Donating Your Art

For my fellow artisans, this article has been the subject of much discussion in one of my Facebook groupls lately.  Many of you may have been asked at one time or another to donate a piece of art to a charity auction.  In the past, I would have donated to worthy causes, being happy to help out.  Thinking that it might be a marketing tool; that it might get me some exposure with a new pool of potential customers.

After reading this article, I have changed my opinion.  I think the author makes a valid point about why an artist should never donate their work for a charity auction.  My studio has implemented a new policy.  I will be happy to donate a percentage of the proceeeds of my work to charity, but I will not put my work in an auction.

Here's the article.  Tell me what you think:

The Career Benefits of Boycotting Charity Art Auctions

What do you think?  Have you, or would you donate your artwork to auctions?

Green With Envy! Hopes and Dreams Blog Hop

Hearts & Roses - Shymousee Blog Hop

Going Organic

If you're like me, when you think of organic, the first thing that comes to mind is buying organic foods.  Did you know there are also organic gemstones?  Although they are called "gemstones" they aren't technically gemstones, because they aren't minerals.  Organic gemstones are the result of biological processes.  

Organic gemstones include pearls, amber, coral, jet and ivory.  This month my Jewelry Creators Unite in Numbers (JCUIN) guild collection was GOING ORGANIC, and featured organic gems.  Since there are always more deserving pieces than will fit in the collection, I'm continuing the theme here in my blog.

Amber Disc Earrings by Shadow Dog Design, made of
reconstituted amber.

AMBER is fossilized tree resin.  It's usually a golden dark honey color, but the color does vary from a pale yellow to brown to almost black.  There is even red, green and even blue.  Since resin is originally soft and sticky, it is not unusual to see little insects embedded in it.  They get stuck and become part of the fossil.

"Moody Rings", amber set in sterling silver by Lunar Skies

Translucent amber is more valuable than the opaque variety.  Opaque amber has little bubbles in it and is called "bony amber."  I believe these cute little rings are made of bony amber.  As you can see, their color is a little different than the traditional orange.

"Daybreak" cultured freshwater pearl necklace by Shanghai Tai

PEARLS are produced by living organisms called mollusks (clams and oysters).  When an mollusk encounters an irritant inside it's shell, it coats the irritating object with a shiny nacre that becomes the pearl.

Freshwater pearl white teardrop bracelet
by Diane's Dangles

Mollusks who live in fresh water produce freshwater pearls, while those who live in salt water produce saltwater pearls.  A South Sea pearl is a type of saltwater pearl.  Natural pearls are very rare, as opposed to cultured pearls, which means the mollusk was encouraged by man to make the pearl by introducing the irritant into it's shell.

Wine red coral nugget choker necklace by
Crystal Bazaar (reconstituted coral)

CORAL is actually the bone structure of tiny marine animals called coral polyps.  These little animals are what build the coral reefs.  It comes in many colors and shapes.Since many of the reefs are endangered, you may want to do a little research in to what kind of coral you are buying.

Red coral and pearl necklace by
Pink Sunset Jewelry Designs

If you are concerned about the environment, you may want to read up on which corals are threatened or endangered.  There is plenty of information on the internet, but it will require a little research.

Amber and jet necklace by Epona's Jewels

Carved crystal skull with garnet, amber and jet
by Sage Garden

Vintage carved ivory earrings from my personal collection

JET is a black stone that is actually a form of coal.  As you might remember from your school days, coal is made of plant material that has been put under a lot of pressure.  It is often carved because it is fairly soft.




During the 19th century, jet was very popular.  This was largely because Queen Victoria wore it.  She is particularly remembered wearing jet as  part of her mourning dress after the death of her husband, Prince Albert.








IVORY traditionally came from elephant tusks.  Elephant ivory is banned in most countries now and difficult to find.  Ivory can also come from the teeth of large mammals such as Hippopotamus.  Common substitutes now come from bone.


I hope you enjoyed this little foray into the world of organic gemstones.  Here are some links to some of my resources if you would like to read more:

http://www.gemselect.com/other-info/organic-gems.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amber

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/08/business/global/08iht-rbogcoral.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/invertebrates/corals.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jet_(lignite)

Jewelry Tips on My New ArtFire Blog

Recently I started up my ArtFire blog again.  It had not gotten much use since the day ArtFire decided to change the blog and archive all our posts.  That's ok, because I was mainly using this one by then anyway.  I wanted to find a special use for my second blog.  

A lot of people who read this blog are other artists, especially jewelry designers.  Because of that, I plan to have more behind the scenes stuff on this blog.  I wanted to offer something on my Artfire blog that was of particular interest to my customers.  So I have started a series of tips on buying jewelry, especially handmade jewelry.  

A piece of a bracelet that had less than sturdy
construction

They say "you get what you pay for", and a lot of times that is true.  But how do you know you are getting a quality piece?  Is it going to fall apart?  Is it going to rust or tarnish?  What kind of stones are harder and which ones are softer?  How do you take care of your gemstones?  These are questions I intend to address in upcoming installments of my blog.

