Juli Ra Design

'Tis the Season

2009-11-03T09:11:00.000-08:00

So, once again, the holidays are looming ahead and in preparation for the season, I've been working frantically every day. I never know exactly what people are looking for, so I make what I like and hope that people will like them too. Here is a recent copper piece I've been playing with... and mark your calendars from November 23 to December 24 for the times I'll be at the Grand Central Holiday Fair this year. And some of you know that the earlier you get there, the better your choices since so many are truly one-of-a-kind! See you there and Happy Pre-Holidays!!!

Flurry of Activities...

2009-10-16T07:18:00.000-07:00

Okay, so my recent flurry of activities has not been one of photo taking (as I had promised - sorry) but I have been out and about town, learning, looking, pondering, and signed onto an Art market in my 'hood. Check this out, I'm not listed on it yet since I'm a newbie, but I did my first showing last Sunday; had lots of fun, met lots of great artists and learned lots of stuff I didn't know about....like the guy who was hand carving a violin neck for his 2 month journey into hand making every component of a violin... These artist have such passion for their work and it shows in the end result whether it be a piece of wearable art, a mouthful of chocolate or an exquisite musical instrument. It truly is a pleasure to be around like minded individuals and am glad to have found them!

I've signed onto doing this 'Maker's Market' for the next 4 Sundays until I have to really dig in to get more jewelry made for the Holiday Show at Grand Central. Hope to see you soon!

A Looooong Break

2009-09-30T07:05:00.000-07:00

So, the other day, I was at the Hoboken Arts and Crafts Fair, in Hoboken (!) NJ and a long time admirer and collector of my jewelry was surprised to find me there. It appears that I've made myself scarce between Holiday fairs and quiet about where I will be showing next. I didn't mean to be so unavailable and for those of you who have been looking for me, I apologize. I am indeed still around, still making jewelry, still knitting and crocheting with wire, still playing with pearls and gemstones.... it's just that daily life simply gets in the way - you know how that is... Anyway, my most up to date info on where I am showing will be on my website or you can always call me: 718-852-9894 and I'll let you know where I'm hiding.

In the meantime, I have been busy getting ready yet again for the 2009 Grand Central Holiday Gift Fair that will be going on from November 23 to December 24. I've been trying new techniques with wire and sheet with my new new favorite metal: copper!

I'll post some photos of what I've been up to these long months in a while but in the meantime, it is good to be back, and I'll see you again here real soon!! Thank you for your patience.

Overwhelmed by Beads

2009-03-14T09:33:00.000-07:00

I didn't think that it was possible to say that I could be overwhelmed by beads, but I am, truly. After having spent the better part of a month packing and unpacking my beads, tools, wire and a sundry of accessories to jewelry making, I can say unequivocally that I am overwhelmed!! This new place certainly looked a lot bigger without the stuff....

Oh, well, now the real work begins as I try to get motivated again to try new jewelry making techniques. The rest from knitting and crocheting with wire has been great for my wrists though since I had been suffering terribly from carpel-tunnel in both hands. My orthopedist said the only cure was to not do it and it seems to be working! I will find out soon enough whether the long rest really helped. I'm sure I'll keep you posted!

As soon as the camera is located under all the moving boxes, I'll be posting new things. See you soon!

Packing One's Obsessions

2009-02-20T06:41:00.000-08:00

Okay, so, in January, I said I was back and that I was going to be better about posting... well, it turns out that life got in the way again. I've been busy packing and cleaning for a major move of our home and my studio. It's good to clean out the cobwebs, and throw things out, but is a lot of dusty work!! After having packed my tools, beads and other paraphernalia... I noticed how much jewelry making stuff I had actually accumulated over these past 6 years of pursuing my obsession! Even I was shocked! How many pairs of knitting needles can one person need/use/destroy in a lifetime? My collection of crochet hooks puts the local yarn store to shame. I knew my fixation on jewelry making and tools could possibly border on lunacy but now I had proof. Sobering and frightening.

Not that seeing the problem will fix it, I am already planning my next big purchase after the move. I am coveting a standing drill press, grinder and buffer. Here's hoping that my vision won't be as clear the next time I move so that I won't realize how truly crazy I am after all!

I'm Back!! and Happy New Year!

2009-01-09T05:00:00.000-08:00

So, it has been a very looong 5 months. I didn't intend to take such a long break, but it was necessary for my family, business and creativity. Since I last posted, I have been to Hawaii for 4 weeks to visit with my Mother, traveled to Charlottesville, VA to visit family friends with my daughter, watched numerous little league games my son participated in, prepared for the Grand Central Terminal's Holiday Gift Fair, stood in my booth daily for 6 weeks except Thanksgiving and Christmas, made a dozen or so commissioned pieces, and working now to revamp my website and clean up my work bench!

