crafty goodness. and a good cause!

one of my 'creative' goals this year was to participate in one craft show/vendor event this year (babies sure take up a lot of time so i am starting small) and it looks like it is going to happen (else i lose my booth fee!) so i have been working on some new things and bringing back some old designs in order to fill up the space that i've been assigned.  some previews...

double duty for the bulletin board that usually hangs above my desk at the office

new pink (yes, PINK!) whisper-thin hoops... i am test-driving them as we speak to see how they hold up.  but they sure look pretty.

so i will be at the "Women/Men That ROCK!" event in Newmarket, ON, helping to raise money for "Look Good Feel Better", an organization that helps people with cancer get through treatment and beyond.  the details are HERE - tickets are only $10 and is all ages!  i am donating a portion of the proceeds to this cause too - because it's amazing. 

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the art of neglect... and a pre-holiday sale!

so i've been quite neglectful of this blog and i'm sort of embarrassed.  i look back at past posts and like seeing where i've been and what was inspiring.  so now, i am posting again - admittedly, because i'd like to show off some of the things i've been working on in the rare spare moments i've had between the family, The Walking Dead, and the day job. 

gifted to the stylist of "BONES" - not sure if they'll use it, but i sure love mine!

fingers crossed - these babies were chosen for an unnamed TNT network show - i'll let you know when the episode airs!

the latest incarnation of my fidget rings - 'jewelry for anxious people' as dubbed by my friend Anne-Marie from 'do not faint'

i've been working on expanding my "fidget" jewelry.  i've had some amazingly positive feedback from customers who have said that their fidget rings from my shop have worked better than any therapy or medication to help them with their symptoms.  seriously - it makes everything - EVERYTHING - worth it and fuels me all the more to keep making them.

and of course, in celebration of the holidays, from today until December 1st, 2014, everything in my shop is 15% off with the coupon code "NOVEMBER15"!  it's not to early to start your holiday shopping!!!!!

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tied up.

get your mind out of the gutter.  I am referring to this sweet little bow necklace, the result of a custom order for one of my beautiful brides.  her lucky flower girl will be the recipient of this at the September wedding!  available now in the shop - click here to view!  I think that rings may be soon to follow...

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stud.

In my nearly non-existent spare time, I have been trying to perfect my technique for soldering posts onto my earrings because I have been enamored with the idea of utilizing sterling scrap (between Julie and myself we generate tons of scrap) - it's the eco-friendly part of me I suppose.  so now I finally am happy with the results and am introducing these recycled sterling stud earrings into my repertoire!  using a combination of solder and fusion, I've been able to solidly attach sterling posts onto wonderfully rough and organic recycled silver "buds".  so yummy.

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ten golden rings.

I've been experimenting with some amazing gold filled wire and although my go-to metal is sterling, this stack is pretty impressive.  you can get yours HERE!

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knotted up. in precious metal.

 

lots in my personal life has been keeping me busy, but i squeezed in a few moments to re-create my knot ring in a trio of precious metal - sterling, rose gold fill and 14K gold fill.  pretty, non?

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from paper to reality.

 

this drawing stayed stuck to my desk at the office for a few months before i took it down to bring home with me when i started my maternity leave.  then it stayed stuck to the fridge, then on the cupboard above the kettle, then in my sketchbook... until i finally had the time to make the design.  i am really happy with the finished product, which i made entirely from scratch (earwires and all!!!!) from sterling and reclaimed rose gold filled wires.  part dreamcatcher, part jellyfish, and completely modern and organic, i love them.  thoughts?

 

 

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making a statement.

working on some statement jewelry, inspired by the rings i made for Stana Katic.  not sure how i'll ship these babies if i ever sell them, but i'm liking how they all turned out.

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pretty as a princess.

 

just fooling around with some amazing gallery wire - the sort of wire you use to make bezels with.  not that i am setting any gemstones anytime soon, but i am itching to make a new stack of rings and this one is the crowning glory.  i sort of feel like i am cheating because i have no hand in the fabrication of the wire, but i am loving the delicacy of it. 

