10.17.16 Hallmark Greetings

Photo credit: Vickie Hallmark

I first encountered Vickie Hallmark, and her beautiful jewelry, in a wonderful Facebook group called Aspiring Metalsmiths - which describes itself as "a friendly and supportive place to talk metal, share business and technical advice, show off your work, and have fun."  I have found that to be completely the case!

Last March she posted a picture (on the group page) of these fabulous mountain laurel earrings, made with precious metal clay and argentium wire and sheet.  About that time, these bushes - with their deep purple flowers - were beginning bloom and to fill the air with their fragrance (which smells a lot like grape Kool Aid), a sure sign of the arrival of spring in Texas. 

As I am want to do, I sent her a message and said "are those for sale?".  She replied yes - and after a discussion about size (she's tall, and prefers longer earrings; I'm short and, well...) I bought the small pair, with lovely rose cut amethysts.

Fast forward 6 months, and I've had the opportunity to take a class with Vickie and learn how she combines fine silver metal clay and argentium in her fabulous creations.

She brought in two trays full of examples (it took more than a little willpower not to add to my ever expanding earring collection) - which were truly inspiring.

Vickie's jewelry is unique - she works in BOTH clay and argentium.  She forms small, detailed components from clay, then combines and layers them together before fusing them to argentium to make finished pieces. She spent a fair amount of time on the first morning talking about the properties of metal clay and demonstrating a variety of techniques for working with it.

At the bench - there was a detailed handout and a complete set of tools for both clay and metalwork.  As I always do, I took a photo of the bench set up  - because it's always helpful to be able to go back and reference the tools I used for a class.

I was glad for the review - because it had been over a year since I too my first metal clay class with Lorena Angulo. Turns out - I remembered more than I expected to (or maybe I am just more familiar with the whole jewelry making process) - but the result was that I felt much more confident working with the clay this time.

Vickie encouraged us to "make as many pieces and components as possible" so that we could use them both for creating pieces on the second day of class, and in our future projects.  In an effort to be a good student - and because I don't have the set up to work with metal clay outside the studio - I used up my entire 25 gram packet making Erlenmeyer flasks and Texas charms along with lots of tiny hearts and flowers!

At the end of the day, all of our clay pieces went into the kiln - to be fired at 1640F for two hours.  The firing burns away the organic binder and leaves behind solid, fine silver (99%) components.

Until next time...when I'll tell you how the pieces turned out - and all about the second day of class.

10.10.16 Shop Local: Dian Malouf Trunk Show at Russell Korman on October 14

I had so much fun doing the series of "Shop Local" blogs last year in advance of the holidays that I have decided to do them (at least some) again.  I know it SEEMS early - but - it's October people, and it's even cooling off a little bit here in Central Texas.   The first show on my radar is coming up this week - Dian Malouf at Russell Korman Jewelers from 10 am - 6 pm this Friday.

Photo courtesy of Dian Malouf

According to her bio, Dian Malouf began "looking for a large (really large) sterling silver and gold ring, she never found one. So she designed one for herself."  A woman after my own heart!  She is a 4th generation Texan who has been designing jewelry - and manufacturing it in the USA - for three decades.  Her website says that her jewelry is made "one piece at a time" (just like mine ;-) from silver, gold and precious stones.

Photo courtesy of Dian Malouf

This week she is bringing her gorgeous, sculptural jewelry to Russell Korman in Austin for a one day trunk show.  I love her use of stones with silver - and I am particularly partial to her heart shaped pieces - like the ones shown here with blue lace agate.

Photo courtesy of Dian Malouf

Her rings and bracelets are clearly designed for mixing, matching and stacking; and these mother of pearl bracelets can be customized with the beads of your choice.


While many of her pieces run into the hundreds of dollars, her "Go Girl" rings (which she regards perhaps her most rewarding personal experience) start at a very affordable $80.00.

Photo courtesy of Dian Malouf

These rings are designed to help women to "hang in there" regardless of circumstances. The "Go Girl" ring has raised thousands of dollars for breast cancer research, and has become a comfort to many breast cancer survivors and others who have hit a bump or two in the road of life.  Each ring also comes with a personal note from Dian.

So - if you are looking for jewelry that really makes a statement - for yourself, or as a gift - I encourage you to go visit my good friends at Russell Korman Jewelers and take advantage of this opportunity to shop for some wonderful, unique pieces.

Until next time.

