Category Archives: Earrings

Earrings, Necklaces, Philosophy, Wire Work

Bowling

How many pieces of jewelry can you make while “watching” the Super Bowl? Today was Super Bowl Sunday and the game watching from my favorite chair presented a good opportunity to get some stringing completed. I shouldn’t actually say I watched the game. It’s more that I listened to the game and looked up at the appropriate times. I must say this provided quite an earful stemming from the television noise and the cheers or the opposite thereof from my spouse. Included in the sounds were the three adult dogs who chorused the announcement of a skunk in the yard and the little yelps of the seven puppies who heard their mom barking outdoors. Need I say that focusing on the jewelry was a challenge?

Thankfully, several things did come together as shown in the photos herein. All the necklaces have earrings, but the pictures of a couple didn’t work out. I believe that all the major bead components for these pieces were purchased from Turquoise Magpie. sugalite

        sugalite ears

 

 

 

 

 

 

turq and pearls

 

 

blue

 

 

 

 

The stones/colors for all these necklaces were selected with Spring in mind. The boutiques are already filling with fashions for warmer weather and the clothes beg for these lighter colored accessories.

Seeing a warmer than Texas setting on television for the Super Bowl helped me think about Spring and realize there is hope for brighter, more pleasant weather ahead. I’m thinking that designers need some special video, lighting or music to jump ahead to the next season while still physically stuck in the current one. I guess the Super Bowl “watching” helped me get there.

I hope your team won and that even if you are not a Saints fan, you will cheer with me for the city that came back. Having lived in Louisiana for nine years and hearing first hand from those who survived Katrina, I can only find joy in this win for the city of New Orleans and the whole Gulf region.

Balance, Earrings, Necklaces, Pendants, Wire Work

Celtic Design

Most of my designs are composed of freeform, asymmetrical or random patterns. I’ve favored this style for so long that I wondered if I could actually follow a pattern. Even though randomness is not always a bad thing, I still remember what happened when I let the children in my elementary classes “do their own thing”. It was very difficult to get them back to the routine. Therefore, I usually saved this freedom for the end of the day and then quickly sent them home to their mothers. By the next morning, they were usually ready to get back to the routine.

I observed this same phenomenon with the graduate students that I taught. One evening, in an early childhood class, I let them experiment with drops of colored water on waxed paper. Each student had a straw and they were to observe the movement of the drops blown across the paper as well as the manner in which they combined. The drops move like liquid mercury. I thought we had put everything away and started my lecture only to glance up and note two women in the back of the room racing their water drops across the waxed paper as they blew through the straws. I bent down and met them at eye level just as the first water drop crossed the finish line. I was laughing so hard inside that it was hard to be stern. We never did quite return to full intellectual seriousness during that class.

With the knowledge of how freedom can trump rigor, I was concerned about following the Celtic knot pattern. Thankfully, I don’t have to go somewhere to get straightened out. I can still create a balanced pattern. The necklace shown here, composed of Celtic knots IS balanced. celtic necklace I have several acquaintances who really like Celtic knots, but I’ve wondered about their meaning. I retrieved the following information from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtic_knot

“Celtic knots are a variety of (mostly endless) knots and stylized graphical representations of knots used for decoration, adopted by the ancient Celts. These knots are most known for their adaptation for use in the ornamentation of Christian monuments and manuscripts . . . “

This didn’t tell me much more than I knew, but the Christian connection is interesting. I like these knots because they are seeming endlessness. I had a great deal of trouble figuring out the pendant knot. The others on the necklace chain are not endless. Each is made of two separate figure eights that are brought together with jump rings on each end. celtic earrings This is more easily observed on the earrings.

This set has found a temporary home at Dovetails of Wimberley and if folks like it, the store owner suggested we make it in silver. We shall see whether or not I can replicate that knot.

You know, following a pattern wasn’t too bad. It was actually quite calming to know exactly what should come next in the design. (But I wouldn’t want to do this all the time!)

