Category Archives: Pendants

Metal Work, Necklaces, Pendants, Techniques, vendors

New Vendor Find

June 23, 2009 Karen 1 Comment

I enjoyed attending the Bead Jamboree in San Antonio last weekend. Being a bit of a home body, I tried to talk myself out of going several times, but finally went ahead. I currently purchase most everything from www.magpiegemstones.com and really didn’t need to go to the show. Yet, I wanted to support my friends who were vending and teaching at this venue.

Luckily, I met a “new-to-me” vendor and enjoyed exploring the possibilities her merchandise provided. (www.acharmcollection.com) The cross necklace at the left resulted from the use of her metal products and I have several other pieces that will evolve from visiting this vendor. She sells metal charms, etc. such as those shown in the picture below. While it may not be a new technique, she talked with me about layering gemstones on her pieces. Prices were quite reasonable and I’m trying some of her ideas. The first few customers who saw this cross wanted it and I’m hoping the designs will be pleasing.

Economically speaking, the price point for these plated silver and gemstone pieces will be very affordable for customers. While I didn’t use expensive turquoise in the necklace shown, it is still pretty and Mother says it will be meaningful to those who see it. (She was sure that I had made it for her . . . hint, hint.)

I’m pleased to find another helpful, pleasant vendor, but I still want to support those suppliers who have been good to me. This “new find” simply adds one more possibility to design options.

Creativity, Necklaces, Pendants, Techniques, Wire Work

Look for Connections

June 20, 2009 Karen

I’m still “gone to the dogs” today. Dovetails sent the dog in the picture home with me to use for a necklace. The dog is a pin and we thought it might be cute in another design. Sherry, from my wire work group, showed me how to create a wire coil with loops that will fit around the pin for attaching it. Thanks Sherry!

After finishing the doggie necklace, complete with handmade copper wire dog bones, I donned it to be sure it would hang correctly. OOPS! That silly little dog wanted to flip over and lay on it’s stomach. Now What?

I had been to the Bead Jamboree in San Antonio and talked with a vendor selling plated charms, etc. She showed me how she glued filigrees on to the back of the charms that didn’t have holes in order to make a hanger. I more or less disregarded her suggestion thinking I would just drill a hole for the hangers I needed. But, when that puppy did its flip, I realized that her idea might be golden. Using E 6000 glue, I attached the dog pin to the handmade filigree and “hurray” now he’s a dog on his feet.

While I can’t proclaim that this is a major “aha” and some would say it was obvious all along, I do know that we must remain open to connections. Although I often disregard a technique someone it showing me, I do try to pay attention and store it in the back of my mind. You just never know when someone’s idea can be adapted to your own problem.

I guess that’s really what listening is all about – making connections for the now or for the future. Part of listening is honoring the person who is talking by giving him or her your attention. I’ve always thought it was my job to applaud the person for their discovery even if I didn’t value it for myself. Yet, someone else’s idea may later combine with your own adaptation when you least expect it.

Just think about the Wright Brothers who could fly their plane, but couldn’t make it turn. Watching an eagle tip its wings one day while making a turn is said to have provided them with the idea for making that first airplane turn. I’m sure glad they were paying attention or we all might be flying straight into mountains were it not for that great connection.

I’m looking forward to using this technique again on the bird pin that’s next on the queue. We’ll see what hatches.

By the way, you’ll soon find these necklaces at Dovetail of Wimberley just waiting to be adopted.

Diversions, Necklaces, Pendants, Wire Work

Listen to Your Mother

June 7, 2009 Karen

I heard this repeatedly as I was growing up, but thought I was past it since my Mom is 88 and I’m . . . growing out instead of up. Last week, however, I realized my Mom still has her bluff in on me. During a nursing home visit, I mentioned that a group of beaders was coming to my house the next day to work on some things. Mamaw immediately said, “what are you going to feed them?” “They’re not coming to eat.” I said. “They’re coming to work on jewelry.” “Well,” she replied, “I’ve found that things always go better with food.” I left the nursing home determined not to pay attention to her suggestion, but in the end . . . I could say the pictured brownies just happened to be left over from the group of men I fed at lunch that same day, but that might be a big story. I guess I’m still doing what my Mother says.