10.03.16 She was organized to the end...

Here at my house we have a dark, and somewhat twisted sense of humor - I attribute that largely to the influence of my mother.  I also inherited her deep desire for order and organization.

My family likes to joke that when I leave them, my epitaph will read:

Beloved wife, mother, (and grandmother, I hope - if my children are reading this).
She was organized to the end.

Initially, I tried to argue and threatened to cut them off as my heirs if they did this - but on the advice of multiple lawyer friends, I've given up that fight.

So, you ask, why am I sharing this with you? Because honestly, they are right - and I really do embrace my penchant to have a place for everything, and everything in its place - and one of my wonderful blog readers asked about how I organize my jewelry.

Recently, Janet wrote -

I find myself looking forward to your blog posts. They're thoughtful and amusing. I usually learn something and come away with a smile on my face. This made my whole week!  She went on to ask some questions, so I'm going to answer them.

I have been wondering how you organize your earring collection? 
 

The short answer is with a label maker and lots of small ziploc bags.  Not just earrings, but every piece of jewelry has its own small bag.  Most of my earrings are in 2x2 clear bags, larger things like brooches, necklaces and bracelets are in bigger bags. 

I use my label maker to put the name or an abbreviation for the jeweler plus the item description on each piece, and I place a small tarnish protection square in with each item.

Photo credit: amazon.com

A few things are in the original pouches from the jeweler - if they provide some protection from tarnishing, but I like the clear bags because it makes it very easy to find what I am looking for.

The bags and little squares can be purchased on Amazon, craft sites like Etsy, or at Rio Grande Jewelry supply.


What do you do when one of a pair of earrings breaks or gets lost?

It depends. Fortunately, I haven't lost too many earrings over the years. 

If it's something like a stone falling out of a setting, or snap bars no longer staying latched, and I like the earrings (and they have value - sentimental or monetary), I will take them to master jeweler Chuck Schaffer at Russell Korman and have them repaired.  Why don't I do it myself? Because I'm NOT an experienced jeweler, and if it's worth repairing, then it's worth having it done right.

If they aren't repair worthy, I might take the beads off of the wire or out of the setting they are in and toss them into my bead box and put the settings (if they are silver) into my recycling scrap.  I do the same thing with inexpensive chain - if the clasp fails, or a link breaks, I assess whether it is worth it to attempt to do the repair myself (I could put on a new clasp with a jump ring), cut the ends off and use the chain elsewhere, or scrap and recycle it.

For a lost earring, there's not a whole lot to do - unless perhaps you could convert the bead or dangle to a charm or pendant if you really like it.  In an effort not to end up with a single earrings, I tend to opt for screw backs on expensive things like diamond studs, leverbacks on gemstone dangles, and make use of lots of silicone nuts on my earwires. I particularly like these 5mm ones from Amazon.  It took me a long time to find them - and now I order them 100 at a time.

How do you part ways with earrings? I find that over the years there are earrings that suited me well, but then 5, 10, or 15 years later, they don't. Does that happen to you, and what do you do?

Honestly, it doesn't happen very often.  Take these glass Donald Duck earrings, for example.  My family went to Walt Disney World in 1978 and there was a person making lampwork beads that looked like all the Disney characters.  The last time I wore them was probably when my (now adult) children were in elementary school - but I keep them nonetheless because they hold fond memories.

Before I started doing metal work, I would go through periods of making beaded earrings - and after a while I just got tired of them - so I offered them up to my friends to make room for new things.

I posted pictures of the ones I no longer wanted on Facebook, and said first to claim them gets them - with only one requirement - the recipient had to post a selfie wearing the earrings.  It was quite a lot of fun - so much so that I did it a several times.  At this point, I don't have any more earrings I want to give away.

I've put a few truly "vintage" pairs up for auction on Etsy, and still others I've disassembled to reuse the beads or findings - especially if there was a really unique earwire.

Other than that - I really don't part with my jewelry.  I've handed off a few things to my daughter, but mostly, I just keep it - which means I've got 40+ years of accumulated baubles, each in their own little bag.  Even if I'm not wearing it, each piece holds memories and occasionally I find that after not wearing something for years, it's suddenly back in style, or just right for a new outfit.

Thanks for the great questions - I hope the answers are useful - or at least entertaining.  It means so much to know that you all are out there reading what I write.

Until next time.

09.26.16 Single Ladies

...if you wanted it you shoulda put a ring on it...oh, oh, oh...

