45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

I've taken a loooong break from blogging and there's a 6 week back up of brooches...

With 2 weeks left in the etsymetal brooch-a-week challenge year, here are brooches #45 -50. 

#45 is a lightweight sterling silver dotted "wreath" in time for the holidays. Well, it was in time for the holidays when I completed it 6 weeks ago...

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#46 features a dark Montana agate set in sterling with three 14kt gold rivets

#47 was a commission using the customer's ocean jasper and coral. It's designed to be converted to a pendant as needed!

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For week #48 I created a little Cherry Creek jasper tweeter perched on a stick pearl

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Brooch # 49 is a lovely taupe fossil palm cab.

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#50 is a piece of Hell's Canyon petrified wood paired with a lovely little golden South Sea pearl

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This week's brooch is already in the works, Montana agate paired with a very pretty Oregon sunstone...

Home Sweet Home

The brooches march on...

Hard to believe we're approaching the end of 2013 and there are only 6 more brooches to be made for those of us participating in the etsymetal brooch-a-week challenge. Not so bad when you think that those stalwarts in the brooch-a-day challenge can barely see the end of the road yet...

brooch #42 features a beauty of a Morrisonite cab with a pinky rhodolite garnet

brooch #43 incorporates a pink rose cut tourmaline and gold rivets

 brooch #44 is a cherry creek jasper in a clean, modern shape

Picked these up while walking the dog today. Add a ribbon and a straight pin and this could be brooch #45. hmmmm...

(Fall is definitely my favorite time of year...)

Fresh Faces

I decided it was time to bring in some new faces to add to the prop department. If only they had some soldering skills...

Such eager faces, I'd better get working! 

my weekend

Had a wonderful show in the lovely home of clothing designer Ann Williamson. I think half the fun was seeing all of the beautiful clothing that walked into our show on the shoppers! I got a few photos in the morning right after set up just to set the scene! Thanks Ann and all for making it such a great weekend!

 The entry featured one of Elisabeth Gillem's gorgeous outfits and the delicate forged silver jewelry of Bay area metalsmith Kathryn Ferrier.

Just a small selection shown here of Carol Risley's fabulous leather handbags.

Some of the amazing work of Ann Williamson, much of which is constructed using vintage kimono silks with hand applique and bead work.

I shared the dining room with designer Elisabeth Gillem and of course, ended up with one of her beautiful hand dyed silk scarves. How could I not?

And my little case was packed full of goodies as well.

etsymetal Project Runway Challenge, Season 9, Week 4

How to please Nina this week… If you’ve been following Project Runway this season, you’ll recall that last week the designers had to design something Nina Garcia could wear to work during the day and to industry functions in the evening. And Nina likes streamlined, modern looks. Can’t be boring either….

I decided to use a piece of petrified palmwood I had stashed away, in a very graphic black and white with polkadots to create a brooch. The shape, which measures 1 ½ x 5/8”, is a fairly conservative shape, but fits the streamlined criteria well. The simple design gives it a modern look, but the stone itself is bold and unusual. 

For the back of the brooch, I’ve created a texture in the sterling reminiscent of reptile skin and added 14kt gold pin findings for an added touch of bit of opulence! Two little 14kt gold balls on either side are the only adornment needed to complete the look.

My idea was that it could be worn on a blouse at the throat like a collar bar or on a jacket, lapel, etc. Hey Nina, would you wear this?? Alas, we’ll never know, but someone will. Maybe with matching earrings? I have those too…

Next week’s challenge is to make something that would work well with Heidi's sporty New Balance collection. See it here.  Hmmmmmm.  Stay tuned!