Brita Addams BirthdayTreasure Hunt

It's time! It's time! Time for the lovely Brita Addams' birthday Treasure Hunt! First off, happiest of birthdays Brita my dear. Secondly... as part of her birthday bash I'm contributing some sterling silver/faceted iolite earring shinies :D

Now go forth and hunt. Somewhere on my blog is her special birthday badge. Find it, note the URL and report back to Brita and your in!

Happy hunting!

Citrine and Garnet Cluster Earrings

Faceted Citrine briolettes crowned with clusters of faceted garnet nuggets, wrapped in sterling silver and hung from lever back ear wires.

Earrings measure approx 1 1/2", including ear wires.

Learning New Shinies

Learning new shinies, yes, yes I am.

I've been trying to regroup over here and concentrate on advancing myself along this shiny making road, learn new things, go new ways, see what new things I could do. Set my mind to it, pulled out some books and tutorials I had stashed, bought some new ones, sat down and got to work.

None of them worked. Nothing. Nada. Grrrrr, Roar, Not a single one. I was getting more than a little frustrated. But, I kept trying. I took a couple days off, set those books and tutorials aside, came back to it and tried different ones. Finally, I found some I could manage. And I am soooooooo excited about it!!! WhooHOO! Finally some shinies worked out. 2 even. 2 whole new techniques of win.

2.

That rocks.

The first one was a picture only tutorial by Fradany. I'm stoked about it because I've been struggling with the concept of layering and this was quite helpful. I'm also stoked because... I totally screwed it up. My pendant went a bit awry, but that's even better because in my attempts to recover and save it, I pull from bits and pieces of past failed tutorial projects (yay) and what I came up with was this...

  

Not quite how it was suppose to look but I like it even better. It's a lot... swirlier. And I'm all kinds of proud of myself. :D Yay, go me.

The second project of win is from a tutorial I've been sitting on for a looooong while now. It's by one of my favorite wire artists, Iza Malczyk and...I was totally intimidated by it. Been looking at it for many many a month now. Chickened out each time. But, I figured if I couldn't pull it off, what was one more tutorial fail. I'd done one of hers before and rocked it so maybe I could rock this one too. If I could actually pull it off... omg the win. It's a major shiny goal to learn this style. Major, major, major. 

So, I held my breath, and went for it. Twice. Then, OMG lookie what I made!!!!!

I did it I did it I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All by myself. I learned how to solder it, file it, weave it, swirl it, curl it, whoopdy doo it and... I dunno, other stuff too. YAAAAAAAY!!

I learned it!! 

I am so stoked. These 2 shinies were huge for me. There are lots and LOTS of new techniques going on with these and I can't wait to see where they take me. My brain is all esplody with the possibilities.

I... did it.

Haven't been this excited in a long time. WhooHoo go me!

:D

Playing with photos: Finding a new look

Shiny photos is something that is so very important to shiny making. And something so very difficult to do. I've tried several different things, and was rather satisfied with the vintage looking brown and burgundy tree background I had going on. Mostly. Sadly, it wasn't the best for all shiny. Was ok, but... not great.

Lately, I've been looking into branching out with things like juried art shows, contests, publications maybe... I dunno exactly yet, but whatever I branch out into, it all requires photos be submitted. Fabulous photos that make an impact, look professional and make people take notice.  Easy peasy, no pressure....

*sigh* or not.

I figured the best way to start trying to figure out what I want things to look like was to just start playing. I went and got some plain neutral backgrounds that will hopefully go with /everything/, reset up the light box, grabbed a couple of my favorite pieces and set at it. What I came up with was this...

 Sonora Sunrise Cab Tree...

Garnet Medallion...

 Before they looked like this...

Whatch'ya guys think? Do the new photos look more professional? Have more impact? Show off the shiny better?

Or should I just leave well enough alone lol.

I'd love to know what you think :D

4 days of shiny

I took a few days off from the evol day job last week, trying to escape, regroup and ... shiny up. I managed to get caught up on a couple of orders, finish a couple pieces I'd set aside and even make a few new things for the Etsy or summer booth I'm trying to set up this year. All while trying not to kill myself and work in a few real life tasks as well.

I think it went pretty well. Yay.

So what's 4 days of shiny look like? It looks a little something like this...

It's a pile of shiny, that's for sure.

