METALSMITHING PROJECTS ON MY OWN!

It's been a good while since I  posted on my  blog!!  I have been keeping busy and trying some new things based on the classes I took at the Appalachian Rock Shop.  Sooner or later, when we learn something new, we have to go it alone!!  I am posting pictures of some things I created after finishing up my summer classes.  One of the items, a beautiful labrodorite cabochon that I put into a sterling silver pendant, sold within days of posting it on Facebook.  I was so excited that I managed to create it without any major issues and more excited that someone loved it as much as I did.

 

Most recently, I have been working on Lotus Pendants.  A client requested a jewelry item that was meditation related and I did some searches, coming up the lotus flower and of course, crystals.  So I went to work, sawing, sanding, polishing, wire wrapping, soldering, and breaking lots of saw blades along the way.  I used copper and sterling - plain, hammered, layered - and these are the pendants I ended up with.  Hope you like them.  I have a show this weekend, but hope to get them listed on Artfire next week.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

BACK TO WORK AT THE APPALACHIAN ROCK SHOP!

My friend, Jeanne, and I are back to classes for another 10 week session at the Appalachian Rock Shop, Harmony, PA.  I love the classes and love the store with all of the unique rock specimens, polished stones, works of jewelry art, and more.  If you live in the area, you really should stop by and see it for yourself. 

In the last session, I missed a couple of lessons, so have started this one finishing up my ammolite pendant.   Jolan Naleppa, our instructor, has been wonderful in helping me in the creative process, to see things in a different way, and to design a creation and make it flow.  Design is my challenge; it does not come naturally.

To conclude, my final piece from the last session is done in sterling silver with reticulated metal and a beautiful ammolite stone.  We designed the entire piece in the shape of the ammolite, giving it a contemporary feel.

According to Wikipedia, "Ammolite is a rare and valuable opal-like organic gemstone found primarily along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains of North America. It is made of the fossilized shells of ammonites, which in turn are composed primarily of aragonite, the same mineral that makes up nacreous pearls."

If you have any questions or comments, please leave them here or e-mail me at jewelryexpressionsbyanita@gmail.com.  Thanks for visiting!  Anita

NEW, FOR ARTISTS OF THE RUSTBELT, SUMMER MARKET!

I have been busy, busy today making some new items for the Artists of the Rustbelt, Summer Market!  It is held at the B & O in Youngstown, OH on Saturday noon to 7 pm and Sunday noon to 5 pm  (June 9, 10)!  If you are from the area, I hope you will attend!  Great people, great art, great food, music, and B & O's own brews!  Stop by and say, "Hello."  I have some new items to offer this season:  wire wrapped crystal points, spoon rings and bracelets, wire wrapped rings, and more!  Here are some photos of today's work!  Thanks for visiting my blog!  Blessings, Anita.

PROJECT #2 AT THE APPALACHAIN ROCK SHOP

I completed my second project at the Appalachian Rock Shop in Harmony, PA.  I purchased this beautiful, polished, Ohio flint stone at the shop and set it in a hand crafted sterling silver setting, opting this time for prongs rather than a bezel setting.  It gave me the opportunity to try something new in stone setting.  Overall, I am very happy with the end result, but would have done the bail a little differently - perhaps added on some wire or more silver balls.  I may ask my instructor, Jo Naleppa, about making these changes.  Otherwise, I accomplished a different look from my last stone pendant.  Thanks for visiting my blog!  I hope you stop back.  Anita

For more information about flint, Ohio's State Gemstone, visit http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entryphp?rec=1875. 

Wire Wrapped Quartz Crystal Points

I'm having an open house tomorrow afternoon and wanted to make some wire wrapped crystal quartz points - this is something new for me, so we'll see what my visitors think!  I did one last week and posted it on Artfire along with a sterling silver chain.  I am going to offer these three without chains - many people have their own chains and interchange the pendants!  Two are in jeweler's bronze wire and the other is Argentium sterling silver.  (Purchased at the Appalachian Rock Shop & Jewelry Emporium).

According to Emily Gems, "Quartz crystal points are used for healing, meditation and expanding the mind to touch the spirit world. Quartz crystals are used for protection and capturing and changing bad vibrations...A single crystal point is often used in healing. Pointed away, it draws energy off the body. Pointed inward, it channels energy inward."

Stop by again.  Have a great weekend!  Anita