What I'm Working On....

It's been far too long since I've updated my blog, so I thought it would be great to jump back in with a post about things I'm currently working on here in my studio, and since it was also selected as this month Aspiring Metalsmith's Blog roll theme, it was perfect timing! I always have many projects going at once...sometimes certain ones will be put on the "back burner" while I work on new idea that comes up, or because I have customer orders to fill, or just because I am not inspired to sit and finish them. The picture above shows a pretty Sillimanite faceted bead and a sterling silver ring, which will eventually become a hammered hoop necklace. I started on this one piece back in April.

This picture below is my sketch of the next stone set piece I'll be working on, featuring two cabs cut by Laura of Cabbing Rough. They are so pretty together, and will be blooming into a pretty flower themed necklace! You can see the sketch next to it, which I did for the finished necklace that's in my shop currently....you can see how it turned out here. I always do up a couple of sketches when deciding how I was to set a cabochon. I find it helps a lot to have something to refer back to, and I make changes as I go. This is the first rough sketch for this piece.
This next picture shows a simple set of three sterling rings, which still need to be textured and polished, and will be listed in my shop soon. I use my old Looney Tunes mouse pad under my bench block so I don't scratch my table....I love the Warner Brothers Looney Tunes! Whose your favorite character? Mine is a toss up between Michigan J. Frog and Gossamer....
And lastly are these sweet kitty and baby whale pendants still waiting to be sawed out and finished. I sketched these out over two years ago, and these poor creatures have been waiting to come to life for far too long. One of these days I'll get around to them.... I hope anyway! :)
And that's what I'm working on here.....to see what my fellow team mates are working on in their studios, please check out the links below.

• Esmeralda http://jewelry-by-silverblueberry.blogspot.com/
• Happy Tortoise Designs http://www.happytortoisedesigns.blogspot.com/
• Crow Steals Fire http://crowstealsfire.blogspot.com/
• Contemporary Jewelry by Beatriz Fortes http://cjbf.blogspot.com/
• steph http://stephstargell.com
• Jessica @ Abella Blue http://www.abellablue.com/blog
• Pennee- All Wired Up Jewelry Designs http://www.allwiredupjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com/
• Stacy http://www.formandfunktionaccessories.blogspot.com/
• Mary Anne Karren http://silverpearlmetalworks.wordpress.com/
• Brightstar109 www.brightstar109.blogspot.com
• Amy Nicole Artisan Jewelry Http://Rubymtnbeads.blogspot.com
• Resurrection Silver http://www.resurrectionsilver.blogspot.com
• Kwant Essentials http://kwantessentials.blogspot.com/2011/07/show-and-tell-from-start-to-finish.html
• Kit and Caboodle Shop http://thisartistsjourney.blogspot.com
• Julie http://jamauerer.blogspot.com
• Lilian http://www.girllovesglitter.blogspot.com/
• Autumn Bradley Jewelry Design http://www.autumnbradley.blogspot.com

My Humble Metalsmithing Journey....

This months Aspiring Metalsmiths group blogroll theme is to show the first piece of jewelry that we made and talk about where we started. Well, I don't think I have a picture of the actual first piece of jewelry that I made, due to my computer crashing last year, but I was able to dig up a photo of some pieces made shortly after, and that were pretty much along the same lines. I have always loved jewelry, and bought a few books with projects that seemed right up my alley, and then started playing....

These collage charm pendants were made a few years ago, using glass, copper foil tape, decorative papers and vintage images. I soldered them closed using silver based soft-solder, flux and a soldering iron....much like working with stained glass.

From there I bought a few more books, and taught myself to do some basic wire wrapping, and started working with gemstone beads, and sterling silver...here is one of the first necklaces that I made utilizing those techniques.

After making many charm necklaces, and wire wrapped necklaces and earrings, I felt I was ready to push my skills to the next level, and signed up for a four day intensive beginning silversmithing class at my local lapidary shop. I was hooked! Here is the first completed metalsmithed piece that came out of that class...I hand sawed out the pieces, forged the metal, soldered the bail, oxidized and polished it. I used several different tools and equipment...and learned a lot along the way.

I started putting my new found skills to work by adding simple soldered pieces like this sterling floral bangle to my jewelry portfolio. I have made many of these over the last year, and they helped improve my techniques and finishing skills.
So all of these little steps...working with new materials, trying new techniques, reading and learning...pushing myself to that next step, brings me to where I am today, and where I hope to go. These are two pieces that I have completed in the last two weeks...I think they are good examples of where I am headed on this journey. I hope you'll stay along for the ride. :)

Please take some time to stop by my fellow Aspiring Metalsmither's and read about their humble beginnings by clicking the links below.

