Finished! or maybe not yet...

So - here is the finished necklace. I really like the way the beaded necklace looks. But there is still something about it that I am not sure I am happy with... I am going to put it on Miranda - do you remember Miranda, my trusty dressmaker's mannequin? - and just contemplate it for a while. We will see.

Vintage leather, vintage linen, silk rod, copper, ostrich shell beads, peridote nuggets, carved citrine leaf bead, African recycled glas beads, African sandcast brass beads, small brass and glass beads from India.
Kind of like another prayer flag talisman...

Wishing everyone a beautiful Saturday!

work in progress - rework in progress - necklace version 4.1...

Many of you will know just what I mean. Creating a piece of jewelry does not always happen in a straightforward way. You have an idea or even a visualized finished piece and in the process of making it, things change. You may have a new inspiration. Something might not work as planned. Maybe you aren't completely happy with the finished piece. You start down one path, retrace your steps and go down another. New options arise. You retrace your steps again... and so it goes.

None of this is ever visible in the finished piece. So I thought it might be interesting to show some of those byways...

Heavy gauge copper wire for the top of the focal...

That ring at the top just didn't convince me in the end - off it went.

Smaller gauge wire with recycled glass bead inserted - much better, I think.

 

The gauge of wire I was using ended up being too thick, so new hooks needed to be forged. I wasn't happy with the result of using sari silk ribbon. Started a different version with waxed cord - not happy with that either...

See the final version tomorrow...

more amulets and talismans...

I am continuing work with the faux shibuichi - it is so very fascinating - and have a finished necklace and more work in progress... seems the ideas are coming faster than I can finish pieces.

 

Prayerscroll talisman

Shield Amulet

more work in progress

I have been further experimenting with the faux shibuichi technique, which I want to use on my 'prayer scrolls'. Every new experiment and every step gives me another inspiration how to use this. This is where I am so far:

I love the achievable texture, although the material has its own challenges - it is much harder to work than copper or silver. The results are very rewarding. Hoping to have these pieces finished soon.

work in progress and update on the kittens...

The 'prayer bead' idea has been tumbling around in my head, over and over. The piece I made was not technically a bead, not a box... maybe something more of a scroll? I may find a fitting term someday. Meanwhile, I am working on another piece, so I have a work in progress to show.

A forged piece of copper, some silk rod and a resined piece of paper with the runes that continue to call me. The resined paper has been distressed - making it look like a piece of old parchment.

The kittens have made good progress getting back to health. Although I am finding it hard to believe, they are now about 3 months old. They have grown considerably, although I still think they are very small for their age - but then, their mama is a tiny cat... These pics were taken last weekend.

Frettchen (= Ferret)

Pan

Lilith

Difficult to take pictures of them - they are always moving in high speed; so most of the pics I take show a blur or a tail or don't even have a cat in them...

Last night the temps dipped down below freezing - this morning, everthing is covered in frost and we will finally see the sun again. The last few days have been heavily shrouded in fog.

Wishing everyone a wonderful Sunday.

sad Sunday

Yesterday  - yesterday... my heart aches, I am devastated. Yesterday I witnessed one of the cats being hit by a car. The person didn't slow down, didn't stop, just kept going. No - I won't tell you any details - bad enough that I will never be able to forget what I saw. And no, it wasn't one of the kittens. It was Mr. Babysitter.

Well, while trying to keep my mind off what I saw, as I lay in bed last night - I realized I needed to express my sorrow in a constructive way. I decided to make something like a prayer bead. Don't know if that is the best term for it. I can think about that later. So, this morning, after feeding the cats/kittens; starting the fire to heat the house; I started work on this:

A piece of etched copper sheet, hammered into almost tube form, containing a piece of  handmade paper (with some words that have meaning for me on the paper) - sorry, I don't know who made it, it was a gift my husband brought home from a business trip to Australia - and a piece of dyed silk rod. Beneath are an Ethiopian prayer bead and one of the jasper beads I brought home on Friday. It is still a work in progress...

Wishing everyone a happier Sunday.

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...

Work in progress

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

 

 Continuing my obsession with symbols and bone...

In the studio...

working with these...

What will this turn into?

inviting spring and work in progress

Hoping this arrangement by my front door will coax spring out into the open. It has been a glorious sunny day...

 while I was working on these. Silk rods and copper.

something finished and something in the works...

I'm not flea marketing today - I am in the studio - but I promised I would come out more often, so here I am.
Just wanted to show you a finished piece.

A freeform focal featuring a prong set pebble (might be serpentine, but I am not sure) from the beach in Tuscany; combined with large new jade beads and hand made chain links.

This is what I am working on now. Dapped copper with handmade bezel and soldered brass. I still have a long way to go on this piece, but it is already telling me a story... sorry, have to get back to the studio.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Sunday!

various pieces in progress

I have been missing in action lately - well, not really missing - I have been in my studio working on projects.
I wanted to share some pieces in progress, just so you don't think I have given up making jewelry...

These are not necessarily related projects - just pieces I am working on...

The other day I caught this gorgeous sun coming up behind the woods - some of the migratory birds have arrived, the black birds are singing their spring songs at daybreak and the snowdrops are up. Spring can't be far off and I am sooooo glad.

Fascinated by the beauty of this dried bloom - I think it is every bit as beautiful as a fresh flower. The texture of those petals is incredible.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting. I promise to come out of the studio more often now.

Some WIP and sharing some love

I have not been posting very much lately - I haven't really had anything to tell you. Lots of introspection and reading going on here lately. Below is a sneak peek of some work in progress. I hope I will get my mojo working again soon and have new things to show. These winter months are not my friends.

I did want to share a new blog with you - it looks like it will become a place of inspiration - the beginnings are full of promise: OopsArt Designs.
Click here to see the post featuring a very talented woman and good friend - most of you already know her, I am sure: Maire Dodd.

I would like to say that my heart goes out to all of you enduring severe weather conditions around the world - you are in my thoughts and in my heart - I am hoping you are all safe and well.

Sunday flea market and other things

This weekend the weather is just glorious. The sun is shining and it is very mild for this time of year (I seem to recall there were days this summer, that were colder...). They are predicting a real drop in the temperature this coming week, so it was doubly enjoyable to wander over a couple of flea markets today.

This little photocopied catalogue is full of interesting drawings.

Some inexpensive tools to use for texturing my metal.

A vintage carved horn rose.

Some more colourful thread for my stash.

Beautiful antique buttons of metal and glass. A really good find!

Max gave me this wonderful patchwork embroidered jacket yesterday.

A sneak peak of something I am working on at the moment.

I hope you are all having a wonderful Sunday!