The New Yorker cover says it all for the closing of summer. This iconic image, painted in 1952 by Perry Barlow timelessly captures the last days of summer on the beach.
It’s time to shift focus from the beach to warmer clothes, new outfits and autumn activities. What will you be wearing for the fall?
The top image shows three of my handmade stacking rings and the semi precious gems include red jasper, pink quartz and black onyx. The ring in the foreground is an example of a hand twisted sterling ring band I fabricate, in progress. This shank may get a fine silver bezel or it may be an accent, worn plain against the 3 bezel set rings.
The bottom image is an example of some stackers with different gems. These bezels are about ready for me to set 2 green peridot and one black onyx cabochon. A stunning combination of colors! THe opaque black onyx against crystal clear green adds and interest too.
Stacking rings are such fun to wear. You can choose different gems that have significance to you such as birthdays of loved ones or other special meanings.
Please reach out to me via email on the link below. It will take you to my contact page. I’d love to hear from you!
https://www.soundbeachstudioblog.com/cohttps/wwwsoundbeachstudioblogcom/contact-mentact-me
Stacking rings with red jasper, pink quartz and black onyx
BEHIND THE SCENES: Peridot and black onyx gems are almost ready to be set in these stacking rings.
I’ve put a spin on the classical look of pearl stud earrings by mounting creamy white AAA cultured pearls in a domed sterling silver cup. The cup gives the post earring a slightly larger profile when compared to a single pearl stud earring.
IF you’d like to see these earrings please click on the link below or reach out to me personally from my contact page here on my blog. I’d love hear from you!
PS. There’s also a matching PEARL IN A CUP RING in the below blog post.
Pearl in a cup stud earrings
I feel connected to to the sea when I wear pearls and I love that feeling. I created this pearl ring from a creamy AAA pearl. It sits in an organic shaped cup reminiscent of a sea shell . The ring shank is flat on the inside for comfort and has a double round band on the outside.
If you’d like to see this size 7 ring, click on the link below to go to my Etsy store.
Sterling silver Pearl in a cup handmade ring.
It’s been such a busy summer. Almost a month has passed since my last blog post. One has to take advantage of the warm , long days because before you know it, it’s autumn. My jewelers bench is one creative mess which is ok for now.
Creative reset time is very rewarding and really important. When it’s too hot to be using the torch and heating metal to solder I’ll often spend time drawing out ideas in my sketchbook. Being in the garden or at the beach inspires and is refreshing. You never know what ideas inspire at a later time. It is all part of creativity.
Enjoy this fleeting season!
Joanne
Design ideas from my sketch book.
My bench; a creative mess.
I’m sharing a lovely poem by Bernadette Noil. It’s a lovely simile for aging gracefully. Enjoy.
It’s hard to believe July 4th has come and gone. The illustration below from The New Yorker says it all; carefree fun in the sun, swimming, and easy living. Nat King Cole’s song lyrics describe the feelings so well, “Roll out those lazy, hazy crazy days of summer, those days of soda and pretzels and beer. You’d wish that summer could always be here.” Times have certainly changed and I’m guessing many would replace water for soda, baby carrots instead of pretzels and choose a lite beer!
Here’s a link to one of my favorites, “Suddenly Last Summer” by the Motels https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9Ox-lGm-wA It’s complete with the sound of the ice cream truck circling the neighborhood.
Relax and enjoy this carefree season. The best to you all!
Sterling silver beach inspired earrings are in the shape of the Atlantic slipper shell,
Click here to view these earrings on my Etsy shop.
Atlantic Slipper Shell that inspired the sterling silver earrings.
My flower garden often inspires my jewelry designs. When my hands are out of the soil, I love to wear this sterling silver cocktail ring I recently created. The fragile double layered petals remind me of butter cup.
I have been so busy in the garden for the past months. These patterned and textured sterling silver earrings are inspired by working with all the vegetation and nature in general. A final polish, some ear wires and they are good to go!