During the same visit, several folks stopped by to speak to us at the table where I was working on some copper neckwires. I noticed Mamaw was real quiet and after everyone had moved on she reported, “I didn’t want to tell anyone, but those really aren’t very comfortable.” I truly disagree and love to wear my neckwires in various shapes, but I didn’t argue and won’t be making her any more in that style. Perhaps she will prefer one of the pieces pictured below.

Today, while discussing my upcoming trip to Atlanta to visit our first grandchild who is 4 months old, Mother said, “hug that boy for me.” I DO plan to listen to my Mother about regarding that suggestion!

Pendants, Wire Work

Laugh

May 24, 2009 Karen

The last few blogs have been pretty solemn; therefore I can’t resist putting up the picture below. Late last night when I finished stringing several necklaces, a few moments of work time remained. The only thing immediately available was a group of small rocks and wire. Wrapping seemed appropriate.

If you know me, you would probably acknowledge that I’m a planner. I like order in my clutter, but have worked for years to be more free thinking. That’s what I really enjoy about the design work. Whether appropriate or not, I try to keep from over planning. Last night, however, a little planning might have helped.

Things were going “so so” until I got to the last rock. It just wouldn’t do anything. The back of it was flat, but the alternate side was raised to a triangular shape in the middle. Of course the wire slipped off of everything I tried. Being a stubborn person, I just wouldn’t give up. Finally, the wire work developed into the beady-eyed fellow in the middle of the picture. All I could do was laugh and head for bed. I’m still laughing at this little guy with the funny hat.

I’m also amused that as I’ve worked this morning, the radio has continued to play Bob Dylan selections since his 68th birthday is tomorrow. Do you think this fits??? I wouldn’t want to insult Dylan or his music, but perhaps from time to time he, too, may have been beady-eyed. What do you think? Laugh with me!

Metal Work, Necklaces, Pendants, Philosophy, Techniques, Wire Work

Work Hardened

May 20, 2009 Karen

As I learn about metal and wire work, the term work hardened arises often. It’s the idea of manipulating and/or hammering a piece until is becomes more hardened or brittle. When a piece is hardened just right, it helps it retain its shape and stability. I’ve learned the hard way that too much manipulation of a piece of wire makes it more difficult to bend. This is not unlike over doing when we exercise our bodies. I’m also learning that I shouldn’t hammer a piece too early in the design process, but rather wait until I have the shape I want. The best part is that I do have an excuse for pounding something. It’s great to stop in the middle of a frustrating day and just whack away!

This process is not unlike what is currently occurring here at the ranch. It’s been an exciting couple of weeks at Dreamcatcher. Each May, our bulls arrive back home from their feed test after spending the winter months at another location. We send them away as big calves and they arrive back as big bulls. I enjoy sitting at the very top of a fence watching these magnificent beasts come off the truck and back into our pasture. I never cease to be shocked at the change they make in just a few short months. The goal of the feed test is for the bulls to eat and grow; therefore they mainly just stand around and eat from the bunks. We can’t sell them to our customers at this point because they would melt if they had to work. These 110+ bulls get a rude awakening when they come back home. While they have delicious grass to eat in the pasture at the bottom of a hill, their water is at the top of that rocky hill. Since they’ve just been standing on flat ground eating during the winter, the climb to the top of that hill and back down is monumental, but important.

Through this exercise, the bull’s hooves become hardened and their bodies become muscular. While the climb by the complaining bulls is currently precipitated by a barking, nipping blue heeler, a honking jeep and yelling people, in a few short weeks it will be easy and they will go willingly. As they become work hardened, they will be ready to serve our customers.

While there probably should be a third picture to this blog, I’ll refrain from inserting it. People seem to also get work hardened in both positive and negative ways. Are the wrinkles on my face a result of this process? Has the optimism we became accustomed to during prosperous economic times been work hardened with the current economic drop? If the analogy derived from both the metal work and the conditioning by design of our bulls applies to our economy, becoming work hardened could be a good thing. As with the wire work, will the resulting economy be more stable? Will we take more time to make important decisions? As with the bulls, will becoming work hardened make us better prepared for the future? Let’s just hope so.

Necklaces, Pendants

Lunch?

