Post Earrings Trial

by Patti Vanderbloemen

I am not sure if I have mentioned it here on my personal blog, but I did mention in a post on the Love My Art Jewelry blog spot that I don't have the opportunity to take jewelry classes. So, I peruse way-too-many You Tube videos, and I purchase online videos here and there, usually through Craftsy (link here).  I almost always purchase these videos when they are on sale - usually half price, and I think they are a good deal.  One can access the video ANYTIME - there is no expiration - and if you are like me, you can replay a "scene" often.  Many times, I have purchased a class and do not even view it until I am at a loss for inspiration, which was the case here!  

The class Fabricating Dimensional Metal Jewelry, with instructor Lisa Colby (link here), focuses on fold forming, hammering, and basically, shaping sheet metal into wearable art.  I haven't finished viewing the class yet, but, I was intrigued with one of the projects - a post-style hoop earring.  

This is truly a classic style - and not difficult to make.  The tools required include a wood dapping block and the round side of any chasing hammer (like this one). The website's class materials includes a template for cutting out the basic hoop shape from sheet metal. The basic earring design does not add a lot texture - just a slight hammered textured finish.   Really pretty, but I wanted to try to texture my metal first.

Although the video did not address this, I already knew that if I first textured the sheet metal, and then attempted to create the hoops shape with a metal chasing hammer, my initial texture would become distorted by the chasing hammer. So, first I textured my metal, annealed it, and then I used this nylon hammer to create the hoop shape (link here)

Another note before I show you lots of pictures - the class includes a down-loadable materials list, along with a template to create the basic shapes.  I actually thought these earrings were a tad on the large side, so I reduced the template by 15%.  It was a little bit more difficult to get my hammer in side the smaller metal shape within the the dapping cup, above, but I persisted!

By using the nylon hammer to manipulate the metal in the wood dapping block, the texture stayed true.

My favorite pair - brass - antiqued just a bit.

I know that these appear to be on the large side - but the longest pair is only 1 3/8" long...and they are post earrings!  I am wearing a pair as I type this, and they are extremely lightweight.

The hardest part is soldering the teeny tiny earring post to the end of the earring.  I actually want to test-fit these for a bit before even considering offering them for sale.  I would just die if that post fell off! :)

Onward.

In my last post, I shared a picture of some gorgeous focal beads by Sarah Moran of Zbeads.  I have an idea to create a sort of fringe, with chain, but could not find a cone in my stash that worked well with the bead.  So, I made my first cone!

I envision a mixed metal-type necklace, so I made the cone from copper that I textured with a hammer, and then I soldered on a teeny tiny sterling silver bead made from my shot plate. 

I am still in the thinking stage here, but the fringe of chain will hang from inside the cone...at least, I think it will! Stay tuned! :)

It was a very busy week here, personally, so not much else was accomplished.  Monday through Wednesday will be much the same - two days will involve more visits (yes - plural) to my dentist....again.  Sigh.  Hopefully, by my next posting, I will have taken this design just a bit further!

Thanks so much for stopping by today - hoping you have a wonderful week!

xo

Patti

BIG Beads!

by Patti Vanderbloemen

Just a short while ago, Lori Anderson of Pretty Things/Bead Soup Blog Party fame (link to her blog here) held an auction fundraiser, where she offered these stunning beads for sale.  These beads are made by Sarah Moran (Zbeads on Etsy link here).  This type of bead is not my normal style - they are fairly large beads, and quite colorful --- I tend to stay on the earth tone side of the color spectrum, with just a splash of color here and there.

However, I have been an admirer of Sarah's beads for quite some time now. They are absolutely nothing short of spectacular!  The craftsmanship is jaw dropping.  Please zoom on the picture and I know you will agree with me!

Sarah calls these beads "Coral Cocktail", with intense coral, lavender, red, orange, and purple with bases of transparent pale lavender and blush on white. After taking a million photos of these beads, I do not believe there is a camera or photographer out there that can capture the true artistry in the details.

Frankly, stringing one of these stunners on a shoe string would be beautiful! But, alas, all my shoes close with velcro! :)

I knew that I would use one bead at a time - as I said, they are on the large size, appropriately so.  I did what anybody would do with a work of art - I framed it! One night while perusing You-Tube videos on my I-Pad (this is a nightly ritual for me), I found this great tutorial for an earring bead frame by Janice Berkebile at Beaducation (link here).  I thought it would be perfect for a pendant frame.

