Purple Heart Day

      Today, my daughter and the grandson went to the Farmer's Market downtown, to find some organic vegetables. I bought a gorgeous cantaloupe, which I had to cut in half and have a bite of at lunch today. And some local honey, from this area of Louisiana. I'm hoping it will help with my newly acquired allergies. The Farmer's Market was in the parking lot of the Museum of Modern Art, but the museum wasn't open yet. Oh, well, maybe next trip. After we got home and unloaded all the goodies we bought, I went to the studio and got busy finishing some pieces that have been in the works for a while.

     The purple heart in this photo is spoken for. A sweet little girl saw one of my hearts, a coral colored one that I wear, and asked me to make her a necklace for her birthday. She told me that her favorite color isn't pink any more - it's purple. So I will be making up a necklace for her to wear, and I hope she likes it!

I Am A Fan of These Beauties

Photo Courtesy of Heidi Post

     I've been wanting to make time to create some jewelry using the pewter. I made some pieces for myself to use, but I just have't set aside that time to put things together.
     Recently, I got a message from Heidi Post, sending me links to her blog, showing photos of ways she has been using the pewter. And I just love what she's done!

     This one is the Normandy Blush Fleur connector, and she used a chandelier crystal with it. (I have one of those big crystals - I would like this look for myself to wear!)

Photo Courtesy of Heidi Post

     And this one uses the lovebirds pewter charm as a connector, with darling blue pearls. See the pretty blue dangle under the disco ball rhinestone? Gorgeous.And her clasps are wonderful!

Photo Courtesy of Heidi Post

     And this one so cleverly uses my spoontop connector in the center of the necklace. I'm never certain how the pewter charms and connectors will be used, so it facinates me to see pictures of the finished jewelry!

     Thank you, Heidi, for sharing these and curing my curiosity. They are all lovely, and I want all of them for myself! Beauties!

Head and Shoulders, Wings and Hearts

I've been showing you some new pieces that combine the hand cast pewter bezels and the polymer clay components.

I'm showing these two, although they're already spoken for, because I'll be making some more that are similar as soon as I get a chance.

I'm having a great time with the heart shaped bezel. Maybe I have the Mother's Day holiday on my mind.


And I just finished this shallow round bezel. This one has a smiling moon face in it, but the bezel itself has a pretty finished back. I'm thinking of offering just the bezel by itself in the shop, then you can add what you'd like to the inside.


The folded wings heart turned out very nicely, the color and finish on the wings very light cream colored. I'm trying something new, too, by hand engraving a pattern on the reverse side in the pewter, to give it an old-fashioned look on the reverse. I think it could be worn either way, reversible. At least that's the idea.


