Working with wire!

I have been inspired again. I am going to start working with 14kt gold.  Earring will be the first thing I tackle.  We shall see what happens. I just ordered the wire. The second thing I want to work on is bezel setting. I have 2 books and I hope to teach myself.  I need to find a spot on the island where I can use my torch and work on this. So far I have not had the opportunity.  Maybe there is a studio in Naples, Fl that I can use.  Maybe even take another class! So many choices....
At any rate, thanks for reading and let me know what you think I should be working on next?
 I have been asked to make a turquoise necklace for the mother of a friend of mine.  Through researching and chatting with other jewelers there is lots of fake turquoise out there. African turquoise is dyed howlite.  Howlite is a pretty stone but it is not as soft as turquoise and is not as "valuable".  Chalk turquoise is turquoise that has been  ground up and then pressed or formed with other chemicals to make a bead.
There is also much turquoise that natural but treated.  Stabilized turquoise has been treated with heat to change the color and hardness and sometimes treated with resin to harden it. Chinese turquoise has a different color than the gem found in the Southwest but it is still natural but might not be of the same grade.
I will attach a link for more information once I receive permission to do so.
cheers,
anne
 

Photo Credit

As you take a look around the site and you thumb through the photos I need to give credit to a very dear friend of mine. Megan Preputnik took all the really good photos. She constructed a light box and artfully placed my work on beautiful fabrics as well as coral and other natural and wonderful objects. She did this out of the kindness of her heart. She then not only gave me the photos on a CD but also printed them out so I had an instant portfolio. Amazing.
I wanted to publicly thank her for all that she did for me. Thanks Megan.
It is acts of kindness like this that inspire me to keep going. And to keep trying new things. So to everyone out there, reach out and see what talents you might share that could make a difference in someones life. It might be a little thing to you but a huge deal to another.
cheers!

check out the slide show below of all the photos she took! They are amazing!!!

Earrings

I have set up a separate album of just earrings. My album of work was getting crowded. So, click on the link and enjoy!

c'est la bead earrings

Giving up on Etsy

I must admit I was pretty excited about Etsy. I really liked the ease of use and the idea of a website committed to handcrafted wares. But, I did not sell anything. Bummer. At least, I tried it.
I am also going to appeal to anyone out there who has an idea, any ideas as to where my work might sell. I am open, I have a sample CD to send out to any and all potential buyers. I am ready to be in business. I mean it! I have one more place for you all to check out my work.
a picassa album:Please click on the photo and it will direct you to a vast array of photos! Please Enjoy...

C'est La Bead

new work

I have made some new pieces and a great couple by the names of Dave and Isabel Day stayed on our dock for the seafood festival. They commissioned a necklace and purchased a few items to pass on to family. They were so great and really inspired me to work on being creative and use what time I had to be productive. I thank them for that as well as supporting my creative habit! Check out photos of the new work!
cheers
anne

Where have I been?

I guess I have been avoiding posting as I was waiting for something to happen then too many things happened at once and now it is nearly a year later and I have so much to share! My mom is in Africa serving with her husband in the peace corps. I spent the summer in Atlanta took some really cool classes with a metalsmith and was inspired to get all the tools I needed to work with metal more. I am back in Florida and have been asked to have my work be sold in a gift shop on Marco, I still have my work in JT's on Chokoloskee and I am going to show my work on Islamorada, Fl the 19, 20 and 21 at the Gigantic Nautical Flea Market. Ella Vickers bags will also be at the Flea Market. Check out both of these websites to find out more. Bags: www.ellavickers.com
Flea Market: www.giganticnauticalfleamarket.org/