Whew!! Amidst all the flurry of activity, I've had some time to imagine all sorts of design ideas to work on for this year. One of the great things about standing in a small confined booth space day after day listening to comments made about my work (and not able to run away or be too rude) is to really think about what the customer is saying and what appeals to them. One of the most interesting comments I get repeatedly is the idea that 'I' invented the knitting and crocheting of wire! I don't know why my customers would think such a thing, but I hear it often enough to wonder myself why they think this way when there are tons of books and tutorials published annually regarding the process I use, by other crochet and knitting artists.

I've had some time to think about it and I've decided my customers come to this conclusion because either they've never seen crocheted and knitted pieces in wire before or at least not so much in a variety of styles all in one place. I've also had comments that they've tried to do it before and ended up with a mess of squashed wire. I have many mountains of messed up squashed wire myself and the only difference between me and them may be the manic compulsion to knit and crochet with wire every day - all day if possible - if my carpel tunnel doesn't act up.

So, what's in store for 2009? Copper and lots of it. I've become enamored with it, so much that now there are mountains of squashed up copper wire building up in various corners of my dining room. I also want to try knitting and crocheting in other shapes - believe it or not, I really have no clue how to knit and crochet and have never made a scarf in my life. I can knit and crochet straight rows and circles (self taught) an that's about it. So, one of my new year's resolutions is to really learn how to knit and crochet or at least make an attempt at reading patterns - not that I'm one for following anyone's patterns...

There you have it, in a nutshell, all my peccadilloes and the work cut out for me for the new year. I'm hoping to post some of my new experiments soon. Come back often and check out my website in about a week or so for lots of new pictures. Here's hoping your new year is filled with health and success as well!!

To be continued...

2008-08-07T20:01:00.000-07:00

Okay, I have to take a break from posting to really get some more jewelry making done before the madness of fall sets in. I still have to do a bit of traveling due to family concerns.

I'm making jewelry everyday, but the photographing takes a bit of time, especially since I have to rely on the goodness of Jerry in between his own work. But stay tuned, I won't be gone for too long.

I've been experimenting with color combinations, more freeform weaving and the all elusive feathers! The next posting will hopefully show you what I've been up to! Later...

Bamboo Feathers

2008-08-06T20:31:00.000-07:00

The idea of using feathers in my jewelry is intriguing but no matter what kind of feathers I try, they don't seem to lay correctly. I'm also having a hard time making the feathers stay in place with the wire. I intend for the feathers to stay on the necklace for a very long time but for now, haven't found the right 'formula', so here is another interpretation of feathers in my necklaces (the first ones were with the eyelash yarns). This one is with sections of young bamboo dyed black. I knitted several strands of freshwater pearls to wind around the knitted strand of bamboo. this one will be everlasting with none of that annoying tickle! All silver wire and chain.

Large Commission Piece

2008-08-05T21:12:00.001-07:00

One of the commission pieces I have made is a very large (almost 7 inches in width) peach pearl choker and matching bracelet. My client is very diminutive, but she wanted a dramatic piece that would go with her high wind swept hair and plunging neckline. She also mentioned that she wanted a modern twist on a 'Victorian' look. So, it took me quite a while to make this piece as the wide neck piece became so heavy I thought it'd pull out of shape. This choker is made of over 1500 - 5 mm natural peach fresh water pearls and half an ounce of 14k Gold wire. The bracelet, a bit buried in the sand is 5 inches in width.

She tells me it was stunning and quite the conversation piece at the very chic black tie affair, yay!!

Knitted Gold

2008-08-04T20:56:00.000-07:00

So, I've been getting back to knitting necklaces again to increase my inventory. This one is knitted individual strands (5 of them) and braided. The pearls are fresh water and the wire is 14k Gold filled and it looks wonderful on. Especially if you have golden tones in your skin and hazel hued eyes...

A Silver Squiggle

2008-08-01T19:14:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, I just take my pliers and have some fun with wire. Here is what I've been fooling around with lately and decided that I like the look of pure free form pendants. I just let the pliers go where they may and often they lead me to a great place. This pendant is such a great place. The embellishments are fresh water pearls of course!

Faceted Amethyst

2008-07-30T16:18:00.001-07:00

So, I'm back in the bracelet knitting mode. It is always fun to try basket making, weaving, etc., but I see the time get away from me and I still need to create bracelets and necklaces for the upcoming holiday show at Grand Central. It seems to be so far away starting in November, but the days seem to go by so much faster these days and my wrists aren't what they used to be, so I'm trying to buckle down and make new things daily.

