Another Necklace contest- whoo hoo!

We're doing it again! Comment on the blog and be entered to win a Sweetheart Necklace. Just leave a comment telling me your favorite thing about Thanksgiving- food, family, traveling, pumpkins, whatever! Don't forget to leave your email address so we can contact you if you win~ Good Luck!

New Collections sneak peek

Okay so I usually release new collections in the spring but because of the general studio craziness that we've had this year (thanks to the Sweetheart Necklace) the new pieces never got released. I have a ton of new stuff though and I hired a new photographer, Stacy Ziegler who's work I LOVE LOVE LOVE. So here is a sneak peek at the new photography style and a few of the pieces that will be online for purchase very soon. I promise...

"Sewn Jewel Earrings"


Silver and Golden Butterflies

Fairy Rings

Delicious...

I collect art, as I'm sure many artists do and my favorite pieces almost always involve fruit, juicy color and/or the female form. Mina Lucia has managed to incorporate all three of my favorites in this absolutely mouth watering photograph entitled "Susan's Apples"

Meet the studio chapter 2

Metal Texture Stamps
We all know that I rarely make a piece that doesn't have a word (or 5) on it but I am also a huge fan of texture. Last time I introduced you to the mill and the texture in relief that it creates. Today lets talk about inverted texture. All hail the stamp!

This is only a small portion of my wonderful stamp collection. I collect different letter fonts, sizes, numbers, designs, textures- whatever! It doesn't matter, if it's a cool stamp, I want it.

This dot texture (above) is one of my favorites, because it just adds a little unexpected interest to any piece.

The above shot has good examples of words and textures that I add to almost every piece.

A close up of a few of the design stamps. I use these less often... I think you have to be careful with some of the design stamps since they will push a piece into predictability if you're not careful.

Denver Post

Natha Perkins Apple Necklace

Nancy Anderson Belt Buckle

Holly Weiss Lampwork Bracelet

The lovely Sari Padorr wrote a cool article on 8 Colorado jewelry artists (September 12 issue) in the Saturday Denver Post in the inside out section and she included me! Getting featured is always wonderful and I am incredibly flattered to be included among this particular group of women. These are very well known artists both in metalsmithing circles and nationally. I know a few of them personally and see their work often in magazines like Metalsmith, Niche and Art Jewelry Magazine as well as the most prestigious galleries. Thanks a million Sari!

Meet the Roller Mill

As part of a new series of blog posts, I want to introduce you to some of the equipment that I use in creation of my pieces. This is the Roller Mill. It is by far the most expensive piece of equipment I have and it's also one that I use in almost all of my pieces. I use it to create texture in relief. Using incredible pressure, the two steel rollers can press texture right into metal.

One of my favorite ways to use it is to make copper plates (shown above) and roll them through with a piece of sterling,which makes a lovely reverse imprint. I also use the mill to create a leathery texture on silver and copper by rolling the metal through with tissue paper.

I rolled a copper plate through with this piece of vintage lace (above) to show you how easy it is to emboss (another name for what the roller mill does)

Here is the finished imprint on the copper, can you see the flower? I am also including a ring that I did that has tiny shooting stars embossed (using a copper plate stamped with stars) in the concave part of the ring, along with little diamonds.

Fall into Common Threads

We just brought a new fall collection to Common Threads, one of our favorite stores to sell at. This collection is full of rich, juicy colors and chunky stones with an angel wing or two thrown in. The only problem with selling here is that every time we go in we have to buy something!