New work

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

I'm slowly but surely getting things organized and starting to think about the next big listing. Once in a great while I get the chance to make something really big which takes a week and sometimes two to create. From sketches of the design to making the beads and cleaning,etching (glass etching solution),stringing and then melting, etching (nitric acid) or stamping on homegrown sterling bead caps. The process is long but worth it. I've planned on making something REALLY big and it looks like that moment has arrived.

A close friend of ours took me to her grandmothers last year to see her "stash" of rocks. She's a rock hound and belongs to our local Gem and mineral club, she's looking for youngsters like me to learn the trade. I was in awe while looking at all of her findings. She gave me a few cabochons that her husband made in which I've finally done something with one of them. I'm not sure what sort of stone this is but it looks like turquoise.... it's NOT though. It's gorgeous with milky white blotches and tiny veins of tan running through it. It looks like high Sierra skies to me. It's gorgeous!

I'm thinking I may spend some days next week making a lot of lampwork beads to go with it. I'm leaning towards something white that matches the white in the stone and making bead caps for every single one of the beads. The necklace will have three strands of small lampwork beads, maybe one strand medium sized. I'll add a single piece of turquoise that matches the blue and off balance it in the medium strand of beads. A really heavy patina will make this look rustic and old.

Another thought is all sterling silver capped beads. This piece deserves to hang with the best. I'll have to sit on it for a while until I decide what I'm going to do with it. I've got several people here who would love to have it so I may or may not list it.

Off to my second run on work today!