It's been awhile since I updated my blog! I'm not great at this but I'm going to keep working at it!

I have been honing and practicing my silversmithing skills recently! Here is what I've made:

Sterling Silver with New Lander Chalcosiderite stone (sister of turquoise)

Sterling Silver with Native Silver Ore from Canada and Holly Chalcedony from Oregon

Sterling with Fox Turquoise and handmade feathers

Fox Turquoise with Sterling Silver and handmade flowers.

I've got other stuff in the works right now and I haven't lost my love for diamonds. I'm currently working on combining silversmithing with pave diamond beads and components to bring all the jewelry up another level.

Each time I make something I can see that I am improving which is very encouraging. I should take a picture of my throw away pile though. It's quite large! Lol!

My favorite thing to make was the feather pendant with the turquoise. I want to keep working on designs like this but incorporating all different stones.

What do you think I should try?

Crescent Moons

Crescent Moons.

One of the oldest symbols of mankind that has been transformed and adapted to hold significance in many cultures. I have noticed this symbol becoming more predominant in fine jewelry and with "Etsians" in general.

I know that it can be considered a symbol for both Muslims and Catholics and I am sure that it holds significance for those who follow astrology. I can't help but think of the beauty of the actual moon, the cyclical nature of it, and of us, and how it has captured my imagination since childhood.

The moon is a fixed universal point and truth. An object that all humans can see and feel but not touch. It mesmerizes our minds and somehow gives us hope. The moon inspires our imaginations and lets us forget the grind of daily life. It draws our gaze up and holds our attention year after year.

Let the moon inspire you today.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/202001141/pave-diamond-crescent-moon-pendant?ref=shop_home_active_1

Pave Diamond Craze

All the rage these days is the pave diamond set charm and components. I wasn't too sure about them, it seemed like a trend that might fade quickly. I recently went and looked at some components and started offering them in my bead shop at www.loveactuallybeads.etsy.com and I decided to start using them in my jewelry. I have done a 180 about pave set diamonds. They are gorgeous! They are also much more affordable way to have luxury jewelry without having to completely break the bank.

Yes, they obviously cost more than crystals, but they look different too. Believe it or not they have more sparkle than crystals and at the same time they look earthier. Maybe that is just my brain kicking in, but I don't think so. I have thought about it a lot.

Today I present to you, sterling silver pave diamond set spikes with lapis lazuli carved skull earrings. I think they are fantastic and I don't think I could have achieved this look without the pave diamond pieces.

I'm interested in your thoughts.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/199671091/rebel-diamond-spike-lapis-skull-sterling

Sweat Soldering + Granulation = Hard

So yeah. I finally did the sweat soldering and granulation ring. It was hard!! The first round of soldering only 4 of the granulation balls actually made it. The rest of them were just falsely stuck on by the flux!

After several trial and errors though this is my final product. I think it looks pretty cool and really evokes a feeling of another time and place. The blue color of the lapis is all natural!

What do you all think? I need to keep practicing! Oh, and I got my first ring order. Size 5, the tourmaline ring. It turned out really nicely. My best one yet!!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/196184268/lapis-sterling-silver-ring-any-size?ref=listing-0