Janice's tutorial specifies 10 gauge fine silver, as the frame is fused.  I actually fused Argentium silver instead of fine silver - but I also soldered the seam.  Her tutorial also has one more side to it - I kept mine at an even number of 4 sides.

I added two hand textured/cut sterling silver bead caps. One of the design elements for three sides of this bead frame are what Janice entitled "Dew Drops"  - balled headpins, similar to a heat rivet. These can be tricky to make - too much heat and the balled headpin will melt and fuse to the frame - I used Argentium for the heat rivets, as well.  But, luck was on my side...thank goodness!

I recently made a heavy gauge copper bracelet similar in design to this bead frame, so the technique was familiar to me.

The hardest part, for me, was selecting which bead to wire in the center of this frame!

While many thanks go to Sarah Moran for creating these beads, I also want to shout out a huge THANK YOU to Lori Anderson for selflessly selling these beads for another artist in need.

One bead down...and six to go! :)  I am hoping I can come up with different ways to highlight these absolutely exquisite beads!

Thanks for stopping by today!!

xo

Patti

Fall is here!

by Patti Vanderbloemen

First off, thanks to the artists who left comments on my last blog post regarding questions by potential customers on my pricing - I very appreciate your taking the time!

I am simply overjoyed in how the weather has been in Virginia this past week!  When I woke up this morning, it was 45 degrees in my neck of the woods...heaven!  Though, it will warm nicely to the low 70's or so, I will take it!  Other than the fact that I broke a tooth over the weekend and had to make a quick visit to the dentist this morning to affirm the fact that my teeth are failing yet again (there is more crown in my future, next week), it will be a good week!

Last week, I revisited my first love of wire wrapping lampwork beads.  Zoom in on the picture, and you will see why I am so in awe of the talents of lamp work artists:

Beads by Judith Billig

Judith appropriately named these beads Sediment Stones.  Reminiscent of a slice of the earth's crust, I say.  Just loving the pops of orange and green!

Photo Source - Merriam Webster

I put a lot of thought into the chain links I made.  It just seemed appropriate to add an Infinity link to a bead that resembled something as old as the earth - lasting.

I recently purchased an online class from Leslie Kail Villarreal (here is a link to her website).  The class is for making a boho-style saddle ring.  Well, I am awaiting 2 more supplies before I can attempt this style of ring (so excited to at least attempt!)  In the meantime, I did make this one.

In my last post, I shared a two-toned metal pendant I made, with a brass "collar" cut to fit on top of the silver bezel.  This time, I used the same technique, but stuck with just silver.  I do love the banding in this green malachite.

This is a wide band ring, with a tiny little button soldered to the bottom.  I first flattened the ball of silver, then added a hand stamp.  I just love this little button!  I have seen it on many other rings "out there", and thought I would give it a try.

The folks at Miracle Horse Rescue  are having a fundraiser to raise $$ for hay and all of the other upkeep required for the horses.  It seems non-profits all over the place are really struggling these days, as the economy continues to stress everyone.  But, if you want a cool sweatshirt to keep you toasty warm in the coming months, please consider purchasing one from their fundraiser (just click on the picture to be directed to the Booster).  Thank you!

Onward, they say.  Time to get off my chair and get something done!

As always, thank you for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

xo
Patti

Another Wednesday post!!

by Patti Vanderbloemen

It has been a busy week for me - lots of little non-jewelry-related tasks that have to get done.  I keep making lists, and crossing off the tasks, but I always feel like I am playing catch-up!

Anyway, I posted a not-quite-a-tutorial for a new-to-me technique, over at the Love My Art Jewelry blog.  It features a two-tone metal pendant, this time I used brass and sterling.  It was a practice piece (in case it did not work out), and I used a kinda  hum drum Labradorite that was devoid of the gorgeous flash that this stone is known for. So it is now mine! I've worn it twice already!

It was rather time consuming, but now that I have the gist of the steps to take, I will be visiting this technique again.

A very lovely repeat customer of mine quite recently purchased almost all of the sterling silver bangles in my shop.  Still my all time favorite piece of jewelry to create, I made another one.

