Days Twenty One Through Twenty Four Of My Creative Challenge

I’m moving right along with my twelve week creative challenge, I’m just making things a bit faster than I can photograph them so bear with me.

For day 21, I made this necklace from an old watch case I found somewhere amidst all the junk I’ve collected over the years.  I think I’ll finish it with tones of silver, gold and raw brass.

On day 22, I made this Venetian style cross necklace, carnivale is coming up in February so I hope to have a series of masks and jewelry to show for the occasion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Which brings us to this crystal carnival mask I started on day 23.  I think I need to add a lot more dangling beads and chains, but we’ll see.

And finally for day 24, I struggled to make my way into the studio and I have only the beginning of a renaissance style necklace to show for it.

That’s all for today, I hope you’re following me on FaceBook and have a chance to check out my ETSY shop? In the meantime, take care.

#MyPinkPlanet

 

Day Nineteen Of My Twelve Week Creative Challenge

For today, the 19th day of my 12 week creative challenge, I took an old rooster head brooch I’d made back in the 1980’s, added some charms, beads, a swag and converted it into a pendant necklace.

I may still add to it but for today I’m satisfied.

#MyPinkPlanet

 

A Steampunk Show? Why Not!

Well, I don’t know if you can see my name in the fine print here, but I’ve happily taken part in the Steampunk Providence show.  It’s been awhile since I’ve made anything in this genre, of which I’m a big fan, so I jumped at the chance.  Two of these pieces have been extracted from my archives so you may remember them, and the other two were made just for this show.

The show runs through the end of October 2016, so if you’re interested in purchasing any of them I’ll be posting them in my etsy shop.

Giving New Life To Old Beads

People are always drawn to my rhinestone and crystal work, which I’m very proud of and very much enjoy doing.  But sometimes I feel that my more tailored work gets overlooked, so it means a lot to me when I’m asked to design an everyday piece.  I was recently approached by a friend to see if I could make something out of these old stone beads that she had purchased many years ago.

They were on a temporary string, not jewelers quality, and all different shapes and sizes ranging from one to two inches in length.  When I removed them from the string, I found they had very large irregular holes drilled through them.  This type of bead is typically seen as a single bead with a piece of leather cord run through it, perhaps with a few accent beads on either side and sold as a necklace or bracelet.

The large uneven holes posed a challenge in that stringing them with spacing beads just wouldn’t hang right, and the weight of the beads would make any string or cord I used give way in no time.  I like the rough, unfinished quality of these beads, so My decision was to connect them with raw brass fittings.  I slid brass rods through them and soldered brass jump rings at either end.

This was very tricky because the beads have many fine cracks and if they got too hot while I soldered them they could easily shatter.  Normally I would have this necklace plated for a more uniform look and to cover up the solder marks.  But it is highly unlikely these stone beads would have made it through the plating process without discoloring, losing their polish, or breaking.

And here is the finished piece…

As it turns out, the customer “loved it” and she was in agreement with me that the raw brass and solder marks actually add to the piece.

Don’t forget to check out my shop!

 

Another Successful Show

Thank you to everyone who came out to the RISD Spring Alumni Show on Saturday.  Thanks to you and some beautiful weather the day was a terrific success.  Oh, and don’t forget to visit my online shop too!

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A Watch Case, A Key, And A Broken Brooch

I’ve been on a recycling kick lately, or I guess in this case up-cycling.  In creating these three necklaces I began with a found object each of which have been kicking around my house for years awaiting some kind of new found usefulness.  Well, here it is…

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By the way, these necklaces are currently available on my etsy shop, http://www.MyPinkPlanet.etsy.com