Getting Ready for WV Highlands Gallery Event

A few words is about all the time I have to share with you.  I'm overwhelmed with a deadline for an exciting event.  WV Highlands Gallery is having a party and sale this Saturday to celebrate Presidents Day.  That means my shelves need to be full. 

Bracelet:  Copper, Antiqued with Crystals. I found this link tutorial in a book by Sharilyn Miller. 

I am looking forward to the party.  They are always fun.  I'm also one of the cookie bakers and have 4 dozen Snickerdoodles to bake.  I wonder where and who came up with the funny word Snickerdoodle?  This time of the year I take on a temporary job, from Jan through mid-April, in the local tax accounting office. I love it and all of the wonderful people I get to speak with, but it does cut into the time I have for preparing jewelry.  Not to worry, I just need to watch less television!

Here are a few of the new pieces that I've prepared for the event.  I don't usually post this many pictures in one blog.  I guess I could have broken it up into several post, but then again they are all related to the gallery.

Bracelet:  Silver Filled, and large Crazy Lace Agate.  'The Big and The Bold!'

Necklace:  Copper, Hand Forged, Antiqued.  This is a design by Linda Jones.

Earrings:  Copper, Hand Forged, Antiqued, to match the necklace.  This is a design by Linda Jones.

Bracelet:  Silver Filled, Herringbone Weave with Composite Stone.

Bracelet:  Copper, Antiqued with Composite Stone. 

Necklace:  Copper, Antiqued.

Bracelet:  Silver Filled, Silver Filigree and Blue Crystals

Earrings:  Copper, Antiqued with Glass Beads.  Design by Linda Jones.

Earrings:  Copper, Antiqued, Glass and Swarovski Crystals.  Design by Linda Jones.

Necklace:  Copper, Hand Forged, Antiqued Chain with 2 Filigree Copper Hearts safe inside the Locket.



Now, I get to take a break and maybe a bit of television.

Thank you for visiting.

Linda

Lynn Merchant has a Video on Youtube

There I was minding my own business on Facebook.  Ummm, actually checking out everybodies business on Facebook.  There I spotted a comment from my friend and fellow wire jewelry artist Jeanette Blix Ryan.  She had posted a Youtube link for a video by Lynn Merchant.  I finally got to see her in action. Happy Dance time!  For those who don't know, Lynn Merchant is the wire jewelry artist behind my madness.  She's exceptionally talented and is the inspiration for many artist.

By Lynne Merchant

Here's the link if you'd like to see Lynn Merchant in action.  http://youtu.be/LCyfUVUGR0U Or if you'd rather you can go to Youtube.com and search for Lynne Merchant.

Enjoy!

Linda

Making Cold Connections with a Cold

Even with a head cold, I can manage a pun!  The past several days have had me very non-productive and non-functional.  The dreaded winter cold took up residence in my head.  I try to be a good hostess.  I truly do, but this visitor was not invited.  I have served it with an eviction notice.  Today I felt a tad better, so I used my time to twist and turn some wire.  After taking the picture I can see a glaring imperfection!  Sooooooo, I guess this pendant is mine!  All mine!   I'll get the pliers out and tweak out the kink!  If the public seems to like it I'll make another, without the glaring kink and put it out there in sale land.

I found this design when I searched for Robin Dudley-Howes.  I had recently purchased her tutorial on a tube bead from  Fundametals.net  Since I fell in love with the tube bead I was certain that I would love all of her work and I was right.  When I saw the picture of her pendant I just had to attempt it.

Here's the earrings I made just for me from the tube bead tutorial.  I was feeling like a sicko at the time so I decided to insert affirmations into the tubes.  In the future I'll do something with flowers or more affirmations.

A New Wire Link

I do my darnest to design a new wire link.  Sometimes I'm successful.  Sometimes I'm not.  I guess it's like writers block, only its wire block.  So that's when I re-read magazines and books in my jewelry library.  There are so many talented and creative jewelry artist and they are very generous with publishing their tutorials.

Cindy Wimmer has created a lovely necklace in sterling silver.  She has named 'Heart Strings Necklace'.  I found it in the January 2011 'Step by Step Wire Jewlery' magazine.  I'm certain that I've seen this necklace before, but for whatever reason it just wasn't the time for me to attempt.  It takes a lot of effort for me to 'let loose' and let the wire be a bit relaxed.  Even when it's absolutely beautiful.  How loose is loose enough?  It looks like I should be relaxed while making this link, but noooooooo I was uptight.  At first I didn't have any fun, but with time and practice, I kept making them, and making them, until I had enough links that passed my quality control standards.   This necklace was made with copper wire and painted glass beads.  It is adjustable in length from 18" to 20". 

Of course the public will be the real judge of whether I have achieved Cindy's technique, if or when it actually sells.  I guess the important things to remember is that I completed the necklace. 

Thank you for visiting.  I hope you have some love, fun and laughter.

Linda

Loving Crazy Lace Agate

If you’ve read my blog before, you know how passionate I am about Crazy Lace Agate. The first time I saw it there was instant love. It has beautiful natural lines and markings and then some genius magically colored it a vibrant denim friendly blue. Then I found it in a fuchsia pink, purple and now it’s available in green.

Today I put the finishing touches on a fuchsia pink crazy lace agate and copper necklace. It's adjustable from 16" to 20" in length. Sometimes I have an idea or plan for the piece of jewelry I want to create. Sometimes the plan changes or evolves. I was looking through my drawers of beads, stones and crystals and these lovelies caught my eye and then stuck to my hands. My next thought was ‘oh, these will make a nice bracelet’. I sat down with some copper wire and when this piece was about the size of a bracelet I laid it on my wrist. I really liked it. I remember thinking ‘oh, how pretty!’ But, I felt a strong pull to keep going and turn it into a necklace and I’m happy that I followed my intuition.

This necklace will go on display at the WV Highlands Gallery in Davis, WV (the link is on the left side of my blog), next month. I’m ordering a larger display and I have plans for a section dedicated to necklaces. The new display is a big step for me and for whatever reason I’ve been dragging my feet. But, no more procrastinating, I’ll be getting the order in very soon. I’ll write more about it later.

Thank you for visiting. Now, I urge you to go do something creative. It’s such a stress buster!

Linda