Here is one of my favorites, the 4mm faceted Amethyst rondeles come in shades from the very light lavender to the dark purples... The most time consuming part of this project is counting out the beads in the proper color order. So, it is six across starting with the pale Lavender, 4 rows of this shade, then gradually into the Lilac color of 5 rows, then the Orchid for 5 more rows, etc., etc,...
288 beads to be exact for a 7 inch bracelet on Sterling wire.

Copper Cuff

2008-07-28T20:32:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to weave with copper wire in such a way to save time...or so I thought. I mean, how difficult can weaving on a board with copper wire be? More difficult than I had anticipated because the wire hardens after a few passes around the weave and it can't help but get kinked! I don't know what I was thinking but at one point, I had a mass of wire and I couldn't figure out which was the weft and which ones were the warp wires. I had taped the wires to my table but as the woven piece got longer, it got stronger and less resilient and nothing would hold it in place. So I did the logical thing and cut all the kinks out and coiled the ends.

The result is a 'not-quite-long-enough' bracelet, but long enough to wear as an open cuff. This is surprisingly stiff and I didn't even have to hammer it to hold its shape! Made with all copper 16 gauge wire (I'm sure the thickness of the wire was the problem) as the warp and double strand of 24 gauge wire as the weft.

Cabernet Grapes

2008-07-24T21:29:00.000-07:00

Another free form pendant from my archives.... I really wanted to keep this one but ended up selling it to someone who loved it as much as I did. As much as I wanted to, even with a photo, I haven't been able to duplicate this exact feeling and sense of wine grapes just ripe for the picking.

Sterling silver free form around a square block, cranberry fresh water pearls and Peridot chips - on a leather cord.

Biwa Free Form

2008-07-23T14:21:00.000-07:00

I'm in the throes of planning, organizing, buying raw materials, etc. to build up inventory for the holidays and I'm finding that I'm in a panic already. Primarily because I have more family obligations to travel to Hawaii for another extended period before the Grand Central Holiday Gift show... So much to do... In the meantime, I didn't want you to forget me so I'm posting an older piece which is an absolute favorite of Jerry's.

It is a free form pendant where everything is hand twisted by me. The pendant form was created by using a round Grecian column from one of my daughter's building sets as a mandrel. I put in a fresh water Biwa Stick Pearl, other fresh water pearls in various colors, a turquoise bead, silver and crystal beads and red stick coral. All of this is hanging on a silk cord. Anyway, I'm hoping to make some of these types of pendants for the holidays. Of course each will be different, but that is the fun of it.

I started to do these pendants to 'save some time' and to create more inventory, and you'd think that this is simple to do, and it is (relative to the knitting and crocheting), but the process of creating a balanced pendant takes me almost as long as a large crocheted necklace... oh, well, I think it is well worth the time spent though.

Caged Ball

2008-07-22T11:45:00.000-07:00

I'm still fooling around with copper wire and the potentials of it. I've been trying to create some 'cages' to trap some interesting artifacts and I've found the best way to create an almost perfectly round cage is to use a rubber ball. Yup, you read it right, a rubber ball. My son has quite a collection of high bounce 'super balls' and I was fooling around one day by encasing it with wire. I did some looping, coiling and a weave on one half of the ball and to my joy, the half came out instantly with my designs in wire intact. So, what would you do after you saw how beautiful the half came out? Make the other half of course, which is what I did and wove the two halves together... but not before I put in a woven 14k Gold Filled ball inside.

So, I'm in a search of my son's room for other sizes of balls. I'm hoping he isn't planning to play with them any time soon!

A Pair of Earrings

2008-07-21T14:06:00.000-07:00

One of the things some of my customers from previous Holiday shows asked me to do was to make more simple earrings. I never used to make earrings at all, and usually as an after thought to the piece I was making for the neck. So many of my neck pieces are such statement pieces that I didn't think warranted matching earrings. But of course my customers were right, how about all the people who aren't purchasing a statement piece? Okay, so I started out slowly and made some earrings with my 'leftovers', leftover wire, leftover pearls, etc.... and the earring collection has taken on a life of its own.

Some of the earrings are complicated (I can't seem to help myself), but most are simple wire twists, or a single beautiful pearl on a chain. Here are a couple that I twisted using my pliers and hammer. The gold one has natural spikes of Mandarin Garnets on it, the silver leaves are hand crafted (but not by me).

Simple it looks, but it still takes a bit of time to get the look I want... but earrings are definitely in my repertoire for the holidays, it is just a matter of finding time to get them done!!

