Miele Melograno

It's ben a year in the gem trade

2011-11-25T18:44:00.000-05:00

So it's been a year and a few months since I started buying gems from our friends family in Kenya.

We have had a few adventures met a whole bunch of amazing people and learned a lot about things I didn't expect to. Like how elephants interact with the miners (i.e. harassing them for their water.)

taken by a miner as he runs away, the mother was not happy

The same mother and calf from a distance

The herd that lives in the area of the mines

We also have established friendships with local and global jewelers. I'm looking forward to working with Peter Baeza, at Jewels by Peter B. in Winter Park, FL this holiday season. We will be offering our gemstones in his shop. Stop by and see us if you're in town.

Homeland of our friends and our gems

2011-05-18T23:53:00.000-04:00

Wow .....
today I started my day with an idea why not make one of my dreams a reality. I want my clients to know more about the process and I mean the whole process, starting on where their gems come from....

They come from here

They comer from the red clays and the limestone river banks.

more to come.......

~ Of gems and food ~

2011-04-07T19:58:00.001-04:00

There are so many things you can find to bring joy into your heart.After having lived through many adversaries I have found that seeking at least one thing to be happy about no matter how small will get you through any stress.

...So...that's where two of my passions always converge.

Food and Gems

Running a house with four children seems to always revolve around food.
"When's lunch?"
"I'm hungry! Can I have a snack?"
While running my business always seems to involve staring, touching and manipulating gemstones.
"Oh that would be perfect for this design!"
"I wonder how I should go about carving a tiger into this tiny garnet?"

So the stress of wanting to be immersed in both worlds at the same time but on different planes of reality keeps mounting. So while day dreaming of gemstone and jewelry designs. I often find my cooking is influenced by the designs I'm planning.
Yesterday, while I was thinking about tiger intaglios I just had to make my favorite treat Thai fried bananas. Our three year old calls them "Bana pockets!"

         As I'm folding the little banana slices I day dream ~
            ~ about illustrations from "The Story of Little Babaji" ~
                ~ superimposing those illustrations on a garnet ~
                    ~ which then morphs into me viewing the carving
                        from the clear side of the garnet ~
                          ~ finishing with a completed 3D carving ~

All while folding, frying and finishing our favorite treat. They inspire one another both fueling me creatively nutritionally and spiritually as I find peaceful bliss in zoning out while the kids are bantering about my heels, house hold chores beckoning from the corners of each room, and the ever present need to make a living at my art so my husband can be a stay home parent ( for a bit )

A Love of Intaglio

2011-03-30T08:41:00.001-04:00

So from those of you that know me...

I love to learn. From {A}rcheology to {Z}ooology I just can't get enough.

I've finally decided to invest in some tools to start intaglio carving. I've done a few reverse intaglios and a few standard intaglios. I don't have a lot of time so keep to doing things in 15min bursts. The demanding life of a mom of 4 tends to delay progress for days HA! At least these stones won't be wrecked by sitting for a while...

My first attempt was a bee in a nice large flat piece of Rhodolite Garnet from Kenya....It's small and cute. It only took ten minutes. It was my anniversary and I was stoked about finally doing one, so I ground away for a few minutes before we left to go to the hotel. I was so shocked at how easily I was able to make a clearly recognizable shape! Our 10 year old even said, "Wow! Did you carve that bug mom?" Later I came back and deepened the image so that it's easier to see from the top of the stone.

Rhodolite w/ Bee

Reverse of bee intaglio

Bee intaglio on my hand for size and jewelry reference

I'm still contemplating going back and adding a vine and flowers... but sometimes it's best to "leave well enough alone"

So my next attempt was an equilateral cross in a very purple Rhodolite / Umbalite Garnet. I wanted it to be deep and beveled so that it would look like a "church" almost.

Equilateral Cross in Purple Rhodolite Garnet

Equilateral Cross intaglio on my hand for size reference

I need to work on getting crisper lines but for a second attempt not bad. I also work in very small pieces.

view from side 10x magnification

reverse

3/4 view

Next, I carved a dove into a vintage Lapis oval cab that had been sealed with something...pine scent when grinding...but it turned out ok. I have a lot more time to start expirimenting.

Lapis Dove w/ Olive Branch

If there is anything you'd like to see let me know. I was thinking of working on a tiger next.

Global Resources

2011-01-04T20:33:00.001-05:00

I have been amazed with the generosity of the International community. Our resources, when pooled, can be extremely effective. That said we also need to safe guard those resources. We need to make sure that the applications of our resources are done in a responsible manner (i.e. recycling)
Living in Florida during my youth instilled a sense of environmentalism that has yet to wane. Every drop of water, ever ounce of metals and earth that we extract must meet with balance.

