Sometimes they whisper their name

I have a weakness for using components from old, out of style or broken jewelry to create new lovelies that can be worn and well-loved again, as jewelry is supposed to be.  All my newly made trinkets want to belong to and adorn someone, my pieces that are yet unsold whisper to me in quiet moments in my studio like children in an orphanage - "when do I get to go home with someone?  when will someone love me and wear me and take me home to play?"

No, I'm not crazy, I don't think.  I'm not imagining things, they really do have a voice, if you listen closely I bet you could hear them too.  It's the ones that won't speak up and and at least tell me their name that frustrate me.  They're the ones that sit finished by my worktable in a jewelry tray, not even listed on my website for anyone to buy yet, because they're either very stubborn or very shy, and how can I list them if I don't know what to call them? Sometimes I think they're the ones that feel they need to choose their new owners, instead of the other way around.  These are the pieces that usually sell out at craft shows I take them to, when people can pick them up and touch them and connect with them. Maybe they tell their new owners their name after they get home, whisper it in their ear...

Ok, maybe I am crazy, just a little.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy my latest reclaimed beauty, a bracelet whose centerpiece is an eco-friendly bamboo tile (made by my high school friend Donna who does scrabble tile jewelry along with a few new things with metal that she is getting into now.  You can find her here on Etsy: charmingladies3 ). I also included wooden circles and rings from a new, broken necklace that never got to be enjoyed in it's former life, and little vintage green beads that are a cross between lime and olive that look fantastic with this bamboo-tile bead but really did not play well with the soft green beads on it's former home, a necklace I deconstructed for another friend a while back (you can see the pictures of the beads from that necklace I used with a handmade shell flower here on Flickr.  The heart charm is a perfect match to the flowers on the bamboo tile, and was rescued from a bargain bin at a discount store, where it was on a charm bracelet that was a little "over the top" for my tastes all together, but had some lovely charms worth saving.  "Use me, use me!" the charms pleaded.  Really, they did.

Earth-friendly and fun, I hope it finds a home with someone just like it! 

By the way, it whispered "Going Green and Lovin' It" when I asked what it's name was.  I'm not sure if that's a name or a philosophy, but it worked for me either way.

Yosemite Sam the ring maker

Wire wrapped rings are one of my jewelry making obsessions, but also one of the biggest thorns in my side (other than taxes, but that's another day's post...). Some days, I sit down with my wire, my ring mandrel, stones, and tools and make the perfectly wrapped ring in the correct size the first try.

Sometimes not.

I have been trying to make a spiral wrapped wire ring in gold wire, size 7.5, for the past 3 days.  Today on my lunch break, I finally got it.  It took a total of 4 tries, with many grumbling Yosemite Sam moments of throwing the partially wrapped ring down like a 2 year old throwing a broken toy.

 "Why do you keep listing rings on your website if they're that hard to do?" asks my ever sensible husband after one such moment.  "Just remove those rings from your site, and you won't have to do this again."

What he means is he won't have to listen to me do this again....  Not that I blame him. I don't particularly like to be around 2 year olds when they're having a temper tantrum either. 

But somehow, I can't bring myself to stop offering the rings.  I can't allow the uncooperative wire to win, and not conform itself to the pleasing round shape of the ring.

Control issues, you say? Me?? 

Anyway, I thought maybe you all would like to see the nicely spiraled ring in a perfect size 7.5 (on the mandrel), as well as the nice size 8 laying mostly finished beside it, and the frickin frackin who knows what size it would have ended up being if it hadn't been so hateful and wouldn't form a nice spiral reject in the right corner. 

Exclusive Sale for Facebook Fans

I'm offering an exclusive deal for Facebook Fans, so be sure and check it out!  "Like" my Facebook page with the link on the right, or visit the site here: http://www.facebook.com/justthething4u

I'm listing a few new items today, here's a sneak peak at some of them...

Hope you like, look for them on my Etsy shop.

Have a happy day!

Not a Movie Review...

Ok, those of you that know my jewelry know I am a Twilight fan, and I saw the newest movie – Eclipse – this weekend.  It didn’t disappoint, I thought (as did the gaggle of 9 that I went with) it was a very good rendition of the book, although it had some differences, as all the movies thus far have.  This is not going to be a movie recommendation or review, either you like the Twilight books and movies or you don’t, and there are plenty of other reviewers out there that can do a better job than I can. I am absolutely in love with the soundtrack though, and it isn’t at all my normal taste of music, other than a few that have an 80’s reminiscent sound.  This soundtrack has introduced me to bands I’ve never heard before, and maybe I’ll like the rest of their music, maybe I won’t, but this collection is a totally unique experience and something I think I’ll be listening to for a while.   Here is the song list, each song title is a link to a youtube.com page that plays the song in whole.  These are in order of the soundtrack, but I’m going to say listen to “Heavy In Your Arms” by Florence + The Machine, and “Chop and Change” by The Black Keys first.  Totally different songs, both of which are stuck in my head this weekend.  "Jacob's Theme" is a beautiful, haunting, piano piece not to be missed.

Eclipse (All Yours) - Metric 

Neutron Star Collision - Muse 

Ours - The Bravery 

Heavy In Your Arms - Florence + The Machine

My Love - Sia
Atlas - Fanfario

Chop and Change - The Black Keys

Rolling in on a Burning Tire - The Dead Weather

Let's Get Lost - Beck and Bat for Lashes

Jonathan Low - Vampire Weekend

With You In My Head (Featuring The Black Angels) - Unkle
A Million Miles An Hour - Eastern Conference Champions
Life on Earth - Band of Horses
What Part of Forever - Cece Lo Green
Jacob's Theme - Howard Shore


Buy the soundtrack here at 

 
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Here's some pics of the bracelet I did after first reading the book "Eclipse", long before the movie came out.  Summit Entertainment thought I was a threat to their "officially licensed Twilight Saga" jewelry and made me take it down from the Etsy website. I think they are bullies...

 My version is all highest quality sterling silver with Swarovski© faceted AB Crystal Heart.  Nice, if I do say so myself. :-)

Happy 4th everyone!