A Weekend With Terri

I live less than 2 hours from Terri Brush.   Finally I was able to schedule a weekend away to attend a workshop in her home studio. Above you will see the space all dressed up for a party. It was dressed in daytime finery for us; a nicely designed and decorated artist's studio with so many big girl toys...like a drill press, acyletine torches, all sort of hammers, pliers, heat, resin, dapping molds. I could go on. I spent 2 intense days here learning so much.  Terri is a patient and calm teacher.  Here is the link to learn about Terri and her classes. Terri Brush

For me the learning was experience based. I see.  I try to do. Then I see another thing to do. For example, the drill press. I loved it. The other material new to me is torching on enamel. I really liked the results and the tool investment isn't too large, maybe, if you already own a micro-torch?  HA! You need this sort of a tripod in order to apply torch heat from underneath. Plus the sheet copper, and the enamel powder, dapping molds... I'm sure there is a YouTube video out there for a "how to" on the enamel. 

The first thing we did is make bezels; cutting shapes from thin pieces of sheet metal; bending a narrow band of metal to fit inside of the shape, then soldering the 2 pieces of metal together.  Well, it sounds easy, but there is a skill to it. And I didn't have any of the this skill. 

No matter. I ended up making a few bezels that held together. Then we filled the bezels with bits and bobs; ice resined over the opening, and voila.  The ice resin was a new technique for me. Does everyone over pour the first time? The hearts were made by hammering thin copper into a heart shaped dapping mold. Cutting out the heart. Enameling it with the Thompson enamel. Then placing a tiny decal on top. Love them!!!  So, what to do with all of the bezels and enameled shapes?  How about leather cuffs?  Setting those snaps was probably a one-time thing for me so I'm gonna enjoy this bracelet. Oh, that was a lot of fun. 

Vintage Flair

For the month of September our challenge from the B'Sue FaceBook group is the theme "Vintage Flair". Well, I love using vintage components in my jewelry and so, I pulled out some stuff and shifted it around on my workable. Hmmm, this, that, the other thing. Part of the participating in these monthly themes is to prominently feature Products from B'Sue Boutique , which is easy to do. 

I wanted to feature some of the best true vintage  stuff I had on hand, starting with this bullion fringe from an old badge, a sparkly topaz from the Boutique and the unique bit of copper chain from B'Sues etsy store (on the right in above pic). But...I was far from done. 

Ultimately I used very little vintage in this necklace. I stayed with B'Sue brass stampings and charms. I torch patinaed a Victorian connector as the background with the rusty black bird connector on top. I dangled a B'Sue rusty black butterfly and some of that cool chain as a tassle. The necklace chain and all jumps are also from B'Sue. I will never again use steel or big box store components. They are cold. 

Gee, I like this layered look. Still, my vintage flair necklace doesn't have quite the flair I'm aiming for. I need to get back into my supplies. 

Touched By An Angel

I wanted to look, touch and buy some good antique jewelry bits to incorporate into my jewelry. Centralia, WA. has an antiques district that was near the Terri brush workshop. While I didn't find the multi-story antiques mall building, I did find one shop.  I walked into a store full of jewelry, much of it the flashy rhinestone brooches that are collectible. As I browsed I spotted some real nice things that were certainly out of my price range, all locked up in glass cases. Yet, as I asked to see some items, oohing and aahing, the owner quoted me prices that were much less than the price tags. Long story short...all of these pieces came home with me for an affordable price. Not too dear to repurpose. Specifics:  60" of delicious pearl/glass/rhinestone rosary chain, a goofus glass brooch, MOP brooch, a brooch for a fob or a charm, and a gold/crystal charm that look like 14k gold fill, a Limoges lady pendent, a fab piece of patinaed filigree with colored stones, a fur clip with crystals, and an old filigree bead and amythest glass chain. I had to stop. 

As I was paying, the shop owner reached under the counter and hauled out a $5 grab bag and asked if I was interested in old bits. Uh, yes, please.  As soon as I checked into the hotel, can you guess what I did?  Here is what I gleaned from the grab bag. Heck, I can use this to add a bit of old to my jewelry. 

I'm not through yet!  These items were also in the grab bag. what?!  There are no identifying marks, but this looks like decent quality. The 2 pair of stone earrings at left and middle have screw on posts of a type I haven't seen. Honestly, I feel like I was touched by an angel. 

CHANGE IT UP - September 25

Welcome my friends. It makes me happy that you've dropped in for a visit. When the B'Sue boutiques creative group on Facebook proposed a "Change it up" blog hop, I said yes. I selected the embossed heart as my starting element.  I planned to go with a geisha theme, inspired by a geisha piece Brenda made; I wanted one for myself.  So I sat down at the work table...

...and everything changed. Ever had that happen to you?  Oh yeah.  Here was this gorgeous brass flower stamping that fit nicely on the heart, with the leaves, and the little brass layered flower...so the focal was designed around all B'Sue Boutiques components. Ok so far. But where is my "change it up" part of the blog hop theme?