Earrings, Metal Work, Wire Work

Still Swinging

ear1

More earrings swung into place after yesterday’s post. These are largely composed of small pieces I had played with for several days. I lay all the pieces out and was then able to see what should come together.

ear2

 

 

 

 

ear3Does this mean that I should never throw any doodles away?

Earrings, Necklaces, Pendants, Wire Work

Swingers

I’m NOT one, but I do like jewelry in motion. I also like designs that have dimension. Following the post here on January 2, I took the bracelet shown wrapped around the pasta can into one of the stores where I market my designs. (I took it sans pasta can!) Although it didn’t have stones on it yet, the owner especially liked the depth to the bracelet armature.

Since then, I’ve been playing with how depth might be suitably worked into various designs. I made several “something or others” out of wire and they sat on the work table for 10 days. Finally, some of these came together as swingers last night. necklacemotionIt’s difficult to see the depth on the necklace pendant, but there is about 3/4 of an inch between the front and the back swirls. The stone dangle wraps around both the pendant swirl and the necklace allowing it to swing. earringsmotion 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s a bit easier to see this on the earrings which, by the way, didn’t want to quit swinging long enough to have their picture taken.

Whether these are winners or not, they were certainly perplexing as a design project and will, hopefully, spawn other dimensional ideas.

Now, I wonder about that other kind of SWINGER . . . sorry, I can’t write about a topic that I know nothing about. You’re on your own with that one.

Earrings, Philosophy, Wire Work

Pondering Patience

‘Tis the season to rush about in the annual sprint to the end of the year. During this time, in particular, patience can be pushed to the limit. Aren’t we supposed to be happy as we secure just the right gifts for others – not upset because Target just sold the last xxx and we don’t know where to find another? Shouldn’t we enjoy decorating our abodes rather than wondering why in the world we purchased that ugly centerpiece during the 75% off after Christmas sale last year? And what about that cute Santa sweatshirt that you also got on sale last year, but wouldn’t be caught dead in this year?  Right now, I’m thinking that I should give myself a break and be patient with this year’s deadlines and disasters. (Maybe Goodwill would want the centerpiece and sweatshirt.)

Seeped in patience, I took my mother to have a tooth pulled early Monday morning. This involved early rising, driving to her nursing home in another town and driving back to my town to the dentist. All of this was accomplished in the rain. (Patience) Following a short 15 minute and $347 procedure, we were on the road back and forth one more time. Bless my mother and the dentist – all went well and I was back home shortly after noon. Patience paid off.

Continuing my effort to remain patient, I attempted to be productive and replenish my supply of “for sale” earrings. I wanted to make mixed metal designs which  seemed like an easy task. I arranged all the supplies in front of me, picked up my pliers and waited . . . for an idea. I waited and waited, but no great one appeared. While trying to ward off frustration, I rearranged my supplies thinking a juxtaposition might help. It didn’t! Then I remembered that I was supposed to be exercising patience; so I just sat. ear mixed metal circles heart

Finally, following a long period of incubation, the earrings below hatched. I’m embarrassed to say that it took two hours to design a mere 3 pair of earrings. I did, however, learn again that being patient with yourself is important. ear turq jasper mixed While I don’t know if customers will like these earrings, I did accomplish the task I set out to complete. I do have mixed metal earrings.ear silver cogs

 

 

 

Today, the need for patience continues. A morning of design work was halted by a phone call from the pasture about a newborn calf that needed help. Rather than griping, which was my first instinct, I drove to the store, secured the required materials and came home to help save a life. The newborn thankfully gulped down his bottle and nuzzled me as though I were his mother. He was much nicer than the one I helped last week who felt the need to kick me each time I gave her a bottle. Today’s calf will need my help every few hours for several days and I will patiently help him until nature allows his bovine mother to take over. I just hope she is also patient while I’m in the pen with her boy and doesn’t try to eliminate me.

This drawn out tale could, of course, go on and on. We all have episodes that call on our reserves, particularly at this time of the year. We could collectively paraphrase that old poem, How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Ways. When Do I Need Patience? Let Me Count the Ways. Yet, that would trivialize the need for this virtue. Let’s just leave it at “give yourself and others a break” and remember to breath. ‘tis the season!

