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!

Vain

In my next life I want to be a rocker chick covered in tattoos which is exactly how the sexy women who work at Vain Salon in Denver rock it. Vain is a great salon but they are also a "unique mix of hair, culture and art" showcasing collections from some really amazing artists. Once a month they throw an extravaganza/ art opening to celebrate each new artist.

We brought one of my favorite collections to Vain in Denver last week. The collection came to fruition after meeting with owner Tina Mckeever, who told me that she liked the Hearts and Wings and Flames Oh My! collection and wanted me to create one along those lines, lots of flames and daggers and maybe a pistol. So...Viola! Ask and you shall receive right? Tina inspired me to make some of my favorite pieces to date.

This is beautiful Sally Walker, who has a mineral makeup line, Alchemy Mineral Blends that she and her partner Breanna Ortola sell through Vain.

Daggers, pistols, flaming heart wings set with scarlet pearls, flush set tourmaline and zircon. Inscriptions reading "Devotion", "Ridin Dirty" and "Forever". An 8 sided star set with a fuchsia vintage rivoli crystal, a juicy silver cherry and many more pieces...Sigh... who could ask for anything more in a collection really?

Louisville! You Won!

Louisville Colorado just got rated the number one small town in the country to live. Our Luscious Studios are right around the corner from Louisville. If you've ever ordered jewelry from us, you might have noticed that it arrives from an L-ville mailing address. We also have a cool little store called Luminary,that sells our jewelry in Old Town. If you're ever in the neighborhood, stop in and check it out. It's a gorgeous little store,with lots of local goodies and they have jewelry of ours that can't be found online. Congratulations Louisville!

Sweetheart Mania!

Well it's July and we are finally able to catch our breath a bit here in the studio. The Parenting Magazine feature had us crazy for months! We produced so many of these pretty little personalized Sweetheart Necklaces that I've lost count. I've said before that I owe my sanity to my wonderful studio assistant Shannon. Not only can she wire wrap her butt off but she has loads of patience (which I don't) and shes totally fun to have in the studio. Love you Shannon! Thanks to all of you for supporting us and ordering these necklaces for the moms, sisters, grandmas and friends in your life! Congratulations to Jayme P. who won the necklace from the contest here on the blog and to Denise J. who was the lucky winner from the Parenting website contest. We couldn't do it without you, our fabulous customers!



The one and only Sweetheart Necklace

Just a few necklaces ready to be shipped out

The lovely Shannon hard at work at the bench

Inspiration

A favorite question of non artists to ask of artists (and understandably so) is "Where do you find your inspiration?" Well, here is a really good visual answer to that question. I often say that I am inspired by colors and color combinations. Below is a lovely example of just that...


Some boring (but rather beautiful, don't you agree?) laundry drying

Recognize this color palette?