So Many Hammers... So Little time! Hammers are an essential piece of my design experience. Each year I purchase more and more hammers. To date I own 31 hammers. Each hammer is designed for a specific task. Texturing hammers (and I have several) are used to create texture and design in the metal. I have ones that create patterns such as tiny squares or circles, a … [Read more...]
Cloud Dreams; My Newest Collection
Have you ever spent a lazy afternoon gazing at the clouds on a sunny day…picking out shapes, naming them, dreaming, and having fun? This is the spirit that inspired me to create my CLOUD DREAMS collection. Finding the Gem The stones (from Indonesia) are White Plume Agate. I discovered this gem quite by accident. Over the last year I have been purchasing many of my … [Read more...]
How to Deal with a Creativity Block
You've heard of Writer's Block, right? This is when a novelist or other writer just cannot seem to move forward with the book they are writing. The ideas are just NOT flowing. Recently, as a jewelry designer, I experienced something similar. I'll create the scene for you here. My Creativity Block DAY In the morning I have ideas on how my day will unfold. I want to … [Read more...]
Turquoise; Legends & Facts
Did you know that turquoise is one of the first gemstones to be mined? In fact, turquoise beads were found in Mesopotamia dating back to 5000 BC! Turquoise was found in Egypt from the reign of Pharaoh Semerkhet in 2900BC. This ancient gemstone is still prized today and used in many different cultures including the American Indians. This blue/green stone varies in … [Read more...]
Video Fun with my Designs
Right now I am in the learning curve for this new incredible equipment. While the Gem Light Box is easy to set up and use, I am still testing ways to take the videos and images. Since a couple of additional lighting options are included, I am taking photos and videos several times to see what works best for my particular style of jewelry design. For example, some of the … [Read more...]