Sterling Silver Jewelry

While we were in Israel, I made a decision that it's time to start downsizing.  But I want to use up as much of my "products" as I can before I do that.  So this is going to be the summer that I play hard.  And you ask yourself, "can she play harder than she already does???"  LOL!!!

So Monday mornings are my "never ending watercolor class" and Monday afternoons will be jewelry making  time with my sisters.  We had a fun afternoon and I managed to make 1 pair of earrings.

Sterling silver ovals soldered together, swarovski crystals, turquoise beads.   I did the soldering/polishing last week.   I had to ask myself....am I too old to solder?  I didn't get the top on tight on the can (using a large butane type torch that they use to solder pipes) and a gigantic flame popped up from the leaking gas and just about scared me to death!  Fortunately, the house is still standing!!!  And yes, I do have 2 large fire extinguishers out in the garage where I've set up my jewelry making stations.

I made these to go with a necklace that I had made several years ago.  But I no longer liked the necklace, so I altered it - here's what it looks like now:

That center piece is at least 15 years old - a sterling silver Paula Best charm.  I always loved her stamps and when I came across this charm, I knew it was mine!

And there's a bracelet to match.

Here's all 3 pieces.  I think I'm happy with them now.  All .925 sterling silver so don't bother to ask how much I have in it!  It's not what you spend on an item, it's how much you love it!!!  This one will not go on etsy, it's for me.  :)

We're making jewelry out in my garage which is finished, air conditioned and I even have heat out there if/when we need it.  I've set up a glass cutting station, a grinding station, a drilling place and now a torching space.  If you have ever worked with sterling silver you know that you have to clean the silver, add the flux, solder, quench and dip in pickling.  That takes up a lot of space in itself.  But I also know I need to get back to making dichroic glass pendants to put on some of the necklaces I'm working on.  That requires glass cutting, grinding, polishing, then into the kiln to fuse the glass and I normally have to repeat that process at least twice to get it just right!

So stay tuned as I hope to blog some of the things we are making out in the garage this summer.

If you are local, and you want to come make jewelry with us, just get ahold of me and we'll see how much space we have.  I think it's going to be a really fun summer!!!  Are you ready to play???

Starting to play......

Well, I've been busy with ebay and building an etsy store, but tonight, I decided to make a necklace.  This one is sterling silver with swarovski crystals.  I love using large loops that you can dangle things from.  A few tiny stars scattered throughout and a very unusual one at the bottom.

Each crystal is wire wrapped on to the main loops

The star is actually 2 separate pieces

Watch as they start to come together....

To form a star of david.  Found this in Israel last fall and just wanted to make something special for it.

I'm hoping to get back int my playing mode in a couple more weeks, but first....vacation to Ft Lauderdale starting this week!  Kerry is doing quite well - he's made an amazing comeback.  So we're going to test the waters with a trip.  Should be fun!

Be sure to check out these links: My Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/jenlowedesigns My ebay auctions: http://shop.ebay.com:80/4mooregirls/m.html?_dmd=1&_ipg=50&_sop=16&_rdc=1

Is it ok to have this much fun????

For this piece, I took an old Golden Bear belt loop/buckle. Actually, I think this was a slider to go on a belt. I've had several of these for at least 20 years. Sterling Silver. Turns out they make a wonderful centerpiece for necklaces! I might just have to make more!

Glass beads, swarovsky crystals, crystal rondells - I can't wait to wear this one!

Oh Kerry!!! When do you want to go out?

LOL!!!

Some days, it's all just so easy

Do you have those days? When stuff just falls into place. Everything is so easy? I think it most happens when I'm working on a project that truly inspires me.

Paula Best charm in the middle. Sterling silver looped chain. Turquoise stones. Sterling charms.

Extremely light weight - doesn't look it, but it is

And enough left over to make a matching bracelet with a safety lock. Gotta love it!

multi artists media

Yes, you read that right. Lots of time you will see multi media artist....but today, it's a multi artists media!

My friend, Peg Harper, does amazing polymer clay work. Her friend, Gertrud Mueller Nelson, does amazing sterling silver pieces. So, Gertrud made the sterling silver pendant, Peg put the polymer clay background in it and then I turned that into a wonderful necklace!

The work of multiple artists who work in a variety of mediums, coming together to create one gorgeous necklace!!!

Here's a close up:

It's called The Tree of Life.

And this week, I am donating over $2K worth of jewelry to Hadadi. It's an organization in Jerusalem that provides support to breast cancer survivors. My good friend, Yaffa, has survived cancer - praise Jehovah! and she is now working with this group and it really is a wonderful organization.

