Heirloom Necklace

*I just found out that Bead Trends is going to feature this necklace in their November 2011 issue.  It is such an honor to be featured in this publication.  They have asked me to remove photographs of this necklace until after the November issue is released.  I will post the pictures following that.   They will photograph it much better than I did anyways.  I can't wait to see it!!

I made this necklace from sterling silver components that my dad and mom found at various antique stores in the Northwest. It also consists of fresh water coin pearls and a variety of sterling silver beads that my husband bought for me in Iceland.  I soldered a sapphire that my husband bought in Jordan to a sterling tag (an antique store find) that I decorated with metal stamps. The antique book charm is sterling silver with a mother of pearl plate on the cover.  My dad found this for me and it is one of my most prized charms.  It already contains little photographs of my family.

Raw opal set in handmade sterling silver bezel.

I made this ring using sterling and fine silver and a raw piece of opal.

Custom Sterling Name Pendants

Copper Ring

I really enjoy making beautiful things with unusual materials.  I recently came across some copper tubing at an auto parts store.  My intention was to use it for making bails and hinges.  Then the idea for this ring came to me after reading an Art Jewelry Magazine tutorial using sterling silver sheet metal to make a riveted spinner ring. Rather than using sterling silver for the ring, I used the copper tubing.  It was an extensive process of hammering, annealing, hammering again, annealing again, sizing, shaping, stamping, and polishing. I added a fresh water pearl using a sterling silver tube rivet and sealed the patina using Renaissance Wax. This is my first real attempt at making a ring. 

Reversible Sterling Soldered Pendant

Pendant for my mom of her two grandchildren.

Sterling Disc Pendant

Custom Brag Book Charm

This little charm is sterling silver (frame), brass (heart), and nickel (cover flaps).  I texture stamped the silver frame and then stamped Cohen's (my son) name.  I inserted some little pictures of Cohen and our family.  This is a fun alternative to custom name pendants.

Custom Pendant Boxes

I of course believe that packaging is near as important as the product itself.  Who wouldn't love to receive a piece of jewelry in a pretty little box? 

I Heart Grandma

Nickel and Brass