Seeing Green

I have thoroughly been enjoying this journey of jewelry design. There are so many creative possibilities that I have tried and hopefully will try in the future. This is my newest "fun with jewelry" piece that has been a design in progress to get it the way that I wanted it.

I hand cut a sheet of copper into a flower design, then added this beautiful green patina. When you give copper or brass a patina like this you have to let it sit and cure to get most out of the color. It takes about 24 hours to do this. Totally worth it!! And so much fun! Then I added a sterling silver chain which I oxidized and then lightly hand buffed to give it a rustic antique look. Hope you like it!

A Fun Transition

This is where I usually find myself working. In front of my computer while answering emails...searching Etsy...and of course, Facebooking. I have noticed that I don't thrive in this area. There are too many distractions which cause me to NOT be creative.

This was about a year ago when I got a little table and chair to use in the unfinished side of the basement. I was so excited about having my own little area to design jewelry. But the clutter grew increasingly annoying so I decided to make due with what I had and just organize the space.


And it helped a lot! The space was clearer so I had more "breathing" space to create things.

Everything was in order. Not for long....I also had lots of jewelry items in the finished side of the basement, which drew me out there and that is where I got distracted with the computer and tv. So, after many months of not really using the space to it's full potential, I decided to go a step further and make it a place where I would not feel icky being in. I am realizing that I need a clean, organized and pretty space to inspire me.

So, here it is!!! I painted the walls...although it is hard to tell...a light/medium blue. It is actually quite peaceful looking. My friend was getting rid of her desk and I offered to take it and it is PERFECT for my space! There are multiple shelves for layering my things so it isn't on one flat surface. And a pull-out drawer, which you can see on the last picture, for my drill, heat gun, and soldering tray.

I re-organized my metal items, like copper and silver in the top three white drawers. And underneath that are my shipping items and ribbon for my packaging.

As you can see, I have all of my essentials for soldering, wire wrapping and beading on the desk but out of the main desktop. And there is the pull out "drawer" at the bottom. So, then I can just slide it back underneath when I am not using it. AND my wonderful purchase from IKEA are the items on the wall. I found them in the kitchen section. The majority are actually spice jars with screw on lids and a couple of shot glasses for the small amount of beads, stone, gems that I have. And the rack that you can buy hold four spice jars and one shot glass. I need to go back to IKEA and get three more shelves with jars to complete it and to put the rest of my beads. And last but not least are the curtain panels that I bought to section off the rest of the UGLY basement! It seems like I have my own little room for my jewelry designing.

This exciting! I can't wait to create!!!

BEFORE

AFTER

Copper Cuff

This is one of my newest copper creations. I felt like I discovered a secret in the jewelry design industry and wondered if anyone else knew about this. I was supposed to make copper hoop earrings for a customer and give it a heated patina color, which turns the copper a rosey reddish color depending how long you do it. It is a complicated process to figure out and it takes time and patience and mistakes. All of which I think I accomplished and maybe got a couple of gray hairs.

Well, when I told my customer that I would give her earrings a red patina, I didn't realize that my torch stopped working. (It was broke and had to buy another one..boo hoo.) And it was Sunday and my supply shop would not reopen until Tuesday early afternoon. I really wanted to get these earrings done and shipped out to her on Monday morning. I try very hard to get my items out asap. Being a stay-at-home-mom I never know when I will be able to get back to it.

So....I searched my brain as what I could do to turn these copper hoops red. And then I thought.."Hey, I have a heat gun, used for embossing, let me try that". IT WORKED!! And is so hard to mess up the metal. I would love to know what you think about it and if you have had an experience like this before....discovering another way to get the creative results you were looking for.

Gardening

So, lately my passion has been gardening. I need to get things planted and transplanted before it gets too hot. I thought that would come quicker than I remember in the past but with all of the rain the temperatures have been pretty nice. With a low this week of 48 and a high of 72 or so. Here are some pictures of what my hands have been creating. I have come to terms that it is a work in process and over time my back garden will grow lushly.

This is before with my little girl helping me on the side.


This is after...I need an update picture since this was about a month ago. Not too impressive but I have high hopes!! :-)


My little girl was actually helping me and enjoying it!

Our Molly girl, that's a different story. She takes it easy. And we love her!