In honor of Dorothy Zbornak

The earring style that I ALWAYS gravitate towards is the hoop.  In fact, my jewelry box is overflowing with hoops: from teeny tiny to oh-my-gosh-my-ears-hurt-large.  I particularly like the look of mixed metal earrings (mixed metal anything, as a matter of fact).  

Instead of soldering on a tiny little ball dead center at the bottom, which I have done in the past, I created a bead from sterling silver tubing.  I just cut the tubing (with my saw, so as to not squish the tubing), sanded the edges, and slipped them on the wire prior to soldering.

While I do love the look of these hoops, I already have a very similar pair - in my ears as I type this, as a matter of fact.  

When I am in my studio, I HAVE to have either music playing or the TV running - I must have white noise  (that's how I made it through high school homework, as well).  My all time favorite show - to this day - is The Golden Girls. I have all seven seasons on DVD and I can quote any line from any episode!  (I am sure this factoid makes my mother so proud of me!)

I would give anything to be like Blanch Devereax - not necessarily her sex appeal, but her self confidence.  Sophia Petrillo's gift of story-telling is another trait that I very much admire.  No one has a heart as big as Rose Nyland - though naive as all get-out, she loves animals as if they are people - the real life Betty White, too.  But Dorothy Zbornak...quick witted, common sense, her height for goodness sake! (I am 5'1").  

Have you ever noticed the attire of these ladies?  So well dress and accessorized. I actually glanced up from my bench the other day, and the first thing I noticed was Dorothy's very large hoops.  But, they were post earrings - allowing the hoop to dangle as she moved.  

I remember this episode!

See those hoops?  In fact, the majority of her earrings are posts that dangle.  So, I set out to make a pair for myself.  

I knew that I had to have a wide opening from which I could hang the hoop.  So, I curled some 14 gauge wire into a coil of 3 hoops and soldered the hoops together on the back side. After filing the back smooth, I  soldered a tiny little sterling silver disc onto the flattened spot I created on the coils. Finally, I soldered the post to the disc.  Lastly, I added the hoop itself - 12 gauge wire as I wanted the look to be substantial...but not heavy.  A little bit of texture, a bath in liver of sulfur, buffing, tumbling..and ta da!

Post earrings are so difficult to photograph!  

These are my "Ode to Dorothy Zbornak" earrings - and they are so comfortable!  I know I will reach for them often!

Now I have an excuse for all the TV I watch - inspiration!

What inspires you these days???  Do tell!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

xo

Patti

A few new things to share....

So, Christine commented on one of my last posts that she likes to do "routine" beading when her muse is asleep.  I thought that was a brilliant idea. My muse was gone - so - I was hoping that doing something familiar would help to wake her up.  First, I made this necklace.

I am so in love with these hand cast pewter crosses from Inviciti!  When purchasing, one has the choice of finish on the pewter - I asked for this one to be kept completely aged - no buffing.  I love it! This is the third pearl and pewter cross necklace that I have made - each one a bit different.  The pearls have large holes to accommodate wire, fiber, even leather. 

I always think of Michelle when I pick up a pearl, as she is an expert and her designs are exquisite! These have such a lovely peacock sheen!  I added a bit of sterling riveted chain to this necklace, and I soldered up the clasp for added security as well.

I also made yet another Spinner Ring - this time with 3 spinners.  This is the second attempt for this ring. For the first attempt, I had the most beautiful texture on my silver.  On my very last "bang of the hammer" to form the anticlastic curve that holds those satellite rings in place, my base ring split - right smack dab down the middle.  Who knew that I had that much strength???  That mistake put me back another day, as I dropped everything right then and there and stormed out of my studio in disgust.  But, I am still pleased with this second attempt.  The center satellite ring is the only copper in the ring, but I soldered on a tiny bezel set turquoise cabochon.

Lastly, I made a little pendant with a Malachite Cabochon.  The banding of the green in this cab is so pretty - blue and green will always remain my favorite colors.

During my "break" I also revisited an online jewelry making class in Precious Metal Clay.  I have now viewed this class - over the past 12 months - 3 times.  In addition, I have read (and re-read) several books on PMC. Let's face it - I am not getting any younger here.  So, I finally bit the bullet and ordered a kiln last Friday.  In fact, I just got the email that it the kiln is en route and should be here within the next 3 days or so.  I don't think I have ever been more nervous, but, I am fully stocked in fire extinguishers (two in my studio, as a matter of fact).  Although my studio does have a built-in exhaust system, I may actually fire it outside the first few times....just in case!

Lastly, Cynthia posted a picture on her blog (prompted by Christine) of some gnomes that live at her office (her office beer garden to be exact)!  I thought I would share a picture of my gnomes.  These ceramic gnomes were made by my mother many, many years ago.  When she moved up here from Florida, my sister and I went down there to sort through her belongings and I snagged these up knowing I would find the perfect spot in my yard. These little guys (not so little!) sit under a tree right outside my walk-up basement - I smile every time I see them!

It is a beautiful - and I mean BEAUTIFUL - day here in Northern Virginia - 62 degrees as I type this. Could it be...has Spring finally sprung??  Let's hope so!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

xo

Patti

Some things are just more important....

It's official - my desire to create anything worthy of, well, anything, has simply left the building.  The few times that I have even entered my studio have not been productive..to say the least.  I have to have the desire to do anything well - and it is gone.  For now.  Oh well.  The title to this blog post is Some Things are Just More Important...and they are!

