Knitting Easy Cast On Method

Sculpting with Wire

Awhile back while attempting to manipulate wire I discovered how easy it is to make beautiful silver formed wire rings. I have several books on metalsmithing and wire work that I use as guides when working in metal. This is a simple wire sculpted ring from .925 sterling silver 14 gauge wire. With wire the lower the number the thicker the wire (I still forget that formula and occasionally have to look it back up in my books LOL). This ring is a simple scroll design formed using my ring mandrel, pliers and hammer.

Lazy Girl No Hassle Head Pin Design

I call these my Lazy Girl headpins. After searching for new and innovative ways to make my own sterling silver headpins (without having to fire up a torch). I have invented my own innovative and easy headpin design. I cut off about two inches of 28 gauge wire. Then I used my needle nose pliers and bent the wire about 2mm up from the bottom. I lightly squeezed it closed for a secure bend. Then I placed my beads on it to finish the earring design. This headpin works great for a quick and easy, no hassle handmade headpin. Happy beading!

New Design For My Etsy Shop

I've been working diligently trying to re do the design of my etsy shop to a more classic theme. Busy re taking photographs of my jewelry listings has just exhausted me. No matter how many times I look at the photos in my shop I see things that need to be re adjusted or changed. After awhile it all looks the same LOL. I've decided to step back and sleep on it for now and see how it looks to me tomorrow.

New Spring Earrings

I've been bead shopping for the past few days and have found some delicious little gems to create with. I was so excited to work with my new found treasures that I made seven pairs of earrings in one sitting. Now the hard part of photographing them for my shop. I'm always at the mercy of the sun as I take all my photos outside. I have only been successful with outdoor photography for my jewelry pictures. Nothing beats the natural light of the sunshine. I've included an update to some of my latest items posted in my shop.

Back to polymer clay...

One of my resolutions for this year is to perfect my polymer clay skills. I have dabbled with it for several years mainly when I was desperate for an original bead or pendant for one of my jewelry designs. Somehow, I never could figure out how to get mine to look as good as other p/c artists designs. I followed the directions for baking and glazing but I never felt confident enough to actually add it to one of my jewelry pieces. I know that beautiful results can be achieved using p/c and I hope to discover the secret to creating these beautiful pieces. I ran across a very helpful website by Cindy Lietz http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/. She has many tutorials and info on how to create with p/c. I am hoping this will be the year that I make some gorgeous beads and pendants out of polymer clay.