I used 6 gauge sterling silver wire.  This time, I soldered 3 tiny silver embellishments to the top of the bangle - the center one is made using my shot plate.  I prefer to make the heavier gauge bangles in an oval shape.  They are much easier to put on (for me), and the decorative element is more likely to stay centered on the wrist when the bangle is oval, versus round.  

I also like to texture 3 sides of any bangle I make (I try to, anyway). When I wear bangles, I always tend to bang the bracelet on whatever surface is nearby (perhaps that is why it is called a bang-le???) Anyway, by adding texture, any future potential "dings" that may happen in the metal are disguised by this little bit of texture.  That's my theory, anyway.

I made some more hollow beads for some earrings.  These have sold already, but I have got to make a pair for myself!  They are so lightweight and comfortable!

It was time to add some color to my shop!  I bought these three GORGEOUS lampwork glass beads from Susan Kennedy (her shop is here) LAST YEAR.  I keep a pretty little handmade ceramic bowl on bench FULL of art beads.  I like to stare at their beauty every day - it is inspirational! Well, my bowl is overflowing, and it was time!

In my listing in my shop, I even went into detail as to why I loved these beads!  The ribbon of glass in khaki, navy, and ecru that flows all around the bead; the sterling silver droplets melted into the design; the rectangular shape of the bead; but mostly, it's that translucent deep blue glass! Just gorgeous!

I could not decide on copper or silver...so I used both, and made a little mixed metal chain.

My morning routine is cast in stone: I get up, brush my teeth, start the coffee, and turn on my I-Pad and read emails.  I received an Etsy email from a potential customer.  She referenced a pair of Sterling Silver earrings that I have in my shop, which are priced at $55.  She asked if I would sell them for $35.  Almost half of the stated price. I was shocked, and a tiny bit insulted.

Now mind you, my coffee was still brewing (I must have coffee FIRST THING in the morning - I MUST)!  I try very hard to keep my prices affordable.  It is stated in my listings that ALL proceeds are donated to charity.  I mean, I don't just pick a price off the top of my head - it's calculated.

I turned off the I-Pad, drank my coffee, and sat down at my computer. I wrote her back, thanked her very much for her interest.  I told her that my price was firm and fair, and is based upon the materials used in the design, the craftsmanship, and most importantly, the skill set required to create these earrings.

I have not heard back from her, and I am sure I will not.  But, it threw me off a bit!  I have had people try to "barter" with me at craft shows before - that never goes over well, either!

It took me a couple years making jewelry before I even considered selling it.  I am a private person with not the highest self esteem to begin with. Selling one's art is, in a way, like selling a piece of oneself.  Our art is personal - at least mine is.  It took me a while to learn that just because a piece of my jewelry does not sell, it does not mean that design is awful - it's subjective.  So, every once in a while when I receive comments like "why is that so expensive" or "can you reduce the price", I have to remind myself that it's not me - it's them.

If there are any other jewelry designer's reading this blog, I would LOVE it if you would share with me in the comments how YOU would have replied to this inquiry. I can tell that this is going to bug me for a while.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!!! I hope you all have a wonderful rest of the week!

xo

Patti

Wet Wednesday

by Patti Vanderbloemen

I still cannot believe the intensity of the rain late yesterday, which came down in buckets.  It has been a long time since I have seen this much rain fall in such a short period of time! There are mounds of mulch in places in my yard that should not have mulch. Apparently, there is more rain to come. Yippee!

In the meantime, I have managed to make just a few things for my shop. I had not yet cleaned up my work bench (which I do almost daily, believe it or not, as I am a complete slob when I am working), so my stamps were still sitting right in front of me when I made these earrings.

I soldered on a teeny tiny sterling flower on the bottom, made from my shot plate, and added some hand cut sterling eyelets.  Talk about slim slivers of silver (say that 3 times fast)! But...look at those most awesome lampwork beads by GlassBeadArt!  They have tiny holes melted into them....if they were not the most excellent eggplant shade of purple, you would swear they just landed on the beach straight form the ocean, or were unearthed from some archaeological dig!  

I made another pair of sterling hoops, and while looking for something to dangle in the center, I happened upon the most glorious strand of rough-cut labradorite! When did I buy these?  Why have I not used them yet?  I am a bead-hog....