I’m sharing how I remove tarnish from my sterling silver jewelry. It’s a quick, easy and time tested method that uses household ingredients found in most kitchens. This simple recipe removes tarnish (oxides) only and no silver. Please note, if you have an intentional patina on silver, it will be removed using this method.
A few important things to remember, never use this on plated metal. It could remover damage the thin silver plated surface. Check with the manufacturer if uncertain. I never expose gems to this cleaning process. Heat may cause some gems to change color permanently. Use this method on sterling silver only.
Materials needed: a shallow glass non food dish such as a pyrex pie dish, aluminum foil, one tablespoon baking soda (Arm and Hammer ) , one teaspoon table salt, boiling water, clear water for rinsing, and a soft cloth to dry your pieces.
Procedure
1) Select the sterling silver jewelry to clean. This works great on sterling chains. As mentioned above don’t select plated metals or items with gems.
2) Boil enough tap water to cover the bottom of the glass dish, about 1-2 cups.
3) Cover the bottom of the heat proof dish with tin foil, shiny side up.
4) Place one table spoon of baking soda and one teaspoon of table salt in the bottom of that dish.
5) Pour the boiling water over the tin foil and salt/baking soda mixture.
6) Place your sterling silver jewelry into the hot water mixture. Let it sit for several minutes.
7) Remove jewelry from glass plate and rinse in fresh tap water. and dry throughly with a soft cloth.
8) Store pieces in anti tarnish bags or away from air exposure to minimize tarnish.
If you should decide to use this method and have any question feel free to contact me. Disclaimer: I take no responsibility if used improperly with gems, plated metal etc, as described..
A sterling earring ready to be cleaned with baking soda, table salt and boiling water.
I’m a vendor and a shopper at the Brick Clay Studio craft fair. The variety of unique handmade pottery to choose from is unique and broad.
Below are some highlights of the vendors and their beautiful one of a kind handmade wares to be found at the Brick Fair last weekend.
Hope to see you at the next Brick Craft Fair this autumn!
One of a kind ceramic snack tray by ceramic artist Karen Barley.
Ceramic artist Julia Vogelle
Barnabee’s yellow Honey Truck and Johnny Wimpel singing for shoppers
Russell Pulik Pottery
Long Island Creations driftwood creations
My table of one of a kind handmade jewelry.
Mothers Day shopping at the Brick Clay Studio and Gallery is right around the corner. Below are a few selection I’ll have at my table there. I hope you’ll stop by and shop on May 13th between 10am to 4pm. There are many talented vendors offering their unique handmade wares. Shop local and support handmade artisans!
This sterling silver and bezel set amethyst pendant necklace is on my bench, waiting for its chain. The amethyst is particularly beautiful and colorful in this delicate pendant. It measures about 1 1/4 inches in length and is delicate. Please inquire if interested.
Amethyst and silver pendant for a necklace
Mother’s Day is May 14th this year. The Brick semi annual Outdoor Pottery and Art Sale is on May 13th. Just in time just in time to get something special for yourself or Mom. Mark and I hope you’ll stop by our table and say hello. I’ll have some new rings like those on the left.
New sterling silver rings.
I came across an article in the March issue of “Real Simple” magazine. It offers some interesting ideas on how to keep and store your jewelry when you are traveling. I especially like the hack for keeping a chain necklace untangled.
Another hack not mentioned in “Real Simple” is storing your jewelry at home. Out in the opened, on your dresser for example, may to not be optimal. Household dust and air can be problematic. When exposed to opened air sterling silver will tarnish much more quickly . Dust can create a substantial grit on the surface of metal and gemstones. On the 1 to 10 Mohs scale, dust has a 7 rating so it can scratch softer metals and gems.
FYI , Gemstones are rated by hardness and durability on the Mohs scale. It uses a range from 1 to 10 to rate the hardness and durability of gems. Diamonds being very hard are at the top of the rating and are a 10 on the Mohs scale. At the other extreme is amber, which is very soft. Amber has a 2-1/2 rating. Household dust has a 7 on the Mohs scale so it can scratch your jewelry !
