Week 6: "Floral"

There hasn't been a kind of floral jewelry I haven't considered this week: glass flower beads, Eni-style overwrapped pendants, flower cameos and cabs. But I needed to come up with something original and totally different from all the floral pieces that were going to be posted. Upon bringing home a strand of fantastic purple moss agate couch cushion beads, H and I discovered that one of the beads showed such a beautiful natural rose design that this piece *had* to be designated for the Week 6 Year of Jewelry Floral theme!

Nevertheless, I pondered the piece for 4 more days, and had chosen cube and bicone crystals in various mauve and plum shades, plus the white and AB glass flowers and leaves I eventually did use. Finally, Sunday afternoon, I sat down to do the pendant and the stone itself drew the wire about it into a fancy Victorian style devoid of all the color crystals I had chosen, but using a remarkable Bali silver piece that I acquired Friday and totally adore.

Also, although I am delighted with the results, I wistfully think of other ways the piece could have been improved. So what else is new?

Week 5: "Eyes"

This week I am starting out very grateful for all that I have and for coming out of a deep gloom that threatened to engulf me. At the same time, a fierce hurricane, Ivan, is threatening many of my friends and relations. In an attempt to summon the positive spirits, I sat down to my tools and was determined to overcome the fear of failure in getting back to the prong pieces I learned those many months ago from Metallique. The result is this prong basket piece made with a vintage Swarovski crystal and my silver square hh wire. I am more than thrilled that I was finally able to do this "Final Project" to earn my passing grade from the 2 day workshop on Long Island, but I am more thrilled to rediscover how many truly caring friends I have both online and here in my western Pennsylvania home. For all of you, with gratitude and rediscovered hope, my Eyes are On the Horizon

Week 4: "Celtic"
As I worked on this week's project, I hesitated about actually designating it as my YOJ Project. Its not really a new technique, or a showstopper design... but in its own way, my submission is a benchmark in my own jewelry venture, for this is the first time I have produced multiple identical items. This is discipline! Up to this point, I have indulged my whimsical side and randomly made whatever appealed to me on the spur of the moment. Even custom orders sometimes hung on the bulletin board ignored because they were more of a "task" than a creation. But now I have complete wedding attendant jewelry for maid of honor, 7 bridesmaids and 3 flower girls ~ 31 pieces! This is my own small victory and thus very appropriate for my Year of Jewelry.