I truly hope through the ups and downs of gemstone procuring I will eventually have the co-op of my dreams. I have honestly, always wanted to do something to not only help our environment but also the human lives connected to it.
This is one company I want to help succeed!
http://www.vestergaard-frandsen.com/lifestraw

If you didn't already know, I home school my boys. Therefore to provide them with a glimpse of the environment which created me, I have deemed Fridays and Sundays Documentary Days. Fridays will be dedicated to environmental studies. Whereas on Sundays we will focus on "social studies" history, art, religions, architecture, exploration, etc.

Well I'm off to rally the troops now.
Have a Great New Year!
I know it'll be full of adventure! Even changing diapers can prove to be an amazing accomplishment (anyone diapering a baby on their lap @ Disney World can attest to that *wink)

What Joy, What Joy Another Baby Boy

2010-11-09T10:37:00.000-05:00

It's taken a bit for me to post. Life certainly does not stop when a child is born!

We welcomed our 4th son Ronald Theodore into the world on October 20th, 2010. After 34hrs of laboring to bring him into our world, our 9lbs 5oz boy was a sight for tired eyes! I had a lot of time on my hands waiting for him to arrive and since I was delivering at home I had my work to distract me a bit.

I had taken on a custom order for two rings the day before and started working on them right away. Well rather than twiddle my thumbs in between contractions I soldered, pickled and set the stone in the last of the two rings I had left to complete. I was fun to give a 5 min tutorial on how to set a gemstone in a bezel to the midwives!

I am so thankful to have had the joy of creating those rings! It really made a difficult day have bright moments!

....... Soon to be 6 .....

2010-10-14T16:19:00.006-04:00

The clock is ticking away for me and my family as we are waiting for the arrival of our 6th member.This picture was taken a few months ago. Right now I'm busily attempting to build up some stock of rings, bangles and earrings to add during my "confinement". So far I'm still up and doing everything under the sun. But I will take a few days of "vacation" time after our son is born.

I am hoping that, if his health is tolerant, I will be attending some bridal shows in December and January. I was hoping to be able to make it to The Knot.com annual bash in Miami. But this year unless I have my son today is too close to his birth to travel.

I am still taking many custom orders for the Kenyan Fair Trade Gemstone rings. Thankfully this means that even with my few days off I'll still be busy. Here's a few of the rings I've done recently ....

Some of my new Fair Trade eye candy

2010-09-24T16:48:00.005-04:00

I've found myself rather busy making rings and things out of the small sample stones I have from Kenya.
Because of the nature of artisinal mines, they do not have the massive production that you see commercial mining operations. We have received the first half of our order and now we are waiting on the second it takes time to find enough stones to fill the order that would be worth faceting. They go through kilos of stones to find a few that are clear and of good color.

Patience is key!

While we wait I'm loving what I have so far.

BIG NEWS!!!!

2010-08-25T12:10:00.004-04:00

Wow! Ok so here's the deal ... I've been blessed with the opportunity to start purchasing gemstones from a mining family in Kenya! One of their family members, that lives and works in here in the US with my husband, was wonderful enough to introduce us when he learned of my jewelry making.

His family owns land all over Kenya. I am so Excited! The land is owned by the family we purchase from and worked by independent miners who come in with their own tools and start digging! There is not guerrilla war fare, corrupt government, or greedy corporate miners involved at all.

We are lucky to have found eachother. They have amazing quality stones. And as you will see in the coming months, even the raw unprocessed stones have a beauty that is rarely found in untreated stones!

The pictures in this post are the first of many pieces made with the rough gemstones from Kenya. These are just the initial samples of uncut stones from Kenya.

I have also been fortunate to meet a Master Gemstone Cutter right here in Florida. Lloyd Forrester, of Clear Cut Gems is a talented gemstone cutter originally from South Africa. He started as to be expected in the diamond cutting trade. But lucky for me he has switched to colored gemstones.

We both have a great sense of ethics and responsibility to our world, not only the Earth we live on, but the people on it as well! I couldn't have asked for a better situation!

I am unbelievably stoked about the future and everything this means to all of us.

Etsy Craft Party @ Tempus

2010-06-21T12:51:00.003-04:00

Wow what a fun time on Friday!

It was interesting coming all the way from the Four Corners area to Tampa. With rain threatening all day (and a down pour just before our arrival) I tucked my table in a far corner safely under a covered patio area of the printshop. I was so glad I remembered to bring lighting. Even though it was slightly dim I still had enough light to see my table from afar.

Well as I got set up I got to chat with the ladies at the tables around me and found some very loveable people! Alas once the people started to show up I had no time for photos, food or fun craftiness. I was kept going with a pitcher of chai tea. And for better or worse it helped me say alot in a little time to the people that were frequently in rows listening to the crazy pregnant woman with the sparkly things ;)

The cupcakes I hear were wonderful!!! I even had a client after buying one of my rings offer to bring me one, but sadly by the time I was able to get to the sunflower confection (11:30pm) it was .... melted and ant nibbled.