...as I started writing this post, I began to hear Single Ladies playing in my head...

There was a time when, if my daughter wanted to annoy me a little bit while we were spending some quality time in the car, she would begin to sing the chorus of Single Ladies (if she wanted to annoy me A LOT she would begin to hum Nutcracker music).  I do miss my daughter, but honestly, I don't miss all those hours driving the mom bus afterschool, evenings and weekends (now I spend that time at the jewelry studio).

Over the past several months of buying larger stones for my pendants, I have accumulated quite a nice collection of "littles" that the lapidary artists have included as extras with my purchases.  As I spread them out and looked at them recently, I thought "I should put a ring on that" (ok, what I really thought was "I should put that on a ring..."). The thing is - I hadn't made a ring since I took Fabrication 101, and I'd never put a bezel on a ring shank.

 


I had some wire odds and ends - small pieces of bezel and a length of 12 gauge round - so I started playing around with them and decided to take a day or two off from pendants, and try my hand at rings (pun intended).

Despite all the hours I've spent at the bench over the past few months, I actually approached this simple project with a little bit of trepidation.  The only rings I wear are my wedding and anniversary bands, so I hadn't had much interest in - or given much thought to - making any other ones.

I was pleasantly surprised at just how quickly and easily I could create some simple stacking rings.  There are some things that require special attention - like making sure not to melt the much smaller bezels, and lining up the ring shank with the backplate to make sure the stone sits in the right place.

Over the course of the afternoon, I worked up the beginnings of a nice little collection - and was limited only by the length of wire I had to make the bands.  I got three nice pieces assembled and I've ordered more wire to go with the rest of the small stones.

Not only do the rings go together relatively quickly - especially compared to the large pendants with the cut outs on the back - they require a lot less silver.  The pendants are large, complex and expensive, and it will be really nice to be have some pieces in my Etsy shop at a price below $50.

So - if you like what you see, hop on over to the shop - and put a ring on it.

Until next time.

09.19.16 Ooooh....pretty!

In case it's not obvious (or you haven't read some of my previous posts) - making jewelry has not diminished my appreciation for the work of others, nor has it improved my impulse control.

Photo credit: Lea Smith Designs

Earlier this summer I was sitting at the bench next to fellow Creative Side member Lea Smith, who was just getting started on a pair of earrings, made with great black and tan stones (which I later learned are petrified palm wood).

As she was sketching, I asked her "are those sold?"  When she said "no" I said I wanted them - she was happy to oblige (I paid for them, of course).

Photo credit: Lea Smith Designs

My earrings are a variation on one of her styles called "Sun Burst".  While mine are one of a kind, you can find an all silver pair of earring jackets with a similar "fringe" on her website.

I love them - and I've been wearing them a lot!  They are perfect with my favorite "neutral but never boring" transitional dress and clutch, which is in regular rotation right now when the calendar says "fall" but the weather still says "summer".

Dress: J Jill. Bag: Clare Vivier

Photo credit: Jewelry by Cari/

About the same time I snapped up Lea's earrings, another favorite jeweler - Cari Streeter - introduced a number of new pieces in her Jewelry by Cari line.






...and because you can NEVER have too many diamonds...I ordered this pair from Russell Korman.  I mean - what's better than new diamond earrings and being able to support two of my favorite jewelry business at one time!

They're only about an inch long and great everyday earrings...comfortable to wear with just a little bit of sparkle!

These two pairs, along with the glass poppies from Lunacy Glass, makes three in the past month or so - as is frequently the case.  I don't know why it happens that way,  but it does, I'll go months without buying anything, then all of a sudden...I see things I want and all my self control evaporates!

Earrings are my biggest weakness, but they don't go bad, take up much space, have no calories and they do make me really happy...so I keep adding to my collection. 

I hope you find things that make you happy, too.

Until next time.

09.12.16 Hi ho, hi ho...

it's off to work I go...in the studio, that is.

Yep, as of September 1, I am a full time member/renter at Creative Side Jewelry, with my own key!  Back in February I put my first piece up in my Etsy store - and since then I've sold about a piece a month - which is very exciting.

I've also made some decisions - big and small - that brought me here.

The big decision was committing to more time at the bench.   I've done a lot of talking with my husband - who has been my biggest supporter and encouraged me throughout this journey.  In fact he's the one who suggested I not wait until the start of 2017 to rent a bench, but to go ahead and do it now, so that I can create some inventory in advance of the holidays.

