Local Boutique Items!

I'm so excited - I will have a few of my pendants on display in a local boutique called The Collective by June 1st!  The shop is for locally made artisan crafts only, and your work is juried to get in - I got in! 

I've been busy getting more equipment for my studio (a kiln!), filling custom bookmark orders, designing displays, and getting packaging and tags ready for the store, so I haven't made a lot of jewelry lately, but here are a couple pieces that I finished last week:

Mariposite set in sterling silver and yellow gold-filled wire.

Petrified wood set in sterling silver and rose gold-filled wire.

Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Creating,
SSS

Viking Knit Pendant in Copper

I'm really enjoying working with the viking knit weave - I set an odd-shaped stone with copper wire the other day.  It looks round, but the surface is actually wavy which made setting it interesting to weave around!  I'm not sure what type of rock it is, but it's very smooth and mostly a mauve color, undyed (natural).  I asked when I bought it, but the lady wasn't sure.

The wire frame (heavy gauge wire) looks out-of-round because of the wavy surface of the stone.  It was actually a large focal bead, but I'm liking it better treated as a cabochon....  I haven't yet decided if I'll make a chain for it or not.  Currently it is being used as a sample for my students' perusal.

Happy Creating,
PZ

Pietersite Pendant and Viking Knit Rope

For my birthday, several months ago, I was given a beautiful pietersite cabochon from one of my best friends.  It lay around for weeks, just waiting to be set.  I drew and redrew sketches, and finally settled on a layout and design.  This is the result - it's all mine and I love it!

Pietersite Pendant in Sterling Silver

The rope chain is viking knit and used over 30 feet of wire!  I love the flexibility and intricate look of viking knit - it's my new favorite way to make custom chains.

The pendant has also been set using the viking knit technique.  It's a little more difficult than making the rope chain, and it's definitely more time consuming than other wire wraps for cabochons, but the end result is worth it.

Pietersite Pendant in Sterling Silver

If you are interested in having a stone set for you, or a viking knit rope, please don't hesitate to contact me through my Etsy Shop!

Happy Creating,
PZ

Two-Sided Pendant - Aqua Terra Jasper

I recently finished a gift, a two-sided pendant.  This is the third time I've wire wrapped this stone - the first two times just didn't look right.  First I tried copper in a herringbone weave variation, and I liked the copper, but not the weave.  Then I tried a flame weave in silver, but I couldn't get the frame to sit around the rectangular pendant nicely.

I wanted to incorporate the cross pendant as well, and came up with a woven setting for the stone  that allowed me to bring in the pendant as a part of the piece, instead of just a last minute add-on.  I like that one side shows off the stone, an aqua terra jasper, and the other the pendant. 

The chain is also handmade - it's a viking knit with bead accents.  I thought the viking knit tied into the pendant weave nicely, and the green beads brought it all together in a cohesive, final piece.

As always, there is room for improvement, but I'm pretty happy with the piece - and I'm told the birthday girl is too!

Happy Creating,
PZ

More Metals - Yes Please!

I was busy this weekend and it felt great!  I finished a bracelet for my husband, a bracelet for a friend, and a pendant for a customer!  All work was in metals and I loved it - I miss working with metal and am happy to be getting back into it.

Viking Braid Bracelet - 3 strands of viking knit, forged clasp

First up - the bracelet for my husband!  This was a tester piece, and I say it is a success!  He loves it, says it fits him the best of all the bracelets I've made for him, and it's been quite a few....Now available in my etsy shop; made with copper, sterling silver wire, and yellow gold filled wire (I'm also offering to use rose/pink gold filled wire instead of copper).  My husband's has a handmade copper clasp, but the ones in my shop will have sterling silver.  All handmade and all metal and fabulous!

Dragonfly Cuff - roller printed, stamped, hammered

Next is a bracelet for one of my very best friends - and I hope it has arrived on her doorstep by now!  Roller printed and stamped copper cuff, featuring one of her favorite creatures, the dragonfly.  A lot of detail is lost in the photos - the copper glows and the scene is more obvious in person.  Cattails, water, a sliver moon, and lots of dragonflies!

Goldstone Pendant - hammered sterling silver, goldstone nugget (shown on viking knit chain)

Finally I'm showing off a pendant.  It's not my usual style, but I love how it turned out!  Goldstone nugget wrapped in sterling silver wire.  What I really love is the hammered wire on the bottom half of the briolette wrap!  It was tricky to work with, but I think the end result was worth it.  The hammering adds interest, texture, and a stronger nature vibe with the goldstone nugget.  I think I'll have to try it again, maybe with an actual briolette!

Happy Creating,
PZ