There were so many people and everyone was having a ton of fun! I so wish I could have taken a "spin" on the spinning wheel as one of my long lost dreams is to have a floor to ceiling loom and weave my own cloth... but that's another dream for later on ;)

Coryn and Adam did an amazing job putting together this event! It took a lot of time and energy but you could tell that they really put their heart into whatever they do! I had a wonderful time!

DIY Jewelry Displays part 2

2010-06-09T13:05:00.005-04:00

again here the materials list from the first post:
For the Neck Forms:
Bookboard (or 3ply Chipboard)
Thin Headliner Foam
Fabric
Trim
Adhesive (one that can be used for adhering foam as well as paper and fabric)
Boxcutters or Heavy Duty Shears
a Cylindrical Form (for molding)
Steel for weighting the Form

For the Stand:
Steel Tubing 3/8"
All Thread Pipe (called a nipple in the hardware world)1/4"
Washers 5/16'
Nuts 3/8"
Finials that fit a 1/4" nipple
Antique/Vintage Metal Lamp Bases
Spray Paint

#6
Trace the template onto the fabric side of the foam, allow 1/4" for the curve of the form. Cut out.

#7
Use a sparing amount of glue I used "Fabri-Tac" brand, it has intense fumes (smells like nail polish remover due to it's high acetone content) so be outside or in a really well ventilated area.
It dries fast so I only apply a small amount, working from the bottom/front to the top/back. That way if there are any areas that are cut short it'll be in the back. Also you can go back and use snippets to cover areas in the front that are exposed.

#8
Trace the Template twice on the backside of the fabric you are using. Make a 1/2" (allowance) larger outline around the templates. This allows you to fold the fabric over the edge to glue on the backside. Cut out the shapes. One of the pieces will be for the front and one for the back.

#9
If you have a curvy shape like mine you'll want to start gluing in the back so you can stretch or pull the fabric tight as you go. On the inside curves I cut small incisions (like tabs but not all the way to the inside line) so that I could wrap it w/o buckling the fabric. Start by applying the glue to the chipboard on the backside then drape the fabric (right-side facing you) over the foam covered form and press the edge of the fabric into the glue. Continue working your way down the form a little at a time tugging tight each time so you have a smooth surface.

As you work your way down be careful not to get excess glue from your fingers on the front of the fabric. (you can step away and wash the glue from your fingers frequently - this also allows the sections you're working on to dry a bit)

#10
Flip over your form, now covered in fabric on the front. This time you might want to start gluing from the bottom up, due to the inside curve at the top. Take the second piece of fabric you cut and start gluing it on covering the fabric folded over from the front. If you cut the fabric without an allowance match up the edges of the form and the fabric. If you have an allowance apply the glue near the edge of the form but not all the way so you don't have glue dripping over to the front. Then you take the fabric an apply it not gluing the edge down if you have and allowance - it'll have a floppy edge that you'll trim with scissors later to get a clean edge.

#11
Take your chosen trim and measure around the edge of the covered form before you start gluing. Or you can leave it uncut (like I do) and cut off the piece when you get back to the starting point.

Voila!

At this point you can use the forms for flat display
or you can continue on to build the stand.

Sorry about missing some of the photos. I forgot to take advantage of some picture opportunities. Maybe when I make my next batch I'll get some more.

DIY Jewelry Displays Part 1

2010-06-09T11:27:00.010-04:00

Well thanks to the pioneering spirit of my maternal grandparents I knew I could make some pretty amazing jewelry displays from scratch. After all they are all hand assembled in Korea, Hong Kong or China anyway. No offense meant, I appreciate the value of craftmanship is still present in the world .... Anyway I stayed up nights thinking about how they construct the neckforms available to retailers here in the US. I decided that a form on a metal stand was by far the most versatile and impressive I'd seen. So I came up with a materials list:

For the Neck Forms:
Bookboard (or 3ply Chipboard)
Thin Headliner Foam
Fabric
Trim
Adhesive (one that can be used for adhering foam as well as paper and fabric)
Boxcutters or Heavy Duty Shears
a Cylindrical Form (for molding)
Steel for weighting the Form

For the Stand:
Steel Tubing 3/8"
All Thread Pipe (called a nipple in the hardware world)1/4"
Washers 5/16'
Nuts 3/8"
Finials that fit a 1/4" nipple
Antique/Vintage Metal Lamp Bases
Spray Paint

#1
I started with drawing a template on one of my boys old game boxes (it's essentially 1ply chipboard) and drew the ouline onto the 3ply chipboard I bought at the art supply store.

#2
I cut it with my jewelers saw. I cut like butter but ... broke a few blades. I have only 0/8 sz blades (very fine tooth). So the next ones I tried a boxcutter & shears. The boxcutter didn't work (dull). The shears worked but my fingers were sore the next day.

