monolith. and the bud wishbones.

 i've been working on some new designs as well as some new photo backdrops (gotta keep it interesting, right?) so i'm showing off some of this weekend's results.  the picture above is of my "monolith" band in sterling silver - seriously shiny and seriously gorgeous in its imperfect state. 

these argentium sterling bud wishbone earrings are really complemented by these beach stones, collected on that super sunny day a few weeks ago on the shores of lake ontario.  i love the juxtaposition of the curve of the metal against the pitted surfaces of the rocks.

i've been using my old olympus fe-20 because somehow, in the last few days, either myself or the mini has misplaced my fantastic black samsung sl-102 somewhere in our house.  with the usb cord and everything.  sigh.  however, i do admit that this camera can't be beat for it's super macro setting.  delicious.

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spiralling.

... but not out of control!  i've been experimenting a little with my wishbone style earrings and came up with these lovelies!  sculptural, linear, almost like a line drawing come to life.  there's a "spiral jetty" (r.i.p. robert smithson) kind of feel to them, but they're still feminine while being deliciously modern.  while i do love working with solder and flame, there is something quite straightforward and simple about cold forging wire.  sigh.

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size isn't everything.

i don't know why i never thought of this in the first place, but i'm presenting the small size of my wishbone argentium sterling silver open hoop earrings.  small, but powerful.  seriously.

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working. and not working.

 i have been blissfully off work for a week.  while it was planned vacation time, i find that it has served more of a stress leave than a vacation.  it's so amazing how spending time with your kid and family can really make the awfulness of work stress seem far away.  i know that when i go back on tuesday (yay, long holiday weekend!) things will start up again, but i'm hoping that i will be rested - and zen - enough to handle it all.  i'm thinking that september really can't be any worse than august was!

that being said, i also have been working on new jewelry offerings... i knew the time off would be good for my brain!  so check out the thick sinple 14K gold filled band (first picture) and this marvelous (if i do say so myself!) wedding ring stacking set!  matching a recycled "diamond" solitare with a beaded band and plain stacking ring, this is just fabulous.  alternative, yes.  romantic, even more so.  and an indication of more designs to come. 

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fusion.

no, i'm not talking about some weird new cuisine.  i'm talking about the fabulous technique of fusing.  fine silver, which is 99.9% silver (vs. sterling, which is 92.5% silver) can be fused - saving you time (and money) in regards to using flux and solder.  (flux and solder... i should have named my jewelry business that instead.  poop.)  i have been experimenting with fusing small fine silver links with my torch and really, in my opinion, it is seriously controlled MELTING.  i've been snipping fine silver wire with my flush cutters and making sure that the ends of the wire meet as completely as i can.  then i take my torch and heat the areas to be joined together.  we all know how i feel about melting stuff and i admit get a little bit of a thrill from watching the "flash" that occurs right at the precise moment that the silver becomes molten and then fuses at the join.  i've been also trying my hand at fusing sterling silver and even though they say it doesn't work... i've been somewhat successful at fusing some of the thicker wire pieces.  including these two rings.  i am not sure if the join will hold, but it seems pretty strong.  now if i could just fuse my attention to the pile of stuff waiting on my desk at the office...

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silvery intertwined ring.

i've finally gotten around to making one of the intertwined rings with thick half round sterling wire.  i actually made it for myself - i'm definitely a "silver" girl, always have been.  the width of the wire is more than the thickest round wire that i use, and the flat side gives it delicious movement  (which makes it perfect for fidgeting.)

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spring giveaway!

seriously, i just realized that i haven't had a giveaway since last september.  talk about slacking!  so without further ado, i'm offering up a custom set of two skinny sterling stacking rings!  all you need to do is this:

- follow my blog (1 entry)
- follow me on twitter (muffintop5) (1 entry)
- leave a post here and tell me about what you are most thankful for today (1 entry)
- if you blog or twitter about this giveaway, you'll get an extra entry - just remember to post here that you've done that as well.

i'll use the all omniscent random.org to choose a winner on april 15th! please leave a comment here for each thing that you do go get an entry so that i can do the draw properly!  don't forget to also leave your email address or a link to your site so that i can contact you if you win!  and make sure that you know what your ring size is!!!!!

