It's been a while

I post frequently on Facebook but have neglected to updte my website lately. Will definitely need to freshen things up on here. I'm considering doing a series of statement rings that I'm affectionately calling "wizard bling." Here's one I just finished:

For A Good Cause

I donated this one-of-a-kind bracelet of coral, turquoise and hand-carved silver beads for a silent auction to benefit a local charitable organization, the Off the Street Club (www.otsc.org):

Housed in a kid-friendly complex in West Garfield Park, the Off The Street Club gives 4- to 18-year-old kids a place to do their homework or play computer games in the Learning Center; perform plays in the Performing Arts Center; dance, rollerskate, sing, and play musical instruments; express themselves through arts and crafts and woodshop; and more. Off The Street Club kids have mentors, tutors and role models; girls can experience real “girl power” and heightened self-esteem in the Girls Center, while boys and girls together can meet and interact safely and respectfully throughout the Club.

Founded in 1900, OTSC is Chicago's oldest boys and girls club and serves more than 3,000 kids.

In the summer, Off The Street Club kids get to trade in the violence and drugs of their neighborhood for cookouts, sing-alongs, swimming, hiking and horseback riding at Camp Mathieu. Around the nightly campfires the only things to fear are the ghost stories. Winter Weekends at the camp let kids experience skiing, sledding and other outdoor winter sports. Everyone goes home with memories that'll last a lifetime.

yesss... my precioussssss...

finely carved copper, bronze and about 7 carats of emerald. precious, indeed.

Progress on Newest Collection

Wow. Moving really brought me to a creative standstill, but now that I'm beginning to get settled the first task was to get the new work room functional. I am now finishing the model for a cuff bracelet for my Ancestrale collection:

 

Technical Difficulty

It's time once again for the blog carnival. This month's Topic: What is the most difficult piece you've ever made, from a technical perspective?  Describe why it was so challenging.

The most difficult piece I've undertaken, or at least the first that comes to mind, are the original links for my Geoglyphic bracelet design.

Here's why:
First, I wanted the links to be interchangeable so that each bracelet would be unique. Also, I wanted the links to alternate between those with only straight lines, and those with curves. So they needed to have the ability to link in any order and create an alternating pattern and be all the same size.

I designed eight links, do there would be an option for buyers with larger wrists, but most of the bracelets have used only seven, and not always the same seven, further making each unique.

That was just the design difficulty (complexity).

To create each link, I had to cut precise lengths of 10-gauge sterling square wire to form rhe angular links, and bend lengths of longer square wire, then cut those for the curved parts. For the hinges, I had to drill holes through a length of the wire, then cut the individual segments (24 in all).

After I had all the pieces cut out (more than 60) and precisely fitted together (seams had to be perfect) I set about soldering each one together, a lengthy process.

Square wire has slightly rounded corners, so I had to do quite a bit of filing and sanding to get each piece finished and looking like one piece of metal. Many hours of work and aching, cramped and sometimes  
accidentally stabbed/cut fingers.

After all the links were done, I had silicone molds made of each so I could do cast reproductions and make the bracelets available as a limited edition series.

All in all, a very lengthy and laborious process. 

See what these other artists have to say about their most difficult-to-make pieces:

Tonya Davidson
Angela Baduel-Crispin
Lora Hart
Tamra Gentry
Elaine Luther Vickie Hallmark
Andes Cruz
Lorrene Baum-Davis