#3
I took the cutout's over to the sink and ran them very quickly under a small stream of water from the faucet. Just enough to dampen but not soak. This is the trial and error part. If the board gets too wet the layers start to separate. If this happens just tape the edge together with masking tape.

#4
I gently bent the board around the cylindrical form which I thought would be the perfect thickness with out being too big of a radius. I tried a few different cans and bottles but - as you can see the arisol container is what I stayed with. To keep the form from curling I used one of my huge old files to keep the angle I wanted.

* for future displays I'll probably have the rest

of the form curve outward, so that it projects
out a little rather than going straight down.

#5
After drying for 30 min I removed the chipboard form and set it out side to cure in the sun for a few minutes (that's all it takes in the FL summer sun). I did have minor layer separations on each of the pieces at this point so you can probably ommitt this step and let it dry at a slower rate - I'm just impatient ;)

next post Finishing the Neckforms ......

wow it's been a while!

2010-06-07T18:49:00.003-04:00

Hi!

sorry to have been distracted - I found out in March that baby #4 will be with us sometime in October, so life has finally calmed down a bit. Now that we're adjusting.

I've been realizing that part of my sales not going anywhere is because I really didn't have any "mainstream" pieces. Well I've made a few new pieces that I've put in my shop >

I hope they are as well received by the public as they are by my family and friends ;)

Esty's Florida Easy Street Team (F.E.S.T.) interviewed me!

2010-03-18T17:28:00.003-04:00

Wow I just found out my interview is upon the F.E.S.T. blog.!

This was really fun to do! FEST is a really wonderful group on Etsy and there are so many artists that are supportive and amazing that it's been a blessing to be in this group!

Go check it out and leave comments!

Mrs Dissapearing Act

2010-03-18T17:24:00.000-04:00

sorry for my absence!

well let's just say I thought I had severe food poisoning ---- until it wouldn't go away ;)

I am happily expecting my 4th baby sometime in November. But unfortunately, blogging for right now isn't so fun. It would be if I had proper seating, but I'm afraid the stooped position make the "morning" sickness practically unbearable for longer than a few moments.

I'm still working - just in shorter bursts;)

Fortuny Silk Lamps

2010-01-31T17:02:00.002-05:00

I have to say this would be one of the most wonderful thins I could ever hope to purchase (aside from an original Fortuny Delphos Gown and Overdress ;)

http://www.venetiastudium.com/fortunylamps_silk_lamps.html

Someday I will have one of these!! The warmth of the light and the sensual movement of the frame ans=d the silk pulled tight over the frame ~~~~ ah pair that with simple frescoes on the wall and a wall of french doors which illuminate my elaborate yet masculine roman inspired bed ...... fragrant flowers and bowls of fresh apricots, pomegranates and figs .... hmmmmmmm my type of setting (or House & Garden circa Sept. 1998)

Seriously! That issue came out 7 months after my whirlwind marriage to the love of my life (5wks after our first date!) and let me tell you I will never be able to get that house out of my head! Ultimate luxury and at the same time not too feminine (important when you have a house full of boys ~ soon to be men)

Ok I just had to post about it promise I'll get back to jewelry, ecological responsibility later ;)

Ahhhh a refreshing take on Storybook Dreams

2010-01-08T19:15:00.004-05:00

I wanted to start offerning more to brides than the traditional white/cream/ivory color scheme. But I've realized that I've rulled out the majority of my potential client doing so.

So a Mea Culpa ~~~~~ To all of you that have the dream of being the Princess, Damsel, Fair Maid, if I have failed in offering you a key to the door to your dreams, let me extend my new collections ~~~~~

New Yar!!!!!

2010-01-04T13:43:00.003-05:00

cannons, made by artisan metalsmiths truly

the Castillo, St.Augustine one of my favorite places in FL

My family (I'm perpetually behind the camera)

Every year the holiday season creeps up on us as we saunter around in 80 degree sunny Florida days. Then we wake up one morning and the pirate in us awakes!

it's "Arrrr!" when you open the door to check on the mail

it's "Argg!" when when the water heater fails to kick in on time, and it's cold water

it's "young matey" when your children fail your heed a warning
or perhapse even "you'll walk the plank"

and not least of all,

when you wish your family and friends well it comes out "Happy New Yar!"

Finally pics from the Orladno Wedding Professionals Grand Soiree

2009-12-05T12:14:00.003-05:00

It was a fun night and my first networking party! Here's a shot of the stage and the lit trees that gave the room such a fun vibe.

If ignorance is bliss than I'm radiating it ^ I had no idea I was being photographed ;)

The red, black and gold theme was beautiful. I truly loved the red "leather" walls and sectionals Swanky >>>>

I'm so looking forward to the next event.

Wrapped, Tied & Ready

2009-11-29T15:02:00.002-05:00

I was curious to see if anyone could get an Etsy Treasury in the Treasury West pages ... well I got one! come see ....