Jessica - www.abellablue.com/blog
Clarity - www.thesquarepegnation.blogspot.com
Claire - http://brightstar109.blogspot.com
Stacy - http://formandfunktionaccessories.blogspot.com/
Pennee - http://allwiredupjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com/
Brandy - http://thefrogspond.wordpress.com
Gloria - http://gloria-hemlockhollow.blogspot.com/
Joy - http://www.joypeckjoy.blogspot.com/
Autumn - http://www.autumnbradley.blogspot.com
Gayle - http://www.thisartistsjourney.blogspot.com
Esmeralda - http://jewelry-by-silverblueberry.blogspot.com/

Happy 2011!!!

Happy New Year everyone! I am a bit late with my first post of the new year, but I wanted to wait until I had something interesting to post about. I finally finished my first new piece of the year and listed it in my Etsy shop yesterday. This is a one of a kind champagne quartz heart necklace....Valentine's Day is around the corner, and I wanted to get a jump start on it!

I love how this necklace turned out, and I hope that it will make someone very happy this year.

I entered it into a contest as well....The Handmade Gift Guide is running a Valentine's Day themed contest, and the winner will get a free spot in the showcase. If you'd like to vote for my necklace you can do that here.....mine is at the very bottom...number 32. The contest runs for three more days...thanks in advance for sharing your love! :)

In other news, I am on an early Spring cleaning spree, throwing out the old, and organizing as I go. My studio is in a bit of a shambles after the holiday's so I am starting there, and working my way through the house. I hope to get that finished up in the next week. Having a clean space helps my creativity I think, or at least I don't feel guilty thinking I should be doing something else while I'm working in my studio!

I been amassing a collection of gorgeous new cabochons and beads in the last year, and will be introducing a new line of jewelry soon. I am excited, and can't wait to share it with everyone, but I have to finish a few pieces first to get things rolling! Stay tuned for some sneak peaks....

I wish everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous 2011!

Fall is Here!

My good friend Iva has been politely reminding me that I haven't made a new blog post in quite some time...and she's right of course! I have really been neglecting my poor blog, so I am finally here to post a small update before I head off on a plane to Portland today to attend the Art & Soul retreat. I was very busy in August and September preparing for the fabulous Tinsel & Treasures show, which was even better than last years show! Thanks to Iva and Colleen for going all out to make the artists feel welcomed and to put on such an amazing event. I didn't really take any pictures at the show, so please do stop by Iva's show blog to see examples of some amazing art from the show.

The pictures above are some of the new things I have been working on this year....fun Halloween paintings, and whimsical birds are available in my mixed media Etsy shop, and new jewelry designs are available in my other Etsy shop.

For those of you that will be in Portland this week, I look forward to seeing you and saying "hi" and meeting some of you for the very first time! I will try to be back soon with pictures from this fabulous art retreat. :)

A Pirate's Tale Continues.....

BOOM! A pirate ship's cannon fires a warning blast. The explosion rocks a nearby merchant ship. Musket balls fly. Grenades explode. A wounded helmsman staggers. He lets go of the ship's wheel, and the ship swings around crazily. Flames flicker everywhere. Pistols fire. Pirates, screaming threats, board the merchant ship, swinging axes and cutlasses.

Hissing through his teeth, Blackbeard—one of the most dreaded pirates who ever lived—jumps to the deck. He stands tall and lean. Pieces of rope burn like fuses among coils of his black hair. Sashes stuffed with pistols and daggers crisscross his huge chest. Black ribbons flap from the braids in his beard. Terrified sailors flee. Blackbeard and his fierce crew have pirated The Bonnee Lass, and taken our regal Queen of the Soirée, the lovely Miss Donna!!

I rush over to Captain Jack, Adam, and Jerry (The Puffy Shirt) Seinfeld...."Will one of ye be man enough to rescue our Queen and save the ship from Blackbeard and his crew?" I ask?

Adam Ant draws his guns and starts to come forward….

But, Cap'n Jack (AKA Johnny) steps up and pushes Adam back.... "I will save the fair maiden....but may I have a spot of rum before I leave?" he asks.

Me thinks he has already partaken of the ale....

Will Captain Jack rescue Queen Donna? Will he free the ship from Blackbeard and his crew? Who shall be named the new Queen of the Soirée? And what of the "Puffy Shirt"? To Be Continued....

In honor of Donna’s Swashbuckler Soiree, I have created Blackbeard’s Necklace which will be available for purchase in my Etsy shop today. Thank you Donna for hosting this fun and exciting event, and for taking us all along with you on this magical journey!

Thank you also to Lisa at Heart of the Nest for providing the fun picture of Donna in all her finery! Part of "A Pirate's Tale Continues" was taken from Blackbeard~Pirate Terror at Sea as written on the National Geographic website.

Springtime......