Earrings, Metal Work, Wire Work

Daily Oral Math

When I taught first grade, we were supposed to follow a prescribed set of exercises for Daily Oral Math. These were very short exercises in which the teacher posed a mathematical problem and the students solved it without the aid of pencil and paper. I really liked the idea behind these exercises, but I didn’t especially like having to follow the teacher’s manual. (Aren’t you surprised?) Often, after doing the oral problem in the book, I added one or two of my own. They were often based upon a recent first grade happening or something we had seen on the playground. (If Johnny hid Jason’s shoes out on the playground, how many single shoes were brought back into our room? How many little boys were in trouble?) As I was taking photos of designs today, I almost wished again for a group of first graders to whom I might pose the problems at the end of this post.

The pictures today are of new earring designs. I’m been trying to get used to the idea of using mixed metals in more of my pieces and have used the earrings to jump start this process. As you will see by the numerous photos (minus two that have already gone out) that I got a bit carried away. white turq

chain3

triangles  chain2

snowman onyx

lacy         chains

I fear that some of these earrings are in search of a woman with a long neck. Most of them are definitely swingers! It was fun to play with the mixed metals and the look is starting to grow on me. Next, I need to tackle pendants with mixed metals.

Oh, and that math problem . . . let’s see . . . something simple here first. How many people would it take to wear 16 earrings? How many women would it take to wear 16 earrings if three of the women had two holes in one ear and one hole in the other? Would this create any type of problem? How many different combinations of pairs of earrings could you create with four pair of earrings? Would that number double if you used all eight pair of earrings? How many readers DO NOT want any more Daily Oral Math?

Earrings, Metal Work, Philosophy, Wire Work

It’s Been a Long Time . . .

. . . since the dogs and I have been for a long walk.  The four of us used to walk every other day, but the 100 degree plus days of this long summer gave me an excuse to be lazy. Today, a 78 degree morning, seemed the time to start anew. We were all excited as we started out. I actually thought the Blue Heelers might just leap over the fence and out of their pen when they realized we were going. They acted like three children who had never been to a McDonald’s play scape before and their mother finally let them go.

Knowing the youngest one could not control her exuberance, I placed her on a leash. When her mother took off to bark at the hilltop bulls, she did also, jerking me sideways to the point of nearly falling. Bad Puppy! Finally under control again, we peacefully, more or less, made it down the hill to the front pastures. There awaited another temptation, our beautiful yearling heifers. Instinctively, the mother dog went straight for their legs attempting to run full speed through the gate to get them. Unfortunately, she is a very FAT dog and initially got stuck in the gate. With great fortitude, she backed herself out and went under the gate only to be stepped on by one of the heifers. Back she came holding one little paw up in the air. I’m sure I should have felt sorry for her.

The three legged dog and the rest of us continued our relatively pleasant, albeit slow due to the limper, walk. When we came to the weaned bull calves, the same silly dog went racing through the electric (arf, arf, ouch) fence only to be chased back through (ouch, ouch, arf) the electric fence by the little guys. Now, a very dejected three legged dog walked even more slowing back home. Did she learn a lesson? Absolutely not! When we got back to the hilltop, she again tried to get after the big bulls.

I think that dog is a good deal like some of us. I go flat out when something is of interest to me and often pay the physical consequences later. Moderation doesn’t seem to be a word that fits with my personality (or the dog’s). My poor dog will probably suffer for a day or two, but what do you want to bet that the next time we walk she does the same things again? I’m ordered a shock collar today!

The eventful walk did, give me energy for design work and I started right in this morning. Now, I have pieces polishing in the tumbler and more earrings on the brain. The picture shows a couple I made last night. mixed earrings Hopefully as I work today I will try to remember the morning walk, my age, and my physical abilities and do a better job of balancing myself than my dog!

Belts, Earrings, Metal Work, Necklaces, Pendants, Wire Work

Just Pictures

2 Comments

This blog runneth over with philosophy lately, so now I’m just showing a few pictures of some of today’s work. These are a little of this and that as I attempted to stay focused on my to do list. The first strung necklace and earrings shows how I just keep horsescoming back to those bone horses. These are a bit larger than what I usually use and so I didn’t do a double strand as in previous designs.

