully.   Simple, easy and so little finish work to get it shaped and shiny.

Since then I have discovered paste solder which I love as it allows me to precisely place and control the amount of solder I want.  

I have finished my first pair of earrings this way and am finishing up a similar necklace.   And another pair of earrings.

As time passes I see more and more ways I can design and create beautiful jewelry.  So many possibilities have opened up for me creation wise!

Three Day Weekend

I took a mandatory, necessary three day weekend.  I "took" Saturday, Sunday and Monday off due to a nasty head cold.  Bottom pictures shows me napping with Noa and Brutus prior to the weekend.  This cold left me exhausted and achy-of course. As  much as I wish I could of slept through the whole thing I can't spend that much time lying down.  Also my whole head ached less sitting up.

So to keep myself awake and upright I made earrings while I hid out in my bedroom.  I enjoyed my time hiding and feel like I had a sort of mini-vacation.   I left the housecleaning, cooking etc; to others along with refusing to worry or stress about anything.  Boy it was nice and rather refreshing too!

On Friday I finished last week's WIP pair of earrings.  (top picture)  I LOVE how oxidizing them dark makes the dichroic glass cabochons come alive, they seem to glow.  Did I mention I've started a similar necklace because of them?

Saturday I started on the Emerald Rose Gemmie Earrings.  I found the second cabochon in my stash cupboard and made the frames up.  Then I realized that cab #1 was no longer in my pants pocket.

So then I started on the Peach Blush Drop Earrings.

Sunday I ended up cleaning my bedroom and locating the missing cab.  I finished both pairs of earrings in between cleaning spurts.

I still have a cluttered bedroom, but the clutter is clean again.  Bed stripped and re-made, laundry washed folded and actually put away.

Sneak Peek WIP Wednesday

I am finally working on some of my "newer" ideas!  Combination soldered and wire wrapped earrings.

Surie, Silver Wire Wrapped Dichroic Glass Pendant

Another new listing, the lovely Surie Pendant.  Sterling and fine silver wire wrapped around this beautiful pink, white and silver striped handmade dichroic glass cabochon.  Clusters of handmade fine silver drops set off a single pink chalcedony briolette drop wrapped in 14k gold filled wire.  A pair of 14k gold filled beads accent the frame.  I've finished it with a rich black patina.

Violetta, Wire Wrapped Purple Dichroic Glass Earrings

Just listed these pretty purple earrings, Violetta, wire wrapped purple dichroic glass earrings!

I'm also working on re-listing some of my other pieces too.

Rapunzel Wire Wrapped Hot Pink Dichroic Earrings & The Seahorse Pendant

Finally I am starting to add the new pieces to my Etsy shop!

Rapunzel Wire Wrapped Hot Pink Dichroic Earrings.  A pair of my handmade dichroic fused glass cabochons in a shimmery hot pink.  I've paired them with deep pink hydro quartz briolettes and wire wrapped them in sterling silver, fine silver and 14K gold filled wire.  Accented with clusters of garnets, pink sapphires, moonstone rondelles and finished off with a black oxidized finish!  All the wire work including the headpins are made by hand by me.

The second picture is a pendant featuring one of my handmade dichroic fused glass cabochons in gorgeous shades of greens, golds and hints of blue on a white base.  I've wire wrapped it in sterling and fine silver accenting it with tsavorite garnet rondelles and finished with a moonstone briolette drop.  I've named it the seahorse pendant because when looking at it straight on one can see the head of a seahorse which my lovely mother-in-law pointed out.  This pendant will not be going in my shop as it is already spoken for.