Tuesday, November 13, 2012

New Custom Handcrafted Heirloom Pieces!


I've been working hard on some new pieces for a show that I've been invited to do at our elementary school in Temecula.  I haven't done a show for quite some time and have really enjoyed every aspect of getting ready for it: brainstorming, construction, photography, display, pricing, even business cards!  It's kept my creative juices over-flowing the past few weeks.  I can't wait to see it all come together!  My goal is to take some orders for lovely Christmas gifts.  I love to be hard at work filling orders - it's one of the best kinds of creative therapy that I know!  So, here are some of the pieces I've made for the show.  Above is a fun pendant for Sandy's sister.  It's the usual silver name disc necklace but with a twist!  The circle names are her children, and the heart is a grandchild.  The loop can open and close to add or change charms.


"LOVE YOU MADLY" is my new favorite piece!  I love to make these hearts with quotes or children's or grandchildren's names, but this one is just for fun!  I saw a hand-painted sign on the internet that said "LOVE YOU MADLY" and knew it was perfect for this necklace. It is a whopping 2" by 2" square and is topped off with a hand-crafted rivited bail and a bit of silk ribbon from my adventure in Tucson.  You can see other brass heart pendants here, here, and here.

Below is another fun pendant - this one is quite large, measuring 3" x 1 1/2".  It shows off one of my favorite quotes by Robert Southey: "No distance of place or lapse of time can lessen the friendship of those who are thoroughly persuaded of each other's worth." This piece also has a hand-crafted rivited bail and is hung on a long sterling silver chain.


Here is a new twist on my usual silver initial charms.  These are hand-cut in copper and heavily oxidized.  I love working with copper because it changes color so much with heat and chemicals in the air.  Give it a little shine if it is looking dull and it pops right back to life. It ages and patinas so well, I just love the warmth of it!


And here is another "Copper Quote."  This is one of my favorite mantras: "find JOY in the JOURNEY."  This is a medium sized piece of hand-cut copper for an organic and aged feel.


And another!  Hugs and kisses are paired with a tiny silver heart.


 "The FUTURE is as BRIGHT as your FAITH" is a pendant that I've made several variations of (you can see them here, here, here, and here).  This one is done in a large domed hand-cut silver piece.


Here are my classic 5/8" domed name discs with a simple pearl.


Simple silver hammered hearts.  These are so dainty and beautiful!  Perfect for two of Zalea's friends with birthdays this month!


A copper hammered heart, soldered to a silver hammered rectangle.  The back reads: "You have my whole HEART for my whole life" and it hangs from a long faceted silver chain.

 
Of course, all of these pieces can be customized with different fonts and finishes and whatever sweet little nothing you want to say.  My objective with these pieces is to spark some ideas and hopefully show how easily they can be made into meaningful, personal, heirloom gifts.


Two more pieces, just for fun.  Above, a silver soldered star "SHINE" pendant.  And below, "sing, dream, hope, pray" from the quote: "Sing your song, dream your dream, hope your hope, pray your prayer."


Here's a look at my display with my samples all ready to go!

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