The next design is entirely of copper wire and beads. I used both 18 and 20 gauge wire selected according to the size of the hole in each bead. The pendant is surrounded by a new type cage that I am trying.

The bulk of the work time today was spent on hammering copper sheet metal and preparing components for an order. Armed with drill, dremel and a new texture hammer, I finished most of the pieces. I multistonehave not yet put the patina on these, but  a few are shown below.  The top piece will be a belt buckle; the round piece will be a pendant and there are six ovals requested by the customer for an unknown purpose. I’ve used the same type ovals previously in necklaces and in belts.  I purchased the texture hammer on etsy from Hodpodgerie. It is one texture on one head and a different on the other.  I’m not showing a picture of how my index finger looks after I hammered it with the new texture. Those little grids on the hammer are quite sharp. I imagine I will lose my fingernail. I also imagine I will be much more careful in the future. OUCH!

 hammer

parts

Earrings, Metal Work, Wire Work

Suntan for Copper

earrings

Today, I watched a video on  www.cooltools.us demonstrating how to patina metal. Although it was likely designed to introduce customers to their new Patina Gel, the two part video was informative and did what good lessons should. It both confirmed things I already knew while also adding new information. Of course the video also did what it was designed to do; it caused me to want to order their product. Yet, I resisted and used some of my remaining liquid liver of sulfur to patina the above pictured earrings.

It’s interesting to view how various factors effect the look achieved from the patina process. It seems to me that its a bit like getting a suntan. The longer the metal remains in the liver of sulfur solution, the darker it becomes. That works for most people who are getting a suntan and get darker the more time they spend in the sun. That’s true unless you overdo it and turn red. Then you wait for that sunburn to peel before getting your natural color back. If you leave the metal in the patina too long, it turns so dark that you have to sand and polish (peel) until you recognize the metal again.

At my age, the word suntan congers up pictures of dry, wrinkled skin and reminds me of the threat of skin cancer. While giving metal a suntan also has unpleasantries, (the liver of sulfur smells bad) it’s the only type tanning I’ll be doing this summer. Isn’t it nice that in this 106 degree weather we can tan indoors?

Bracelets, Earrings, Necklaces, Philosophy

Closure

 PICT0505 The term “closure” could mean many different things. When jewelry designers describe necklaces or bracelets, they may mention that closure is a toggle clasp, lobster clasp, button, etc. Clients may also ask for a favored type of clasp on a piece.

The closure I’m thinking of today, however, has another connotation brought to mind by the commissioned piece above that I recently completed. Several months ago, I received an email from a representative of a group of teachers in west Texas who wanted a special piece of jewelry to give to someone as a retirement gift. Luckily, I know that person, having worked for her when I did consulting in gifted education. It helped to be able to remember times I enjoyed with her as I designed this special piece. Closure for this person comes through retirement from a job.

Others I’ve encountered have faced closure with the loss of a special person who has moved on in one way or another. We faced a closure when we had to have our house cat, Blue, that has been in several blog pictures, put to sleep a few weeks ago.

My husband is much better at how to handle closure than I am. He worked for a large manufacturing company for over 30 years and had the unfortunate task of helping close several plants. With these closures, he faced the emotional turmoil experienced by many employees who found it tough to move on. He often recommended the book Transitions (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Transitions) as an aid. We have purchased and given numerous copies of this through the years and I don’t exaggerate by saying I’ve read parts of it at least ten times. While we each take away something different from reading, the message I receive from this book and from my husband’s help is that we must have endings. I would much prefer to ignore an unhappy closure or change and move on quickly, but that’s not necessarily healthy. Facing, acknowledging, and taking the time for endings is important.

With graduations, retirements, job losses, illnesses and economic changes, I’m taking time to realize that closure is just part of life. Feelings about it probably need to be experienced rather than ignored. Just how to do that is a personal issue for each of us to face in our own way.