Assembling
Sneak peek! I am really excited to see all the pieces coming together. Click through to the full post to see all the pieces in process.
Blog
Turquoise treasures
Turquoise treasures – finished! At top is Autumn Creek Turquoise, at left is Treasure Mountain, and at bottom right is Bamboo Mountain. They’ll be available in my shop when it opens – soon!
Tempting turquoise
I am just getting back into the swing of things in my workshop. Today I was *so* excited to dig through all my cabochons again! For whatever reason I was super inspired by the amazing ...
Silversheen obsidian
Late last year I snagged a couple of pieces of this carved silversheen obsidian. I thought it would be good to practice my prong-setting again, as a way to keep this piece lightweight and easy ...
Early Spring details
One of the fun parts of creating a collection is establishing a theme, and then coming out with small details that distinguish each piece in the collection. For early spring, I’ve been thinking about buds, ...
Early Spring pattern
Here is the pattern I used on all the pieces in this Early Spring collection. We have had some warm days in the past few weeks, but this still feels more spring-y than Chicago does ...
Early Spring collection
In the late Fall last year, I decided that I wanted to start selling some of what I’ve been making. I have purchased so many beautiful stones, and I have a million ideas about pieces ...
Poetry
This macrame bracelet kit is another piece I started years ago, and just finished. It is called Poetry, by Janice Parsons.
So much snow …
It snowed multiple times this week, and this is the most accumulation we’ve had since moving to Chicagoland ten years ago. It is really peaceful and beautiful, in spite of the cold. Though it feels ...
Candies from Lucy
It’s been two months since the winter weather hit Chicagoland in earnest, and I am really starting to feel the pang of not being able to get into my workshop to metalsmith. What a pleasure ...
Peanut rope
More beadie projects. This one is a RAW (right angle weave) rope made with peanut beads. It is four feet long, but it worked up pretty quickly. I think I would like it better with ...
Flowery cuff
It’s been too cold for metalsmithing in the garage, so I’ve been working my way through some UFOs (unfinished objects). This is a piece I started with a group of beadie ladies, who I used ...
Gypsy Soul
Another UFO (unfinished object) completed before I get back to metalsmithing. This one is a wrap bracelet (using chenille stitch over memory wire) from a Jill Wiseman kit.
Happy Holidays
Wishing you and yours a healthy and peaceful holiday season. 🥰 It’s been 14F here in Chicagoland – too cold for metalsmithing in the garage, sadly. Hoping to have a few warm days next week, ...
Easier with practice
Here is the final piece from my studio last weekend – a large, stunning labradorite cabochon. I learned the prong setting from an online course by Lucy Walker Jewelry. This setting technique has gotten quicker ...
Sparkling clouds
It seems that I prefer to work very large or very small. This weekend I did a little bit of both. I just love the depth and sparkle of this small cloud-shaped moss kyanite. I ...
Winter white
I usually think of turquoise of a summery stone … but this one sings of winter to me. I’m absolutely smitten with this White Lavender turquoise. I’m really enjoying the new Liver of Sulphur I ...
Fall plantings
I went out to run some errands today and could help but snap a picture of these beautiful cabbages in planters.
Collections
In the past few weeks, I’ve been grouping my (zillion!) cabs into a series of small seasonal collections.
Alcohol inks
I’m starting to think about holiday cards again, which seems as good an excuse as any to try new craft supplies. There has been a flurry of activity in the craft community about alcohol ink, ...