In the pile is... 2 woven bangles, one plain, one swirly, 2 copper writer's bracelets (tourmaline), a new silver writer's tree of life bracelet (tourmaline), and a plethora of trees. A Sonora Sunrise, labradorite and chrysoprase cabochon trees, a set of Lapis tree earrings and a Larimar scrolled chip tree.

Not to bad, if I do say so myself. I didn't actually make the woven bangles this weekend, but did manage to figure out how to finish them up. That was a big relief. With 20+ hours of weaving in those bad boys, it was silly to leave them sitting in the unfinished/what the hell do I do now pile.

Now I need to work on my listings and get back on some orders. Busy busy!

Ammolite Stash

Perhaps the shiniest shiny in the whole wide world, there is absolutely no way to get pics to really show how amazing this stone is.

They are rare Ammolite Fossils; an opalized version of Ammonite. They are full of amazing shimmer and flashes of bright, vivid colors that seem to burst in different patterns.

Ah-mazing.

I tried real hard to capture some of what the different stones do with different angles of light. Indoors.

Weekend shinies

Been a long while since I've blogged any shinies. Actually, it's been a long while since I have made shinies to blog. Slowly but surely the shinies are coming back tho. Finally. 

Yay for that!

Been working on a few over the past couple of weeks. Got a good whupin' on them this weekend. My biggest project right now was 2 sets of new scrolly trees. After a gazillion tries on the second set of earrings, I finally managed to get 2 frames to be the same size. I find this important when making a pair of... anything. 

I still struggle with making the same thing twice. Darn two-fers anyway.

A gazillion tries and 3 days later I finally got it. 

My new scrolly tree sets :D

They are Amethyst and Aquamarine. :) I still need to antique the blue set of earrings so they will match the pendant, and make ear wires but they are pretty well ready to rock. Yay. :D

While I was frustrating myself with fighting those tree earring frames, I took a bit of break and decided to work on a couple of other on going projects I'd set aside. 

One was a full moon chip tree. It ended up being Turquoise and fresh water pearl...

Then, just for giggles, I antiqued a couple of cab trees I made a while back and lost forgot about ...

One is a lapis and the other... a giant Moss Agate with a white whispy center that reminds me of catching a glimpse of clouds thru a break in the tree canopy.

Not a bad shiny weekend. :)

This week my plan is to finish up my tree sets, work on a heart shaped scrolly tree brooch and 2 tourmaline writer's bracelets. Totally doable I think. Fingers crossed.

Adventures in shiny. Tis coming back.

Yaaaaaaaaay!!

Gem Show Goodies!

Every February the local bead store owner goes on her annual buying trip to the hugeamous Tuscon Gem Show. Every year I try to save all I can and go on my own annual buying trip when she returns. At lunchtime yesterday I thought I'd call to see when she may be returning with treasure for me. To my surprise... she was back already. Me... I couldn't get there fast enough.

The poor dear wasn't ready for me yet. Everything was still in bags and she was working on pricing things. Not that that stopped me. Bless her heart, she let me sit down with a bunch of bags and take whatever I wanted. First pick of all the goodies. I was like a kid in a candy shop!

I was so excited! She brought me back lots of cabochons this year. It's the first time she's restocked cabs since I first found her 3 yrs ago. I was spinning like a little top as she just emptied bag after bag in a bucket for me to sort thru. Oh.So.SHINY!

Sadly, lunchtime wasn't long enough for this mission, so I went back after work. More time meant more shinies. She just kept pulling out bag after bag of bead strands and pendant stones for me to look at. Then bags and bags of faceted stones to ... tease me with. Facets weren't ready to come home with me yet, but soon. I did end up with quite the haul of unfaceted goodies. I can't wait to make something with them!

Shiny trip #1 landed me...

Dragonblood, Chrysocolla and Citrine nuggets and a pile of large Ocean Jasper pendant stones. I got a little carried away with those but... couldn't help it. So many colors! and a lot of them have glitter sparkles in them! I mean srsly. How could I restrain myself? 

Cabochons of blue chrysoprase, Green Onyx and... something black and cool. 

Cabochons of Botswana Agate and Labradorite. I see many trees in my future. :D

and the uber shiny...

faceted Ethiopian Fire Opal. Perfect for the 14k gold trees I want to make!