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=77406

And having been inspired by all the fun beauties I could choose from I'm putting spats on my Christmas list ;)

Like these,

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=35195871&ref=sr_list_16&&ga_search_query=spats&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=5&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title

or these

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25478103

I love lace and ribbons, history and feminine allure!
Now to go make some of my own ...... ;)

Magnificent Miami

2009-11-06T22:25:00.002-05:00

Well I've always known Miami and I would be a good fit .... I just didn't know how well.

I recently changed my marketing area to South Florida with the Knot.com.
With the change came an invitation to the vendor appreciation party. I had 6 days to decide on all of the preparation to make if I were to go ... kids, clothes, jewelry! Well after few days of debating on hiring a sitter unknown to us, or having my husband watch the kids and I attend the party alone {so glad we didn't go with that one!}, my sister-in-law offered to watch our three crazy boys!!!

So we were set! We packed the bags and off we went! The drive was long and easy. We arrived "fashionably" late {by 1.5hrs thanks to several accidents} . The party was being thrown at the Epic Hotel in downtown Miami. It is a luxe modern hotel, complete with breathtaking views of Miami and the water.

Jackie Ohh! Events did a tremendous job!!! It was fun and happy, bright and lavish! Who could ever pass up the fresh mini donuts?! If anyone did they were more than likely full of the mouth-watering desserts! And the mimes of CircX! Jackie really pulled a fun event together!

Thankfully the event wasn't just for fun. Tom and Gina of the Knot were the reason making a 5hr drive more than worth it!!! Of all the bridal magazines there is a reason it's fastest growing among the brides and Vendors!!! They listen and talk with you about how to make your dreams real! I could never find a better company to work with!

The party was fun but the after party was WOW!!!! ..... {continued tomorrow}

If I could make anything right now .....

2009-10-05T10:36:00.002-04:00

I would love to make a woven 22k necklace with a baroque pearl dove/ angel pendant set with untreated spinels and sapphires ~ or ~ a 22k ring with a Huge colorless/white Sapphire! with a vining band attached to the bezel plate with amphora elements

alas gold is ..... only something I can do commissions in right now. If you want it I'll make it! I love working in 18k & 22k gold! For some reason I find it easier than silver {even Argentium .970} to work with. Gold has such flow! *sigh*

I dream in gold and silver, pearls and sparkly gems!

Orlando Wedding Professionals Grand Soiree

2009-10-03T01:41:00.002-04:00

I had a Blast this past Wednesday! I'm new to the business much less to the wedding circuit - so networking was more about quality not quantity!

It was a beautifully designed event! Quest Drape had the space decked out in red and black. There were red leather panels behind the bars and red black and white leather square lounges along the perimeter. The room had red up lights along the wall and wire trees covered in red flower lights. I should have brought a camera!

I was able to talk with and enjoy the evening with some amazing women who stand out in the crowd! Thank you Jane, Vangie, Mashyda, Allison, Deborah. It was really wonderful meeting such graceful and intelligent women!

Thankfully I had my husband there to guide me through the night! Having experience in the banquet industry for over 15 years gave him a stunning presence!

Here are a few websites I think you would like to check out from the ladies I mentioned above~
http://www.blossomsfl.com/
http://www.questdrape.com/
http://www.prissyevents.com/
http://www.mynewfloridahomeinfo.com/
http://www.onlineweddingprofessionals.com/

The mark up on silver products!

2009-09-27T20:55:00.001-04:00

You can buy this piece through ethosjewel for $661
Bracelets: 18k Gld and Sterling Silver Stiff Cable Bracelet - CabChBr28, Gerochristo at www.ethosjewel.com

Shared via AddThis

~ or ~ You could buy a Trichinopoly {Viking Weave} from me for $175! I know the ends are cool on the Greichristo piece! I know, I know - mine need work - so i charge less also because there is no middle man and I don't have a name as well known as "Greichristo".

Help me make a name for myself!
I'll be listing some of my chains tonight! Fun!

To show or not to show that is the question at hand...

2009-09-18T12:25:00.004-04:00

So two weeks ago was a flurry of work to get my first show up and running. We fashioned three sided showcases out of plexiglass. Well the epoxy wasn't working, so we had to be careful with them. And the plexiglass cutter wore down as we tried to assemble the last of three boxes.

But here is the display at the show ....

They don't look terrible. Most people were looking in them not at them anyway;)

But alas, no sales. My price was not what they were looking for; my stuff was "under glass" not easily handled -and jewelry and textiles are such tactile things you must truly feel it to see if it's something you'd wear next to your skin .... ; this was my first show there - I was not established enough to have people willing to buy.

The main drawback for me was not the time or effort involved. I understand art is always subject to theft/reproduction - I was guilty of plagiarising as a teen {not realizing the folly nor the severity/stupidity of such an act} - but as adults we can choose our exposure and limit the propensity to be copied.