Smaller decisions involved buying a few special tools of my own, even though the studios at Creative Side are fully equipped.  

Photo credit: amazon.com

Joyce Chen scissors.  These things are amazing - they cut through sheet metal (I've used them on 20 gauge silver with no difficulty) and allow you to get really close to an edge.  I learned about using scissors rather than sawing from Ronda Coryell.  Before becoming the guru of argentium, she generally worked with gold; she NEVER saws - because sawing results in lost metal - and gold is expensive.  I don't saw nearly as much because I've learned I don't have to. 

Photo credit: Rio Grande Jewelry Supply

For those tight spots you can't get into with scissors, I love these Lindstrom flush cutters.  They are pricey ($48 from Rio) but like the scissors above, they will cut right through sheet metal, and in the tightest of spots.  They also leave a very clean edge when cutting wire for jumprings or earring findings.

I also purchased a couple of pairs of Euro Tool specialty pliers from Rio - not as expensive as the cutters, but oh, so useful for very specific tasks.

Photo credit: Rio Grande Jewelry Supply

Sometimes before cutting a length of wire, I really want to make it nice and straight - and flat nose pliers with nylon jaws are a dream.  You can pull the wire through (over and over if you want) without kinking or scratching.  They are also great if you need to bend or straighten a piece of sheet - because they won't mar the surface there, either.

While the flat nosed pliers are more general purpose, the other pair I bought is not - but it is ideal from someone who bends a lot of bails and earwires.

Photo credit: Rio Grande Jewelry Supply

These bail shaping pliers have six different graduated sizes for making loops around - and I find them much easier to use - especially for bails (when I am forming them from 20 or 22 gauge sheet) than traditional round nosed pliers.

Photo Credit: Otto Frei

Finally, I bought a Green Lion saw. I'd been using the standard saw frames at the studio - and doing just fine - but I had heard about this saw.  I asked a lot of questions in an online metalsmithing group - and to a person - the answer I got was "if you really want to do advanced piercing work (cut outs on the back of my pendants) - invest in this saw."  So, I did - and I haven't been disappointed.

To tote all these things - plus a few others like pencils, rulers and some less exotic pliers - back and forth to the studio, I bought a wonderful waxed canvas and leather tool roll on Etsy (supporting other independent craftspeople is really important).

Photo credit: TheoHenry on Etsy

I'm really excited about this next step - and look forward to continuing to share what I learn and make with all of you.

Until next time.

09.05.16 Glass in Bloom

I swore up, down and sideways that I wasn't going to buy any souvenirs at the Corning Museum other than my pendant - but their shop is GORGEOUS - and I totally caved.

There were plenty of things that didn't create a blip on my radar - but more than a few items caught my eye.

I resisted this t shirt - although I did take a picture - because I have these Pyrex nested mixing bowls (they were my mother in law's and she gave them to me years ago).   The green one is just the right size for Passover chicken salad, and the yellow one is perfect for letting challah rise overnight in the fridge.




I resisted the market full of blown glass "blooms" in pretty much every color of the rainbow...






but ultimately I could not resist a pair of poppy lamp work earrings and a book about the museum's collection.  I've been enjoying both my purchases since returning home.  I've worn the earrings a lot, and loving the book - which is kind of like a portable version of the 35 Centuries of Glass exhibit.

Photo credit: Lunacy Glass

I fell in love with the bright red flowers - they were in a locked case (of course, because I'm always drawn to the hand crafted - and more expensive - stuff) with a card that gave a little bit of information about the artist, Lucie Kovarova-Weir.

Everything in Lucie's display was red - poppies and strawberries - and I hemmed and hawed before settling on the earrings.

Photo credit: Lunacy Glass

Born in the Czech Republic, she is formally trained in animation, but transitioned to glass as a self taught artist.  She left the Czech Republic for Canada in 2001, and in 2002 she opened Lunacy Glass Studio (I love that name).  


Lucie's website says "Glass artist by day, gardener and a cook by night, living, working and raising family in an Eastern Ontario small town." 




Her work is fabulous - and I am not surprised that she has exhibited throughout North American and Europe - or that she is a featured artist in the Corning Museum shop.  I'm certainly delighted to have discovered her and found her website, Etsy shop and blog...and I imagine this won't be my last piece of Lunacy Glass jewelry.

Until next time.