Who is in charge?

 
amber, freshwater pearls, green turquoise, fire-polished glass, coin pearls,
dyed jade, Peruvian blue opal, sterling silver, antiqued brass

I'm very happy with this bracelet; it has been in my head for quite some time and I finally was able to make it real.  The jewelry thing still feels quite new and I am still groping and hoping to find my style.  I often hesitate to start on a piece, due to lack of confidence. So different from textile work, where I feel very much in charge. 

It Just Keeps Getting Better

Stickpin with photographic greeting card.

I am thoroughly chuffed with how these stickpins are progressing. I love all their whimsical shapes and colors. They have a playful look, which perfectly reflects how it feels to make them.

I think I've come up with a very nice way to package them. It's a nice presentation and it aids in my Big Goal of trying to declutter my studio/home/life.

The stickpin appears to be resting on a plate white background, attached by a small piece of very easily removed tape. But that plain white piece is actually an envelope. Turn the whole thing over and you find a blank greeting card, too!

Photo card of 1860s Steinway Square Grand Piano (detail) with stickpin.
I'm quite happy with this solution to the problem of how to best display the stickpins. Also, most of the greeting cards are made with photographs by me. The one above is a detail shot of our Steinway square grand piano, which we sold on Ebay. I don't know about you, but I tend to hoard greeting cards. I like them, but I rarely get around to using them anymore. So it feels good to clear out the drawer with all the cards in it. Maybe I'll use some to package earrings, too. Maybe I'll even get inspired to revive the art of note writing, complete with "real" ink.


I think I'll get some washi tape to use in the future. It's so much more fun and I'm pretty sure it peels off easily, so as not to damage the envelope. 

We're finally having some nice weather ... I hope you are too. 

Bye Bye, Birthday Month!

The jewels delight

It's been quite a long while since I've sat at the jewelry work table. Tonight I finally allowed myself a bit of time to play. At first, I was nervous. I worried I might have forgotten how to do certain things. But, no , that was not a problem!  There is such pleasure in this work. It's an entirely different satisfaction from what I get out of sewing and textiles.


I have a beautiful collection of stones, beads, pearls, sterling findings, copper and brass too ... it is absolutely delightful to just spend time gazing upon them all! I do hope I continue to give myself space and time for creating. There are so many other things that get in the way ... paperwork, household chores, errands. You know what I mean, right?

We have to give ourselves that time to create. For me, it's a matter of making it a true priority. I've gotten in the deadly habit of putting off the create time. I fool myself into thinking I'll just do a few other things first, then I'll be able to spend time in the studio. Day after day I suddenly realize it's gotten late and once again I've failed to honor that one promise I made to myself, that I'd find time for creative endeavor.  And it's not as if I get all the other stuff done ... there's always other stuff to do. So I'm slowly getting back in the habit of making my work come first. The other stuff can wait.

Beginner's Delight

   
 
Making bracelets for someone special.  Thinking about how much more easily the textiles take shape in my hands, how I fret over the jeweler's bench, so worried I will not do it "right." But the metals and the stones seduce me. I can't resist them. And when I do complete a piece, I feel such satisfaction that I got it to look like my dream of how it would look. There is that pleasure in being a "beginner" again, and succeeding. :-)

   
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