Tomorrow - March 26th - marks Sarge's two-year adopt-a-versary into our home!

Sarge - March 26, 2013

We adopted Sarge from the local Animal Shelter.  He was found - roaming - with a choke chain around his neck.  A pitiful little 35 pounds.  Our vet believes he is half Pointer and half Beagle - and he certainly has a beagle-bark and loooves to hunt pretty much anything in the yard (deer, bunnies, fox, etc.).  At the time, she estimated his age to be somewhere between 1 - 2 years old.  He had been in the shelter for 27 days and was "Red Tagged"... 3 more days and it was curtains.  Luckily, he found us!

To be honest...I was NOT READY to have another dog.  In 2001, we researched breeders in search of a pure breed Yellow Lab. We actually visited the breeder twice.  But...young and stupid/old and wise.  Never Again.  When we finally decided to bring Sam into our home, the breeder brought out Abby.  She was the runt and very sickly - the breeder said she was probably going to "let her go".  She was so sweet, that we could not let that happen - so we came home with not one, but two pups.  OMG - never again!  I was 40 years old - YOUNG! - and had a lot more energy.  But I swear, I thought I was going to die  from lack of sleep and constant "baby sitting" the first year!

Both labs had serious health issues their entire lives.  Abby sustained 7 surgeries in her short 9 years - and Sam had 4 surgeries.  Our vet believed that Sam and Abby were simply the product of overbreeding, and we agree.  So, we learned a valuable lesson about overbreeding - but, we also believe that we "saved" Sam and Abby as much as they "saved" us.  And....look at these faces....

Sam and Abby - 2004

These two pups - especially Sammy - were truly the "loves of my life".  When I lost Sam in June 2012, I said "no more"!  I even put my foot down!  After much soul searching, and yes lots of tears, we visited the shelter.  We looked online and actually went to see another dog.  But, I saw Sarge and there was just something about him that said "pick me....pick me!"   So, we did. 

And, just look at the joy on Sarge's face and tell me that we did not do the right thing...

So...Happy Adopt-a-Versary Sarge!  We love you sooooo much!

Thanks for stopping by today!

xo

Patti

If you don't have anything nice to say....

I am currently running an "ad" on Facebook.  I spent Sunday reorganizing my shops and took over 1/3 of my inventory (62 items - way too much!) and knocked everything down by 25%.  In creating my ad, I selected 6 images that randomly post on Facebook and hopefully attracts viewers to my site.  I don't specifically select the individual viewership - just a range of "type" of person.  One of the pictures I posted was of the necklace, which is priced at $51.

Some unknown person, who is not my "Friend" on Facebook left the comment "Pretty Expensive!!!

Now, although I am pretty thin-skinned, I was not hurt by this comment - I was shocked at the callousness in which this person felt it necessary to comment when no good will come from it.  It was not constructive criticism, which I always welcome.  It was simply rude.

At first glance, I am sure that, in her mind, it was a piece of copper and cheap glass.  My first instinct was to respond to her and explain the number of hours it took to make this chain - from heavy gauge, square wire.  Each link is measured, cut, sanded, formed, and forged. Square wire twists when formed, and has to be hand manipulated back to its square shape.  After two solid days of making the chain, it was then dipped in liver of sulfur, and hand buffed...each tiny piece of copper.  It was then wrapped with an artist lampwork bead,which also took time to hand create.  It is truly one of a kind (check my shop - I have not made another!!) I could go on.  The proceeds are donated to charity - it states this in the ad.  

But, this woman would never understand handmade and I would have probably started a "Facebook Fight" - my life is way too short for that.  My mother would not approve.

I do not make jewelry for a living, to pay my bills.  I make jewelry because I enjoy it.  I donate the proceeds to charity.  I do not know how I would feel about this comment if I did rely on the income generated from its sale.  

So how did I respond?  Well, I had a mother who taught me manners - I can honestly say I continue to live my life with respect towards other...the adage "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" resonates within me.

I deleted her comment.

In reading the many, many nasty and rude posts and comments that people make on Facebook these days - the "faceless" comments from people you do not know and will never meet - turns me off completely.  The political rants that are beyond nasty, the attacks on ex-boyfriends and husbands/wives, all of it...just makes me roll my eyes in disgust.  

So, to the unknown woman who left the rude and callous comment on my Facebook ad, I repeat "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all"

Patti

Wire Tutorial

Today was my day to post over at Love My Art Jewelry.  I have a little tutorial over there for  making some very quick wire beads/connectors like these.

I had something very interesting (well...to me it was interesting) happen to me today.  I had this pendant necklace listed in my Etsy shop (which links automatically to my Indiemade site).  

The necklace features 9 little Burmese Jade Discs, which I purchased eons ago from a very popular online seller.  Well, I received an email from the honchos at Etsy, informing me that my listing was deactivated for the following reason:

"Etsy's policies prohibit the sale of items sanctioned by the Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) at the US Department of the Treasury. OFAC prohibits any transactions involving jadeite or rubies from Burma (Myanmar)"

If you are an Etsy Seller, please refer to this link, which details the policy.

This action on Etsy's part did NOT upset me - in fact, Etsy refunded me my listing fee, as this was a first for me.

I also let the online seller know - and they have removed the jade from their website.

I just thought I would pass this information on - who knows...it may be of value to to you in the future!

Thanks for stopping by today!!!

xo

Patti