Oh Hello, June.

Wow, a full two weeks since I last blogged.

Gardens, motherhood, and wholesale orders

have kept me away.

I have missed it here.

A new brooch from the bench this week.

Well, two brooches actually as I will be

selling these as a set.

Fun, huh?

Another reason for my blogging absence.

My sweet Lab, Satchel, passed away this past week.

It was unexpected and the grief has

been great.

If you are a pet owner, words of wisdom for you:

always be patient

give an extra treat

love your friend every chance you get

take lots of pictures

cuddle everyday

Make Me a Butterfly, Again

Just when I think I'm reaching the finish line, someone tacks on another 10 miles.

Or I twist my ankle.

Or I decide to take a longer route.

Such was the case with the butterfly pendant.

I promised a reveal last week, but in the final steps to completion,

the _________ (enter your choice of expletive here) wing broke.

*sigh*

Thankfully, my client had supplied me with two pairs of wings.

Note to self: agate is fragile and cranky.

Here is butterfly #2.

I had to remake the whole sterling frame

as the wings were not the same size or shape.

You see my frustration, right?

But all is well and little butterfly is

packed away ready for shipment.

Happy Sunday!

Make Me a Butterfly

This is one of many projects at the bench this week.

Agate butterfly wings to become a pendant.

When finished, this piece heads to the

Salty Teacup in Portland, OR.

Recycled silver body and head.

The sterling wing bases were hand pierced.

Ready to solder.

Soldering completed!

Freshly soldered prongs.

If all goes well, I'll have the finished piece ready to post tomorrow evening.

Tiny Dots

New dot pendants with 22k gold bezel set gemstones.

The dots are 100% recycled sterling scraps from my own ever growing

collection. The jump rings are 18k gold.

The chain is sterling silver.

Peridot...I think the stone measures about 4.5mm in diameter.

Padparadscha sapphire, 3.5mm. The color is fantastic!

Apatite...diameter is 4mm.

New Work

Two new pendants from me this morning.

I am scurrying around trying to get a gazillion things done this morning.

Photographing these was one project.

The light is good this morning, so I'm glad I found new batteries when the camera shut off halfway through the photo session!

Vintage self-shanking mother of pearl button

set in a serrated fine silver bezel

with a sterling and 18k gold bow accent on the bail.

Vintage watch crystal set in a scalloped fine silver bezel

with vintage mother of pearl button sewn to linen.

I'll be listing these yummy pendant later this afternoon

in my Etsy shop!!

Bee Ring

As promised, here's the completed ring from my early post!

Porcelain Bee Cab from Magpie Pottery

Maggie's work rocks!

Fine silver bezels, all other metal is sterling

Vintage mother or pearl boot buttons from the 1930s.

Sterling rivets and florets.

Front Page

My text ring made Etsy's front page yesterday!

The ring sold within the hour.

Thank you, Etsy and the curator,

Illuminated Perfume!