 

 

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still here. still waiting.

yup, i'm still here, still waiting for this baby to make his/her appearance... and it looks like this kid is taking his/her sweet time!  which is okay - just uncomfortable.  i haven't been venturing far from the house, just in case something happens, which has given me some time to work on some of the designs that have ended up in my sketchbook.  i'm loving the geometric linear-ness of the open hoops in the photo above, and think that they might be my new favorites!  a little bit new wave, a little bit minimalist, they are lightweight and really quite stunning, if i do say so myself!

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two twisted.

i don't know why i haven't offered my twisted rings as a mini stack yet, but today, i am!  i have to admit that i love the texture of the twisted wire and the two metals together are a minimalist's dream!  check them out here in the shop - i have a size 9 1/2 ready to ship!

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more love.

i don't know if it's because i'm in the home stretch at work (less than 2 weeks left to go then VACATION and maternity leave - whoot whoot!) or if it's because i'm anticipating the drastic reduction in torch time that i am going to have for the next few months (boo hoo!) but i've been working on some new designs.  including these really lovely modern hoops - with rose gold hearts - my newest addition to the "we are in love" collection!  kind of romantic, don't you think?  yeah, me too - almost sickly sweet romantic.  oh well.  hormones will do that to you.

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we are in love.

i test drove this new earring design today... rose gold filled heart hoops!  totally romantic and totally sweet - and wonderfully lightweight to wear!  so, they passed the test and are now listed in the shop!  14K gold filled and sterling versions to follow - don't be afraid to fall for these!

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hip to be square.

so i think i've mastered the round hoop, and i've been experimenting a little with other angles (ahem, pun intended) i am quite happy with these thoroughly modern, slightly asymmetrical, sparse sterling hoops.  fashioned out of lightweight sterling, i think these just might be my new favorites.  watch for them in the shop...

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more spinning.

well, not in the handspun yarn/prick your finger on the spindle sort of way, but in relation to my spinnerette collection, and, as my friend Anne-Marie would say - "jewelry for anxious people"!  inspired by a custom request, i am now thrilled to show off these lovely sterling silver hammered hoops, accented by a rosy copper "spinnerette".  a beautiful mix of metals, this is another discreet way to fidget during meetings or appointments!  just lovely, and perfect for summer!  (and of course, available with a sterling or 14K gold filled "spinner" as well!)

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it's all about the necklace...

i always love working with people on custom jewelry - they always have wonderful ideas and perspective!  this is a trio of pendants that i made for a birthday present - organic and modern at the same time, and in sterling, rose gold and 14K gold filled.  love love love these!

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wedding season!

you can always tell when wedding season is upon us - the request for rings definitely increases!  just showing off a lovely pair of twisted sterling silver wedding bands that were just sent off to the bride and groom-to-be!  makes me wish i worked in white gold... or even better, platinum!

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the open hoop. again.

 yes.  i am obsessed.  the idea of the open hoop earring is floating through my brain all the time lately (that and that darned katy perry song "california girls" - the mini is crazy over it and we've listened to it about 50 times in the last two days - don't ask) - probably because i have about 10 feet of gorgeous, reclaimed sterling silver sitting on my worktable and i can't stop myself from fooling around with it.  (oops.  that sounds kind of dirty.)  i just pulled these babies out of the tumbler and i think they are my new favorites.  they are a larger version than the ones i made earlier this week and are more along the lines of my "wishbone" earrings.  they are lightweight and just full of silvery shiny goodness - the little rustic balled ends are also a nice design element, i think.

i had asked my friend julie for her feedback on the earlier version and she said that she preferred the "wishbone" design rather than the crossover.  (like L, julie has impeccable taste and is a fantastic model for my jewelry - not the mention the inspiration behind the original mini open hoops)  and i think i have to agree.  i'm loving the more improvised, informal shape of these, as well as the softer lines and rounder forms.  i think that i'm going to make myself a killer iTunes playlist, melt a little metal, and go a little larger with the next set of earrings. 

hmmmm.  stay tuned for more.  i'm psyched.

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