Treasure Hunt

Treasures found this weekend.  I was told the black ammonite is from Morocco but I think it might be from Peru.  Several magnatite crystals (the black cube shapes) and a chunk of Aragonite crystals are simple and sparkly.  The hand painted cameo is signed on the back, from Poland but I am not sure how old this might be.
 

 

The porcelain girl with flower bouquet has a cork stopper and is marked Germany.

Old piece of branch coral and a coral cameo.  I haven't seen a red coral cameo before.

The glass elephants are so sweet although many have chipped trunks or legs. They were part of a bracelet and earring set.  Again not sure on the age, at least 40 years old I suspect.

A pair of blackamoor clip earrings with rhinestone and faux pearls and blackamoor pendant with tiger's eye stone and enamel. 

 

 Lastly a filigree peacock with enamel and turquoise colored stones.

In Progress

In progress and currently on my work bench is this anticlastic faux fur bracelet.  I'm using red brass to get the look of gold without the price.

Camera Ready

I really don't know why I have wasted my time taking photos with out properly setting up my light box and two special lamp sources.  Amazing photos can be had if I take the time to set them up right.  These apatite earrings were part of my Facebook fan page give-away.   I love the working with the amazing green blue colors of this stone.

 

Special Delivery

Rio Grande's new Tool & Equipment catalog arrived recently.  Like a kid in a candy store and with my love for tools I found my self tagging a number of pages.  Looks like I will be placing an order soon.  I think the anvil will need to wait until I have a dedicated studio space.

I think I could have a lot of creative expansion with a wax gun.  

Hmmm... I just saw an email from Rio and it is on sale!

 

Safety is important.

 How could I imagine that I need another hammer?  Or two?

Renovation

www.GossamerBijou.com

While I still like my website it is terribly out of date and needs a complete remodel.  Hopefully between making jewelry, life and all the things in-between I can find some time to devote to this.  Or maybe a fairy godmother will come along with her magic wand.

Insect Robots

Elegantly executed using a combination of gears, parts, springs and insects.  Mike Libby has created Insect Lab.  His recently published book touches on his process and includes photos of his finished work.

This one is definitely on my book list.  www.insectlabstudio.com

Butterfly Cuff Bracelet

 

Butterfly Cuff Bracelet, Sterling Silver or Brass

Each wing segment is hand cut with a jeweler's saw.

Available by custom order - email me

19th Century Documents

Hand painted lithographs are so beautiful and I adore them.  The depiction and documentation of nature in an artistic and scientific manner is fascinating.  These originals from 1826 are part of Louis Isidore Duperrey’s 3^rd volume of work “Voyage autour du monde:  Sur la corvette la Coquille”.  

Every detail, hair and dimple was carefully rendered showing each leg, antennae and armature.  Iridescent paints were used to reproduce the metallic shells of beetles and vivid colors for butterfly wings.  The colored depictions are accompanied often with line illustrations showing the segmentation of the insects. 

More information on the voyage and additional lithograph images...

Light and Color

Last weekend I visited the SUPRASENSORIAL: EXPERIMENTS IN LIGHT, COLOR, AND SPACE exhibit at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA.  One of the exhibits was a three compartment space lit with green, red and blue tones.  Transitioning from one space to the other and feeling the sensations related to color was an interesting experience.  The exhibit is in place until February 27th. 

Dry Goods

Today’s purchased provisions.  Two new Moleskin sketchbooks with bright pink and red covers.  A chunk of soapstone for my upcoming workshop on soapstone carving. An assortment of Copic Markers.  Copic’s markers are so easy to use with a chisel on one end and ‘paint brush’ on the other end.  Their colors are dreamy.  Over 300 hundred.  Even better they have replacement nibs and ink refills available.

I am inspired to sketch more after the Art House Co-op project and I have lots of ideas floating around in my skull.

If I Had a Hammer

23.  Not my age or my favorite number.  23 Hammers.  That doesn’t include the one in my household toolbox that would make 24.

Made from wood, nylon, rawhide or steel.  Each with a different task for riveting, shaping, forming, raising, planishing and chasing. 

I can not explain how this gathering has happened, except to say that what one can do with a hammer to make a simple sheet of metal twist into a complex shape is awe-inspiring.  

My all time favorite hammers are from NC Black and designed for micro forming.  They teach amazing workshops not to be missed.  Tools and workshop schedule can be found on their website www.ncblack.com

But the one hammer that holds a special place in my heart is the one pictured above that my dad gave me.  It is just 8” long and 2” across, he made it himself when he was in high school metal shop. 

All roads lead to Zzyzx

 

You have seen this sign before and thought "I wonder where that road goes?" or "they must have ran out of street names".  When I was a kid this sign 50 miles past Barstow was always a landmark on the way to my uncle's house.

I am so excited I get to find out what is on Zzyzx Road in March.  I signed up for California Federation of Mineralogical Societies' (CFMS) Earth Science Seminar.  It will be held at an area designated for desert studies and is off the grid! 

My classes will include soapstone carving, scrimshaw, enameling, lapidary and hopefully a few great field trips into the desert in search of treasure.  So what is on my mind right now?  More tools!