Friday, June 24, 2016

Lightning Can Strike Twice, or Thrice for Hello Kitty
































Made to order, a third 'Hello Kitty' charm bracelet. (above)
Pink on pink dichro beads and assorted charms, some new, some vintage.
































The second 'Hello Kitty' charm bracelet. (above)
































And, the original 'Hello Kitty' charm bracelet (2013) with all vintage charms.

Thursday, June 23, 2016

Double Rainbow
































'Double Rainbow' earrings
wee flamework beads and sterling silver
































for the beadmakers out there:
Cim's Poppy
Cim's Clockwork
Effetre Light Lemon Yellow Special
Cim's Poisen
Cim's Ming
Edp

Loving these new heavyweight sterling leverbacks.
The wire is 18g sterling silver and their construction is a simple rosary chain.

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Cosmic Heart Necklace

































'Cosmic Heart' necklace
flamework glass heart pendant and beads, vintage chain and vintage silver plate.

































The heart is several shades of red and turquoise glass wrapped with silver foil and twisted with an ivory stringer.

































The circle is cut from a vintage sterling silver plated serving tray.

































This one is available in the museum gift shop of the Memorial Art Gallery in Rochester, New York.

Friday, June 17, 2016

Button-mania

































Off mandrel buttons are the bomb.

I love their soft, organic shapes.

I double-love using up all my leftover short rods while making them.

That pink heart - the glass is a combo of a couple of new-ish Cim's rods.
'Emperor' and 'Cottontail' are both wonderful.

































This gives you an idea of size.
The opalescent green and pink one is full of glittery adventurine.































Oddly, leaves are a lot easier to make than round ones.

































They're so much fun to torch.

Monday, June 13, 2016

Skull Island

































'Skull Island' earrings - titanium coated hematite skulls, rhinestone rondelles, lampwork glass beads, skull charms (hidden) and vintage island scene charms (reverse painted over butterfly wings).

Sunday, June 12, 2016

Spring Seeds
































This necklace does exactly what I want my jewelry to do - look like it just fell off a plant.

































The beads were made with a cheap-o tong press I ordered on a whim from Devardi Glass.

I am in love with it.

It makes the most wonderful
little 'seeds.'

I had to file off some uncomfortable
rough edges on the handle,
but other than that it's great.

The quality may be rough,
and the beads are technically a mess, but they are perfect for my work.

I can't wait to buy a few more
of these presses to mess with.

*Bonus*
I made the whole thing with glass from my bowl of shorts (with a bit of frit added here and there).
































A close-up of the sterling silver clasp and tag.
The chaining is all jewelers bronze wire, with age it will turn a beautiful dark greenish brown.

Saturday, June 11, 2016

Berry Nice Indeed

































A cute, little strawberry necklace on a vintage chain.

Making something small and cute is always a challenge for me.
I am more of a 'go big or go home' kind of designer.

































The strawberry was made on the end of a mandrel with Cim's Sangre and green filigrana.
I use 2-part epoxy to secure the bail inside the bead.
The little blue bead is Effetre Opalino Sky Blue.

The necklace is available in the gift shop of the Memorial Art Gallery of the University of Rochester.

Friday, June 10, 2016

Dark Pod Necklace

































I almost, almost kept this one for myself.

'Dark Pod' necklace -
lampwork glass beads, re-purposed silver plate, vintage chain and a fragment of antique rosary chain

The bead cap is re-purposed from an old silverplate on copper serving tray. 

































The silvery chain is vintage that I salvaged from an estate sale necklace.
The wee bit black glass chain is from a broken rosary that I also rescued at a sale.

































This piece has a design element that I love doing.
The part of the necklace that sits on the back of your neck is very decorative.
So, if you have your hair up (or if you have short hair) it looks great from behind.

Monday, June 06, 2016

Big Yellow Apples


Big Yellow Apples
oil on canvas 30"x30"

(detail)
I think it's finally finished.
All it needs is a signature and a coat of varnish.

(detail)




Friday, June 03, 2016

Wild Paint































Burdock (detail)

Wild painting day. Big brushes and lots of paint.
Chasing away sadness and death.