So I'll need to get busy and make some more like these, since these are already gone. Hope you like them!

~~~~~~~~~~~
Yesterday I started to feel odd, with body aches and a huge headache. When I got home from the day job I had fever, but less than 100 degrees. I hope I'm not coming down with something ickky. It seems that every year I have to take one sick day off, and every year it's in the month of April. Weird, huh. This year I was hoping to break the string. If I can make it until Friday ....

Metal Collage

When I first started working with the pewter and didn't know a lot about it, I wanted to combine components together to create a sort of metal collage, similar to designs I had been making in polymer clay.

I found that it didn't work as well as I originally thought. The pieces were sort of heavy, and combining pieces wasn't so successful. It was hard to get the pieces thin enough after casting, and the combined units didn't work well together.

So I shelved that idea for the time, and kept doing R&D on how to use the pewter, the temperatures, finishing methods and all that, to get better with using the metal.

Last weekend I had a sort of brainstorm. It came because I have a beautiful french medal medallion that I wanted to reproduce. But there are many undercuts in the design - those are areas where the underneath is lower than the top and it would be difficult to mold and to cast - and so I couldn't do the casting in one piece.

I started playing with armatures, using wire and pieces of copper, to see what I could come up with. This is often how I make many messes and break many things. But I always learn something.

Finally, I decided to try creating two pieces separately, finishing and grinding both of them, then mounting one on the other instead of trying to cast all as one piece.


This is the prototype, the first one I tried as a test of the theory. I think it's very workable. It resembles a collage type design I tried to make a while back. It's lightweight and very detailed, both pieces. The key sits astride the shield medallion, but they're one unit.

Now I'll make a cast of the two parts of the french antique medal and try to reproduce the same setup. I'm a lot more confident about making that work this time.


Kind of fun. Always thinking about things, I have a little notebook I carry around, and I make shortcut notes to myself of things to try out. This came from one of those pages.

I never know if anyone else is interested in this trial-and-error process I go through, but I thought I'd share, just in case you have had a similar breakthrough sometime - Right?

Marie Would Like These

In keeping my feet up and trying to rest and feel better, I've been catching up on some shows on the History Channel. I like to watch shows about archeology and history, it's interesting and causes me to think about old designs.


These little baubles remind me of the court of French Royalty. The fancy dress balls, with masks and fans, the music and the candlelight.


I wanted to use one of my bezels with resin, to try out how I can use them together. So I created this faux pocketwatch with a dainty pansy flower in the center, a lilac color and the hands of the clock face forever at midnight. Romantic!


I'm feeling a little better today, thank you for all your good wishes, I was really hoping to get through the winter season without being sick ... but it happens, I guess.

And we got some snow last night - but not as much as many of you, I'm sure. Just a few inches here in Saint Louis.

All the same, I'll be staying indoors today and trying to finish getting better. Nice to watch out the window and not have to go into it, staying dry and warm.

Hope all of you are well, and safe and warm.

Time Flies, Winging to End of Year

I've said many times that I'm intrigued by watchworks and wings.

But I don't like to take apart an antique pocketwatch.

So I decided to create my own, made up version that I can use without guilt.


This one has wings, so I'm thinking it's a symbol of how "TIME FLIES" or "TEMPUS FUGIT" that you see etched into old watchworks.

I got started making the dangle, using all my own cast pewter pieces, and before I knew it I had a finished necklace.


I took some of my special, hand dyed cotton and wire wrapped it, to use as part of the necklace.

It gives it a funny, worn and very vintage look.

The metal piece in the front, with the watchwords and wings, came from a dream I had the other night. I was dreaming about time, clocks and the passage of time. And I saw these watchwork pieces, with the wings on the side. The central focal piece, the winged watchworks, is all one piece, like a curved amulet shape.



Then I made the tiny little charms for the dangle, including a coppery-round gear looking piece, and a leaf scroll that reminds me of a pendulum.


I used mixed metals in the necklace, with copper, pewter, brass and dark patina bronze, there's a little hand charm (for the "HANDS OF TIME") holding a brass prayer box. And a bronze antiqued bird charm (for "TIME FLIES" with a long brass chain and dangle.



The necklace has a large handmade brass hook that lets the necklace length be adjusted, to shorten for a choker or lengthen if the neckline is lower.

I really like the way it turned out. It has a very vintage fantastical look, like in my dream.


I hope someone likes it as much as I do, and finds it for a special gift - it's very unique and one of a kind.

I know the watchworks inside aren't truly real like a clock, but how many clockworks with wings do you see? Other than the ones I see in my dreams, of course...

When You Know You Like It

I usually make components and list them in one of the Etsy shops, so others can use them in their designs. I start with resin, wire, cast pewter and bits of paper and end up with a medallion or emblem. And that's usually where I stop.

But sometimes I get started and end up making a finished piece of jewelry, ready to be worn.

That's what happened to this little pendant.


I encased the little child's face in the ornate bezel. I was thinking of antique Victorian jewelry, with the hand painted portraits.

I put it on the workbench to get it ready to photograph, and I started making up the dangle for it.

And before you can say "what happened here" I had made it up into a necklace.

And I was test-wearing it. Well, it wears beautifully.

I don't have as many people who want or choose the finished jewelry from the shops. But this time, I just couldn't stop. It turned into a necklace almost all by itself.


I wanted to use the long slender coral bead, and the round antique brass bead.

I like it. It reminds me of Napoleon for some reason. Maybe the expression on the child's face.

Just my imagination.

Sunday School Flashback

Remembering childhood days, it came back to me when I found this piece of spiritual art that reminds me of the images in church classes on Sunday mornings.

The faded image, with sweet colors and a special kind of vintage look.

I made this focal bead with the idea in mind that it would make a lovely bracelet, but it also could be used for a choker. Or as something totally unrelated to jewelry, like the jewel on the cover of a hand bound book or family photo album.


The resin covering the vintage image took on a sparkling effect as it cured. I don't always know when it will do it, but it seems just right for this particular image.

It's subtle and sweet, a trip back to old times and days gone by.

Special Necklace of Spirit

It takes me a while to put finished jewelry together. I feel it's a little of a luxury for me to spend time that way, instead of making components.

On Sunday I spent a few hours putting this necklace together. I had made three pewter components and I wanted to put them together.

