new work...

I know - it has been quite some time since I was here... but I have some new work to show, so I hope you will forgive me.

I have been trying my hand at a bit of basket weaving with wire. This was my first finished piece...

This morning I decided I was going to give it another try, but on a smaller scale - for earrings. Not that that pendant is big - the basket is maybe 2 inches high and less than an inch in diameter.
But earrings... I made a 'frame' of wire and then began to weave with very thin copper wire (approx. 26ga). After an hour...

I had this... another hour of weaving...

and then another hour...

finished baskets. These are not quite an inch in length.

Finished earrings.

The kittens are doing fine...

and mama looks pretty relaxed - after getting a bigger basket to live in... but wait...

there's more.... another litter, oh my.... well, at least they look healthy and happy...

Wishing everyone a great Sunday and hoping the weather is better than here where ever you are!

the s-word and winter inspired earrings

Finally, finally the cold is letting up some. The Eisblumen have disappeared from the window pane. The temps might even reach 0° during the day - sounds pretty good to me. And as predicted - we are getting the s-word - that white stuff everybody thinks looks so pretty... well it is, if viewed on a picture, I guess - like this maybe...

Especially if you are cuddled up like this?

We have had about 4 inches since yesterday, with more to come. So I will be spending lots of time outside in the fresh air, shovelling sn.. I can't say it. the s-word....

But my muse did find inspiration in the cold winter weather and this is what she prompted me to make:

Leaves - just the colour of the leaves still clinging to the hedge; with gems that remind me of frost and icicles...

Hope you are all warm and cozy, where ever you are...

rings on her fingers and bells on her toes...

Well, not on the toes, really. But I put some very vintage brass bells on a pair of earrings - because I am fond of the tinkle...

more earrings

 More cone earrings using the faux shibuichi technique.

 

The colour and the texture of the metal are fascinating - I have some more pieces of this in the making for prayer scrolls.

some earrings

These were made for a commission.

I like the way the copper cones turned out and want to experiment some more with this technique.

another pair of earrings...

I did manage to get in a little time in the studio this weekend, while most of my time was spent doing something cat-related. The temps have been dropping to around freezing at night, so it was time to do some insulating of the cat house (other people have dog houses - I have a cat house...) and organize some other warmer sleeping possibilities for the other kitties. And today, my adorable husband built a door for the cat house, to keep out the wind. Pics will follow... The kittens aren't doing as well as I would like - they have cat flu, which is why the eyes are so infected and they have runny noses. Cat flu is a rather serious sickness and can be fatal. So we have been getting antibiotic shots and a new ointment for the eyes, which seems to be more effective. Two of the kittens are still full of energy and all are still eating, but one little guy is spending most of his time sleeping - so this is a turn for the worse. But I am hoping we can get him through this.

But it is definitely autumn, which must be the reason I keep working on fold formed leaves in copper. These are combined with labradorite. A necklace is also in the works...

I hope to be able to show the necklace sometime this week.

new earrings...

I finally have been able to put in a couple of hours in my studio to make jewelry - being a part(most of the)time kitten mama has really taken its toll on the other areas of my life. I actually finished a pair of earrings - yay!

Fold formed copper leaves with bone beads, red aventurine, garnet and chalcedony - really long earrings in autumn colours.

 

The weather has turned - we are having a high of 8°C today, to say nothing of the rain and hail showers... the kittens and their mama have moved into the cat house, next to the front door. And because the nights are getting pretty chilly, they have been joined here by Mr. Babysitter (I think he is a sibling of mama cat) and one of the earlier kittens. Everybody is snuggled up to keep warm.

Aaaawwwww - look at that face! Unfortunately, the kittens are having problems with the eye infection again, meaning antibiotic ointment in the eyes several times a day. They are about 6 weeks old now and full of spunk and curiosity. But I will be glad when they are finally weaned and all eating cat food...

sometimes I dream of a nomadic life...

My husband put the little green cabinet with the fridge in our VW van today - that means we will be going on vacation soon! Driving south to the Mediterranean Sea, living in our little van, feeling a bit like a nomads...

Nomad earrings.

The faux coral turned out to be real coral after all. Combined with dangles from Egyptian jewelry...

new earrings

 

Finished these late last evening. Photo was taken in the early morning light. Spiral shell beads from my acquisitions of last weekend, foldformed copper leaves and smooth moonstone briolettes, like dewdrops.

new earrings

Finished a pair of earrings...

Cascading copper cups with green agate (green onyx) and faceted hemimorphite beads.

new earrings

Ever since I finished that last necklace, I have been thinking the design would really lend itself to earrings. Today I had some time to get into my workspace and this is the result:

Sisterhood - Earrings

Forged copper, brass, vintage chain

These are fairly long and have lots of movement.

I hope everyone has a lovely Friday - weekend coming up!

new earrings and work in progress

Stuff I have been working on:

Vintage coins, vintage beads and pyrite briolettes...

Buttons made of antler and rough carnelian beads...

Copper 'vessel' - for lack of a better word...

Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme...

This past week my garden was an intoxicating place, filled with the perfume of lilac and wisteria in bloom. I think that was made me decide to revamp part of our driveway/court yard. I rearranged and put stuff away, brought out other stuff, potted and potted and rearranged... and now I have a little herb and aroma garden. It isn't finished yet - still needs some work and some faery dust - but I love the idea so far.

Lots of sage, rosemary, thyme, lemon balm, catnip, cat balm, strawberries, hyssop, rainbow chard, lady's mantle...

This morning, while I was musing which herbs I still need for this garden by the 'tower clock', the words thyme's garden suddenly came to mind...

and sent me off to my work bench to make these earrings. Thyme's Garden...

I hope you are enjoying spring's perfume, however you are spending your Sunday.

new earrings

The former works in progress - are now finished...

The Earth has weight 

The symbol carved in bone here is an Adinkra symbol of West Africa - asase ye duru - meaning the Earth has weight. This is speaking to me strongly at the moment. Combined simply with jasper in an earthy green, to remind us to stay connected with the earth, our Mother.

Earth Mother

Another pair of earrings with this symbol - formed in copper this time and paired with chalcedony and peridot.

The Spiral Dance

An ancient symbol that has been used by many cultures, always in a positive way. Our galaxy is a spiral - perhaps that is the reason this symbol speaks to many of us. Copper, vintage silver plated chain, silk cord, carnelian, peach moonstone.

Work in progress

Some earrings and a pendant still in the works...

 

 Continuing my obsession with symbols and bone...

new earrings

Finished some new earrings.

Forged copper rings, sari silk, freshwater pearls and garnets...

- Gypsy - 

Vintage bone game pieces - hand carved with runes and a mysterious glyph on the reverse. Adorned with garnets, feathers and silk fiber.

- Journey -

new pieces

Some new earrings...

Spirit

Spring Buds

The Inevitability of Spring
The green mother of pearl beads are courtesy of my dear friend, Sharon.

The Ghosts of our Ancestors

And now for something different...

 I finally have something I can show you. I have been working on things, but nothing I was able to show you yet. Yesterday, I finished these earrings - copper, brass heishis, bone and antler tips. They are fairly long and have a lot of movement.

As in - the bottom part will turn round and round.
Trying some new things - working with different materials - trying to get a different look.

We will see how this progresses.