I return

Oh...I have been a bad girl. I haven't been here for ever so long. Life has taken me a different direction, for the better. I was told in January that I was going to be laid off, until they realized, that my job as a buyer for a top floral company was necessary, at least until they got through the holidays. So, flying home to Oregon for a vacation in March was a joy. My mother offered me the home that I had been promised 25 years ago, along with her in it, so we listed the house in Illinois. Long story short, I quit the day job, moved 2200 miles, drove back home, and went fulltime selling my work.

It's a joy being back here in Oregon. I take care of my mother and husband, I'm active in the community again, I have time to create...and create I do. Here's a piece of my latest works.

London Blue Finished

Okay, here's the final piece as promised. London Blue Topaz and Sterling Silver.

I feel my work is moving again. More and more of my stones are one of a kinds, prong set, and woven over. I've been making so many eye pendants, I do them in my sleep.

It's real nice doing something over the top, something that's pretty, something original.

You can find it on my new web page, which is up and running at http://www.twistedsisterarts.com/

I design in a mess

I had a beautiful morning to create, and while at my bench, was this lovely morning light coming into my window. It fell over my tools and a half completed blue topaz design. The composition of the light, the tools, and color, was just too perfect to waste. Grabbing my camera, I had to share.

I'll be back later with the completed design.

Evil Ring for a Man

Here's some of my evil eye work. I try to keep it out of my blog, as I wish to share my pretty things here. Not necessarily my eye work. However, this one did come out especially pretty, and very strong. My customer, wished to wear this ring everyday, and he needed it extra heavy duty. So, using extra wire, heavier wire, and an extra large glass eye, his ring was created. He is very happy, and going to come back for more.

I can't wait to see what he wants me to create next!!

A Customer Returns

I had one of my favorite customers return, in distress, as she had lost one of her favorite pieces. She asked if I could create a new sterling silver bracelet for her to wear. Something with a heavy duty clasp, to match an earlier design. Same materials. I have a tendancy to keep some of my past stones in stock, for emergencies such as these. Sometimes, to tell the truth, I just like going into the antique typesetters chest just to peek at the different types of stones I use.

Anyway, getting back on the subject, I created this one of a kind piece, and I'm very happy with it. It has real bling power.

Pretty.

New Work

I haven't been around much this summer, I have been creating one of a kind works, and working with my eye series. Here's a piece I didn't put on my Etsy webpage, as it is sold to a dear customer, who will be coming over to pick it up, and commission a new ring. I thought I should publish it, so you can see it, before it disappears from my work bench.

Also know that I am currently changing my webpage, http://www.twistedsisterarts.com/, to webs webpage, http://www.twistedsisterarts.webs.com/, and soon it will have the old address available to direct link.

Many new things are happening, and more will be coming forward this next year. Ehugs all around.

Jill Lawrence

Twisted Sister Arts

www.etsy.com/shop/twistedsisterarts

I'm back...

I've been a very bad girl, I've been so busy on commissions and orders that I haven't been here. So, I'm bowing and groveling. So sorry....

So, to catch up on what's been happening. Soldering. Weaving wire. Cubic Zirconia. Pearls. So much creativity, so much growth. New shows to come, new customers, old customers. Fabulous...I hope I can keep up....

Here's some of the latest work, especially fine, since I've regained the ability to solder.

My very first setting

Sorry that I haven't been blogging yesterday, what with the day job, the studio, the shows and etsy sales popping, things have been a little thick.

So, from the studio, I've managed to do my first setting, with a 5mm stone, on a sheet of silver. Small, sweet, and something I have wanted to accomplish. I've done it. Now, back to the studio, got a two day show this weekend, gotta be ready.

A Ring a Ding Ding

I've gone and done it!! My first soldering in 35 years, and I created 9 rings to celebrate. I haven't had this much fun with using all my tools, and knowledge in the 35 years I stayed away from making jewelry. This makes me real proud that I finally came back to it.

Let me know what you think.

A New Torch Makes All The Difference In The World

Yesterday, I was finally able to set up my new torch. I purchased a Little Smith Torch Unit, with 5 tips, oxygen tank and propane. Nervous about setting up a new piece of equipment, I spent the week reading and learning what I needed to know about torch set ups. I spent part of the day yesterday, creating a small pendant, that my husband now wears, as he always gets the first attempt.

Today, I had set up links, and used the old propane torch to ball up wire creating one side of a link. I then lit up the new set up, and torched the other side. OH MY GOODNESS. It's wonderful. Fast. Easy. Delightful. I think I'm in love.