Amethyst Peacock

2008-07-19T11:38:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to get settled into a routine of sorts to make sure I have enough pieces for the Grand Central Holiday show. As I was looking into my stash of pearls and wire, I found a few errant strands of crocheted neck pieces that I hadn't completed... so, here is one piece that I picked up and finished.

This is one of my absolute favorite combinations, Grey Peacock pearls with faceted Amethyst rondelles. The irridesence of the pearls pick up almost any color of clothing worn with it. I've made this combination in other pieces as well with different gemstones and it never fails to entice the buyer.

Hmm, if the photo looks a bit orange to you (it does to me), it looks like I have to readjust the light bulbs. Things got sort of moved around in all the packing and unpacking. Jerry usually has the 'natural daylight' bulbs in the light box, but this looks like a normal hot bulb. Strange thing is that the colors of the pearls and amethysts are correct, but the sand and twigs are waaaay too orange.

Pearl Grid

2008-07-18T10:33:00.000-07:00

whew!! I missed being able to post my work these past weeks due to my traveling. I've had some time to work on a few items, but I have to really start increasing my work output if I want to have enough pieces for the Grand Central Holiday gift fair. It starts in mid-November, but you know how quickly time passes when you don't want it to...

I've been fooling around with doing all sorts of free-form pendants and grids. I am trying to emulate a very good friend and jeweler, Helen R who gave me the idea for the grid type of pendant. I show you one here, but she'll know as I do that it isn't quite up to her caliber of work - not yet. I'll keep working on it though, but maybe I'll just let her do it.

This is a 1.5 inch square where I formed the frame with my son's building block. All hand twisted and wrapped in Sterling Silver wire and fresh water Pearls.

Good News!!

2008-06-30T17:37:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I'm still not able to post any pictures of anything, but I wanted to share the good news that I was accepted into the Grand Central Terminal's Holiday Gift Show for the second time. This is a juried show that runs from November 15 to December 30 in New York City's architecturally amazing Grand Central Terminal's Vanderbilt Hall. As the time draws near, I'll provide more detailed information and to show you glimpses of some new things I want to make for the show.

I'll be working all summer to get enough inventory together so I'll be busy. I'm hoping to take breaks to post new photos as soon as I get back to Brooklyn where I can control my lighting environment. Will keep you posted!!

Lost in Translation...

2008-06-14T21:09:00.000-07:00

Okay, so here I am visiting in Hawaii with family for a month and I prepared for it by working crazily to have lots of new photos to choose from to post while I'm out of my studio and what do you think has happened? The files that I thought I uploaded are all gone. It must be resident in some cyberspace graveyard somewhere because I've been searching for it these last few days.

I guess I have to set up the 'photo-studio' here and try again since I brought some of my jewelry pieces to work on. The lighting should be wonderful with all this sunshine, but we shall see. I may just have to start posting the beautiful flora and fauna of the islands since they are the original artwork I try to emulate in my jewelry... I'll keep you posted.

Pearly Pendant

2008-06-09T11:42:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, crocheting inside a form is tricky business. I've had to work hard to make sure I didn't bend the pendant form nor make a massive ball of crocheted wire. A bit tedious, but I'm always happy with the results. The best thing about it is that no two pieces are alike, mostly because I can't remember all the stitches used nor when I choose to place a pearl.

Sterling silver 20 gauge wire formed around my hammer handle and crocheted with 28 gauge wire using 3mm fresh water pearls.

Watermelon for Summer

2008-06-07T05:20:00.000-07:00

Still searching my archives for things past... I found this Watermelon Tourmaline bracelet that I made a few years back. In those days, I could attach a person's face or name to each piece of jewelry I made. I know that this one has a good home with my sister... In any case, I'm finding it harder and harder to find very clear tourmaline beads in larger sizes now due to its increase in popularity among designers and celebrities. For more information than you need ot know about tourmalines, check here.

I had to count each bead here to make sure I got this pattern. A definite time consuming activity but worth it!

Bridal Choker

2008-06-05T06:29:00.000-07:00

My hand is still having problems. I can type pretty well but holding needles is not a possibility right now. The kids are almost finished with their school for the year and next week, the whole family will be traveling to Honolulu to visit with family and relatives. Luckily for me, I have an uncle who is a certified Acupuncturist and Herbalist so I'll have him fix me up. He has told me that acupuncture for this type of problem is not permanent, but any temporary relief will be good nonetheless.

