CREATING WITH FIRE

The Village Blacksmith Shop, located in Greenport New York is a small and exciting work shop that is part of the East End Seaport Museum. Here resident blacksmith Tom Barry creates with fire and hammer, welcomes visitors, gives public demonstrations, hand forges items for sale in the shop and more.

During my visit Tom explained his process as he worked on a bottle opener; heat the metal in the hearth to prepare it to be forged, forge it with directed, steady consistent hammer blows and shape it with a variety of tools.

Click on the link below to check out the Village Blacksmith Shop and other East End Seaport Museums. It’s well worth the trip.

https://www.eastendseaport.org/village-blacksmith-shop

PS. In addition to this bottle opener, I bought a goldsmithing tool that Tom custom made for me. Thanks Tom!

A bottle opener Tom forged that’s inscribed “Happiness” in ancient Irish symbols .

TRIANGLE PENDANT NECKLACE

The clean fresh lines of geometric shaped jewelry are understated and uncluttered. This sweet little triangle nests comfortably in that little notch at the base of your neck, the pre sternal notch.

I’ve fabricated this triangle necklace from sterling silver using what’s called hollow form construction. Hollow form is a method of metal fabrication, it’s one way to give flat metal dimension . The triangle is puffy, thick at the top where it meets the box chain and it tapers down at the bottom.

The sterling silver I use in creating this hand made pendant and all my jewelry is recycled.

If you’d like to see this necklace in my Etsy shop click here.

Sterling silver triangle pendant necklace

A SEA GLASS POEM

I’m sharing a lovely poem by Bernadette Noil. It’s a lovely simile for aging gracefully. Enjoy.

BEADED NECKLACE WITH LEAF CHARM

Nothing says summer like wearing a beaded necklace on a hot day. They feel cool and comfortable and oils from the skin enhance the luster and beauty of the beads.

Faye is modeling a 16 inch necklace made of the semi precious earth gem, Silver Leaf Jasper. This necklace features a removable sterling silver leaf charm and sterling silver oxidized beads which echo the patterns in this elegant semi precious gem.

My interest in making jewelry started many years ago. On a hot summer day me, my young daughter and friends would sit together for the afternoon under the shade of a tree in our yard. A cold pitcher of lemonade was always on hand along with our favorite glass beads along with materials to make jewelry. The afternoon would pass pleasurably as we would compare and swapped beads, make jewelry, share stories, laughter and friendship. I’ve put glass beads aside and work with sterling silver and semi precious gems now. I still enjoy stringing beads outside on a hot day. This brings back those wonderful memories.

Click here if you’d like to see this Silver Leaf Jasper necklace on my Etsy shop.

Faye is modeling a 16 inch beaded Silver Leaf Jasper necklace.

FLOWERS AS INSPIRATION

Summer is synonymous with flowers and nature is a constant source of inspiration for artists . Roses are bursting into bloom, anomenios, filled with color and shape are popping opened and the garden is a riot of color.

The call of spending time in my flower garden makes it hard to get to my jewelry bench this time of the year. Below are a few metal flowers waiting patiently to be made into jewelry.

An anemonie in my flower garden.

Metal flowers inspired by those found in my garden are waiting to be made into jewelry.

SHOP LOCAL SUPPORT BEE KEEPERS, FARMERS AND CRAFTERS

It’s wonderful to see lots of people out and about attending craft fairs and farmers markets. There’s so much local talent here on Long Island and local markets are a wonderful place to support local crafters, artists, farmers and make new friends.

This past Sunday my husband and I went to the Port Jefferson Farmers Market . Below Mark (my honey) is shopping at Barne Bee’s Raw Long Island Honey. Margaret is walking him through their extensive line of honey and related bee products. Barne Bee’s, is a fourth generation family of bee keepers located here in Suffolk County. They spin especially delicious local raw honey.

Shop local, support bee keepers, honey bees, crafter, artist and sustainable farming.

Visit Barna Bee’s at https://www.barnabeehoney.com

Here’s my honey, Mark, shopping for raw honey with Margaret from Barna Bee’s Raw LI honey.

Two delicious selections of amber honey from The Original Barna Bee raw LI local honey. Dark or light honey? Which is the best?

OUTDOOR CRAFT FAIRS ARE BACK

Now that the pandemic restrictions are easing craft fairs are back on the street !! Hope you’ll stop by this Sunday at THE BRICK POTTERY AND CRAFT SALE. Hope you’ll stop by.

WAVE BANGLES

I’ll be wearing my newly forged copper “Wave Bangles” to the beach this summer. I often wear copper jewelry in the ocean. Did you ever notice how salt water cleans copper beautifully?

Soon to be on my Etsy store, SoundBeachStudio!

Two handmade cooper wave bangles

Forged copper bangles worn together. Surf’s up!

HONORING OUR FALLEN HEROS

Memorial Day is a special time to remember our fallen heroes who protected our country. We can’t bring them back, but we can honor their memory. A special thank you to those brave heroes.

MORE BANGLES

I added a splash of color to a concave sterling silver bangle by applying a thick piece of puffy kimono cord around it. A elegant thin rim of silver lines peeks out around the bracelet edge. A sterling carved bead echos the detail in the fabric..

The kimono cord fabric is just gorgeous. It’s floral patterns are a reminder of nature in all its beauty.

Want to see more? Click here to view my Etsy store.

