After the rush

This year was the first time I did two summer shows back to back. I'm used to that at Christmas time but never before in August! Both shows were fun and relaxing - the weather was perfect and even the mosquitos couldn't ruin the Edmonton Folk Music Festival! I got back into the studio this week and took a look around at the mess things were in. After two days cleaning and organizing I feel that I can settle in and tackle the next round of preparations. I have several custom pieces to get to so keep checking back. Then it's Christmas stock. That has always been a hard thing for me to get my head around in August!

Sue's pendant

Sue trusted me with an interesting project. She found me on Etsy and send me a picture of an actress wearing a necklace that her daughter just loved. She wanted me to make it and surprise her daughter on her birthday with the piece. We couldn't find the perfect picture, but knew that it was cross like and was made with garnets. I'm hoping to get the perfect picture of her daughter wearing the surprise piece!

Heather's ring

Heather is one of my best friends and celebrated a big birthday this year. She comes with me to the Tucson Gem show and her eagle eye helps me find great stones. Our group of friends chipped in and gave her some money to buy a special birthday stone. She found this beautiful strawberry colored cushion cut spinel. I took it back to Kelowna with me and then 'surprised' her with the finished ring.

Trish's pendant

I have know Trish for a very long time- she was one of my elementary school teachers! She came to me with a personal project using jewelry from a loved one that had passed. I used a combination of casting and hand building to finish the piece. Now it is a remembrance that she can wear close to her heart.

Donna's pearl ring

Donna had an old pearl and blue zircon ring that she wanted updated and modernized. The ring was very delicate and had very little gold in it. I carved this chunkier ring in wax to make it sculptural and hollowed out the underside to lighten it. The pearl is set lower to protect it on the one side and the blue zircons are tube set to modernize it. Her daughters birthday is also in December (blue zircon) and I have a feeling she will be wanting to wear this ring now!

Tanya's pink topaz ring

Tanya was given two round pink topaz stones and she wanted them in one ring. They are slightly different in size and color so it took me a while to figure out how to put them together. I was going to add several smaller pink stones, also in different shades. That was going to be too busy so instead I just united them with this ring shank with three strong linear elements. The result is a very bold ring, which made Tanya very happy!

Klimt Series

I have made several attempts over the years to create a jewelry series that is influenced by my favourite artist, Gustav Klimt. I haven't been happy with then so I thought this year I would try again. I took a different approach and decided to carve the designs in wax and then cast them. I am really happy with the feel that I was able to get by doing it this way. There is a certain painterly effect that I can capture while using some of Klimt's motifs- like the swirl (my fav). I am also able to create more sculptural pieces and have a new twist on a form that I use like the teardrop. This has opened up so many possibilities- now to do them in gold. If it's Klimt, it has to be gold!