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back to work.

and not in the good artsy jewelry making sort of way.  it was back to the office for me this morning - and it was a gray, rainy morning, mirroring the way i felt.  sigh.  and of course, inspiration hits at inopportune moments, but i'm hoping to have some time to work on some new ring designs.

i did have some time to try to make a copper version of the tiny bud earrings, but quickly found out that copper has different melting properties than sterling.  much different.  i think i went through a whole tank of butane and now i have a whole bunch of twisted, charred wire fragments littering my workspace.  but i'm determined to get it right... so stay tuned. 

in the meantime... i'm totally loving the freelance whales.  what a nice surprise.  a little bit of ride, a little bit of swervedriver, a little bit of chapterhouse with a sprinkling of belle & sebastian.  because, of course, we can always just be friends.  yummy.

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lucky. horseshoe.

so the lovely j.r. wanted to see what i wasted so much wire on yesterday.  i've been mulling over the idea of a horseshoe hinged earring design - where the lower part of the hoop is made up of substantial hammered wire and then the loop that goes through the ear is thinner but still sturdy.  i wanted movement but chunky - does that even make sense?  i have to admit that i am not the best at making wire loops (damn carpal tunnel!) but i've been trying. 
the main design issue for me is making sure that the loops on the larger part of the earring are roomy enough for the smaller wire loops to move so that the earrings have some swing to them.  i also need to use a thinner gauge wire for the part that goes through the ear - 18 gauge is a little too thick, i fear.

here are the workable "prototypes" of the lucky horseshoe earrings that i finished last night.  the larger one is in copper (which i probably should have started with in the first place instead of wasting all that sterling) and the smaller in silver.  "lucky" is an appropriate name since it was probably not a good idea to have worked on them after having a drink - i was pretty lucky that i didn't hammer my fingers off.  (i did get my thumb once though.  #$%#$^.)

thoughts?

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sweet november

i can't believe that it's november already. in the flurry of work, motherhood and wifely duties, the time seems to be just flying by. i have been stealing some moments though to play with some new gemstones and sterling. i was commissioned to create an alternative engagement ring for someone and it turned out wonderfully! the client requested a labradorite stone to be set in silver, then woven together with a thick simple copper band. just lovely! so i have taken that ring idea one step further and have been experimenting with copper and sterling and stone. i think that the combination is just lovely... but take a look for yourself!

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Autumn Giveaway!

seriously, the days are just flying by. sometimes i turn around and i can't even remember where the week went! i even find that this new job is even busier than my other job - and that job was CRAZY! however, i have to admit that i am liking the change and am adjusting slowly.

one of the best things about change is that sometimes it triggers little bursts of inspiration for me. i love simple designs in sterling and i have become obsessed with the idea of the eternity circle as an earring. i have been focusing on rings for the most part, but have made several pairs of earrings that i can't stop wearing!

so, in celebration of the change in the seasons, i'm giving away one of my newest designs - the simply rustic eternity earrings in sterling! all you have to do is follow my blog and leave a post here and tell me about the most recent change in your life! if you blog or twitter about this giveaway, you'll get an extra entry - just remember to post here that you've done that as well. i'll use the all omniscent random.org to choose a winner on october 15th! don't forget to also leave your email address or a link to your site so that i can contact you if you win!

happy autumn, everyone!

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setting stones.

lately, things have seemed very busy. if it's not work, it's unpacking. if it's not unpacking, it's the mini clamoring for attention. if it's not the mini, it's the husband (usually he's hungry or can't find something.) but i've been carving out some precious ME time lately to explore my newest obsession... setting stones! i'm proud (and sorta shy) to share this stacking ring set - from top to bottom, garnet, amber and turquoise, all set in sterling and accompanied by various simple sterling stacking bands. it's funny though - i would have thought that the mini would not be interested in what i've been doing, but she loves to watch the flame on my torch (she points and says, "HOT!) and takes off with my rawhide mallet whenever she gets the chance.

think it's been worth the sleepless nights this week? i'd like to think so! hopefully soon i'll have them in my shop - once i stop making them for myself!

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summertime giveaway! i want your ideas!

i'm feeling a little creatively stumped. so i've decided to do a giveaway related to creativity! up for grabs is a pair of my fabulous argentium silver hammered wishbone earrings!

all you have to do is one (or all) of the following:

- follow my blog (1 entry)

- follow me on twitter (1 entry)

- heart my etsy shop (1 entry)

- take a look at my shop and give me a new design idea! (2 entries)

if you twitter or blog about this giveaway, you'll get an extra entry! so start typing away... don't forget to post a separate comment for each entry and make sure i can find you later if you win! (email address, url, etc.) i'll be using the totally random random.org to choose someone on june 26th, so enter! NOW!

(fyi - this giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents!)

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