Back after all these months.....

Hi there.  I know it's been awhile.  We've been travelling and having company for the last few months.  I haven't had much time to make any jewelry or post on this blog.

I got inspired again by my sister when we were up in PA for Easter.  She had shells and sea glass in one plate and it looked really nice, so I decided to combine them in a more graphic way than I had previously.  She also graciously shared some of her bigger sea glass so I could make more.

These are the results:

 This was the first one I made.  I'd found what was left of a spiral shell and loved the softness.  I felt it could stand alone.

 I found all 3 of these at one time on the beach and just knew they'd be perfect contrast and compliment to each other.

 This one started out as something quite different.  I wanted to use the amethyst with some of the purple shells I'd collected when I came across a purple sea glass that I'd bought recently.  I took about 3 weeks to get this right; putting it together and letting it sit, then taking it apart and putting it together in a different way until I was finally satisfied with the result.  It's quite a departure for me - the asymmetry of it.  What do you think?

I got back to writing on sea glass with this one.  To me the little purple on the tiny shell set it off nicely.

I hope to be posting more often in the future with more creations.  Enjoy.

Busy, busy, busy...

It's been over a week since I've updated the blog and you wouldn't believe what's been going on.  Last weekend, Marty and I traveled to Sunset Beach, NC to visit friends from childhood (a 10 hour drive).  Wednesday and Thursday after we returned, we spent in Disney World with our grandchildren and their parents.  Friday, friends from work arrived to spend a long weekend.  Whew!  I have not made any new jewelry, but I've been getting lots of ideas from nature, gift shops and other folks.

Here a picture of something I made prior to our travels.  I'm experimenting with ways to wire using double or triple strands instead of just one.  I'm not thrilled with it, but I think there is potential there.  We shall see.

Be well, all, and I'll talk to you soon.

More Experimetation

I've tried some new designs and it's really exciting to see them complete and looking, well, pretty.

The ones with names: Penny and Mom were given to my sister (Penny) and my Mom on a recent trip to Virginia.  It gave me such pleasure to gift something that I made and especially for Penny, with whom I collected the sea glass.

I'm still experimenting with all sorts of designs and getting great ideas from everyone.  Thank you for reading and following along with my adventures.

Happy March!

Doing what you love

Response was good to the tree I made before, so I made one with seed beads instead of big ones.  I was going for Fall, with Autumn colors and not all the branches seeded.  I'm not quite sure if I like the effect.  Maybe I should have used gold wire instead of silver.  What do you think?

 I really like wiring sea glass and I love the way the swirls look, so here's one with multiples in copper.  It hangs sideways on an angle and it draws your eye across nicely.

With all the sea glass my sister and I collected in New Jersey over the last year or so in jars in my office and how easy it is to envision it wired, I decided to try to add other 'beachy' things.  This one turned out the best, I think.  I especially like the spiral attachment to the necklace cord.  I think I will continue to use that.  It looks classy and also corrects any imbalance for hanging.

Our daughter has supported her Mom's new interest with a burlap necklace display (used in the picture above).  She didn't like the pink towel I was using as a background.  Go figure.

I am continuing to experiment and am loving every minute spent.  I have my first commission too!  It's from a family member, but hey, it counts.

Talk to you soon.

Moving Right Along

I can't believe I've only been doing this work for just over a month.  Here are some of the more adventurous pieces that I've completed.  They may look pretty tame but believe me, getting up the nerve to try them was momentous for me.  Thank goodness I have a good support system and got feedback for my early efforts.  Thank you Marty (my tall, dark and handsome) and Michelle (our daughter) and Lydia (our grand-daughter) who oohs and aahs over each and every piece.  Who couldn't' use a cheering section like that?

My Day Job Joys

Here are a few examples of the first bird's nests and peas in a pod pendants.  I had so much fun making them, especially the peas in a pod.  They are just so cute I can't resist.

I'm doing this chronologically, so these are the first ones I made and gave away.  It's amazing looking back at the these to see how I've improved in later efforts.

My Day Job snuck up on me

I was laid off in December 2009 and fully expected to go back to work eventually.  Well, it's now February 2012 and I've found no work in my field.

I volunteer at the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary on Tuesdays and saw, in the gift shop, glass beads that looked like birds of all kinds; dove, cardinal, bluebird and owl.  On a whim, I picked some up and thought I'd make a pendulum.  The gift shop owner asked me to bring it back so she could see what I'd done.  So, okay.

In the meantime, on the recommendation of a friend, I looked at a site called Pinterest.  It's really cool with pictures of things that all different folks make, admire, covet and just plain want to share.  I saw a pin of a bird's nest pendant made from beads and wire and thought, I can do that.  And so I did.  I thought it turned out pretty cool, so I made some for the women I work with at the Sanctuary.

A week or so later, I brought my pendulum and pendants into the Sanctuary.  I showed the Gift Shop owner and she liked what I'd done.  She suggested that if I made the pendulum into a bracelet, she'd sell it on consignment.  I also showed her the bird's nest pendant and she told me to make more and bring them back with the bracelets.

So I did.  Now, I'm making jewelry of all stripes.  I am using the sea glass that I've collected through the years on the beaches of New Jersey with my sister, the shells and shark's teeth I've collected in Florida and various beads that have caught my eye.

I've also established consignment relationships with 2 other shops in the area for my jewelry.  I am experimenting with other types of wiring; a ring for my granddaughter and wiring words onto sea glass as pendants.

I'm kind of bowled over by the response and am loving every moment.  So, no, I'm not quitting my day job.