Well, the chain is the "change". I'll make it a double wrap and decorative as opposed to simple good chain with a few beads. I started by setting old navettes in prong settings, used snippets of a couple B'Sue Boutiques brass chain, plus filigree beads, bits of coral, a variety of beads, some precious and some not. In the center of the choker section, I featured a B'Sue floral urn charm and a tiny bird. 

Here is my finished necklace.  I think Everything on the focal is From B'Sue Boutiques except the tiny bee near the bottom. Most of the brass has been torched, rubbed with Guilders Paste and sealed.  Around this time I was looking at lots of jewelry by Lisa Bommarito and Christine Wallace.  I was yearning to try for the same vintage luxury look. Yet I don't have the sort of unique (precious and hard to find) elements at my disposal. No worries...I'll use the best made in USA components and try to make them look old and valuable. Thank you, Brenda, for showing me the way and offering such great products. Oh, and that geisha?  She became a brooch.  She insisted on joining the hop. 

There is a lot of B'Sue boutiques components and education on her. All of the brass was primered, sanded, colored with Perfect Pearls, sealed with Krylon Matte spray. Several of the stones are from B'Sue, as is the blue moon glow bead that was so perfect I had to modify the design a bit in order to incorporate it. Alrighty now. What's next for the workable?!  

Please keep on hopping over to your friends. 

Brenda Sue Lansdowne

Jewelry Making Outside the Box

http://www.bsueboutiques.com

Mary Deis

The Rose Sword

http://theroseswordmdeis.blogspot.com/

Jann Tague

Clever Designs

https://janntague.wordpress.com/

Lori Beekman

B.Accessorized

https://baccessorized.wordpress.com/

Renee Hong

Fine and Dandy Jewelry

http://www.fineanddandyjewelry.blogspot.com/

Cynthia Wainscott

Exotic Peru Jewelry

http://exoticperujewelry.blogspot.com/

Dana Hickey

Magpie Approved

http://magpieapproved.blogspot.com/

Mary Beth Quigley-Spiker

Q Settings

https://qsettings.wordpress.com/

Karen Eaton

KJewelry Creations

http://kjewelrycreations1.blogspot.com/

Shari Gardner

SLG Jewelry Designs

https://slgdesigns.wordpress.com/

Alison Huie

Ally's Baubles

http://allysbaubles.blogspot.com/

Pamela Anger

Novegatti Designs

http://www.novegattidesigns.blogspot.com/

Carole Carlson

Beadsophisticate

https://beadsophisticate.wordpress.com/

Cindy Peterson

Howling Dog Jewelry

https://howlingdogjewelry.wordpress.com/

Marcia Tuzzolino

Aurora Designs

http://auroradesignsjewelryblog.me/

Charlotte Smothers

Sea Horse Ranch Life

http://seahorseranch.blogspot.com/

Catherine Shattuck

Victorian Rose Boutique

https://vrbrose.wordpress.com/

Clare Wells Nemeth

Papercrafting Magic

http://papercraftingmagic.blogspot.com/

Erin Whitacre

Shattered Time

https://shatteredtimejewelry.wordpress.com/

Lynda O'Mara

Lomara Creative

http://www.lomaracreative.com/

Ginger Hammond

Lynn Leigh Designs

https://lynnleighdesigns.wordpress.com/

Ingrid Anderson

Lilis Gems Artisan Jewelry

https://lilisgems.wordpress.com/

Deb Beechy

Beetique

http://www.beetique56.blogspot.com

Harry Wood

Oscar Crow

http://oscarcrow.blogspot.com/

Delyssa Maxwell

Past Time Fancies

https://pasttimefancies.wordpress.com/

Paula Gaskill

Lovely Layla Bugs

http://lovelylaylabugjewels.weebly.com/blog

Irene Hoffman

Heart's Dezire by Irene

https://heartsdezirebyirene.wordpress.com/

Alexandra Sefton

Imaginary Jewelry and Altered Art

http://wilywolverine.blogspot.com/

Leslie Carver

Adorn Divine Designs

http://adorndivinedesigns.blogspot.com

Please Use Jump Rings

A few years ago my niece made this beaded necklace for me. I loved it...maybe too much because the clasp broke and I set it aside for repairs. 

Skip forward a couple years. This vintage brass lady stamping arrived from B'Sue Boutiques .  Suddenly I had an idea for a renewed necklace. As I began to put the pieces together I saw that the lovely and delicate beaded chain was 100% wire wrapped. Think about it...no jump rings to make changes presto-chango. To top it off the wire she used was thin and the beads had tiny holes. 

I really struggled and almost quit trying to mend the chain. Yet it was such a nice match to the lady stamping that I toughed it out. I did learn a lesson on the value of jump rings. Breaks happen!  Repairs are necessary!!!