Happy Holidays!!

Hello all!  I just wanted to post a Happy Holidays wish to all my readers.  2013 has been a great year.  I am so appreciative of all the people who support my work.  This past weekend was the Plowshares Craftsfair and Peace Festival.  It was a fun show, as always, and good to see many return customers and old friends!

"Let it Snow", sterling with dendritic agate.

I have many things planned for 2014.  After some much-needed R&R, I will be gearing up for an opening at Edgewood Gallery in Syracuse at the end of February.  Stay tuned for more details!  Have a warm and wonderful Holiday everyone!!

Bling.

I just completed seven rings, all sterling with a dark patina.  Once in awhile we all need something sparkly to put us in a festive mood, right?  I had fun making these.  The first is dendritic quartz, with lovely tree-like formations in it.  On the right is amethyst.  In the middle is my own take on the classic skull, also known in Victorian times as a "memento mori" ring.  The Victorians often wore skulls to ward off death.  "Memento mori" can be translated as "remember that we all must die", in other words cherish life!

Below is a reversible pendant in sterling silver with imperial jasper.  On the other side you can see the full round green cabochon.

In the Studio

I finally have a moment to post!  I hope everyone has been enjoying the lovely fall weather.  It has been warmer than usual this year in Central New York and perfect for day hikes. I have still managed to fit in some work time, despite being tempted to enjoy the outdoors daily!

I wanted to share a glimpse of my studio where all the jewelry is created.  Below is a shot of my work bench.  I purchased a traditional jeweler's bench a few years ago and I love it!  It is heavy and sturdy, and withstands much hammering and abuse.

The piece on the right is one of my latest.  The stone is ocean jasper.  To me this stone looks like a beautiful moonscape in shades of green and pink.

Below is a bracelet, recently finished.  The stones are blue calcedony and peridot, with heavy sterling links.   Over the next few weeks I will be producing many new pieces for the holiday season.  This year I will be once again participating in the Plowshares Craft Fair and Peace Celebration the first weekend in December.  Stay tuned for more information!

Clothesline Festival this Weekend!!!

Sterling silver octopus cuff bracelet with peridot and blue topaz. 

This weekend is the Clothesline Festival at the Memorial Art Gallery in Rochester.  I hope some of you can come out for this show.  Clothesline is a juried fine craft show with over 400 vendors.  The weather forcast is great.  I wanted to share some of the new pieces that will be available this weekend.  I've been working very hard and I hope you all love the new work! 

 



Antique French bakelite cicada set in sterling with pink tourmaline, and  rhodolite garnet.  I love these antique cicada brooches.  They are getting harder to find, and this one is a beauty!

 

Green tourmaline, ocean jasper, sage amethyst, amethyst stalactite, ruby in fuchsite bracelet.



I think my mother would like this one.  Ocean jasper and peridot "Endless Summer" bracelet and necklace. 

Dreams of the Sea

Tim and I have just returned from a wonderful trip to Cape Cod. We spent a week boating, kayaking, hiking, and biking. Our favorite spot on the Cape is Wellfleet. It is a sweet little village full of galleries and excellent food with a very laid-back atmosphere. Our trips to the Cape have inspired many jewelry pieces over the years.  This one is titled "Poseidon's Queen".  Poseidon was, of course, the Greek God of the Sea.  The stones are ocean jasper, sunstone, aquamarine, freshwater and saltwater pearls.  This necklace was included in the "Celebration of the Arts" show and sold last month.

 My feet, on the beautiful pebbled sandy beach of the Cape.......for some reason I'm very fond of this photo.  Cheers!

A Path Through the Forest

"A Path Through the Forest" could mean many things, but in this case it is a locket within which something can be kept safe.  I made this locket in the last two days as a custom order for someone to give his beloved.  I love to imagine all the things my designs could signify.  The locket is entirely hand-crafted.  The top layer is pierced using a jewelers saw and then soldered to another layer of silver.  The hinges and catches on these little guys can be very tricky but I'm getting better at it!  I also made a similar one with a tree of life on it. 



                                                                                        I finally succeeded in taking some presentable photos of earrings.  For some reason I find earrings the hardest to photograph.  I'm still working on developing my skills with photography.  The red flower earrings are made with fossilized coral cabochons.  The pair to the right are lace agate and turquoise.

This evening I will be attending a meeting for the SALT Makerspace.  SALT stands for Syracuse Alternative Learning and Technology Makerspace.  The group is still in the planning phase, but are well along the way to making this awesome idea a reality in Syracuse.  A "makerspace" is essentially a space for people to get together for the purpose of making - as in art, sculpture, etc. - and provide the tools and facility for such making to happen.  Ideally it creates a unique opportunity for people to work together, share ideas, share equipment, teach each other, and above all MAKE STUFF!  I'm not one of the original group, but have joined recently and I'm very excited about the project.  I hope I have described the mission accurately and I'll keep you posted as the project develops! 

A New Frida Cuff Plus an Opening

Hello.  Wow, June has been a whirlwind busy month!    I have barely had time to catch my breath.  I am working on some special pieces for an opening next week at Gallery 54.  I am one of two featured artists.  The other is my friend Sharon Bottle-Souva, a talented fabric artist.  We will have live music as well. Join us July 5 from 5-9!


"Viva la Vida" cuff with 14k gold and turquoise.

So the truth is that I rarely keep my own jewelry, but the piece above is one I don't think I can part with.  It is very similar to the Frida cuff I made a couple years ago that sold.  This one is specially sized to my wrist and I just love it.  I searched for a long time for just the right piece of turquoise to put in it.  I am almost finished with a second Frida cuff, similar to this one but with a gorgeous dark blue azurite stone.  It will be for sale next week at the opening.  Also for sale will be this awesome quilt made by Sharon titled "Above the Falls".  Hope you can make it!