The Butterfly Ball

Here is a delicate little butterfly all dressed up.  She has on her party dress and is going to "The Butterfly Ball". The dress is a heart shape filled with steam punk gears, cogs, wheels, vintage watch movement pieces, a dial, and more.

When my daughter was young and watched Sesame Street, I always ran to the TV when they aired the song "The Butterfly Ball".

Later I learned that "The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast" is a concept album by Roger Glover and subsequent live rock opera appearing in 1974 and 1975 respectively, based on the children's book of the same title.

If you want to hear this marvelous song go to : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sn1UqbbbqQ

Love This Ring!

I've made several rings in the past few months, but I'm so enamored with this one.  I think it is the most beautiful I've ever made.  The band is a wide 21mm or 13/16 inches; almost an inch.   The floral motif is deeply embossed and the sterling silver plated finish is slightly oxidized to highlight the design.  The dainty watch movement is from the 50ies and just fits the band.  But......most wonderful of all are the three Swarovski crystals that pop with sparkly color.  I've chosen Aquamarine, Volcano, and  Xillion Rose Sun with Aurora Borealis finish.  Just gotta say.....love this one.

Starting out the New Year Steampunk Style

I  had been a dedicated card maker for many years, but in March 2010 I stumbled on my first piece of chunky, industrial, found object, jewelry.  It was love at first sight.  I knew immediately that this was something I wanted to create.  After all I had boxes of broken watches, old jewelry, beads, charms, and gemstones, etc.  I soon made made my first piece out of an old earring, the chain from another necklace, a watch dial, a Tim Holtz game spinner, and a tiny silver charm. Since then I've made hundreds of pieces, but never lost interest in this great diversion.  

Also I've learned this genre of jewelry is called STEAMPUNK.  I love it not only because of the great, diverse elements that can be incorporated into each piece but because it's origins are in a "time that never was".  Out of the works of such great minds as Orson Welles, Jules Verne, and Phillip Pullman come fantastical    blimps, airships, weapons, and adornments.  Each inspired by a "time" when electricity was unknown and steam power ran the world; when adventure was there for the taking - to soar and glide far above the limits of mind and time.

And the walls were made of jasper

One of my favorite semi-precious gemstones is jasper.  I think because it always brings to mind this verse from the bible -  Revelation 21:18.  'And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass'.  Imagine that city - New Jerusalem.  Don't you know God has reserved the very best for that city; jasper so beautiful our poor earthly eyes could not stand the sight. 

I also love jasper because of all the wonderful variations and the pictures I imagine I can see in it.  Most of all, I love it because it cannot be re-created by man.  Just look at this wonderful piece I found a few weeks ago.  What do you see?

There are several more pictures at my Etsy Shop.  They also have the name I have chose for this wonderful piece of jasper.

There you go. It's what's going on in my world of late.  But enough about me...what's been keeping you busy?

Peach Pit Beads

As if I didn't have enough beads, I saw these on eBay a week or so ago and thought they were wonderful.  Now I am convinced - they are wonderful.  Don't you love the deep convolutions, the lovely ruby color and the aurora borealis finish?  Yep. Me too.  I saw the heavy brass vintage bead caps on another pair of earrings on Etsy.  Then I spent probably 6-7 hours searching the Internet for some like them.  Were they worth that investment of time?  Probably not, but I love them too.  And the lady that sold them to me said they were the last she had.   I think they were found in an old warehouse in NYC. 

Time now to get into my work space and put together a few more.  My house needs attention, and I could cook a meal, but "Nah", this will be more fun. 

And, that's whats happening in my world.  What's happening in yours? 

Wired, Again.

After a bit of success with the Rainforest Jasper, I was wired ready to try another piece. Since my inventory didn't include anything else quite that wonderful, I chose an oval chunk of adventurine. It is beautiful to me, but without the wonderful variations of color and design like the jasper.  After wrapping and weaving and polishing the wire, it was still a bit plain. I added a few very tiny dragon veins agates at the bottom. They gave it just a pop of color.

If you are a jewelry maker, or would like to be, leave me a comment.  I'd love to hear from you.  We could learn together.