Yeay for March 3rd!

Neko Case's new album will be released March 3rd! More studio music on its way!

Finishing My Set Of Milo Cups.

I made these earrings using the tip of my dog's tail because it was the only fur on his body that was long enough to cut and use.

Then I thought, what a coincidence that dogs use their tails and ears to express themselves. And people use jewelry to express their personalities.

So I made the earrings, and now I'm finally making the matching necklace. Using carefully cut segments of my Milo's tail, I'll be filling the links posted below.

Quartz Rock

Mike and I went for a walk last weekend with our good friend Sue, and stumbled upon some beautiful quartz growth. This rock is about 1'wide x.5' high. What a great find!

I've been tagged by my fellow metalsmithing blogging buddy, Danielle Embry of Metalove.

The rules are a little different for this game:Go to your 4th picture file on your computer and blog about it, then tag 4 other bloggers to do the same.

This is a picture that Mike took on a fishing trip in the lower Niagara river. Somebody is in the process of catching a fish- as you can see from the bent fishing rod. I'm not sure who the fisherman is.

Fishing in the lower Niagara is a blast. I didn't go on this particular trip, but I've been out there in the cold several times and it is always a good time.

I'm tagging:

A Metalsmith's Journey

Laura

Sassy Glass Designs

Moonstruck Design

Back up and running.

I just got my computer back up and running thanks to Sue! She fixed my computer, rebooted the bugger and got it working again.

I'll be posting again soon, a lot has gone on while I've been computer-less.

Oh Bristle Disks- I Love You!

Back in December, fellow metalsmith and blogger Catherine Chandler posted a review on 3M™'s bristle disks. I finally got around to using them, and I'm so glad that I did. Check out Catherine's review on the Etsy Metal blog here. Thanks Catherine!

I used the bristle disks on my flex shaft to clean up the slowly progressing polka-dot jasper necklace links. The picture below is the pendant arranged under the links. (I was just playing with the links, they'll actually form a necklace when they're ready.)

GIA Diamonds

Look what I found online. Check out the link for some great diamond information. GIA diamond grading.

Mookaite Bangle

This was pretty fun to make. It's aaaaalmost done- I just have to do some more finishing to the surface.

P.S. I didn't melt this one ;)

Ooops!

I melted it.

Steve Martin On The Banjo

The perfect 10 minutes of entertainment fell on my way home from work. NPR's Melissa Block reported on the lesser known side of comedian/ actor Steve Martin. He started playing the banjo at age 17, and truly has a passion for it. He writes his own music and just came out with a CD called The Crow. On it he plays both the three finger picking style AND clawhammer! I couldn't believe it! Listen to the interview here - Steve Martin: Comedian Takes Banjo Seriously

Getting Back Into The Swing Of Things

I think I'm getting back into studio mode. For the next couple of weeks I suspect I'll be eating breathing and dreaming projects to work on. I got a great start today with a neat bangle. I was just playing with some wire and stones and things started to take form. This bangle has a vine- like floral look to it. I'm looking forward to it's final polish. I have just two bezels to solder and then it goes to the wheel.

I also got a chance to correct the construction of my plume jasper pendant. I had originally backed the stone with silver sheet, however the connection from the stone to the decorative piece on top was weak.

I re-made the bottom portion of the pendant by using wire shaped to the exact profile of the stone. This gives the decorative piece a solid component to be soldered to, rather than being connected to the seam where the bezel meets the sheet (not a very stable joint I have learned.)

Now I just have to attach the other side of the chain, and solder the bezel. Then a bit of finishing and this long time project should be done!

I also happened to get a bunch of bezels for some other projects soldered to their bases.

"Girl, you like butter-'cause you on a roll"!

I Did It!

I made it into the 30 Minute Earrings book! Way to go me!