Leaf & Lotus

In the midst of all the Christmas Chaos, I am trying to finish a few more items for the store.  I showed you the luscious Labradorite I had a while back and am finally getting around to doing something with it.  They’re in the header photo at the top of the page on the left, if you want to have a peek.

Sometimes the simplest shapes are what works best.  I wanted a simple cutout for this smaller pendant and leaves just make me happy.  I have pages and pages of leaf silhouettes that will all eventually end up in designs.  This one is clean and basic.  None of the drama of Ginkgo nor the featherishness of fronds.  Just a little leaf.  The glow of Labradorite behind it is going to bring it alive.

There is something exotic about Lotus.  Even the word itself…..say it out loud with me…..Looootussss.  Sensual.  Mystical.  Transcendent.  There are so many ways to draw Lotus.  Even in its most stylized form, it’s always familiar and identifiable.  It’s a fitting backdrop for that drop-dead Tiger’s Eye with the bands of Hematite running through it.

It just wouldn’t be a Jan Mac week without some swirls.  I’m digging the sort of Art Deco, old-world meets new-world look of these swirly pendants.  This little Labradorite lovely will also be reversible….the other thing I’m digging these days.

The top two just need their bails and the bottom one just needs its stone set.  I’ll post my progress tomorrow.  I’m determined to finish at least ONE of them.  See you tomorrow.

A Little History

Something rather exciting came out of the Craft Fair on the weekend that I’d like to share with you all.  The bath products sold really, really well.  In fact, I totally sold out of my favorite soap, the Almond Oatcake.

This didn’t really surprise me and I’m going to make a fresh batch this weekend as well as order at least a quart of this fragrance.  It’s sooooo nummy.

Part of the reason I make soap is I really love the organic feel of the process.  There’s something downright magical about watching a bunch of oil emulsify with the lye solution and swirl itself into soap.  I love that it’s old-fashioned, the way they did things “back in the day”.

The really exciting thing is that I was approached by Tammy, the Manager of the Creston Museum and she asked me if I was interested in putting my soap line and jewelry into the gift shop at the museum.

I have to tell you, saying yes to this great opportunity is a no-brainer for me.  I’m honoured to be asked and, quite frankly, really excited about tailoring part of the soap line to the Museum itself.  I’m thinking antiqued papers, sepia tones, elegant fonts.  Lovely brown bottles.   Apothecary-style.

If you haven’t checked out the Creston Museum yet, you really should.  We often overlook great resources like this when they’re in our back yard.  Pay them a visit and experience a bit of the history of your very own town.  You can visit the website here:  Creston Museum.  Have a look and see what they’re all about!

That Brick Wall

Ever feel like you’re pounding your head against a brick wall?  That sentence perfectly describes my weekend in a nutshell.  Note the last 4 letters of the previous sentence.

Knowing I only have one week until the Craft Fair has made me a little edgy.  I didn’t even blog on Friday because I wanted to put my energy into finishing some pieces.  It didn’t happen.  It wasn’t for lack of trying but I got pretty much nothing done.  I soldered all my bezels onto my sheet backing using medium solder and it went more smoothly than I could have hoped.  Dropped them all into the pickle and planned on a day of production Saturday.  Didn’t happen.

I pulled the pieces out of the pickle and all the bezels fell off.  Every last one of them.  So began the trouble-shooting.  I used medium solder, which I seldom use and had a bit of trouble getting to flow.  I chalked it up to the large pieces that needed to be heated.  Seems I shouldn’t have.  I also put a fire-coat spray on the pieces to keep the need for polishing down.  I don’t know if it was the spray, the solder, the flux, or what the problem was but it took me several tries to get those dang bezels stuck down.  I’ve never had this problem before and I just wanted to throw something….or several somethings.

I think I’m good-to-go now and I did get some of the cutouts done today before coming to work, but seriously, it was one of the most frustrating situations I’ve ever had since I began building jewelry.  The time-crunch, of course, only added to the aggravation.  I think I’m going to start packing a sledge-hammer around though….for the next brick wall that plunks itself in front of me.

Cut That Out!

Ever since I did the first reversible medallion with a cutout, I’ve wanted to do more.   Remember these stones?

All of these are large enough to lend themselves to this type of setting….the small labradorite is just barely big enough, but I can make it work.  The first thing of course is to build the bezel-rings, which I’ve already done.  The next is to draw the cutout designs.

Nothing special here…plain paper, a dull pencil because I’m at work and of course can’t find the pencil sharpener.  The placements for setting the wire bails on the tops are just approximate but the designs themselves are pretty much what I’m after.

For the record, the circles will either be cut with setting burs or with a drill.  I COULD try and cut perfect little circles but hey,  why torture myself?  I cuss too much as it is.  Now all that’s left is to glue the papers onto the sterling silver sheet and…..

……wait for it…….

……..

…………

……………..

CUT THAT OUT!!………….*donkey laugh*………….yes, I amuse THAT easily.

Mad About Plaid

Being of Scottish heritage means one thing in my family.  We’re Scots.  Spirit of the West’s lyrics “There’s none more Scots than the Scots abroad” ring strong and true for those of us who are scions of the Auld Sod.  But make no mistake, we’re Scots….not Scotsmen (I’m a lass, don ye ken?), not Scotch (though we may tipple a wee bit), and most certainly not Scotchmen.  Lass, remember?

That being said, plaid is kind of like Magnetic North or Brad Pitt.  We’re attracted to it.  It whispers to us in the night “Come hither into yon heather and wrap yourself in tartan”.   It doesn’t really matter if it’s OUR plaid or not.  It’s worn to marry and to bury, in love and in loss.  It’s about clan and kin and the ties that bind.

Some dear soul went to a ton of trouble to make this glorious little bit of plaid.  Working with dichroic glass is something I hope to do in the near future, but I’m positive that it will be a long while before I’m anywhere near proficient enough to produce something like this.  The next pic is taken with a flash just to show you the shimmer this glass produces.

It really is quite lovely, and quite large.  The whole piece measures 7.5 cm x 6 cm and has a sparkly cz at the top for just a bit more glitter and glam.  My heart will not break if it doesn’t sell….just don’t tell my hubby.

I’m off now to explain to the Swedish side of the family what the “big deal about being a Scot is anyway”.  Again.  It never gets old and it’s ALWAYS fun.  Usually involves intricate descriptions of various recipes for haggis and the waving of a Scotch bottle. Sláinte!