So if you ever thought you wanted to buy something that you've seen on here, I'll be posting the pieces I sent over in the next few days and you just might have a chance to buy it from Hadadi.

There is such beauty in creating and designing, but today, I think there is an even greater beauty in donating what you create to provide for those who are in need.

Many thanks to Peg and Gertrud for their help in this necklace!

Altering my Lampstand

I have been looking for a Menorah for ages. Didn't want to plop down a chunk of change....yet still believe that we should not spare expenses when it comes to honoring Jehovah.

Did you know that the 8 candles should all be the same level? And that the 9th candle, the Shamash, the attendant candle sits a little higher or lower than the others. And that you use it to light the candles from left to right.

Actually, rather than candles, one should have oil holders and use olive oil with candle wicks.

It's called a lampstand in the Bible. Mentioned 39 times.

We are only 3 nights away from Hanukkah and I'm getting so excited! The house is abuzz with video preparations, ideas are flowing, and I have to say, this year, 8 Nights of Lights is not going to be for the weak or faint! LOL!!! Hint - get a torch!!! Remember - it's about light. After all, He is a lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path......

I found this Menorah at my local hardware store and in my mind's eye....I knew exactly what it would look like when I was done with it.



First up, I took off all the cheap charms. Then I replaced them with sterling silver charms and swarovski crystals. It took me a couple of hours and some creative jump ring making....




But oh! How I love the final results! A Menorah that I can use for years to come, and pass down to future generations.


And this one has such special meaning for me. I bought the star in the circle on the far left when Grandma Myrtle House died in 1994. The Mezuzzah on the far right was purchased in memory of Grandma Moore when she passed in 1993. And the star that is second to the right was purchsed in 1992 when my dad passed away. I've kept them all this time and have finally found a way to display them, and continue to honor their memory.

Altered art. Taking the ordinary and making it extraordinary.

Fit to worship the King this Hanukkah season.

PS: Charms were purchased from 1-800-dreidlecrafts

Paula Best's best!

I'm feeling the "call" to make jewlery this week. And I bought this sterling silver charm from the Paula Best booth at the show in Colorado Springs. Oh - how I love anything Paula Best! Just so much fun!!!



I pulled out my best glass beads, lampwork beads, swarovski crystals and sterling silver spacers......



and when it all came together - I'm just as pleased as punch!



Did you notice the 3 little dangling star-of-davids? I have to order some more of those - they are just 1/8" deep and 1/4" wide....smaller than most crystals!

So, I started another necklace today, ran out of beads, placed an order online and will have to sit and wait til stuff gets here. Don't you just hate that? Ideas rolling and you don't have what you need when you need it?

Sort of like being out of chocolate!!!

Sterling silver jewelry

Tonight is my 4th soldeirng class. And this is the first time that I've actually made something between the classes. I can hardly wait to see what the instructor says about them. I'm rather pleased.

This first one is just 3 pieces of wire, bent, and soldered together, then a gemstone finding soldered to the top on one of the wires (ok, that was a bit tricky!) and a CZ set inside.


And this is one piece of wire, looped, shaped, and soldered in 2 places, with a swarovski crystal dangle attached.



And I did these with one of those kitchen creme broulee torches! $26.00 at the cooking store. You know, I'm starting to think that I use more of my kitchen stuff in my studio than I do in my kitchen!

Maybe that's why we eat out so much? LOL!

Jen the Silversmith???

Is that where the path of life is leading me? I certainly do not know...but I am having a blast taking my first silver soldering class! Yikes! Torches and kilns just scare me to no end...but here I am...flame in hand...soldering silver, making sterling jewelry!

My first ring was just a simple wedding band to learn how to solder a joint. But really, not too bad, huh? Anyone need a cheap wedding band? I'm willing to make you one if you are willing to take my flops! LOL!!



My second piece was soldering sterling wire together. Well, we also made the bezel for the stone by soldering the bezel wire to sterling silver below it. Now that was a trip, but I totally love the outcome. Not bad at all for my second piece!



And this is just amazing to me. My third piece. A ring! And it fit me! We made the bezel cup for the stone, then made the ring. I was just beyond excited by all this! I can't wait to see how well I can mix metal clay with sterling silver. I think it leaves the design spectrum wide open!



So in just 3 classes, I've made 3 rings (there was a second flat band ring as well) and a pendant. I think I'm about ready to
purchase my own torch! But I must take a moment to brag on my instructor. Chad Parker If you live anywhere close to Colorado, check out his classes here. I felt like I had my money back the very first night...the rest of it is all a bonus! There are 2 more classes left...I can hardly wait!

So I may never actually be a silversmith, but taking classes and learning something new...I hope I never stop doing that!