Pot of Gold

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I hope everyone finds their pot of gold.

Lotus Pendant, copper and chrysoprase, approximately 1-1/2" diam.

Available by custom order - email me

Shearling Fur Bracelet

Raspberry pink shearling fur and brass bracelet.  A thin sheet of brass is micro formed with special wood block forms and custom hammers into a curved tube.  This bracelet can be found listed for sale in Gossamer Bijou's Etsy shop.  Other versions can be made to order in choice of metal and various colors of fur or faux fur - email me.

Organic Pendant

This sterling silver pendant has a tube set Peridot stone, textured and smooth insets and is just ever so slightly convex.

Here are the steps from concept through stone setting that I took to make this pendant.

 Design sketch with my notes for fabrication.

Layers cut out.  Layer on right is the bottom layer with textured and smooth areas.

 Layers stacked, soldered and ready for doming.

 All soldering done, domed, tube and bail in place and polished.  Ready to set the stone.

 Peridot stone set.  Finished!

Progress

Progress on hoop earrings in silver.

Tourmaline

Tourmaline is one of my favorite gemstones.  The stone spans an incredible range of color from dark intense blue to pale blue, yellow, olivine, chromium green to all shades of pink and raspberry.  When I learned that I could dig through the tailings of Tourmaline mines to find treasures I could not resist.  Better yet the mines are about a two hour drive from Los Angeles.

The gems pictured here are just some of what my boyfriend and I found when we went in June last year to the Himalaya Mine and the Oceanview Mine.  These have been washed and scrubbed a bit with a bristle brush but nothing further. 

The Tourmaline in the photo above and the next two photos are from the Himalaya Mine near Lake Henshaw in San Diego County.  The mine was a prominent Tourmaline mine and although it is no longer in operation you can dig through their tailings.  We had good luck that day and found a lot including some Aquamarine and Quartz.

We also went to the Oceanview Mine which is an operating mine.  The Oceanview Mine is located off a private road near the Pala Casino in San Diego County.  It was a hot day and taking a walk into the underground mine was a great way to cool off and see an actual mine shaft.  They frequently post on their Oceanview Mine Facebook page the latest finds and what will be in the tailings for the upcoming weekend.

Below are our best finds from the Oceanview Mine.  We also found Kunzite, Lepidolite, Mica and Beryl.

Beautiful Gems

Vintage glass apothecary vials I purchased.  Wondering how I will incorporate these into a necklace or art project.

Sketchbook Project 2011

The Art House Co-op received my sketchbook and it has been cataloged and checked into the exhibition.  The sketchbooks will be on display at the Brooklyn Art Library at 103A N. 3rd Street until February 27th at which point they leave for their cross country trek.  The first stop will be Austin, Texas on March 12th.  See the full schedule for an opportunity near you to check out the artist's sketchbooks.

With my sketchbook theme "Science Project Gone Wrong" I explored jewelry design concepts that bordered and crossed into the obscure and odd.  Below are a few of my favorite sketches.

Hand Made Tools

Here are a few tools I made last year for jewelry work.  These were made with tool steel and hand filed with files and diamond bit files.  Each steel piece was heated several times to dull red then dunked in water to temper.

Valentine's Giveaway Winner

The winner for the Valentine's Giveaway was announced this evening on the Gossamer Bijou Facebook page.  Will she select Door #1 a furry bracelet or door #2 a pair of hoop earrings both handmade jewelery pieces by Gossamer Bijou.

Valentine's Giveaway

Today is the last day to enter the Valentine's Giveaway.  Winner to select from either brass hoop earrings with gold filled wire or a custom furry bracelet in brass with choice of fur or faux fur.  Follow this link to my previous post to enter an win a handmade piece of jewelry by Gossamer Bijou.  Good luck!

Be Mine

Vintage Italian Micro Mosaic Brooch.  This is in my treasure chest waiting to be made into a new creation as the pin is broken.

Lotus Pendant

Lotus Pendant approximately 1-1/2" diameter

Sterling Silver with Rutilated Quartz Cabochon 

Other stones available.

Each layer is hand cut with a jeweler's saw,

formed to be slightly concave.

Available by custom order - email me

Valentine's Giveaway

Gossamer Bijou Facebook Giveaway  

One lucky winner will have a choice of a furry bracelet (custom made by me in beautiful brass and your fur or faux fur selection) or what is behind door number 2 - a pair of hoop earrings (in either choice of silver or brass with gold filled ear wire). 

How to enter: 
Go to my Gossamer Bijou Facebook "Valentine's Giveaway" page through this link Click Here and leave a comment on the "Valentine's Giveaway" page (just once unless you have followed the steps below for bonus entries)

Bonus entries (up to four possible):
If you do any of the four items below, leave a comment for each noting the details.

1. "Like" my Gossamer Bijou page - or if you are already a fan let me know - 1 bonus entry - leave a comment on the "Valentine's Giveaway" page.
2. Repost on your FB page – 1 bonus entry - leave comment on the "Valentine's Giveaway" page with details.
3. Repost on your FB fan page – 1 bonus entry - leave comment on the "Valentine's Giveaway" page with details.
4. Post this giveaway on your own blog or twitter page – 1 bonus entry - leave comment on the "Valentine's Giveaway" page with details.

Superstar Bonus entries:
Whoo Hoo!

1. Sign up and "follow" my blog - 1 Superstar bonus entry - leave a comment on the "Valentine's Giveaway" page with details.
2. Comment on one a blog posting - 1 Superstar bonus entry - leave a comment on the "Valentine's Giveaway" page with details.

Giveaway starts at time of posting on Gossamer Bijou Facebook page 2/9/11 and ends 2/15/11 midnight pacific time.  So get your entries in before Valentine's day and cupid gets you!

Winner will be announced on the 16th.  Winner will be selected randomly using random.org  Winner will have a choice of one of two fabulous hand made jewelry items by me.

Good luck!

Furry Bracelets

Furry bracelets.  A thin sheet of metal is micro formed with special wood block forms and custom hammers into a curved tube.  Made to order in choice of metal and fur - email me.

 Brass and Nutria Fur

 Brass and Faux Fur

Copper and Vintage Mink Fur

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.

 

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.

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