Here's a commissioned piece I was asked to make for somebody for Christmas (Thanks, you know who you are!) I gave it a "test run" today (you know, just to make sure it doesn't fall apart or anything . . . ), and Dave (the good husband) pointed out that it ain't no sissy heart - this is a rocking tough-girl heart that flies. Man, does it fly! I'm expecting that the recipient will like it, however, if she doesn't, I'll gladly keep it and wear it every day.
I'm giving these necklaces as Christmas presents this year, along with a copy of Natalie Merchant's fabulous song "Kind and Generous." It attempts to put into words the feelings I have for those wonderful souls who show up on my porch with dinner, run my kids here and there, and are so full of encouraging words and inspiration. "I want to thank you, show my gratitude, my love and my respect for you, I want to thank you . . ."
A few weeks ago, I released some energy into this awesome HOPE bracelet. Beating something up is never quite productive enough for me, but hammering a quote into raw metal and forming it into something beautiful does wonders for my spirit. This quote is from Emily Dickinson and reads: "Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops at all." Here is a closer view:
Above is a metal-worked flower pendant that I made for my six year-old, Z. She keeps coming into my studio and "sketching" what she wants me to make - I have a whole stack of her drawings and they usually involve flowers. I used a giant crystal copper Swarovski for the center and riveted straight through it to connect all of the pieces. It is a lovely little piece that swings happily around her little neck.
A "C" pendant, for me!
And a "T" pendant for my dear friend, Tawny. (Who I rarely see, but still love and think about often!)
My friend, Liz, has been through quite a battle with thyroid cancer. She recently met three friends at a conference and they had such an instant great connection that she wanted to celebrate with matching necklaces. The front says "the future is as bright as your faith," and the back has each of their names on it. These pendants were really fun to make, they're each different from each other, and they will be really easy to add to, such as a charm or crystal.
This is the view from the door into my studio. It doesn't matter how many hours I spend cleaning and organizing this room you can NEVER tell. There is still no place I'd rather be!
This is a shot of my workbench - notice the mug of peppermint tea, the bag of apples, the telephone, etc., amidst all of my various tools and scraps. Below is a close-up, but not too close!
Next is a view of my "Glass Station." My bead kiln is in the left corner, and my oxygen & propane tanks are in the right corner (below a really cool-textured painting that my mom did in the '70s). In the center is my bench-mount torch. All of those little glass jars in the window are filled with frit, which I use to color the glass.
I had a lot of fun working with Jennifer from California. She was in town for Education Week and wanted to design a unique family necklace using copper, brass, and silver. We collaborated back and forth to achieve this beautiful family necklace. It was really fun getting to know Jennifer and her kids, her mom, siblings, and friends. Thanks, Jennifer!
Brooke selected some fabulous lampwork beads to compliment her JOY pendant and I wired them all together into this beautiful necklace. This was a really fun project to work on. I'm glad I got to visit with Brooke and make some jewelry that is meaningful to her.
Here's a necklace that I did for my cousin, Ashley's bridal shower. She and David are getting married and I am very excited to help them celebrate their new life together. I have made several of these pendants for various purposes. I made some as teacher gifts back in May, the front said "thank you." I made one for Zoe's soccer coach. The front said "coach" and the back said "go knights!" This is a versatile little piece that looks great plain, with no writing, yet can fit all kinds of stuff in the heart, like a child's name or the word HOPE, great word, by the way. It also looks great layered with other jewelry.
Here's the back view with Ashley's wedding date. This size lettering is small enough to put a good, solid message on the back. It's kind of like a secret, that not everybody sees unless you want them to!
Here's one I made for me, finally. I'm a rather organic, granola-eating, tree-hugging kind of gal, so this one isn't as refined as it could be . . . on purpose. I hand-cut everything for an organic, time-worn look. I wear it every day. It has a great feel to it. I love it.
Here's a spread-out view, so that you can read the names. The first picture is how gravity hangs it around my neck.
Here's the back view, with my kids' birthdays. I can re-make pendants like this for about $20 a piece. Of course there are options: hammered edges, polka-dot edges, perfect circles for a more refined look, etc, etc, etc.
This mother's necklace is for Kris Anne, Zoe's awesome flute teacher. She has been teaching Zoe the flute for several years, so many that I have lost count. Like, since she was barely pregnant with Scotty, her first. We love her. Any extra minute that Zoe can have in Kris Anne's presence is like a gift.
Here's a wedding present that Tracey commissioned me to make. Won't that bride be happy? No excuse to forget that wedding date, eh?
Another wedding present commissioned by Tracey. This one is a bit simpler. I like it - except for that silly black dot from my camera. My make-shift photo studio is great except for that one obnoxious little problem. Hmmm, I'll have to work on that one.
Here's a mother's necklace for Jodi in New York. This project was especially fun to put together. Jodi is a great collaborator. I love the three metals together.
Here's a riveted treat for Diana's 40th birthday. Such a grand friend deserves a grand present. May you wear it in good health, Diana!
For Lindsey's friend, Jennifer, and her 2 boys.
For my sister-in-law, Lindsey. It stands for Stuart (my brother) loves Lindsay. The P is for their son, Peyton. He's a kick in the pants!
Tracey's sister liked her quotes so much that she wanted a set for herself. These are done in Sterling Silver and hung from a Sterling Silver ball chain necklace. Great advice for a day like today!!
Pirate metal-smithing for Zoe
Pirate metal-smithing for Zalea
Treasures for my girls! 
Tracey gave me 3 awesome quotes to put into a necklace. I tried to keep them as small and organic as I could. This is great advice for EVERYONE! And the necklace turned out really fun! That big black dot on the large quote is a reflection of my camera. I just don't know how to avoid that spot!
Funky bracelet with copper charms for Jen's mom. This was a great soldering experiment. I sweat-soldered the copper heart onto the silver heart, then couldn't bear to drill a hole through them, my drill would undoubtedly jump around and the hole would be off-center. So, I soldered a loop to the back to make a place for the jump ring. I LOVE the warmth of the copper on this bracelet. 
Just a little detail view.
Silver on silver heart charm for Jen's mother-in-law. This necklace is 24" long and it lays nicely.
Front View
Back view, with children's names
Side view, for Depth