If you are interested in becoming a more savvy jewelry buyer, you might want to check out the first installment:   Eye Pins and Wrapped Loops or "Why Did That Bracelet Fall Apart?"   You can find it here:

Eye Pins and Wrapped Loops - What Are They?

and you can subscribe to the blog here:

Newsletter sign up link

Cold Connections

This was originally posted in June 2011 on my Artfire blog, but since all those posts were unpublished a while back, I decided to move it over here: Well, I finally married off my daughter last weekend (in an outdoor ceremony in 101F heat!) So now I can get back to making some jewelry for my studio. Last night I went to a workshop on cold connections taught by Candie Cooper, who lives in Wabash now, but like me, she also used to live in China.

The first one (left) was done with a wire rivet. Actually it was a wire rivet on one side only, the other side was a nail head. The nail head is in the front, but unfortunately it's covered by the bead and I'm too lazy to take another picture! Anyway, you get the idea. 

The one on the right is done with a tube rivet. It's pink, and actually a rivet that's made for scrapbookers. The blue around the rivet is a disk that I cut out of a decorative tin. The other pieces I believe are components from Vintaj that I hammered and textured. 

 This last one is my favorite because I like the bright blue color. It looks like annodized aluminum (or niobium) but it's actually colored with alcohol ink. (I still have ink under my fingernails!) This one is held together with a little tiny bolt that you can see in the center. There is a nut in the back to hold it tight. 







Anyway, I have had instructions for quite awhile on how to do these rivets, but had never actually done it. Now I will have to see if I can incorporate some of these techniques into some new pieces. I already have some ideas......

Winter Wonderland Blog Hop

Wrap It Up!

This month for my Jewelry Creators Unite In Numbers (JCUIN) guild collection, the theme was Wrap It Up.  It featured wire-wrapped jewelry from JCUIN members.  There are so many talented wire wrap artists, I thought I would share a few more pieces here that weren't in the collection.

At the right is Copper and Blue Lace Glass Barrette by Wagoner Wire Works.  I think a wire-wrapped barette is fairly unusual.  This is a great color combination.  The blue beads are made of glass, but are supposed to look like blue lace agate.   They sure fooled me, because in the picture I was sure that it was blue lace agate.  Click here to sree other pieces by Wagoner Wire Works













At left is a wire-wrapped gemstone ring by Pink Sunset Jewelry Designs.  Tammi has used a red howlite bead and silver plated wire to make this eye catching ring.  The ring shown here is a size 7 1/4, but if that's not your size, she can custom make one for you in the size you need.  To see more of Tammi's work at Pink Sunset Jewelry, click here.

These wire wrapped earrings shown on the right were made by Sally of Crystal Bazaar.  These earrings are also a unique design.  She has wrapped bronze colored Swarovski pearls with fine silver wire to make elegant stud earrings.  (Fine silver is .999 silver, which is a higher silver content than sterling, which is .925 silver.)  To see more designs by Crystal Bazaar, click here.







At left is a wire wrapped pendant by Dianes Dangles.  When it comes to wire-wrapping, I think pendants are the most popular thing to do.  Maybe because it's such a creative way to capture a stone or cabochon that doesn't have a hole drilled through it.  In this case Diane has wrapped a citrine nugget with brass wire for a very elegant look.  Click here to see more from Diane's Dangles.





Here is a pair of very unusual earrings by Catherine's     Jewelry.  Although it's not normally what we think of when we think of wire-wrapped jewelry. they are made ot of wire.  They have open loops instead of closed loops.  They are so unique I thought they deserved to be included here.  Catherine has made these of gold-colored copper wire with lapis lazuli dangles.  These may have been inspired by The Vampire Diaries TV show because she has sent them to the show for possible use in the show.  To see  more designs from Catherine's Jewelry, click here.







Here is some wire-wrapping that is probably a little more traditional.  This is a wire wrapped necklace (or belt) by Roxanne (me) of Shanghai Tai.  It is 54" long and made of faceted glass beads and Swarovski crystals in various sea tones wrapped with sterling silver wire.  To see more of Shanghai Tai's designs, click here.

I hope you enjoyed this little foray into wire-wrapped jewelry.  Maybe it will inspire you to keep your eyes open for some new and unusual wire-wrapped pieces.  If you would like to see the Wrap It Up collection, you can find it here:

Wrap It Up collection on Artfire

Countdown to Christmas Blog Hop

Celebrate With Red & Gold!

I love the color combination of red & gold.  The truth is, it reminds me of China and Chinese New Years.  But it also reminds me of Christmas.  So, I decided to make this month's JCUIN (Jewelry Creators United In Numbers) guild collection red & gold.

Handmade Garnet Gemstone & Freshwater Pearl Cluster Gold-Filled Earrings by Crystal Bazaar

These sparkly gold crystal heart and pearl earrings are by Pretty Gonzo.

Do you see the rose?  This necklace is called Abstract Rose in Lime Green, Red and Black, but it sure looks lik a mixture of red and gold to me.  It's by Jewelry Art By Dawn

I love the texture of this bracelet by Zoomgraphik.  It is made of aluminum, miracle beads and pearls.

These golden rays of sun are hand painted on to the red fused glass pendant by M2BC Jewelry.

This red fused glass pendant with gold dichroic dots is wire wrapped in 14K gold filled wire. You can find it at Shanghai Tai

If you would like to see the rest of the Celebrate With Red and Gold collection, you can find it here:http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=collections&op=details&cid=39537

Gifts For Him (Blog Hop Hosted By It's A Handmade World)

Julie & Blu's Countdown to Christmas Week 10