May 8, 2009 Karen

“Are we doing lunch?” This morning I awoke to the ringing of the phone and the voice on the other end saying “Are we doing lunch?” If you’re thinking this is a nice surprise, please think again. It was my husband on the other end. It didn’t mean he wanted to take me out for a pre-Mother’s Day lunch, it meant was I cooking today. Hmm . . . let me think before I answer. Yes, I am cooking lunch today. I normally cook for four men at noon which includes our ranch workers and my husband. When I concurred that I was “doing lunch” today, he said, “add two more”. That will make six men who have labored all morning and me for lunch. The phone rang as I was typing this. It's actually three more for lunch. OK, it's OK! I'll just thaw that extra meat; it's only eight. The good thing about early morning surprises, is that I can usually look back to the designing from the night before and be assured that there will again be time at the end of this day for that fulfilling activity. Thus, as I sprang into action from that early morning (yes, I know HE had been up for hours and done half a day’s work already) phone call, I peered at the design tray from the previous night’s work. Ah, . . . I DID accomplish something.

(shown in the pictures) NOW – can I accomplish lunch? Let’s see; how does chicken fried steak, rice, gravy, beans, salad and pecan pie sound? I’d better get busy! By the way, I really like to cook and I could have said no. Good grief, I hear the phone again. Should I answer?

Metal Work, Pendants, Philosophy, Wire Work

Pearl Pod Patience

May 7, 2009 Karen

Pods are a popular form in metal work, but my modified pod refused to develop. Several month ago, I made the metal pod and tried to fill it, but nothing seemed to work. Inclined to pitch it in that big round file cabinet (the waste basket), I decided to remain patient and hope for the light. Last night, after looking at the June Bead and Button issue and examining the work on page 63, I nurtured that pod again. It’s getting better even if it’s not perfect.

I am not a patient person! I enjoy the process of creating more than the pleasure of looking at or wearing the finished product. Therefore, my tendency is to throw away things that don’t work and move on. Lately, however, I’ve been trying to remember that “patience is a virtue” and allow pieces to wait for their time. Inspiration appears from strange places and the beginning of an idea may require impetus from something at a later date in order to reach design completion.

Artists often keep a sketch notebook housing ideas to which they want to return. As a composer, I kept a file filled with manuscript paper containing a few measures of a musical motif. It would seem that unfinished objects, like the pod, need to reside in an idea box so the designer can return to them later. I have an idea bin, but during irrational moments (usually when someone is coming to visit and I’m straightening the studio), I often throw away its entire contents. While some of my objects need to go to that happy object place in the sky, others do not and a little design wisdom is all that I need. Unfortunately, there’s still the problem of knowing what to pitch and what to keep. Maybe one day I’ll be struck with both patience and wisdom. At the least, I can hope.

Creativity, Pendants, Philosophy, Wire Work

A Day in the Life of a . . . designer?

April 16, 2009 Karen

Yesterday started great. It was a beautiful sunny day in Texas and I had a plan. I’d take a day away from the ranch, deliver a jewelry order to a customer, visit my Mom at the nursing home and run that long list of errands. After donning my normal wear (as opposed to ranch smeared garb), and smiling because I was escaping cooking lunch for the ranch workers, I happily set out. Ah, the sheer joy of having no time line or real schedule filled the air. . . No more than 10 miles had metered on my odometer when my husband called to let me know I needed to come home early to meet some visitors to our ranch from Mexico. Taking this in stride (more or LESS), I went about my business with the minor change of eating my lunch from my lap while driving between towns rather than the leisurely sit-down restaurant meal I had anticipated.

I thoroughly enjoyed meeting our ranch visitors and, while they visited the cattle with my husband, I garnered new enthusiasm and began work on some ideas. A good pounding on heavy wire with the hammer certainly felt good and you can see some of the work in the pictures. I’m working on armatures for Ralph’s Rocks, mentioned in a previous blog. There’s something about the design work that is very relaxing and by dinner time when my husband returned, I had changed to comfortable clothes and was in a good mood until . . . the phones started ringing. It’s usually a bad sign when they ring in tandem.