Something Over the Top

I've been working with Linda Chandler of Woven Wire Jewelry, and she sent me a silver base to weave upon. I wove it, tumbled it, polished it and finished it. So, here it is in all it's glory. A fabulous cuff of Silver.

Using Pattern Wire for Earrings

Here's a reasonable way to create one of a kind earrings, with Sterling Silver. Buy premilled pattern wire, and cut it to straight lengths of 1 inch. Round the ends using a nail file or emery board, drill the piece, and sand the back with the emery board to soften the harshness of the pattern wire. Add a handcrafted earring wire, and you have a beautiful design.

Simple and elegant.

New wire, new color

Sorry that I haven't been on for a while, but since the Bead and Button Show, it's been non stop commissions and getting ready for summer shows. Here's the lastest wire creations that I've been working on, Princess Royale. This time in my Parawire Antique Bronze color, and using the custom woven braid to craft a necklace. I'm very happy with the drape of the braid, it's very comfortable on. It finishes the design, and after seeing in my first show yesterday, I can tell you it's going to be a hit this fall. Luckily I purchased two rolls of it.

Let me know your feedback on this type of design, and the color choice. It's important to hear abuot it.

Jill

The Aftermath of Bead and Button

I went to my yearly migration to the Bead and Button Show in Milwaukee this weekend. I came back with new and delightful things. I found beautiful but expensive bling balls, tiny 6mm beads, interwoven with Aurora Borealis stones, that glitter and gleam, and woven wire, by my favorite wire people, http://www.parawire.com/.

Parawire provided me a piece of the jewelry puzzle, a woven wire chain, made of the same beautiful wire that I use every day. So it matches, fits right in. The combination cannot be beat.

So, here is a Grand Dutchess, larger than a regular Dutchess, but better, so a Grand Dutchess is appropriate. Let me know what you think...I know you're going to love it.

Better Ring Bling

So much difference a week makes.

I've been working on rings all week, and gee what a difference a week makes. I've already sold my first one off etsy, and they are proving to be a wonderful add on. Quick to make, a joy to oxidize and polish. I love opening up a tumbler after an hour and seeing what gleaming gems come out.

This will definitely stay in the act.

Even thinking of trying for Trunkt....Should I? Am I good enough?

Ring Bling..Part 2 Dialog..

They forgot my dialog on this piece...Oh my, I'm still learning to blog.

Anyway, there's the picture on my ring number 2, hope you like it. I'm off back to the bench for more wire work. Let me know what you think.

....Sigh....

Jill

Ring Bling Part 2

Okay, I did another...this is getting real repetative.. But fun!! I used a trillion 10x10mm stone in aqua topaz Cubic Zirconia to really make this piece sing. Oh boy, does it sing.. Like an opera... Can you hear Ride of the Valkeries? DatadaTAda...DatadaTAAAda...





Sigh.. onward to new weavings...





Jill

Ring Bling

After much haranging and pushing on my husbands part, I've succumed to his wishes and finally made a ring. And yes, the views on my etsy webpage shows it. He was right. Darn it... Here's what it looks like...

Gee, I hate it when he's right...

Back Working With Silver

I'm back working with Silver, getting ready for the show season this summer and fall. I'm also trying to make it economical for my customers to purchase pieces, by making them smaller, but just as intricate. Not an easy combination for me to do. So, here's a piece to give you an idea of what I'm trying to do.

The other good news is I've found these Trillion Cut Cubic Zirconia, very easy to work with. The setting is 3 wires of 20 guage wire, 30 wraps around one of 20 guage wires, with 28 gauge, wrap the 3 wires individually across 4 times, repeat 3 times. Bend with your flat nose, into triangular setting, and then using a needle to open space between wire 1 (wrapped wire) and wire 2. Insert the stone and then using the 28 guage wire, seal the opening between the beginning of the wrapping and the end of the wrapping. The cubic zirconia, rests inside the wires 1 and 2. I use the remaining wire, to form a bail, and then embellish the setting. Of course it needs to be properly finished and tumbled.

If you have questions about setting this type of stone, you can email me at jillfrnk@aol.com

Newest Creation

Since I did so well with my "Queen" series, I've changed and now I've started a new line called the "Dutchess" series. Beautiful, but difficult to set the two side stones. I keep trying and growing. Isn't that what art is all about. Take a look at the newest pieces.

Introducing, The Dutchess.