Boho Hippie Tribal Dot Textured Copper Ball chain Necklace 18 inches

My jewelry designs are usually a bit heavier and so I decided to start focusing on smaller pieces that are more delicate and dainty for my customers who prefer the smaller pieces.

This cute little pendant is made of recycled copper which I formed and textured, then I made small little balls from a fine silver wire and welded them to the copper.   I really like how it turned out!!  The bead chain compliments this perfectly!  See it here.  I also made the matching earrings.  See them here.

Note on Fine Silver:  Fine silver is 99.9 pure silver.  The difference with sterling is that sterling silver is .925, which means it's an alloy (with copper- that's the reason sterling tends to oxidize quickly).  Fine Silver keeps it's beautiful sheen and hardly oxidizes at all.

See more of my designs and go here.

Unisex Copper Cow Spot Wide Band Thumb Ring

This wide copper band or thumb ring fits just beautifully!  To make this ring, I took copper that I have forged and I treated it in such a way as to add these funky spots in a contrasting metal and thus the "cow spots" were born.  Another feature of the band is that it is slightly offset while overlapping itself, which gives the impression of two bands in one.   Each ring is different and unique in that it's completely handmade (from cutting out the metal to polishing the end product)!!

The best thing about this awesome wide ring is that it can worn by either women or men.  Ring is available in all sizes. 

I made a matching leather wrap bracelet that is pretty nifty too.  I'm always excited when I can come up with something unique!!!!  See it here.   

I am quite diversified in my creations, you might want to see what I mean by browsing my shoppe here.  I have all kinds of goodies!!

Delicate Gold Trio of Pearls Necklace Gift

I usually make my chains by hand, link by link.  The only problem I have is that it's very difficult to make small, delicate chains and so I usually don't have any dainty necklaces for the ones who prefer smaller jewelry.  But this has all changed now.  I've added to my collection smaller, delicate chains to accomodate every one of my clients...  Here is the first from this collection - Trio of Pearls-  A row of beautiful, lustrous, cultured pearls in a rich creamy-white (non dyed) color on a 14k gold filled, delicate chain with spring loaded clasp.  Measures 16" long (can also be worn at 15").  If you wish a longer chain, please convo me.  This beautiful necklace would make an anwsome gift for that special someone in your life!  This necklace could also be a great accessory for a bride.

Go to my shoppe here to see more of my pieces.  Use coupon code:  BLOGSAVE15 to save 15% off any purchase over $25.

Huge Sale in my Walk In Store

I'm having a huge sale in my walk-in store in the Charlo/Eel River Area. Everything must go. All of my handmade jewelry, glass creations, cheeze trays, recycled wine bottle creations, spoon jewelry, bracelets,rings and more. I'm transitioning and making some major changes and therefore liquidating all of my older stock. I'm offering savings from 40-50%. Please be advsided that I will only be accepting cash for this sale. The sale hours are very limited: Friday, May 18th and Saturday, May 19th from 1-5pm; Friday, May 25th and Saturday, May 26th from 1-5pm; Friday, June 1st and Saturday, June 2nd from 1-5pm. Take advantage because such a large savings doesn't happen very much with out handmade creations!!

Handmade Unique Sterling Silver Spoon Pendant Necklace

Not too long ago, I made this unique silver pendant from an antique, 925 sterling silver spoon that I purchased from a local antique store.  I wanted to give it a complete transformation so it wouldn't look at all like the spoon I first bought.  I decided to add texture to it by hammering it with different tools and then folding it and antiquing so that it has that black finish on it (it's not paint, by the way).  Then I wanted to push it a bit further and decided to introduce some of my handmade chain pieces with gorgeous Rainbow Moonstone dangles.

I think it all came together quite well.  It sure is different from anything I've every made and therefore I can say:  mission accomplished!  I hope you enjoy my new spoon and fork jewellery creations.

Beeswax Candles and Votives

I've been making candles, melts, votives and wax scented bears for a few years now and I love it!  I began making votives and candles for the main reason of it being the perfect addition to my handmade candle holders, votive holders, etc.  While I was researching about different types of wax and comparing the properties and the price, I came upon the most amazing bit of information about beeswax.  I learned that this seemingly insignificant little creature, that is the bee, produces a product that when burned releases negative ions into the air and therefore replacing the positive ions (pollutants).  In other words, this natural, organic wax is the best air purifier you'll ever find, as far as I'm concerned.  If the beeswax candle maker takes care to use only 100% cotton wicks, then you're guaranteed to purify and freshen the air in your house in no time. This is especially great for asthmatics and allergy sufferers.

Stinky Fish Odors-  I do this all the time:  After cooking fish, I burn a beeswax votive on the kitchen counter.  I let it burn 1 hour or so and usually the fish smell has completely disappeared from the house. It's unbelievable!  It doesn't mask the smell or fill the air with harmful chemicals as a spray can air freshener would.  It literally makes the fishy odor disappear and replaces it with the sweet, healthy scent of honey.  You'll need to try it to believe it.  I brag to all my customers in my walk-in store about this.  I do have my satisfied, happy, repeat clientele.

