Recycled Copper Earrings

This week's Year of Jewelry Project theme is "Recycled (a piece that started life as something else.)"

These earrings began life long ago as a copper cuff bracelet. I made the bracelet in a jewelry class using a rolling mill and a piece of Mylar netting to create the texture. The netting was rolled into the copper twice - in opposite directions - which gave it that wavy texture. After years of never being worn as a bracelet, I decided to cut it up and create 4 pairs of earrings out of it. Two pairs are shown here, but there were 2 more pairs that have already been sent to friends as part of my facebook "Pay it Forward" sign-up last January. The earrings in this photo will soon be mailed as gifts.

A "Beautiful" treasury on etsy

My new necklace, "A Day at the Beach" is featured in a wonderful treasury of beach items! The treasury was curated by prenda and is aptly titled "Beautiful". Take a look at all the wonderful items and give it some etsy love, please.

A Day at the Beach - New Work

Here's a peek at my new pendant, titled "A Day at the Beach." A beautiful turquoise, a bronze ammonite shape, a little silver, a little bronze wire all combine into this warm, bright and unique necklace!

You can read more about it and see more photos and even purchase it in my etsy shop here: A Day at the Beach.

The turquoise stone is from the Easter Blue Mine in NV and cut and polished by grayfoxgems.etsy.com. The bronze ammonite component is handmade by Kristi at Dreamsome.etsy.com . I love shopping handmade and using fellow etsy shop items in my jewelry work.

Seeing Red - A Year of Jewelry Project Theme of the Week

The theme this week for the Year of Jewelry Project was "Seeing Red", challenging the participants to think about what the color red evokes in us. When I see red, I think of fire, fierceness and strength. I decided to use this focal stone, a Cuprite Chrysocolla (Sonora Sunrise or Sonora Sunset as it's also called) that I purchased from cabbingrough on etsy. The shield shape of this stone is perfect for my interpretation of the color red. I see it as protecting the wearer from harm and giving her strength as she goes about her life. I've accented it with a deeply colored Carnelian stone, and added some texture and patina in the sterling silver around it for depth and interest, without overpowering the focal stone.

I made it during a delightful jewelry play date with my fellow etsy friend, Halina B and another dear and creative friend, Caren. The afternoon breezed by so quickly. I created the setting for this piece in the afternoon and then spent the evening sanding, polishing, applying patina and setting the stones.

You can see more photos of this necklace in my etsy shop here.

A Day Filled With Etsy Treasuries

Today, two of my necklaces were included in etsy treasuries! First, my "Spring Break" chalcedony pendant is in a cute treasury called "My Perfect Dreaming in Color Tea Party Day". Curated by PrettyDuzz, this treasury includes everything you'll need to have the perfect afternoon tea. Take a peek at the wonderful artists featured here.

My new "Serenity" Variscite pendant was included in a treasury titled "Seafoam Frothing in the Spring". This treasury is curated by darlicioushouse and includes gorgeous seafoam colored items! Click on the photos or the links to enjoy all the pretty things!