Buying trip #1. I think it was a success. :) After what she teased me with, buying trip #2 should happen next week and be filled with more cabs of Amethyst (I hope!) and strands of beautiful faceted stones of all kinds! Citrine and Iolite and emerald and... oh my!

So much shiny! 

So.Much.SHINY!!!!

Medallion winner!

I'm late, I know, but... better late than never. ;) 

Remember my anniversary medallion giveaway?

I gave everyone that left a comment on a number, shook 'em all up, headed over to random.org, hit the button and it said the winner was...

Turns out #21 was...

~ Kirby Crow ~

Congratulations Kirby! Shoot me an email or message with your address and I'll get your new shiny headed your way.

Thanks for playing everyone!

Shiny Anniversary Medallion Giveaway!

It's my shiny making anniversary today! :D :D My second. Freia Inguz Artisan Jewelry is 2. WhooWhoo!!

And it's all because of you guys. I totally love you. Thank you all for all your support, kind words and sharing the love of shinies with me thru my shiny adventures. You guys rock.

To celebrate, I made a new medallion. You know, to start the year with something special. I was taking pics of it last night when I noticed a tiny tiny chip in the stone next to the drill hole, so I can't list it. Well, I could, no one would probably even have noticed, but I noticed sooooo... no. That's just not how I roll.

I was more than a little bummed. 

Then I decided, I can't sell it BUT, as suggested by a friend, I can give it to someone. But I couldn't decide who to give it too. Then I got to thinking of all of you, and... it might just make a fancy schmancy giveaway piece. So here we are. 

Want it? 

You know you do! :D

Leave a comment on this post for your chance to win. On the 18th I'll pick a winner.

Adventures in shinies. W00T!

The fine print

• Giveaway is for one handmade sterling pendant. 
• Giveaway open until 1/18/14 1/24/14
• Winner will be chosen using Random.org
• Must be 18 or older to enter
• Winner is responsible for any customs fees or taxes
• Not exchangeable or refundable for cash

Woven Bangles and Unisex Bracelets

I ... am so excited. I am I am! Vera. Vera vera.

Shocking. I know.

I can't help it. I learned a new shiny. :D Woven bangle bracelet shinies.

Go me.

Bangles and cuffs have been on the radar all year. Another on the long list of things I want to learn how to make but never find the time. This weekend I found myself all caught up, with 2 half finished medallions that don't want to cooperate and a cab tree that was fighting me every step of the way when I decided... forget this. I'm not fighting with these. I'm gonna learn something new. So in keeping with the weaving I've been practicing the last several months, I pulled out a new book I got on my last trip to Powell's Books, Weaving Freeform Wire Jewelry by Kaska Firor and went for it.

Somewhere around 10 hrs later, I had a bracelet. :D

A bangle bracelet even. :D I don't like the hook clasp so I need to come up with something better, and it came out waaaaay too small, but I absolutely love it. I've been working on a very similar thing with stones in the center and others with a different weave pattern, but I'd been having trouble pulling it all together. The book filled in the missing pieces for me which was awesome.

The whole bangle/woven bracelet thing has been chasing me around for a long while now. It's been my idea for men's shinies, which I totally lack in, or if not boy bling then some nice unisex shinies that make me go whoowhoo!

Enter bracelet try #2...

whoowhoo!

Same, only different. No swirlies and thicker weave. It's still too small, still needs a better closure, but... am totally diggin' it. Tonight I plan to antique it, see what it looks like.

Even though they are both too small, even for my tiny wrists, I was able to add some extension links that made them workable. I've been test driving them today and I am head over heels. They are nice and strong, sturdy feeling. They feel comfy. They are not getting snagged or hung up on anything or coming unclasped. Or any other plethora of things that can go wrong. I am well pleased.

New woven bangle bracelets. Coming soon.

WhooWhoo!!!!

Sterling Silver Amethyst Full Moon Tree of Life

Sterling Silver Amethyst Full Moon Tree of Life.
Measures approx 1 1/2" dia.

Pearl Medallion and Garnet Pendant

Silver, Freshwater Pearl Medallion. (Made with Sterling, Argentium and Fine Silver) Measures approx 

1 1/2" dia.

Sterling Silver, Rhodonite Garnet Pendant. Measures approx 1 7/8"

Pendants shown with 18" sterling rolo chains.