The Messure of a True Artist (or Artisan)

If an Artisan's dedication to her art is judged by the amount of bodily damage she sustains pursuing said art, then I have enough to fill a gnat's coffee cup!! :) I was doing a bit of sanding on a old watch case with my best friend the "Dremel Tool" when the next thing I see is a puff of white dust followed by an odor not unlike the smell when you are really doing a major nail filing job :( Hmmmm my little brain thought as I pulled the dremel from the case and saw my thumb sticking up.

I managed to stop within that very same gnat's eyelash before the dremel hit my somewhat softer skin. I guess you can easily see the damage that was done to my meticulously manicured hands huh????? EEEE GADS the things we have to suffer for our art!! :)

I'm coming down to the final stretch of pieces for the sale Friday. This piece is my non-pastel nod to spring and Easter  I used chrysocolla heishi beads for one string and added a few copper glass beads for a bit of a break.  The other string is little vintage black glass beads.

For the focal I used a nice large carved green turquoise cross.

Created a nice simple clean clasp with copper and silver wire.

Put it all together, it has a bit of Southwestern feel without weighing you down with heavy stones and silver.

I think it's perfect for the season and not a pastel Easter egg kinda color anywhere! :)

I did a bit of modifying to the necklace I made with the pewter and resin Virgin of Guadalupe focal. Well actually I redid the whole thing. One of the strings of beads Deryn "muled" down for me were these amazing 5mm faceted tourmalines. I teamed them up with a string of heshei garnets. Ohhhhhhhh soooooo to die for!!!!

I moved the clasp to the back and replaced it with a couple of big rough cut garnets (can you tell I'm having a bit of a love affair with garnets and tourmaline??) Added a bit of bling to hang down in back and finished it off with a little hessonite garnet.

Instead of wiring or adding a jump rings to attach the focal I used a little old fashion chain closer. I'm sure it must have a name but I have no clue what it's called. I cut off the original soldered rings on each side of the top used to attach the focal. Then I soldered a ring in the center top of the focal large enough to slide both strings through. Tied a bit of sari silk for a bit of a finished touch. 

Ya know the first edition turned out really great but I couldn't help myself when the new garnets and tourmalines showed up it's like they were made for each other.

original

                                                            new

You know the original attracted a lot of attention but with these stones, it's really hard not to notice especially the way the stone colors really complement the colors in the focal. I do know one thing and that is this piece is not going into any old Art sale!!! It's mine mine mine!!!! I just feel good wearing it!

Soooo there is now only 5 days (counting Friday) until the big sale day. I think except for maybe one more piece and a bit of fine tuning on the others pieces I'm done making jewelry for the sale. Now I better do a bit of work on presentation, merchandising and tags. To say that I'm not as anxious as kid on the first day of kindergarten would be a lie, cuz I'm all that and more. Remember this is the kid that has never shown much less sold any of her work!!! Yikes, don't think about it, don't think about it, don't think about it.....

So while I'm not thinking about "it" you guys have a nice start of the week. And remember now is a perfect time to make a bit of art, no matter where in the world you are   p;)