Playing around

I'm excited to have a few orders I'm working on.  I have a few brave friends who have encouraged me in this venture. :)  I have been playing around with "rough drafts" and even a few new techniques this week and took some pictures!  Enjoy!

This necklace is the latest I'm wearing.  It has a 3/4" silver disc with my initials (monogram style).  The edges are textured with a hammer and it is slightly domed (to lay better).  The word "esperanza" is hammered onto one side of this 1 1/4" double sided rectangle pendant.  Esperanza means hope in Spanish.  On the other side, I have stamped the word "trust".  I LOVE this lowercase stamp set.  The handwriting is cute and fun!  I have also included a pearl.  I've been studying up on the meaning of different stones, shapes and gems (not in a superstitious way, but figuring I need to know what it is I'm "saying").  Pearls typically represent purity, truth, wisdom.  I had fun wire-wrapping this pearl, the top is wrapped 2 1/2 times and the silver wire then goes across the pearl in a swirl and ends at the bottom.

This is a rough draft for a friend who wanted Psalm 37.4 on a specialized pendant along with her children's initials and birthstones.  The copper 1.25 x 1.25" square will be the background (in silver on the final piece).  And I was excited that the whole verse fit!!  The last word "heart" will actually be a heart shaped stamp as well.  It will be paired with a silver donut shaped piece with the initials evenly spaced and the birthstones dangling from the center.  I'm excited to see the final outcome of this one!  I will probably figure out something to do with this "rough draft" combining it with some silver piece as well. 

This is a silver filigree ball that I have made into a cute little charm for a combination I have yet to discover!  :)  I love putting pieces together!

Now this was a huge stretch for me.  I actually used a spare 1" x 1" copper square for the base and layered scrapbooking papers with a travel and airplane theme along with a piece of screen (from my parents' old screen door most likely) along with seed beads for this fun charm.  I then covered the entire thing with a fun product called Glossy Accents (from your local craft store) and let it dry overnight.  I wasn't sure how clear it would come out, but I was really impressed!  It is a great alternative to epoxy and resin (less toxic as well!). And it will be a great addition to a charm bracelet or fun necklace.

This piece is a familiar saying (I recently made one for my mom out of a 1" circle).  I decided to see what it would look like on a 1"x .75" rounded rectangle.  I love it!  It would be perfect with  children's birthstones in swarovski crystals. 

Stay tuned for more of my latest creations!

Today's creation and clearer pictures

I enjoy also making earrings, necklaces and bracelets out of beads, using semi-precious stones, sterling silver findings and glass beads from all over the world.  This morning I made a pair of asymmetrical earrings for my mom who likes to mix it up a bit.  They are made out of lapiz lazuli which is usually mined in the Middle East and North Africa.  The beautiful blue stones are round and rectangle shaped respectively in this pair of earrings with turquoise European glass beads and a medium blue cats eye bead to set them off nicely. They are hung on sterling silver earwires.

I also wanted to get a clearer shot of the necklace I wear pretty constantly these days.  It says "My beloved" in Spanish on the larger sterling silver disc and containing my husband's and my initials on separate smaller sterling silver discs.  These are embellished with two Swarovski crystals, precision cut crystals which originate in Austria,  in peridot and aquamarine.  These three pieces are then strung on a sterling silver dot/dash design chain my husband gave me as an engagement gift in Costa Rica.  (That's why I love it!!)

A few pictures of what is to come

Well, this is officially my blog for Something Beautiful Studios.  I make hand-stamped sterling silver jewelry and beaded jewelry.  I am officially taking orders.  Here are some of the options, and as I make things, I will add pictures to the blog so you can have more ideas.  Some ideas for what you want on your piece could be:
your name, initials, or that of a spouse or child, birthdate, anniversary, inspirational word or Scripture verse.  I can do things in English and Spanish as you choose.  If you are interested, please leave a comment and I will be in touch!