In the meantime, I'm going through some of my older pictures and found one that I had forgotten about... This choker was for a bride who wanted something to complement her very simple strapless gown. 3mm seed pearls with 14k gold wire. She has told me that she wears this choker often when she goes out and even to the office under her white button down shirt and suit!

Back to Basics

2008-06-04T08:39:00.000-07:00

I've had to put my knitting needles and crochet hooks down for a while since I've been getting a major twinge in my left wrist. I think it is the beginning of carpel-tunnel syndrome so I have to be more careful. It is interesting that the pain is in my left wrist and I'm right handed, but I think I put a lot of stress on the left hand when I'm forming the stitches with the wire.

In any case, I had my ring form so I thought I'd so some wire wrapping. Lot less stressful on the hands, but still lots of fun. I had forgotten how much fun it is to 'tame' the straight wire to do what I want it to do. Here is a 14k GF wrapped ring.

Working with Precious Stones

2008-06-03T04:22:00.000-07:00

A great secret to the work I do is that I can use a variety of materials. They have to be of a certain uniform size of course, but the grade of gemstones in the knitting and crocheting doesn't matter as much as if I were to set the stones individually. This of course greatly increases my flexibility in working with lots of different gemstones, including precious ones like diamonds, sapphires, rubies.

It is not to say these stones are inexpensive..its to say that they are available to someone like me! Most of my problems using these materials are due to my inability to have them photographed properly. I've noticed that the luster and sparkle of these precious stones do not come out on print. Jerry is working on it. The interesting thing is that if he were to photograph just one stone, it comes out beautifully, but to take a picture of the entire necklace or bracelet, well, the details get lost. Jerry is still working on it.

Here is my birthstone, Sapphires with 14k Gold wire.

Pearl Collar

2008-06-02T07:14:00.000-07:00

Trying new needle techniques can be a full time job, especially with wire since it is so unforgiving. I've been experimenting with placing pearls in different areas of the knitting and besides a random scattering, I like this style the best. The pearls are placed only on one edge and because of it, the necklace naturally curls around the edge.

In this collar piece, the dark gray pearls are knitted on the one edge and it gives it this natural form. This actually fits perfectly around the neck and sits like a collar. Eventually, the wire will soften and conform to the wearer's collarbone giving it a more natural look. Looks a bit Egyptian when worn. Sterling silver wire with fresh water pearls.

Turquoise 'Feathers'

2008-05-31T16:37:00.000-07:00

More non-feather feathers here. I found some great mixed yarns from Europe in Peacock colors and decided that I could make something that will put my vision of a feathered bird into a piece of jewelry.

The large nuggets are stabilized turquoise from China and the smaller 3mm beads are natural Sleeping Beauty turquoise from Arizona. Crocheted strands of turquoise with the yarns woven into the necklace.

If you want to know more about turquoise and their various treatments, click here.

Fun with Basketry

2008-05-29T05:45:00.000-07:00

Still fooling around with my new new obsession with basketry. It's truly amazing what a little wire and sore fingers can produce! I was tinkering with weaving the pearls directly onto the warp as weft, but it sort of looks like teeth to me. Now, I'm sure it looks like teeth to you too...

Made with copper and pearls and hangs about 28 inches.

ps: doesn't really look like teeth when you are not looking at it on the table at eye level.

Knitted Pearl Cuff

2008-05-28T12:21:00.000-07:00

So, I've been a bit busy recently getting an application ready to do a holiday show. I'll let you know where and when to meet me if I get past the jury. I've been spending lots of time making new things, photographing them and creating my portfolio. I just wanted to show you one of my pieces that I created a few years ago, but still very proud of. Did I mention that my husband is the fantastic photographer for all of my projects?

Multiple sized fresh water pearl cuff with 14k Gold beads on 14k Gold wire. Knitted.

Tahitian Pearl

2008-05-27T05:04:00.000-07:00

This Pendant was a commission by a customer of mine who had purchased several Tahitian Pearls while down in Tahiti. This has a unique shape of a 'mortar' and I didn't have the heart to drill a hole in it. So, since the pearl came with its own handle, I just used it to make this simple filigree around it.

By the way, if you need to drill pearls, I found the best way to do it is by using a diamond pearl drill and keeping the pearl under water. I find the water cools it and lubricates it.

Elizabeth's Neck

2008-05-26T09:06:00.000-07:00

Look at this gorgeous neck! And the necklace of course. I recently became reacquainted with a jeweler friend of mine from NYC. Elizabeth is a certified gemologist who works with diamonds (!!) and other colored stones. If you are in the market for cut stones and want the comfort of working with someone who you can trust, Elizabeth is the person to talk to. Her website doesn't do her work justice, but take a look at Trinity Diamonds and ask her any questions you may have, not only is she honest and delightful, she is very informative.