I recently purchased an RJ Rosenberg watchmakers bench. With lots of TLC, I did some refreshing of this well worked, loved and neglected workstation. In the process of restoring this piece I found that it is made of zebra oak, a beautiful hard wood with a marvelous grain pattern. The each drawer is constructed with dove tailed joints, workmanship not often seen .
As I restored the work surface, I found evidence, in the way of impressions or marks of the work past jewelers/watchmakers efforts. There are mechanical and mysterious marks in the table top of this marvelous piece. I’ll never know just how those marks were made and that’s ok. The thing is, I feel connected to the history of this piece and other jewelers/watchmakers who once worked at this beautiful piece. I love that.
“The Vast and Endless Sea” by David McQueen at the Port Jefferson Train Station
There’s plenty of permanent, public art to be seen on the Long Island Rail Road. More than 350 artworks have been commissioned by the MTA Art and Design program. These pieces are constructed in a variety of medium such as mosaic, glass, metal and more. You’ll find them installed throughout the MTA system. For for an overview of MTA public art, click the link below. https://new.mta.info/agency/arts-design/permanent-art/lirr
I’d like to give a shout out to a few of the artworks and artists who have created public works along the Port Jefferson to Penn Station line, a line I travel often. It’s easy to miss getting an in-depth look at these gems as the train speeds quickly from Port Jefferson westward to NYC.
David McQueen at PJ station https://new.mta.info/gency/arts-design/collection/vast-endless-sea
Joe Zucker at Huntington https://new.mta.infhttps://new.mta.info/agency/arts-design/collection/for-my-grandfather-noye-pride-locomotive-engineer
Roy Nicholson at Hicksville https://new.mta.info/agency/arts-design/collection/hempstead-plain-morning-evening
Sandra Leitchfield at New Hyde Park https://new.mta.info/agency/arts-design/collection/forestation-syncopation
Tom Fruin at Syossett https://new.mta.info/agency/arts-design/collection/sail
THE SOUND by Kiki Smith 2022
Traveling into the city this month has afforded us to see lots of interesting art work in unexpected places, both above and below ground level.
One unexpected spot to see public art is at the new Grand Central Station Shuttle, often dubbed “Grand Central Madison”. This brand spanking new underground connection from LIRR Jamaica station to mid town Manhattan is immaculate. According to the New York Times “…it’s the largest rail terminal built in the U.S. since the mid-1950”. It runs underground for 5 blocks, parallel to the street grid above, from East 43rd Street to East 48th Street. It’s a station within a station as it’s part of the original Grand Central Station terminal. https://www.timeout.com/newyork/news/see-inside-the-new-grand-central-madison-lirr-station-080822
There’s lots of public art to see at Grand Central Madison. Kiki Smith and Yayoi Kusama were commissioned by the MTA Art and Design to create floor to ceiling murals that grace the walls. Murals are fabricated by Miotto Mosaics Art Studios and Mayer of Munich, Germany. Click on the two links below to get more first hand information. https://www.timeout.com/newyork/news/a-giant-yayoi-kusama-mosaic-will-decorate-the-new-grand-central-madison-terminal-101822
If you’re on the street and in need of seeing more Yayoi Kusama work, check out https://www.timeout.com/newyork/news/a-yayoi-kusama-robot-is-painting-the-windows-of-the-louis-vuitton-store-on-fifth-avenue-010923
Hungry to see more public art? Here’s another link at a different location. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/19/arts/design/second-avenue-subway-art.html?searchResultPosition=1
I thought it would be fun to give a visual overview of what goes into making a handmade stacking ring.
Read MoreToo often when women retire I often hear them say, “I don’t wear my jewelry too much now that I don’t go to work.” I say, defy that and wear your jewelry everyday for yourself. You’ve earned it.
My day yesterday wasn’t exciting, I went grocery shopping. I decided to wear the new stacking rings I’m working on. Every time I looking down and saw them on my hand a smile came to my face.
Wear your lovely pieces for yourself no matter where you are, at home or out. Feel special.
4 stacking rings, rose quartz, onyx and red jasper nestled with one plain twist ring.
4 individual stacking rings side by side.