Evolution

We had a wonderful week last week - my niece and her twins, Ollie and Evie (now 14+ months) and my other niece and her son (Gavin - now 10 weeks) came to visit me and their Great Grandma ON THE SAME DAY!  Since I have been taking jewelry pictures, in MACRO MODE, I have lost almost all abilities to take a picture of anything else.  I apologize in advance for these crummy photos!

Mom and I invaded Babies R Us to have a stash of toys around whenever little ones visit.  Books were number 1 on the list, as Evie, below with my Mom, LOVES her books!

Don't you just love Ollie's bow tie??!!  My goodness, he is adorable!

I also purchased, appropriately colored toy bins - they had just as much fun in the bins as they did with the toys!  Never mind that Ollie is in the pink one and Evie is in the blue one....so cute!

Even Gavin had fun!

I managed to make a few new pieces of jewelry as well.  I titled this Blog Post Evolution, because I am finally using some beads that I have been hoarding admiring for quite some time!

 First up - I swear, I have had these lampwork beads from Susan Kennedy of Sue Beads forever.  They are large holed beads - I never use large holed beads, as I stay away from leather or fibers.  But, I just loved the jewel-toned colors!

I just added a tiny piece of sterling silver coiled wire inside the bead to hold it in place, and flanked the ends with larger, pewter nuggets to "hide" the holes.  

Speaking of Sue Kennedy, I also had this glass cabochon that I wanted to use as a focal.  So, I bezel set it in silver.  

I did not want to distract from this beautiful Ammonite focal - so a simple sterling chain was the initial vision.  I did add one additional bead - a handmade hollow bead - this time I crafted the bead in sterling silver.  I wanted the hollow bead to evoke the feeling of a closed clam shell - not sure if it does or not, but I still like the bead!

I added riveted chain and a gorgeous sterling silver shell charm that I commissioned from Lesley Watt  of  THEAElements at least 2 years ago (2 years!!)  I have a couple more of those charms in my stash, too!

The focal sits nicely on the wrist when worn.

I posted a picture about a month or so ago of these gorgeous beads by Donna Millard

I normally keep all of her beads in one gorgeous pile in a handmade ceramic bowl smack dab in the middle of my bench, sometimes for an entire year or so  (inspiration??)  What can I say, it makes me happy just to look at them!  I shocked myself yesterday when I actually plucked them from the bowl before their normal "expiration date" and  used them in this necklace.

I am not sure what I love the most about these beads - the dark, rosy red, the light pink, the flecks of gold, or that nugget shape!

The link above, by Cindy Wimmer, has to be my favorite as it is so versatile.  It makes an awesome  link, bail - or toggle clasp for that matter!  I have used it often.  I forged the heart from copper sheet and handmade rivets - a technique I learned last year from an e-course by Kerry Bogert.

All in all, last week was pretty good!  Back to the grind stone!

Thank you so much for stopping by today!  I hope you all have a lovely week!

xo

Patti

A picture says a thousand words....

Since I began this journey of jewelry making a few years ago, I have struggled with trying to take the perfect picture.  I have tried outdoors in natural light, indoors with a light box, indoors with photo lamps, "white background" images, scrapbook or textured paper background images, books as props, interesting "boards" as props.....the list goes on (and on).  

I have never been happy with the images.  The colors of the beads were always subdued, the metals - especially silver - never appeared true to form.

About a year and a half ago, I purchased a granite stepping stone from my local nursery.  I fell in love with the texture, and I thought it would give a natural "boost" to the images of my jewelry.  Can you see the years of layering on that granite?  Swoon!

After much reading, I decided to try what is called "18% Gray Card" as my background.  It is simply a piece of cardboard with gray at 18 percent saturation. Here is a link to a similar card here - though Amazon carries many types, just shop around.   I actually purchased one months ago, but only used it sparingly.  Here is a picture of the back of the card - You have to click on the image to zoom if you really want to read the fine print!

And this is my current photography setup in my lovely basement studio.

I simply place the jewelry on the "card" and snap away.  I am still using the granite - but only for added height.   I use a Sony Cybershot (this one) that has an automatic macro setting - no zooming required.  I have a tri-pod, but I don't use it.  For some unknown reason, I don't have a problem holding the camera steady.

Personally, I see a HUGE improvement from using Gray Card versus the granite as my background.

Especially on pure metal pieces.

You can actually see the transparency in the glass now in these gorgeous beads by Donna Millard.

The pinks and greens on those beautiful beads were just blah.

I think they pop, now.

Same necklace below - different background.  No more distraction from the granite.

Beads by Kerry Bogert

So, I have spent the last 2-3 weeks retaking photos of every single item in my shop.  Necklaces, in particular, killed me!  I always take 10-15 images of each piece.  The only editing I have had to do is crop once in a while, and resize the image.

I still have a few pair of earrings left to rephotograph. Ugh.

I have made a few new things, too! I recently purchased these beads from Karren Toten of Starry Road Studio.  I was mesmerized by that blue feather!

I wanted to make a long focal, highlighting that feather.  So, I made my very first tab set pendant, something I have wanted to conquer for ages.

I also made the chain links.

Totally in love with how this one turned out!

I also made this bracelet, and I am happy to report that I made another soldered hollow bead and some more riveted chain!  I thought for sure the first time I made that hollow bead it was a fluke!