I love Spring....the flowers blooming, the nice weather, and everything seems clean and fresh again! Spring is a chance for me to plan events for the rest of the year, get some cleaning and organizing done, and gather my ideas on things I would like to make, and new techniques I would like to try. Spring is a happy time of year for me. I borrowed the lovely photo above from a good friend of mine, Lana Manis of Honeysuckle Lane. She takes the most beautiful photographs and they always bring a smile to my face. Thank you Lana! :) Stop by her blog to see more of her photography and art.....you're in for a treat!

Since Easter is early this year, I only found time to make one Easter themed piece, which will debut on PFATT Marketplace tonight around midnight Pacific time. Here is a peek at my Easter Bunny Egg Theater....
A couple of weeks ago, Annie of Annie Beez Folk Art, a great gal & a very talented artist, tagged me to list six random things about myself...
Here are the rules:

1. Link to the person that tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.
4. Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.
5. Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.

Here are my six random facts...
1. I am a night owl....and often stay up late at night to watch a movie, or read a good book!
2. Speaking of good books...my absolute favorite author is Dean Koontz! I have read all of his books, and always pick up the new ones as they come out in hard back.
3. I am a gum chewer...I chew several pieces a day, sugarless of course! I carry a pack on me at all times.
4. My least favorite chore around the house is cleaning the bathrooms...yuck.
5. I get motion sickness very easily, and have to either drive or ride in the front seat on road trips, can't ride in boats for very long, and I don't do roller coasters.
6. I love cereal....we always have several kinds in the house, as I never know what I'll have a craving for. sometimes I'll even have a bowl at night as a treat...yum!

Here are the six people I am tagging;
Steph of Once Upon A Notion
Jamie of Peach Street's Blog
La Donna Welter
Tonya of Back Porch Pickin's
Nikki of Kaniki's
BJ of Daughternature Primitive Folkart
Thanks for the fun Annie! I'm looking forward to reading your six random things ladies, and thanks for being good sports! :)

I have also been given an award from two very nice women who are both amazing artists to boot...
Nancy Malay & Lone Pierette.....thank you both, you also make my day! :)
I would like to pass this award onto Elaine of Artful-Spirit, Lana of Honeysuckle Lane, Annie of Chickadee Primitives, and Sandy of Sam I Am Creations....their blogs inspire me, and are always a joy to read!

I hope you all are having nice Spring weather and can spend a few minutes this week taking a peek outside to see what might be blooming in your yard.

New Collage Charm Necklaces!

I have several new collage charm necklaces available now for purchase. They are shown here below.....In the first picture, the two gals in costume on the far left, have had glass glitter accents added to the collage....
These are all original mini collages, not copies, and each contains layered images on papers that have been inked, placed between glass, and soldered using 100% lead free solder! They have been given a black patina finish for a wonderful antique look, and come with your choice of a black patina 24" ball chain or a black sheer ribbon. Either can easily be trimmed to suit your desired length. The square pendants measure 1.5" by 1.5" and the long pendants are 1" by 3". The backs are finished with a coordinating paper and have been signed and dated Sylvia Anderson 2007. Each charm pendant is $26 which includes first class shipping to anywhere in the continental US. Please email me for international shipping rates. If you would like to see additional close up pictures, or have any questions, please feel free to drop me a line at sylviaanderson@surewest.net

In addition to those pictured above, I have some charm pendants and two new baby shoe pin keeps available this month on The Primitive Gathering site. This is my first month on this site, and it is an amazing group of artists that do wonderful work, so please be sure to have a look around! Below are my offerings on The Primitive Gathering.....I am accepting a limited number of special orders for initial pendants, as represented by the letter "S" pendant pictured above. If you are interested in one, please email me for more information.

I will be back soon with pictures from the California State fair that we are headed to on Sunday! I wish you all a happy Labor Day weekend!

I Love The Mail!

I admit it....I am one of those people that looks forward to the mail! I can hear the mail truck drive by my house each day as I am working in my studio....the truck has a very distinctive sounding motor. I peek through my blinds and spy, and I wait until my mailman has finished placing the mail into each persons box (we have a large community box on the corner) and then I go out to retrieve my mail. Many days it's loaded with junk mail and bills...but every now and then, I receive a special treat in the mail...and yesterday was one of those days! :) I received an enveloped marked air mail from South Africa. It was from Lynda, and I had recently won a drawing she held on her new blog Wednesday's Wanderings. The envelope contained a wonderful set of postcards with images from the town of Howick taken in the early 1900's. I just love old photo's and the history that they share with us. Thank you again Lynda!

Here's a sneak peek of what I have been working on for The Primitive Gathering site. I will have these items and more available for purchase on September first, so please check back soon.

We had a great time at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom last weekend, and here are few pictures from that day....This butterfly was HUGE!!! Bigger than my palm spread apart....just amazing! Notice how his colors seem to blend in with the surrounding tree?

Simon had fun feeding the giraffe's......