A part from being a healthy choice, beeswax candles and votives also look great!  They have that look and feel of a by gone era, and yet have adapted so well into our so called "modern way of living."

To read more about the amazing properties of beeswax, click here and read the description.

My Etsy Sale Continues

I had a great sale event for Black Friday and Cyber Monday.  The great news is I've decided to extend the sale up to the December 15th.  That's right, now you can take advantage of even more great products at a discounted price.  Save 10% off my ENTIRE Bayside Wire Designs store.  FREE International Shipping on all of my earrings and smaller jewelry pieces.  Anything that'll fit in an bubble envelope, I will cover the shipping to anywhere in the world.  And it doesn't stop there, it just keeps on getting better.  I'm also offering you a coupon of 15% off your next purchase.  What are you waiting for?  Grab your coffee and let's go shopping now.  Click here to begin your shopping extravaganza! 

Progress on my Sheryl Crow Earrings

A client walked in my store about a month ago with a magazine in her hand and asked me if I could custom make a pair of earrings that would be similar to those worn by Sheryl Crow on the front cover of Red Book (issue of August, 2010).  Of course, I will not copy the design exactly, because that's just not right, but I will make them in a slightly different size and in .925 sterling silver. 

This is a whole new venture for me.  I usually do wire work, a bit of silver clay and some soldering, but I've never actually worked with silver sheet.  This should be interesting.

I finally got the template of my main earring design transferred onto my .925 sterling silver sheet and I traced out the design and very slowly cut it out with my jeweler's saw. 

This jeweler's saw can be a pain.  The blades are about the size of a couple of strands of hair and they break very easily if you're not careful.  The heat caused by constant friction against the sterling silver sheet causes the blade to get brittle and break.  In order to prevent this I need to constantly lubricate the blade with beeswax. 

Now, I'm getting ready to cutout the center part.  I'll need to transfer my design and drill a small hole in order to enable me to pass my jeweler's blade through it (the jeweler's blade easily comes off  enabling the metalworker to pass the blade through the hole and then attach to your saw).  This is a necessary tool to make cutouts from the center of a piece.

See picture below of my first and second step - It doesn't look too pretty at this point...

The Great Mystery of Pearls

Before I begin, I just want to make it clear that I'm not a professional in the area of pearls.  My passion my business is what motivated me to learn about this mysterious little gem.  I thought it would be a good idea to be informed before selling my pearl jewelry.  So, what did I learn? 

First of all we need to talk about pearl farming.  It’s kind of funny to actually say those words together: “pearl farming.”  When I think of a farm, I see a big red barn with chickens running around the yard, spotted, black and white cows scattered out in the field and the sweet smell of hay mixed with manure lingering in the air. Quite a different picture with pearl farming indeed!  First of all, a pearl farm needs water.  I guess that means a waterfront farm…  I really like that!

Although both types of farming are very different in structure and content, they are both very similar in that they’re a very risky and unpredictable business. Many factors such as bad weather, water pollution, excessive heat or cold and disease are only some of the problems pearl farmers are challenged with.

At this point it is important to establish the difference between the expressions: “Freshwater Pearls” and “Saltwater Pearls”.  Although both are cultured, meaning that they both are grown under human influence and intervention, they demand different farming techniques.  I will try to explain each one beginning with the Freshwater Pearls. 

Freshwater Pearls are formed in freshwater mollusks.  A technician will carefully remove a piece of mantle (the membrane between the two shells of a mussel), cut it into small pieces and surgically graft it to another mussels mantle.  One mollusk can accept approximately between 24-36 grafts per cycle. It’s in fact a very delicate procedure.  The mollusk will then react to the irritants and begin covering them with nacre.  Nacre is a combination of crystalline and organic substances.  Day after day for many years (2-6 years), this mollusk, like a faithful little factory worker, will keep producing nacre and cover the multiple irritants until the many layers miraculously form pearls.  Talk about multi-tasking!

In their natural state, freshwater pearls vary in an array of soothing colors such as pink to mauve to gray to rich cream to peach.  You probably think I forgot to add “white”.  Actually I didn’t.  Mollusks never produce white pearls.  White pearls are actually the result of cream-colored pearls that have been bleached.  Are you shocked?  I was when I first learned about it.  The thing is, I never much liked the white pearls; I always preferred the cream-colored pearls and now I know why. 

Because a freshwater pearl is the product of a small piece of membrane, it’s very difficult to achieve a perfectly round pearl, thus freshwater pearls are rarely round.  The interesting thing, though, is that the technician does have a certain amount of control over the shape of the pearl.

It’s a miracle indeed, that such a seemingly insignificant creature could produce such a beautiful gem as a pearl!

You really need to see and hold them for yourself to appreciate the cool, silky feel of pearls.

The pictures below are from my gallery.  This handmade necklace is made with natural freshwater pearls in ivory color and the main part of the necklace is made of a beautiful Mabe Pearl (which is a whole other story).  The handmade pendant below is also made with a beautiful Mabe Pearl.  The luster is amazingly beautiful!