Beads by Donna Trull

Made a few more bangles, this time I mixed up the metals and added some red brass.  Each bangle has double twists and is riveted, instead of soldered closed.

The earrings below were a test to my patience!  I twisted solid copper and red brass together (not easy - at least for me!), balled the ends, and made slender sticks.  I topped these with some gorgeous mini lampwork beads by Beads and Botanicals.

So, I saunter on, continuing to edit pictures.  It is so beautiful outside - I am sure there is a lawn chair calling my name!

Thanks so much for stopping by today - feel free to leave any photography tips I may have missed!  I LOVE to get new tips and hints!

xo

Patti

Dreaming of Pastels

One year ago yesterday - I bought these beads from Donna Millard - and they are so special!  I have kept them on my desk, in a handmade ceramic bowl for a year now, where I smile every time I look at them!  The colors of these beads emanate from the inside out.  Soft pastels, with specs of color, in a chunky nugget shape, with a soft, matte finish.  Ahhh....

It was time I did something with these beads.  I have a dress that has all of these colors.  So, I made myself a necklace.  Something I NEVER do, as my jewelry box is stuffed with jewelry from more talented artists!

Anyway, I soldered a few rings from heavy silver wire and added texture.  Some of these beads have actual gold leaf on the outside.

I am not normally drawn to pastels - I am more an earth tone, blue jean kinda girl.  But these beads...

Made a simple pair of earrings with the purple beads, too.

I would normally add patina to the silver, and throw the whole thing in my tumbler.  But, I had concerns that the finish on the beads could not handle the buff and tumble.  So, I kept it shiny.  I made a toggle clasp from one of Cindy Wimmer's design from her book - The Missing Link.  This will be worn with the clasp to the side, as opposed to the back of the neck.

I believe Donna has outdone herself on these beads.  My only sorrow is that now I have to visit my jewelry box to look at them, instead of my ceramic bowl on my bench!  I think I can handle that!

On a side note, I am running a special sale in my shop - hay prices in Nevada have gone sky high.  So, all proceeds from my shop will be donated to Miracle Horse Rescue so they can feed these special, rescued furbabies.

Thanks for stopping by - hoping your last weekend of Spring is wonderful!

xo

Patti

My Last Creations....for a while

It is a very sad day for me today...I am beginning to pack up my jewelry "studio" ...well the huge mess in the unfinished basement that I lovingly call my studio.  I begin moving into my new home late next month, and it's time to pack it up.

I want to pack the correct way - I don't want to shove things in a box where they will sit for the next 2-3 months.  I want to separate and label accordingly.  Let's see if I can do that!  I figure I need at least a week to accomplish this task...maybe more.  Beads are small! :) Ugh...

I will be excited about having room to call my own.   A room with overhead lights, a painted concrete floor, an exhaust fan to help with soldering fumes....but most importantly, it will have HEAT! But, until I am there, my excitement wanes... 

So, these are the last of the items that I have posted to my Etsy this morning until I am able to resume creating in 2-3 months (sob...)

First up are these earrings.  I played with my oval disc cutter again and made oval "washers"!  Not an easy task, but it worked!  I put some texture on the rings with my rivet hammer, and wire wrapped these gorgeous, sunshine orange lampwork headpins by Sue Kennedy (Sue Beads).  These weigh next to nothing and are so comfortable!  I hope I remember to make more when my new studio is up and running!

Next up is this sterling silver  bracelet - gorgeous frosted glass from Lyndas Lampwork - I am totally in love with these colors! I added a bit of texture to the clasp with my hammer.

I just had to add that teeny tiny spacer bead by Pinocean as it perfectly matches the blue swirl in Lynda's frosted glass beads.

I pulled out these beads I purchased from Donna Millard - 10 months ago!  I am a hoarder, what can I say!  While they looked perfectly lovely sitting in my ceramic bowl on my jewelry bench, they needed to be made into a necklace.

All the colors of the rainbow here, embedded into her perfectly formed, transparent glass discs.

At my craft shows last year, longer necklaces were desired.  So this one is 33" round with no clasp - easy peasy - just slip it over your head.

Every other bead in this necklace features a double wrapped, sterling link, with large loops.

In my last post, I mentioned that I purchased a pound of 18 gauge square wire, when what I needed was 16 gauge.  So, I played around with this square wire yesterday and ended up creating twisted wire with my drill and vice. Oh my....now this is texture!  And strong wire to boot!

I actually used 16 gauge square copper wire for the jump rings and the clasp, and 18 gauge to swirl around these lovely beads by Spawn of Flame.  These beads are awesome by the way - small, but that webbed silvered ivory packs quite the punch!

Because I am moving (my last move EVER, before I hit the grave), I am having a huge sale in my Etsy shop, beginning at 12:00 today (January 22nd).  All items will be automatically marked down 30% - 30%!!!  I don't want to have to move it to the new house, and risk losing track of where it is!

During this sale, 100% of all proceeds will be donated to Miracle Horse Rescue!  I appreciate any "shares" you may do for  me on social media when I start photo-bombing my ads on Facebook.  :)

Hope everyone survived the winter storm - we have about 4 inches of snow that has decided to permanently affix itself in the form of ice around here - wicked cold!  Sarge DOES NOT like it! :)  Stay safe and warm!

Thanks for stopping by!

xo

Patti