Back to the necklace, anyway, Elizabeth took a few of my pieces to be photographed and she used herself as the model. The necklace is made with cut stick coral, fresh water pearls and 14k GF wire.

Orphan Beads

2008-05-24T07:34:00.000-07:00

Often after having made a piece, I'll have a half dozen or so beads left over. Over a period of time, these leftovers become quite a stash and I have to find ways to use them. Sometimes I make a colorful assorted pearls bracelet (this takes a bit of time to sort sizes and match colors), but mostly, the stash sits around waiting to be put into earrings.

But, recently, I've had some brainstorms to use them in rings, and free form pendants such as the one you see here. The pendants take quite a while surprisingly, since although it takes on a life of its own, I still have to create that life! Here is a pendant form created around my son's building block with sterling and various fresh water pearls, crystals and silver.

Woven Cuff

2008-05-23T07:23:00.000-07:00

One of my recent passions besides basket making has been weaving with wire. Quite tricky actually since the wire tends to get stiff and kinked. I've been experimenting though and one of my earlier efforts were with straight wire that just wouldn't stay straight, so I have been using curved ones on purpose. Here is the first one that I've done - so far. the Weft (thicker pieces or the frame as I call it) is 16 gauge wire, the Warp is 26 gauge.

Definitely fun to do but oh, so time consuming!

Vintage Crystals

2008-05-22T05:11:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things to do in NYC is to check out the local flea markets. At these markets in the city, you can get everything from the requisite tube socks to one-of-a-kind designer artist jewelry (I used to set up a table at one of these for years) and everything else in-between. One of these in-betweens is the very active trade in vintage, costume and antique trinkets. I always look for broken strands of vintage crystals or African trade beads.

There's something about the older crystals, probably the heavier lead content in them - that are a marvel to look at (once you clean off the grime)!! So, here is a crocheted piece made with vintage Jet and black crystals from Germany, form the 1920's as I've been told. The crystals are so well made, I thought they were Onyx!

Morning Donut

2008-05-21T06:39:00.000-07:00

I've been fooling around with some Donut pendants that were given to me. I first put the pendant on a leather cord, but decided I needed to do more 'work' so I crocheted the silver chain that the pendant is on.

Donut is a Moss Agate, chips are quartz, the wire is sterling and the shell is from Florida...

More Fuzzies

2008-05-20T05:20:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I'm a little bit obsessed with the multi-media yarn-metal thing. I keep trying new combinations of colors and looks. Besides, they feel great on the neck, sort of like a hug. This one is made with Flourite and Amethysts and the tear drop pendant is also an Amethyst. All done in sterling silver and lilac/orchid/purple yarns.

I really like the warmth of these pieces.

Flower Girl Tiara

2008-05-19T04:26:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend I had to finish a commission for a bridal party. I really enjoyed making the bracelets and earrings for the bridesmaids but the flower girl was a bit too young to wear or enjoy the pieces so I 'whipped' out a tiara for her. This is 24 gauge 14k GF wire with natural peach pearls with clear and pink crystals all wound around a gold plated headband. It fit perfectly on top of her curls and her mother was pleased. What's more important was the flower girl felt like a princess!

Imagine a Caterpillar

2008-05-18T12:53:00.000-07:00

So, more mixed media... I'm really having lots of fun with all sorts of different yarns. The eyelash yarns here are from a designer collection from Italy. I really loved the colors and wondered what type of stones could enhance them, so I used green Amazonite chips and lime green fresh water pearls. The stones and pearls were crocheted on 14k Gold filled wire first and then braided with the yarn. Looks almost alive!

Cagey Lariat

2008-05-16T08:14:00.000-07:00

I'm still fooling around with basket techniques and how it may translate to jewelry. So, here is a cage that has been basket woven and I decided to cage some fresh water pearls... The other end of the lariat is a 'jade' nugget, but more probably a serpentine.

It's really hard to know what an actual stone is these days since there are so many different variety of stones coming into the US from all over the world, most notably from China and India. Originally, when I first started to buy stones, I thought the names were a translation problem, for instance, 'Yellow Turquoise' - isn't this an oxymoron? But, I accepted it, sort of like ordering 'Strange Flavored Chicken' at the Chinese restaurant. So, 'Jade' could be anything these days, everything from the actual jadeite or nephrite stones to a wide variety of quartz or agates.

So, buyer beware! If I don't know exactly what something is, I'll usually tell you. I just like the way this green stone looks next to the copper, regardless of what it is.