Most of the labrasdorite I have been able to get my hands on does not have this much flash! 

I posted a picture of a SOLD bracelet on Facebook, and a very nice woman tagged me and asked if I could make one for her.  Although she has seen the pictures, it was just mailed yesterday...I do hope she likes it!.

But, I made a second one at the same time. "They" say that creating in production is more time efficient.  Ugh...it may have been efficient, but it was exhausting! I domed the second copper cabochon so it would create a smaller focal, and I changed up the hand made chain. 

 It's the chain that takes so long to make...but, I do love it!

Lastly, I made this bracelet, which features a gorgeous jade cabochon.

I made the sterling bead from heavy, thick patterned sterling silver wire.  I had to anneal that metal several times to forge it into a round bead, but I think it turned out nicely.  

Another new-to-me handmade chain, too.  The links are made from 16 gauge wire...again...lots of annealing...but the weave is substantial, and it is so fluid!

I am going to completely change the subject.  Earlier this year, I spent a long time setting up my own website via Indiemade (www.pattivan.com). Etsy now allows mass produced merchandise from "who knows where", and it is just not the "handmade" platform that it once was. I have also heard firsthand from several artists where Etsy simply "closed their shop"...for, according to the artist, no reason.  I am not that comfortable with that control feature that Etsy has maintained.  I opened my website in the hopes of closing my Etsy store.  But, I still get a few sales from Etsy, so for now, I am keeping it.

Although my past working career required me to be computer literate (in addition to writing, I worked with a lot of graphics programs), I feel 2 years old sometimes when it comes to "new-to-me" technology.  Setting up the website was cumbersome to me (a normal person probably would have zero issues setting up their site)! Now that it has been up and running for several months, I wonder why it was difficult! Anyway, the beauty is that my website links to Etsy - in other words, if a purchase is made on my website, the item is immediately noted as sold in Etsy - and vice-versa.  Etsy has fees - fees for listing, fees for selling. The fees for my Indiemade site are only monthly and are basically up to me, based upon the Indiemade Level that I choose. No listing fees, and no percentage-of-sale-fees. It is a good fit for me.  

Amazon is about to launch its Handmade at Amazon site.  I applied - it's a juried entry to ensure items sold are truly handmade - and I was accepted to join. I actually was excited to join.  Then came the "Agreement" via email...the Fine Print, as I call it. For the first year, Amazon is waiving the monthly fee (which is quite high, in my opinion, for my tiny little shop),  The per-sale fee is also too rich for my blood. And, Amazon does not allow "watermarks" on any shop photos - or any props in photos, for that matter.  That means we are now talking about retaking lots of photographs. I don't watermark my images now - a watermark is a faint image that is actually embedded into the photo, usually covering part of your, in my case, jewelry design.  I do, however, add my name and a copyright insignia to each photo.  The images basically become the property of Amazon.  Although I am truly not worried about anyone "copying" anything I make, the fact that the picture IS MINE and represents MY WORK, yet I cannot label it as mine, just kinda rubs me the wrong way...in a Red Flag kind of way.  I cannot put my finger on exactly why the entire Handmade at Amazon process is bothering me, but it is.  

I make jewelry as a creative outlet.  I enjoy it - I do not have to do it. I get an intense feeling of satisfaction when I take raw materials and make something beautiful with it, that I hope, brings just a tiny bit of excitement to the new Owner. I feel for artisans who do this to pay their bills - I could not. I put in hours selecting the supplies, designing the item, making the jewelry, finishing the jewelry (the finishing sometimes takes longer than the making!), photographing the piece, listing the item, and don't even start me on marketing that item!  It takes an inordinate number of hours in a day. All told, I work more hours now, creating jewelry, than I did at my last job. But, my art is for charity - I donate my proceeds to  Miracle Horse Rescue (MHR).  It is a win/win for me - I am kept off the streets and out of trouble, and MHR gets to keep the few bucks I make and put the money to good use.

For anyone reading this that has delved into the Handmade at Amazon market, I commend you, as I know the amount of hours involved in setting up the shops. I sincerely wish you all tons and tons of success!

Thanks for stopping by today ....have a wonderful rest of the week!

xo

Patti