At art fairs/street fairs/festivals/craft shows you'll have someone copying your stuff much more quickly than if you are in a gallery or boutique. I was surprised at how true this was at Alive After Five. To be stealing/copying my designs right in front of me was a little stupefying!

The creative flurry storm

2009-09-09T10:57:00.004-04:00

Well I've got one day before the show! I've been worried in the past that all I had was a limited range of products {essentially earrings} so I've been investing in wire for making chains. After realizing that chains are so simple and nothing to fret over, I've knocked out a 5 foot lariat, 22 in necklace and a few other viking weave necklaces and bracelets.

my draw plate, compression paddle

Close up of the 4 loop weave

Close up of the 4 loop compressed

Here are the 3 styles I have so far {left to right}
7 loop 20ga
5 loop 22ga
4 loop 24ga

The pictures of the lariat and other neckalces will be coming. The thing that has struck me as peculiar is this - every where I go when I tell people I've made a chain or necklace that I'm wearing they look at it like they look at the cheep junk at target --- they pick it up turn it this way then that and go "oh that's nice (in a I've seen better at target way)". People are so used to having mass produced plated base metal hawked at them that they have forgotten that true silver and true gold are valuable! They also have lost the sense of value in workmanship!

So I go now to prepare myself to accept the market as it is {saturated in goods that are being sold at inflated prices to line the pockets of corporate ceo's and shareholders} and help people to see the value in the real McCoy!

I love you all .... especially my brothers!

2009-09-06T15:33:00.002-04:00

I've got 4 days to go before the show!

My brother and his wife are giving me an old laptop {it doesn't work with the battery pack any more - only plug in} WOW! My brothers have been the best support I could have hoped for! Instead of trying to quell my endeavors in the arts they have always accepted that it's a true calling for me to be creative!

Where some members of my extended family who don't know me well enough question the risks involved ... they don't know that I see life as fraught with risk and therefore not something to fear but to jump into with the faith that something will be gained from the experience {mind you I do my research - because that's what I do best!}

I love to read. I love to learn. So learning and reading about my interest serves as incentive to study on all aspects of the subject. Not just the fun stuff but the business stuff too!

Thankfully my childhood prepared me a great deal for my first show. I know what I need. However that doesn't mean that this starving artist has the funds to have the perfect booth! But I have the plans and outlines {my English 1 prof. would be so proud!} I have my future in mind.

But something to let you know about my plans ~ I don't think about profit as being the measure of my success. Success will be measured by this for me:

I am able to share my passion and joy with my customers to the point where they will feel happy after coming to my shop.
I will be able to set up a fair trade organization to source gemstones ethically from South America
At least one of my children will see my philanthropy and go on to be of the same mind.

My success is not measured in money but in kind words!

Fish tanks are fun ... Even if you don't have fish

2009-09-05T22:11:00.003-04:00

I've been accepted into the show! Alive After 5 in Sanford, FL! Sept 10th - that's 5 days away! oh man! that's quick - weeeellllllll let's just say I'm scouring every corner of the house, our neighbors and relatives for materials to build a show worth set up.

i dream about what I could re-purpose/up-cycle/recycle ~ I've got no time so I need to think in my sleep. LOL! Well one of my sleepy thoughts was what can I do to keep the expensive pieces safe and still show them. I looked on line and found table top aluminum and tempered glass case for 109.00 not including shipping - not an option. I thought I could make one! with plate glass, wood molding, silicon glue, paint, etc ~

I called White's Ace Hardware in Haines City {they are an old fashioned awesome fix everything shop!} they had 1/8" glass, but not what I needed. I called a few window glass places $4.50 a sq ft again too much - So off to the garage, I was sad and nervous if I would be able to pull my vision off - Then I saw it! Our old fish tank!!! What a beautiful golden light and dancing song played in my mind as I brought the weathered old thing into the house!!!

I knew I could get it apart but how? I tried scoring the silicone first, but the frame wouldn't budge. Then I said out loud we have a chisel! As the pieces started to chisel away I knew this was going to be hard earned but worth it! And then Success! My husband had jumped in half way through because I had to make a yummy green bean soup for the hungry mob of boys!

But this is the end of that evenings work!

1/8" tempered glass ready to be cleaned and re-purposed!

Today the boys and I tromped over to Lowe's to see their scrap section - nothing but broken doors and laminate sheet - so to fresh stock of molding. While my husband and I grumbled over design issues, the youngest of our troupe merrily ran the length of the lumber yard!

I know what I want now I just have to wait for the money to be in the bank ---I only have 5 days - I would prefer not to do this last minute but somethings just must wait.

Alive After 5 in Sanford, FL

2009-08-31T14:11:00.002-04:00

Well I've decided to try my hand at a show --- I did enough of them in my childhood.