Chinese 'Turquoise'

2008-05-15T07:56:00.000-07:00

Hey, take a look at this! This new photo (an instant favorite of mine) was taken in a 'light box', a small tent to diffuse light. The detail is amazing, but I've been having a hard time duplicating this clarity with other pieces. Perhaps the detailing is striking because of the stones themselves.

This is called Chinese Turquoise although I believe there is no turquoise in the matrix at all. It actually looks like serpentine and agate to me, but I liked the variegated look to the stone so I made this bracelet. This is its true color, I didn't even have to fiddle with photo-shop.

Labradorite Cuff

2008-05-14T05:27:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite all time gemstone is the Labradorite - so named because the stone was first found in Labrador. The colors vary from an intense dark charcoal to a light smoky gray with iridescent blue and silver accents. It changes color as you turn the gemstone around.

So, I couldn't help myself when working with this gemstone, that I'd make the biggest of whatever it was I could... Here is a 3 inch (3!! inches!!) wide cuff bracelet with the said stones on sterling silver wire. The picture hardly does it justice!

Knitted Diamond

2008-05-13T05:49:00.000-07:00

This pendant, only a little over an inch square was fun to do. No, I didn't knit inside the lines, but rather knitted a small square silver patch with pearls then crocheted it onto the frame. The frame is bent around a square dowel (one of my son's building block pillars) and wrapped to form the bail.

Black and White

2008-05-12T04:27:00.000-07:00

One of the major benefits of making jewelry - besides the sheer pleasure of doing so - is that when I need a piece to wear with an outfit, I can simply sit on my bench and make something to match. It doesn't always work because of time limitations and the need to make it 'perfect', but more often than not, I make something for me made to order.

Here is a 16mm (!!) South Sea Shell Pearl knit using both black and white pearls on Sterling silver. I needed this for a black dress with white trim, of course!

A Chain Runs Through It

2008-05-10T06:12:00.000-07:00

So, in my continual quest for using multiple elements in a jewelry piece, I didn't think about the obvious...why not more metal in different forms? This is a very favorite of mine since the colors of the pearls are so vibrant and if you look closely, a chain runs through it. Each strand was knitted separately and woven together with the chain.

Not Doilies

2008-05-09T06:13:00.000-07:00

It has been difficult to Not make doilies when crocheting wire. It just seems to be a natural thing to do when working in the round with a crochet hook. These samples are NOT doilies that are to be worn on the ear. I used 28 gauge silver or gold wires to make these and hammered them lightly to stiffen them to keep their shape.

Cluster Ring

2008-05-08T04:58:00.000-07:00

A good friend of mine, who happens to be a New Yorker in London had created some fabulous pearl cluster rings on a plain silver shank a few years ago. I admired them for their wonderful color and gemstone combinations and quite fun to wear. When she became an expat, to that other city, and I didn't have easy access to her work, I was desperate so I had to try and create some of my own... here is my spin on the cluster pearl ring. I decided to crochet the shank, this time in 14k Gold filled wire.

Still Experimenting

2008-05-07T06:32:00.000-07:00

I'm still experimenting with basketry and its translations with copper wire. I discovered open spaces in basketry and decided that I like the way it looks. My daughter wanted to know why I gave this one a permanent...

A Bird's Nest

2008-05-06T06:31:00.000-07:00

Does this look like a bird's nest to you? I didn't intend to make it so, but after this photo was taken, (on a branch no less!!), how could this not be? Actually, this is a crocheted bracelet with pearls and crystals. The reason why this looks like a nest (besides the staging that was completely accidental, honest!), is because I crocheted copper wire using a massively large hook into a flat sheet with intermittent pearls and crystal, then I rolled it over and put a silver clasp on it. Next time, maybe I'll put a bird in it...

2D Basket

2008-05-05T09:53:00.000-07:00

After all of the basketry I've been doing recently, I thought I'd create some 'flat' baskets, or pendants made using basketry techniques. Here is one of the first forays into this new area for me, all done in solid copper, including the chain and lobster clasp. The rectangular frame was freehand formed. I used coiling, weaving and other wrapping techniques. I also put in a sprinkling of freshwater pearls.

This was definitely fun to do!!

A 'Meme-ntary' Departure from Jewelry...

2008-05-04T10:35:00.000-07:00

So, a very very good friend , currently - A New Yorker in London has tagged me to do this 'meme'. Being a newbie in blogdom, I had to find out exactly what a meme was - a cyberspace chain letter - why doesn't anyone call what something is plainly in web space? If she had said 'chain letter', I'd not have thought twice about saying no, sorry - but since I've invested some time to finding out what this is... I am now compelled to participate. BUT, I cannot in good conscious pass this on to others knowing that it truly is a chain letter, not to mention the fact that being so new at this, I don't know anyone else out there in blogdom - yet.

