Mile-STONE Days...

We had a great time at Goshen Art Walk on October the 15th; pumpkins were carved, kids laughed and I spilled a coffee or two. I worked on new designs at the show, and even used stone settings for the first time.  

We also used our new credit card reader, and took our first credit card custom orders right at the show!  It was a mile-stone day and made our hearts smile.

The wind blew, HARD, and broke a few displays but my son and hubby had the best attitudes, so nothing could get me down.

Here's my kiddo "working" on one of our newest peices.  (I pay him in Matchbox Cars.)

New Frontiers: Stone Setting!!

This is the beginning stages and finished piece: "Motor City Heart".

Soldering the wire into a heart-shape bezel to hold the Fordite stone.

This pendant has a "stone" in it called "Fordite" or "Detroit Agate", as it is the paint from car manufacturing that collects on the racks and goes through the high-heat curing process.  

This material is from a man who retired to Marquette from the Ford Plant in Dearborn, MI and is suspected to be from the late 70's to early 80's Mustang line.

The Fordite influenced this design; you can see the shape of an anatomical heart and I made the arteries to mimic a city skyline. I also stamped in rivet details and wood grain, as a nod to the steel that the stoic city is built on, and the wood that built the heart of its' homes.  

​The piece is entirely hand cut, carved, soldered, stamped and made by me in fine (.999) silver.

Setting a stone in my new work called: "Trinity"

My bezels start as a flat wire.

"Trinity" is a shadow box style pendant, with a peek-a-boo back so you can see the stone on the reverse.  The stone is triple-point cut labradorite, which is hand cut by a lapidary named Dave, he cuts stones to support his family in South Carolina.  ( IG: @daves_craves_stones)

I hand made each tiny twig, and soldered them into place inside the channel of the triangle shaped box.  Then, I cut, form and solder the bezel for the stone.

Setting the stone is a final step after buffing, and oxidizing the piece.

Here you can see a texture on the outside of the box.  I sprinkle silver shavings onto the flat area, and then blast it with a torch to get this effect.

​The piece is entirely hand cut, carved, soldered, stamped and made by me in fine (.999) silver.

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I want to thank Connie Rose for her beautiful spirit, I so enjoyed your presence and thank you for loaning me a hand mirror.  

​I also want to say "Congratulations!" to fellow visual artist Dan Walsh (IG: @danwalsh88) , who had an amazing and inspiring display.

Thank you, Dav Walker and JD, for being my angels standing by and for always having extra smiles when I need them most.