My grandparents and mother are all crafters/artists. I started helping out when I was 6. set up and breakdown mostly. But then when I was 7 I was able to start helping my mom sell things too. Then when I was a teen we moved to my mother's home town of Dubuque, IA {http://www.cityofdubuque.org/}. This is where my grandparents, and mother still live. I used to help every Saturday at the Farmers Market. My grandmother made thousands of baby blankets hand stitched with her delicate, arthritic hands. I would wander off every once and a while to go find the stones and jewelry vendors. Even then I couldn't stop my fascination with all things metal or crystaline!

So while I'm not sure if I will be picked for the event this time (it's an event presided by a committee), at least I think I'm in the runing for a spot. And it will get us motivated to create displays and custom order forms, brochures/a catalog of my previous work, etc.

I'm very happy to say that I finished the ends of the 7 loop viking weave and made it into a handsome bracelet for my husband! I've also completed a nacklace out of the 22 ga wire. Now I just need to order some more silver for more bracelets, necklaces ,etc ....

They are so fast to make it's just a matter of buying more metal.

A Great Article about Spinels

2009-08-22T18:42:00.003-04:00

This is truly a beautiful image to me the hands that bring these stones to use are so far from our minds when we purchase our pretty baubbles! I try to show everyone that there are thousands of people behind me when I creat a piece of art. The people who risk their lives to bring silver and gold and precious gems out of the crust of the earth!

Sorry for the melodrama ~ I simply love this image and all it inspires!

This is The Black Prince's Ruby in the Crown Jewels of England. The most famous not ruby in the world! It's a Spinel. When this beauty was mined all red stones were known as ruby - it's wasn't until relatively modern times that the gem was "discovered" to be a spinel.

Everyone is always chasing for those four main stones that they don't see the beauty of other things around them - they just see "cheap" imitations of the "real" thing. When today the "real" thing isn't obtainable (nor every truly was) for the masses. Those beauties are beautiful not only for their color and fire but also for their rarity.

This is why I've always been one to appreciate the misunderstood of the jewelry trade. Spinels top my list of favorites, as well as colorless sapphires, and quartz - I've always been drawn to the clarity of quartz (or lack therof when citing dedritic or rutillated quartzs). Quartz is what started my love for gemology to begin with.

But I digress, the reason spinels are important especially now is their natural range if color and availability for the masses. While you will still see tons of rough stones being "cooked & colored" you can still find affordable untreated stones with good color and clarity. The same cannot be said of sapphires and rubies and emeralds and diamonds.

As I always say we must be educated buyers rread everything, and take time to make purchases, be wise (realistic, frugal and yet fantastic) with your investments and you will be happier for the long term. Plus always remember, that brand nammes don't mean anytthing if they are selling junk! Custom made jewelry is more affordable than the name brands!

Here's the source of the images as well as my choise of topic for this blog entry:
http://fieldgemology.org/Spinel_article.php

Here are two of my favorite shops for perusing stones:

http://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/

http://www.planetarygems.com/Diamondpage.htm

Back from the Abyss

2009-08-19T12:22:00.002-04:00

It has been too long! I fell off the face of the virtual world for a while when my computer suddenly fell ill. I though it might have been my processor again but thankfully it was just my keyboard! LOL!

With all of my "free" time I decided to dabble into knit silver wire necklaces. My first attempt I wanted to try to challenge myself. The concept of weaving the silver is pretty simple and easy to cath on to but I wanted to see if it would be complicated by adding more starting loops. I went off the "Viking Weave" technique but I decided to start with 7 loops of 20ga Argentium Silver wire.

It went off smoothly, and after a few connections I realized how to make the transition from one section of wire to the next with out a misformed loop. I had though in the beginning that I must keep everything tight and secure - but I soon found out that the weave is very forgiving if you keep it loose. So now I have this 8 inch section of thick Viking weave. It's beautiful and easy it only took 45 min to do the 8' 7 loop weave.

Thus incouraged I decided to burn through the rest of my order of silver wire ... I have now 3 sections of fine silver wire in various thicknesses. My main purpose is to make a necklace for my wing pendant. And now I'm waiting on my next shipment of silver to burn through!

I can't get enough materials ... so many ideas not enough silver and gold to eat! Ha Ha
Well -- of to see what I can do with my scraps!

Ideas I'm brimming with

2009-07-23T10:45:00.003-04:00

I'm brimming with so many Ideas I can't buy enough metal to create them all! Bridal combs for the hair with antique laces and pearls and faceted gemstones! Brooches and rings! Oh my!
Well to start off properly, I'm continuing to work on creating a shopping page for my website. I'm hoping that the Flash applications don't freeze up prospective clients pcs but --- what can you do? Wix.com is a great resource for creating websites but it's all Flash applications.

Yesterday I had to create something all the web designing made me hunger for physical artistry! So I melted some of my dwindeling resources to make this ring ...

the band is a brushed matte finish ant the front is high polish. Twas hard to capture the gleam with the setting sun but alas my efforts bear some fruit...

The new site is running!