Once I got started, I thought it would be fun to make a really special necklace.


The icon medallion is used at the clasp, with glass beads and a dangle. To make the closure kind of fun.



I had some silver chain with a dark patina, to use in combination with the main focal.

The beads in the dangle from the main focal use several beads of carved bone that were brought to me by someone I knew years ago. I haven't used them, they felt too special. But this piece called for them.


One is a carved elephant design. The other looks like a floral, or a crossed circle.

The dangle bead is a crown with fleur de lys, with a picasso finished bright red glass heart bead for the dangle.



I wanted it to feel like something from an ancient culture, maybe Tibetan or ancient Egyptian Coptic.

There are dark and light, red and coppertoned elements.

It hangs in a sort of diamond shape, with the center dangle being the longest of the three.



I really like how it turned out. I am thinking of putting a word or phrase on the top pewter piece, if something comes to me that tells the whole story of the necklace. It has a lot of movement and interesting areas to fiddle with fingers, texture for the eye and feeling for the skin.

And it has a tiny bit of a gothic, romantic feeling to it also. As though it was found in a castle in Transylvania.

Fun to make, fun to wear. I won't let myself feel guilty for spending the time making it - otherwise it wouldn't exist as it does now. And that's something special.

From my thoughts, through my hands, to reality.

Artifacts of Life, Newly Uncovered

I love old carved bone charms. These have markings from the Book of Kells. The old manuscripts.

Ancient looking, with spiritual overtones.



I made this pair of earrings with some of the lampwork beads that Sue sent me. I love the way the glass shines and the charms are matte, the contrast. Warm and cool, the glass chilly in the air, the charms shiny and slick.

Simple brass wire and gunmetal earwires. These are lightweight to wear.

They remind me of something found in an archeological dig. Artifacts.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well, I keep finding things that don't turn on when you push the ON button.

At first I thought we lost the microwave, but we found the RE-SET button.

The computer can't find the printer right now. I keep pointing and saying "see? it's right there, beside you" but so far it doesn't believe me. It may be something with the cable. At least, I hope so.

I found an old clock radio and put it into the studio for some music, since the old amplifier doesn't turn on any more, and neither does the old boombox with the CD player. And working in silence wasn't any fun.

Thankfully the kiln seems fine. I may fire it up this afternoon just to be sure. It's programmable, so it does have digital circuits.

It's like the times during ice storms when the electricity goes off, you realize how much you depend on it every day.

But we did test the furnace, and it seems all right. Thankfully, because it was 40 degrees F last night. Not the time you want your furnace thermostat messed up!

Thanks for your patience and for all the kind words. This will be over soon, I hope!

Vermouth Blanc and Tonic Wine

I love old advertising artwork. I have an old version of the Sears Roebuck catalog from 1900. It's all in black and white, and part of the facination is the type of items available for sale.

Things that we don't need or even think about any longer, in the culture now.

I heard that there was even a series of houses that you could purchase from Sears, as a kit. It arrived shipped on the railroad. And it had to be assembled on the spot.

Several people I know have built houses this year. It's a lot of work, tons of decisions. Can you picture choosing a house out of a catalog.


The images back then were mass produced, printed and distributed. They have a special grainy quality to them. A look that places them in a timeframe, from their style and their use of color.

Very graphic.


I especially like the advertisements for liquor. They have an elegant quality too.

So I made some up into earrings. The detail is surprising. And fun.

Look Up, Drop Down, Fly Away

In the evenings, after dinner and when the studio is closed down, I've been sitting out on the deck under the trees, reading a book until the twilight falls and I go indoors.


This time of year the walnut trees in the back yard are putting the finishing touches on their walnuts, then dropping them to the ground. On some days, the one that overhangs the deck makes it feel like bombs are dropping, as the walnut hulls fall, bounce and make me jump a foot!

Last evening I found evidence that the squirrels are enjoying the bounty. In fact, I suspect that some of the bombs are coming from the squirrels dropping the walnut hulls in hopes they will land heavily and pop open! I'll be lucky if I don't have one dropped right on my head! BONK!


I'm taking a break this afternoon from pouring resin and casting pewter to show a couple of the pieces I've made the last few days. I'm really enjoying the look of the resin, the way I've got it going now, and I just carved some decorative bezels so I can cast them in pewter.

Fingers crossed!


This medallion with the words "FLY UP" between two cast pewter wings is dual-purpose. It has loops at the end of the wings, for attaching to a necklace, and it has a pin back attached, for wearing as a brooch. I love multi-purpose jewelry.

Rose Drops

I can see these as charms on a bracelet, or drops for earrings.

They look very vintage style to me, something from the 1920's or even earlier. Like carved stone, or cinnabar.


They're really quite small and dainty. Little roses, with a wish for warmer weather after the April showers.

Published Jewelry Returns Home

I went to the Post Office yesterday and I had a package - the jewelry from the spring issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry has returned! It's interesting, when I send the jewelry off for photography and it's away for a while, when it comes back again it's like a whole new experience seeing it again.


I've had folks asking me about the jewelry, I guess they've seen the issue. I don't add the jewelry to the Etsy shop until I have it back. I used to do that, and then people had to wait to have it shipped to them. So now I wait until the package of jewelry is actually back before I list them, so if someone wants one I can ship it right away.


I etched the metal before I made the boxes. The article is about making the boxes using rivets, without soldering. They can be made up without etching the metal, but the etched copper and brass have a really vintage look to them that adds something special.

Both sides of the metal was etched, so if you look closely you can see the inside of the box has images in the metal, designed and etched just like the reverse side.


I remember making them now. Making the little round bezels and filling them with resin. The bird wing box has the words 'TAKE WING' stamped in the copper at the top of the box. The rectangular brass box, with medieval lettering etched on the back, has the words 'TAKE HEART' stamped into its copper banner at the top.


I'm going to take the large round pocketwatch looking necklace with me to Artfest next week, so if you see me around at Artfest I might be wearing it!


It has a seashell in resin embedded in one of the round holes, and the word 'LIFE' is visible etched in the copper backing, with a photo of a family in another round bezel on the front. The back is domed like a pocketwatch casing, with an antique image etched into the copper case.

I'm so happy to have the jewelry back! and to show it to you. Three fun little pieces of special jewelry.