I am told to find a book, look on page 123, find the 5th sentence and post the next 3, tag 5 more bloggers and give credit to the one who tagged me.

Aside from the numerous books on cooking and jewelry making, I do find time to read real books. This one: Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell, gives me lots of pause for thought since he makes poverty both adventuresome, gruesome and humorous at the same time.

"The old man was half frantic between greed and fear. His bowels yearned at the thought of getting, perhaps, fifty thousand francs' profit, and yet he could not bring himself to risk the money. He used to sit in a corner with his head in his hands, groaning and sometimes yelling out in agony, and often he would kneel down (he was very pious) and pray for strength, but still he couldn't do it."

I've done my part... now it is yours. If anyone wishes to take this meme on to their own blog, follow the directions and let me know! Actually, I wanted to tell my NY friend in London that despite my complaining, I enjoyed doing this since books and reading are at the very top of my list next to cooking, eating, jewelry making...

Wishing for Spring

2008-05-03T06:53:00.000-07:00

It's foggy and 45 degrees today and although the trees and flowers show signs of Spring, the grey skies above belie what is happening below... So, I created a bit of Spring inside the studio.

Here is a crocheted version of what I see on the trees that line my little Brooklyn neighborhood. These 'flowers' are assured to stay on its branches and the leaves won't be getting any bigger... unless you want them bigger.

The leaves are 4mm faceted Peridot beads and the flowers are 7-9mm natural Peach potato pearls on 'branches/vines' of 14k Gold Filled Wire.

Crocheted Ring

2008-05-02T07:14:00.001-07:00

Customers of mine over a period of time have asked me about knitted and crocheted rings. I tried a variety of versions of techniques and wire gauges and although some of them came out quite lovely, I wasn't sure about the resilience of daily wear. I finally figured out that the only way to make it strong and delicate looking at the same time was to use multiple fine wires at the same time. It also allows me to mix types of wires to get a more interesting look. Here I used both silver and gold wire to create this band.

Signature Pieces

2008-05-01T07:21:00.000-07:00

I've been working on expanding my repertoire of textile techniques used with metal... but I have to admit that my first love is still knitting with pearls. This is one I did recently using 4-5mm Fresh Water Pearls with 14k Gold Filled Wire.

I use gold filled wire due to the rising costs of gold. This makes jewelry still affordable and gold filled looks like gold, wears like gold and only 10% of the cost of gold (so far). Also, it is quite a misnomer to call it 'gold filled' since instead of being filled with gold, the gold is actually bonded on top to jeweler's brass/copper. And the gold filled wire I use is actually 10% high karat gold bonded on top. Don't confuse with gold plate since this is only a few microns of gold on top of the item.

Here is a link that will tell you more than you want to know about 'gold filled'.

btw: If you insist on 14k or 18k gold wires in my pieces, let me know and I'll find out what you have to mortgage.

Basketry, who knew?

2008-04-30T05:08:00.000-07:00

With all the 'free' time I have had recently, I thought I'd run headlong into something I've only collected books on, and that is basketry. I've always admired the neat rows that look like plaits of hair to me. Anyway, since I didn't have any organic materials such as raffia, ash bark or grape vines, I thought I'd try to make a few with copper wire... Here is one of the earlier pieces and if you'd like to see more, check out my new shop at etsy.com where I'll be posting some funky forays into basketry, weaving and other textile techniques using metal.

Mixed Media anyone?

2008-04-29T06:22:00.000-07:00

So, lately, I've been playing with a variety of materials including yarns and fibers made of alpaca, acrylic, cotton, wool, polyester, etc. It has been fun incorporating pearls, stones, wires and fiber. This all came about because a client asked me to put feathers into the wire work. I found that to be tricky and the feathers were not guaranteed to stay without glue. Using glue in certain places would be fine, but it didn't work well in the neckpieces so I looked for an alternative to give the necklace a 'feeling' of feathers. You know what they say about the necessity being the motivating factor.... So, I've placed some of my feather interpretations here...

An Introduction

2008-04-28T06:51:00.000-07:00

It has taken me a while, but I'm finally entering the 21st century with this blog off my website. This is amazingly easier with all the ready made templates and tools. I'm hoping that thru this blog, you'll have a better understanding of how I work, what inspires me, and what I'm thinking. This place will also be a good spot for lots of exchange of ideas and comments. Visit me often to see what I'm up to and let me know what you think!