Working On A Chain, Gang

After taking Stephanie Lee's Essentials of Metalworking class, I've been making lots of chains and pendants and am now putting them together.

I love the rusticness of it all.

This is a little shrine-like bezel I made. I wanted it to look like there were little flowers at the bottom. I'll keep working on that.

A rough little fresh water pearl found it's way into one of my scrappy bezels - added a bead I made and there you go...

Much of what I've been doing involves rough cut stones and rosary-style chains like this flourite necklace I finished yesterday.

got it.

Here's a quick peek at some of the custom orders I did this season...

These two necklaces were favorites of mine. Particularly those giant diamonds in little pipe bezels!

Here's a couple of 'belt loop clips' I made for some little boys. Isn't that a fun idea (not mine - the customer's)

Yes. I glittered my head off this year. I had so much glitter stuck to me, I looked like an old-stripper.

Hey.

Maybe it's one of those "use it or lose it" situations... I can't upload pics. Since I'm pretty sure no 'reads' my blog for my infinite wisdom, I'll wait to post again until I can go back to illustrating what I'm trying to say. PS happy new year.

working like a dog

I still can't show anything I've been working on...

BUT - there's the stack of boxes ready to ship out today - full of personalized pendants and ornaments! There will be several more before the post lady comes by...

I've totally trashed the lovely new work table Tim built for me. I'll work on that after the holidays.

Meanwhile - we went to the farm supply store and bought some barn style light fixtures - the other one is hanging above my desk. I love my work space even when it's a big fat mess.

Yesterday a lovely customer/friend came by to pick up her order and it was such a lovely day that we sat outside and had a glass of wine-or two! Less than an hour later another lovely customer/friend came by and so we sat down and had a glass of wine. Two more lovely customer/friends came by....I love my work.

...::~*~::...

Truth: that's the only time this season that happened. I promise I didn't work on anymore orders - but I did knit a baby hat. Speaking of baby stuff - here's a pair of baby booties I made last week:

The Sunrise Keeps Me Humble

Day one

 Since I can't post any photos of the projects I'm working on, I thought you might enjoy seeing what I see every morning from my studio window...



Day two

Everything I'm working on is Christmas Gift Orders. If I posted photos, I could possibly expose surprises - because I'm pretty sure that everyone in the world looks at my blog to try and see what they are getting for Christmas! 



Day three - this time you can see the Canadians on the Pond

We are thrilled with the sunrises and sunsets we witness here at Two Dog Pond. It reminds me that no matter what I create and have a sense of pride in, it does not compare to the beauty of Nature. The sky is quite large here, so imagine the above sunrises covering 75% of what you see. It brings me to my knees.

Let The Holidays Begin

 Tomorrow, Saturday November 17, is the SJW Holiday Craft Show in Seward. It's the largest, best, show in the area. If you are within 2 counties of Seward, it's worth the trip over. I will be in the Harvest Hall (not the Ag Pavillion) with lots of jewelry. LOTS of jewelry. There's a sampling above. Bottom middle shows what a mess I'm making.

When I need to relax a bit, I turn to the torch and make beads. They end up in many of my designs.

I can't express enough how much I appreciate the support that my customers show me during this season.

Remember: It is time to start thinking about those ornaments - next week we'll discuss that a bit more.

Tomorrow's show is the only show I plan on doing this holiday season. It's just that grand.

Keeping Secrets

 There's been lots going on here at Two Dog Pond, and in between events, funerals, visitors, etc. I've been working on these necklaces. I learned the technique from Stephanie Lee's Pipe Dreams Class, but wanted to take it a step further... 

 I wanted to hide my secrets inside the pendant instead of sticking out the top.

 Each pendant has a copper tube to hide your treasures in...

 The large lampworked beads were made by moi, as are the headpins turned dingles.

A lovely place to hide a secret note, emergency fairy dust, your crazy pills...

Holiday Sparkle

 New Obsession: soldering vintage chandelier crystals and

...beveled glass back to back.

 garnet rosary style chain

Making Other Things Feels Good Too

 Because I have a show tomorrow, today seems like a good day to finish up the earring display I started last July... I got out my box of Ranger products from my week-long vision of being a paper/collager/mixed media person... I used some inks, some alcohol, some melty leather stuff, some UTEE....and covered a wooden flower thing.

 This piece I had made from an old candle bobeche - I added a resined heart.

 It's all been added to this old quilting frame I varnished. I have the other half ready to make a necklace hanger out of... It's laying on the floor because I caulked the pieces on it and they aren't quite dry. Those are welding rods I cut and put in the holes drilled into the sides to hang the earrings on.

 For fun, I made some dio de los muertos magnets. Ha. 

...and just so you know I'm still working on jewelry, made an 'alis volat propriis' necklace. See how I incorporated the chain making skills I'm learning this week? I know.

Autumn Antique Market

Everyone is invited! Bring your friends, buy each other presents!

It's going to be a chilly day, so if it's too cold, we'll be inside the Liberty House.

Making Chain

 I am taking Stephanie Lee's on-line chain-making class called "Off The Chain". She is amazing.

I incorporated her 'teardrop' chain on this special order yesterday...

this morning, I learned how to do this!

Who knows what tomorrow will bring?! I'll probably wire wrap myself to a chair so I get some real work done.

Bugcuff

 I just finished this bugcuff and I love it.

Shameless of me.

 I etched some heavy brass, cut up an old tin, added a tin bug.

Now you can love it too.