Tag Archives: jewelry

Jewelry I Made Last Semester

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This past spring I was enrolled in a jewelry making and metals course at ASU.  I had to jump through a few hoops and get special permission to take it, but it was well worth the trouble.  I’ve taken random classes throughout my time living in different places.  I learned how to make a hand-cut dovetail joint in Minneapolis, MN and how to mill lumber in Jamaica Plain, MA.  I always love learning a new craft, but I have to admit, metals was one of the most intimidating for me.  This learning experience came with quite a bit of frustration, but when I finally mastered a skill, I felt so accomplished and satisfied.  I walked away from the class with an “A”, three credits, and the following skills:

  • piercing
  • filing, sanding, finishing
  • drilling
  • annealing
  • forming
  • cold-connecting:  riveting
  • soldering
  • hollow-forming
  • acid etching
  • stone setting
  • patina

Here are the first three “real” pieces of jewelry I ever made:

CUFF BRACELET

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Copper caterpillar with a brass flower and sterling silver rivets.

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“JERSEY GIRL” BELT BUCKLE

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I guess it’s pretty obnoxious, but I love it.  Especially the silver riveting detail.  This one took many, many hours.

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HOLLOW FORM CUPCAKE RING

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I am a cupcake fanatic!  This was inspired by my appetite.  This piece was the most challenging.  There were many failed attempts at soldering this closed.

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All in all, I am proud of what I accomplished, even though these pieces are a bit outrageous.  This course has introduced me to a life-long hobby and business venture.  I will be opening an online shop in November 2013.  The link is on my home page.  Be sure to check back for more news and sample sales in the coming months!

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Blog Relaunch

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Welcome to the new and improved Bulb to Blossom!  I am so thrilled to be able to finally say that.

When I started my blog last May, I really couldn’t have anticipated how time consuming it would be.  I spent so much time planning and doing, and putting tremendous pressure on myself.  I felt more panicked and stressed than happy.  And the whole point of the blog was to do something that made me happy.  Well, I’m proud to say I’ve learned so much since then.  Mainly, I’ve learned from my own mistakes, but also from the amazing people I’ve met.

In the past ten months, I’ve been up to a whole lot of life-changing activities.  Last fall I went back to school to earn my degree in Design Studies.  I’m the old kid at school, and in just three more semesters I can call myself an ASU graduate!  Go Sun Devils!  Wayne and I bought a house in North/Central Phoenix and we couldn’t be more excited.  I’ve involved myself in the enormous blog community out here.  There are so many bloggers and blogging conferences, it’s just crazy… and I love it!  I’ve met some truly uplifting people and learned from some of the best.  Most importantly, I’ve taken on challenges I never thought I’d be able to accomplish, and I did.  I haven’t seen my comfort zone in a while and I’ve never felt more capable in my life.  I’m also very happy to announce, that after almost two years in Arizona, I’ve finally gotten the hang of pumping gas!  Woohoo!

So, I feel great!  I’m so happy to start this up again and see what opportunities it will bring.  The great thing about going back to school seven years late is that I’m learning things I would never have.  That being said, I’m taking my skills and opening a small online jewelry shop in November 2013.  I love to make things, and it’s really all I think about.  Life is way too short to care about what people think or to not do the things you want to do.  So I vote to follow my dreams, as generic as that may sound.  Wish me luck!

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Chair Jewelry Rack DIY

I had this nice vintage chair I picked up a while ago.  My plans to  fix, paint, and reupholster it, never ended up happening.  My husband had recently been using the chair at his desk.   Once I decided I didn’t want to makeover the chair, I thought to re-purpose it instead.  I have a lot of “fashion” jewelry that I forget I have, because I don’t see it.  One day, I looked at the caning on the chair and thought it would be the perfect way to display my earrings.

I sawed off the back of the chair and sanded down the rough area at the severing point.  Then she was ready for painting.

I ended up selecting two shades of purple:  Henrietta and Antoinette.  I also used some Old White I already had, for some detailing.  Adding clear then dark wax on top of these beautiful shades, would create the look of a patina and tone down a little bit of the brightness.

These two ceramic hooks, add interest and a nice contrast because they are a  stark white color.  Both can be purchased at Anthropologie.  In addition to making the perfect loop to my earring hooks, the caning made it very easy to attach my animal hooks.

HERE’S THE FINISHED PRODUCT… MY NEW JEWELRY RACK

THE EASIEST WAY TO BEAUTIFULLY DISPLAY AND EFFICIENTLY ACCESSORIZE YOUR OUTFIT AT THE SAME TIME.

FAB.

THOSE ARMS ARE A GREAT SOLUTION FOR TANGLED NECKLACES.

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