2 concave bangles, one without cord and one with.

BANGLES, BANGLES AND MORE BANGLES

Bangles are like people,, some are kind of square, some round, some are thin and some are wide. The top bangle is round textured wire, the next underneath is square textured sterling wire, The thick bangle with the black braided fabric is a concave bangle holding my hair scrunchie. The one on the bottom is a concave textures think bangle.

Stack them up on your wrist and enjoy the jingle jangle of sterling silver on your arm. The more bangles you wear, the merrier!

They will be coming to my Etsy Shop, SoundBeachStudio very soon!

Four different sterling silver bangles.

RECYCLED AND REPURPOSED BEADS

I love repurposing and recycling, especially beads, precious metal and gems. I was given some gorgeous antique bakelite beads. I unstrung them and put a modern spin on this black and sterling necklace.

Custom made antique bakelite and sterling silver necklace for Kate.

A custom design I created from antique beads.

BANGLE WITH KIMONO CORD

My jewelry-making always suffers in spring time. I love to be in the garden this time of year. Here’s a behind the scenes peek at some bangle designs I’m working on, that is when I can tear myself from gardening and get to my jewelry bench .

I’ve created these two bangle bracelets in copper. Once I’ve finalized the design and worked out the details, I’ll making them in sterling silver too.

The top bangle has colorful rayon kimono cord tucked inside the concave area of the bangle. The soft feel of the fabric again the shiny hard surface of the metal is an interesting contrast and the kimono cord brings a surprise of color. The floral fabric keeps me close to the garden and nature too.

The bangle stacked underneath is embellished with a sterling silver wire with gold-filled wire wrapped around it and a handmade copper bead as a focal point .

These are fun for stacking together or worn alone. Hope you’ll come back tony blog to see the finalized bangles!

2 bangle bracelet in progress.

KIMONO CORD NECKLACE WITH RED RIVER JASPER PENDANT

This kimono cord necklace features a sterling silver bezel set red river jasper pendant that is off set by 14 karat gold balls. The warm tones of the gold bring out the warm tones in this gorgeous in this multi colored fabric necklace.

I enjoy wearing fabric necklaces, they are so soft and comfortable. The multi colored patterns in the fabric make it versatile choice for so many outfits.

The kimono cord is a rayon fabric that is used in the making of modern Japanese kimono’s. The patterns often have themes such as Tea House, Koi Pond or Maple Festival. They are subtle, beautiful and rich.

If you’d like to view some pieces of my kimono cord collection in my Etsy store, click HERE.

Kimono cord fabric pendant with bezel set red river jasper pendant.

KIMONO CORD NECKLACE WITH A CLOISONNÉ PENDANT

Im enjoying working with the beautiful patterns of kimono cord fabric these days. I’ve designed this rayon fabric into a necklace with a cloisonne bead as a pendant. The delicate gold wire lines in the bead are echoed not in color but shape in the kimono cord fabric pattern.

Cloisonee is decorative work in which enamel, glass or gem stones are separated by strip of flattened wire placed edgeways on a metal backing. This decorative work has been practiced in both Japan and China.

Click HERE if you’d like to see this necklace on my Etsy store.

Kimono cord necklace with a barrel closinne bead pendant, and 14K gold bead.

OUR RESCUR CAT NADINE MAKES AN APPEARANCE

Our rescue cat Nadine is my constant companion. When I’m working at jewelry bench she sits in her “cat cave” and keeps me company. If I’m late she meows to remind me that it’s time to come and work. Nadine is the love of my life.

Have you checked out Jackson Gallexy on You Tube? He’s an awesome cat psychologist and one cool dude. There’s a clickable link below for you to check out his web site. He’s awesome and I understand cats better as a result of listening to his videos.

https://www.jacksongalaxy.com

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KIMONO CORD PENDANT NECKLACE

Kimono cord is an interesting choice for a fabric necklace. It’s soft on the body, wonderfully colorful and beautifully patterned. The kimono cord I use to make pendant necklaces is made from rayon and is similar to the silk chirimen fabric used in making traditional kimonos.

The beautiful patterns in this fabric have names that translate to things like Tea House, Koi Pond. My favorite pattern is “momiki-gari” which translates to “maple viewing” which refers to the ritual visitation to mountains each fall to view the brilliance of wild maple trees.

I’ve paired this lovely kimono cord necklace body with an agate leaf, a sterling silver bail and a jewelers brass hook style clasp. It’s perfect for casual wear any time of the year.

If you’d like to see more on my Etsy store, click here.

HAIR ORNAMENT

Hair ornaments are great for up-do hair styling. Featured on the left is a a silver inlayed, stamped oxidized copper hair ornament. . Also featured securing an up-do is a sterling silver hammer textured circle.

INSPIRATION

Here’s a look at some behind the scenes studies I’ve created. These drawings and photographs serve as inspiration for design jewelry designs or art work.

Star flowers in my spring garden.

Contour line drawing in my sketch book..

SPRING FLOWERS

Spring is finally here on Long Island! Here’s a behind the scenes peek at some mixed metal flowers from my bench. These are inspired by my favorite spring flowers, Forget Me Nots or firmament. They certainly will end up in a bracelet, ring or necklace. Stay tuned to see more!

Forget Me Not flowers from my garden.

Sterling silver and copper flowers fabricated at my bench.