On one phone a despondent person shared concerned about a fence problem and on the other, someone was calling to say some of our cows had escaped. In other words, it was time to pull a Clark Kent switching from designer to cattle rounder upper. Unfortunately, there wasn’t time to change clothing, since the cattle were making their way to the busy road. It took a bit of time to get in the truck, drive to the jeep location, get in the jeep, open and close the gates and then climb over the permanently locked gate. (Have you even done this in a little pink dress? It’s NOT pretty!) By the time we got to the neighbor’s property, the black cows had disappeared. I’ll spare you the details of locating them, but it took some time. Unfortunately, we could only find about half of them and the bull, that was probably the ring leader of the entire mess, was nowhere in sight. We moved the located girls to a safe haven and looked for the others. Just at dusk we found them. As I stationed myself to turn them into the proper lane, my husband gathered them and pushed them in the right direction. After considerable time, they rounded the corner, took one look at me in my neon pink dress and went right back where they came from. Can you hear my husband yelling? This scenario occurred twice before it became too dark to continue.

Hoping for the best with the runaways, we returned to the barn to give the required shots to our donor cows in preparation for harvesting their embryos. Did you know it’s really difficult to find the black cows you want when it’s dark? Finally, after giving each donor two shots, pulling their cidrs (if you’re not a rancher, you don’t even want to know what this is), and applying their alert stickers (you don’t want to know about this either), we headed for the house. 9:10 PM – designer, turned cattle rounder upper, now cook and doctor (did I mention the blood running down my legs from the cacti scratches obtained in the woods??)

10 PM - - designer again- - I think it’s easy to understand why, by 10 PM, I NEEDED to wrap more of Ralph’s Rocks and pound more wire.

The moral of this saga is that all of us are many things and each person could relate a similar “day in the life of . . . “ story, yet we keep designing, writing, composing music, painting, inventing or whatever we do to create. I used to think it would be outstanding to be able to sit in a studio and design all day, but now I realize that might not work for me. My better work seems to come as a result of NEEDING to design as a release from other stresses. Those stresses mainly come from that rich life outside the studio. Whether it’s made of nursing home visits, chasing cows, going to work, or feeding a family, our innovative work is a sum of our lives and an expression of who we are. Today, the hammer and I will be friends, but I AM going to turn the stereo up loud and pretend I don’t hear the telephone ringing.

Pendants, Techniques, Wire Work

Ralph’s Rocks

April 7, 2009 Karen

My friend Ralph has been bringing me rocks from Wildtype Ranch http://www.wildtyperanch.com/, near Cameron, TX for a year or so. He usually brings these tumbled treasures wrapped in a handkerchief and it’s fun to see what emerges. Originally, we thought I might use them as cabachons in bead embroidery, but the irregular shapes and curved backs have made that quite difficult. Finally, while cleaning the studio this past weekend, I rediscovered them and was determined to make them work for something. Some of the wire-wrapped results are shown in the picture. They have been a real challenge since traditional wraps have not worked for very many of the rocks. I’m hoping that after some buffing to remove the dings from my pliers Ralph’s Rocks will make nice pendants. Do you think I can call this is “freeform” wire wrapping? I’m currently working on a neck armature that these can be used to adorn (one rock at a time, of course).

By the way, if you’re looking for excellent beef, check out the Wildtype website. They market delicious pasture raised Angus beef.

Earrings, Necklaces, Pendants, Wire Work

“. . . just a stringin”

April 2, 2009 Karen

. . . as the song says. I guess the word was really “swingin’” in the song, but that doesn’t fit with today’s entry. Stringin’ is what I’ve been doing all afternoon. Tomorrow I’m having a jewelry show at the nursing home where my Mom lives. While the women “inmates”, as Mother calls the residents, seem to really enjoy spending a lengthy span of time trying on and thinking about the pieces, most of the men simply roll (literally) right on past my display. I guess I really should have cookies for them! While only a few residents actually purchase anything, they do have a great time and some ask me to hold pieces until they have money. One 99 year old woman spent well over an hour selecting her jewels last time and then told me what she wanted. I asked if she had money for it in her room and she told me “No, Charge It.” “Do you have a credit card?” I asked. “No, Charge It!” she said again. Eventually, I was able to convince her to put it on layaway and she has never asked me about it again. Some of the pieces I’m taking are shown in the photos below. Perhaps the staff will also enjoy looking.