One More Before The Show Goes On The Road

Alrighty – yay, me!  I am hereby managing to get a couple more pieces posted before the baby arrives – whee!!

Going back to my traditional silver theme here, we’ve got some minor metalsmithing going on.  Let’s start with Orrery…

Orrery: hand-domed silver discs align their orbits gracefully at the end of a handmade silver chain

The center disc is shiny, the others satin/matte.    It adjusts from 17-19″ long and the drop is 3.25″ from there.  (In case you’re wondering about the name, an orrery is a model of the solar system.)  I am particularly proud of this one as I slogged through the making of the chain as well!

From there we move to Swoop!  Hand-hammered curves cradle a rutilated quartz round.  This is a lonnnnnnggg baby!  22″ plus another nearly 5″ in the drop.  It’d be great over a bulky sweater for fall!

Swoop: hammered sterling silver with rutilated quartz

I think this will probably be it before the baby comes and, as it turns out, the hospital I’ll be at doesn’t have wifi SO you probably won’t be hearing from me for a while.  I am hoping to make some jewelry while I’m there though – the repetitive things that I don’t usually have time for.  I owe a cousin a rosary (which are incredibly, time-consumingly tedious to make – no wonder they have to bless them afterward) and there’s a chain maille pattern I want to try.  See?  This is how you can tell a c-section veteran… we know the cable in the hospital is lousy and we plan for it!  Also, we know this is as close to a vacation as we’re likely to get for months so we’d better enjoy it!

Cheers all!

K2

Back to the Beach

At least briefly before the summer’s over!

We used to get to our favorite beach at least 2-3 times a year before the little ones came along making such trips more hazardous (and expensive!).  Maybe that’s why I was inspired to combine these little blue and cream shaded opal rondelles with a mother-of-pearl backdrop!  It just seems like an early morning sky at the shore to me.

The pendant drop is about 2 1/4" and the chain adjusts from 16.5 - 19.5".

Blue and cream opal buttons against mother-of-pearl: necklace

And because we all need to be coordinated in our beachwear…  matching earrings!

Earrings have sterling silver earwires and hang a mere 3/4" from the top of the curve

Pretty soon, it will be time to back to the warm tones of fall.  I’m having a hard time letting go of the cool summer colors though (probably because it’s SO flippin’ hot and muggy out) so you may see more summery stuff before I reluctantly move to fall.  I know, I should’ve gone to fall already.  The business aspects of jewelry design seldom occur to my creative side.  Unfortunately.  Still, let’s enjoy what’s left of the summer.  Before I know it, I’ll have a newborn in the house again and life will be crazy (well, crazier!).

Cheers all!

K2

I’m Appalling… I Know.

But hopefully I’ll get better with the updates!!  I do have some new pieces to start showing though so here’s one!

Star of the Sea

In other news, I’m just back from the Strawberry Festival in Cape May, New Jersey.  I love Cape May.  It’s a great town and simple to find – take the Garden State Parkway all the way to the very, very southermost end, and there you are.  It was great to see so many people out enjoying the day.

Personally, we’re expecting another baby this fall.  A little boy this time.  My husband is delighted as am I.  I love my girls but it will be nice to see both sides of the coin, so to speak!

Ok, I’m off for now.  Now that the Strawberry Festival is over, I’m really hoping to get back in the swing of web updates so watch out!!

Slogging through the Studio Redo

Sorry I haven’t posted anything in a while!

I’ve been busily re-doing the room that serves as my studio/office/storage/whathaveyou so everything’s been in turmoil.  I’m pleased to report that things are coming together.  And I should have pictures of my redone studio/office/storage/whathaveyou eventually – once I get my artwork framed and hung and the chalkboard wall painted and the kids’ art table in… ok, so that’ll be about Christmas.

In the meantime, I’m hoping to get back to jewelry work this week as my older daughter goes off to preschool (how can she be OLD enough?!!!) for the first time Tuesday… so stay tuned!

Newest Creation

Evelyn Ann Sevier Kelly

born unexpectedly 3.5 weeks early on April 17th at 6:15 p.m.

6 lbs and 19″

She’s much skinnier than the pictures show, scrawny even, poor thing.  She’s doing her level best to fatten up though.

Let’s start this thing off right!

With some brand new jewelry!

Sterling and amethyst dazzle in these earring dangles – they’ll be joined by sterling silver earwires!

The design of these earrings was created by Corra at DeCor’s Handmades and is based on Chinese knots that are traditionally tied in cord. She’s done amazing work adapting Chinese knotwork to wire! You can also see several other variations on these earrings on Corra’s blog – other people’s interpretations on the same theme. Want to try them yourself? Corra has a tutorial at Etsy if you’re interested!

Upcoming Events

The last pre-baby show is rapidly approaching – one week from tomorrow!

What: Newington Chamber of Commerce Business Showcase

When: last Saturday in March, 10 am – 4 p.m.

Where: Newington High School Gymnasium, 605 Willard Avenue, Newington, Connecticut

Come join us!