2009-07-21T14:36:00.002-04:00

It's of course a work in progress- I realize I need to create a page where you can actually buy from me without having to go to Etsy - that's coming. And I need to work on the Eco descriptions a bit I don't think the recycing talk has come across the way it should ...

I am hoping to start {within a year} forging my own ingots, wire and sheet, with the help of my husband.

For now I am continuing to use the same mill I have in the past. Great prices and excellent quality products.

Web Hosting vs Web desgin

2009-07-16T11:13:00.003-04:00

Well I made a web page on wix.com. It's gorgeous! but alas the domain I signed up for here on google, I was using for this blog ... so I went into the DSN Settings and messed it up baaaaaaaaaadd. now I had to go to GoDaddy.com and try to transfer my domain name because their management is much easier than google!

Etsy Handmade Moment Video Contest

2009-07-15T15:32:00.002-04:00

I love this one too!

I am currently making my own but first I must finish my website .... it's almost ready, final tweaks going down now!

To Market we go ....

2009-07-15T00:59:00.003-04:00

I am in the last push toward the end of this task ... creating an introductory website outside of Etsy. I have this blog but now I must try to showcase my final product. I still haven't gotten to the Etsy Moment 30 second flick ... I think I might make it tomorrow ... can't remember the deadline.

I'm formulating in my head which pitures I want on my Knot profile and which I want on the Partyspot profile but I still haven't figured out if I should waste time trying to make my complex logo work @ 72dpi or not? It's fuzzy and awful to be kind. Then oh my there's my actual 45 word profile I haven't hashed out yet ... YAR!

But priorities first must have website running out side of Etsy to have on the Knot profile! I don't need all my sales going to elsewhere - sorry fellow Etsians - I love your work and that's the problem if I do so will they {my potential clients}!

Website anyone?

2009-07-13T06:11:00.005-04:00

I'm burning the midnight oil as usual trying to make my own website, or create a e-commerce/blog site....I'm frustrated with the "do your own background" bit, but I'm not quitting yet!
This was my first back ground a bit "dark"....

So I thought of this but it still doesn't have the feel I want ...
well the song birds are singing as the sun slow awakens this side of the world

I'm just glad the baby is finally sleeping ~~~~ yawn ~~~~ time for tea!

THE KNOT!!!!

2009-07-10T14:32:00.003-04:00

This is only my second attempt at repousse!

I'm going to be on theKnot.com, The Weddingchannel.com and Partyspot.com!!!!! WOW!

I'm completelyand absolutly giddy! I have followed "theKnot" since my husband and I eloped in '98. I'm so busy creating more pieces and shooting them {sunshine permitting}! It's also pushing my hand a bit to work with what I have left of my stock.....I'm creating some amazing one of a kinds -that I can make using my basic tools. Each piece will then be a work of art that no one else will have!

I am so excited!

Kremer Pigments

2009-06-28T00:22:00.004-04:00

When I think of Fra Angelico Blue this is where I dream it get it from!

http://www.kremerpigments.com/
http://kremer-pigmente.de/en

This is actually crushed Lapis Lazuli!!!

Someday is not quite good enough! I want this now! I love the earth and all of the beauty it contains!!!

and this bottom one is truly an amazing aqua!

The name game

2009-06-27T14:27:00.002-04:00

Well part of be a business is getting your face out there.

Now I understand that my business name is difficult to pronounce for those that aren't fluent in Italian. Miele Melograno {MEE-el mel-o-GRAH-no} means literally pomegrante honey.
I chose this name to personify the ageless custom of giving brides-to-be and wives gifts bearing symbols of abundant life.

My life has been a productive one thus far and I hope to continue to offer the love and gifts of my hands for the rest of it!

My First Blog!

2009-06-26T18:14:00.003-04:00

Well I've decided to plunge into the blogging world! I'm online most of the time regardless. Now I can share with the bloggoshpere.

To let you know about me:
I'm long winded, most of the time (which I'm trying to amend).
I'm a wife and mom first.
Then I am a artisan.
But they blend well.

I have since my childhood {as most artists} been enthralled with the beauty of what is around us! During long road trips to relatives in the north I would spend many hours happily studying my finger prints {a pass-time I still enjoy periodically}. In school, I was torn between Science and Art. Art usually predominated my schedule. Luckily my passion for chemistry and biology and geology have helped me have a better understanding of techniques and functions in art.

Some day I'll fresco I can promise you that! Fra Angelico Blue, Kremer Pigments to DIE FOR!!!! Pigments, earth, minerals, metals ... ah, what fun. So to get to the point, I'm a "jack of all trades" when it comes to art. If I try one I've got to try another to follow the chain to the beinging, the source. Some day I will have a small quarry, or alluvial "mine".

But for now I am a jeweler. I buy my gold and silver and manipulate it into what I can with my basic tools {hammer, anvil, pliers, shears, torch, etc}.