Synchronicity & Passages

While dinner* is finishing in the oven and Pat is relaxing I thought I'd take a couple of minutes and post the new earring designs that we finished earlier this week.  (These are not good, studio quality, photos but they'll serve for now as a record for us.)

As we were eating lunch in the yarden this afternoon a hawk was calling somewhere in the wooded valley behind us.  Pat reminded me that it was about time for our pair of passage hawks to stop by for a visit.  As soon as she said that I looked up and there one of them was cruising above our street heading to the open air at the end of the knoll that our road ends on!

It got up to 59.4 degrees today.  Finally warm enough to invest the two flasks that I have ready!!!   One is loaded with production earrings and small pendants.  The other one has a special piece for Pat M. and a number of larger pieces that will become new pendants.  It's exciting.  They'll be going into the kiln first thing in the morning.

Talk about small worlds and synchronicity ~ I had been thinking about Nancy L. earlier today.  She called just as I was about to invest!  We'll meet up for lunch next Tuesday when we go to Gatlinburg to deliver Arrowcraft's order.  It's always so nice to see Nancy, and it will be fun to have a chance to just sit down and talk and catch up!

We both have a lot of work to do before then.  But if the forecast is correct and it really does get up to 68 Saturday we'll be outside getting some play time in.  Er, I meant work time tending our neglected yarden!  There's a lot to do and even though I'm planning to burnout and cast again Saturday I suuspect that we'll both be outside regardless of the temperature.

I photographed some of our new crocus before we stopped for lunch today.  I planted these late last Fall.  There are a few hundred more of them to come and quite a few Tulipa kaufmanniana, one of my favorites.  In this area we have a mix of sixty crocus and thirty-six various Tulipa kaufmanniana.

Oh dinner*?  Last night left over killer "chilli" turned into AElvish Macaroni and Cheese tonight . . .  mixed with finely grated double gloucester, mozarella, an increedible Spanish sheep cheese and parmigiano reggiano regiano and rotini pasta.  Since I just pulled it out of the oven Pat's making us a nice little spinich salad and slicing some wonderful bread.  It's time to eat!

New Work & The Missing Day

Happy Saint Patrick's Day !!!

Here's the 2nd of our Ridgelines' Reflections series inspired by Lichen!

For this pendant we patinated the bronze then re-polished the highlights to emphasize the incredible textures.  Then we sealed the bronze, as we did the river stone.

And, again, here's the first in this series

This is our latest Ridgelines pendant featuring two really nice Blue Topaz.

Somehow I've changed our camera's settings, so I'll have to post our newest earring designs later.  Tomorrow I'll invest and burnout the two flasks of Ridgelines elements I have ready.  We'll also be placing a large materials order.  Once I have a chance to re-read the camera's instructions I'll photograph all of our latests pieces again.  Until then . . .

Spring Really Is Coming!!!

Oh.  "The Misssing Day"?  That's because I haven't a clue where today went!!!

Satisfaction

Earthlink finally got our email straightened out yesterday.  Which is nice.  While Pat was in Waynesville I de-sprueed A.'s Annivversary Brooch.  It went really well and it was very satisfying to spend some good time in the studio after being sick for so long.  Here's how's it's coming along after desprueing and a quick initial buff.

Of course I forgot to photograph the custom ring for Jeannie before Pat delivered it yesterday!

We have lots of work to do ~ we have some large wholesale orders and some very interesting custom work coming up!  So off to work I go!

Last Night's Castings & No Email . . .

I put both flasks in the pre-heated kiln at 10 yesterday morning.  I expected my burnout cycle to take 7 hours, but ended up pouring just after 9 hours.  The weather turned a little colder and rainy so I had some heat lags to take into account.  It's better to be slow and sure, 'cause you can definitely run a burnout cycle too fast and too hot.

As I was pouring I could hear the first spring peepers calling nearby.  Spring really is coming!

A.'s Anniversary Brooch turned out beautifully!

I'll be spending quite a bit of time de-sprueing with mini-cutoff discs tomorrow.  But all those heavy sprues were worth it.  After I grind and polish Pat will be setting a 2.5 mm AA ruby into each of the 10 petals.  This is going to be a really lovely brooch!

The ring for The Jewelers Workbench turned out well too.

I've already de-sprued and ground it.  It needs a little touching up and a final polish and it will be ready to deliver tomorrow!

For some reason Earthlink's email has been out of whack all weekend.  We can't access our mail at all.  All their support has said since yesterday is, "We are currently experiencing high call volume indicative of an email outage. We are currently investigating further and apologize for the inconvenience. Please continue to check this site for updates."  Jeepers.

Our Dear Friend Greylond called us last night.  He's in the wilds of Mississippi.  He was sitting by his campfire enjoying a glass of wine and thinking of us.  I was having a glass of beer and had just thought of him shortly before he called.  We had a good long talk, about many things.  We each raised a glass, "To absent Friends!"

Red Sez . . .

My 29 gallon aquarium in the living room only has 9 Harlequin Rasboras and a ton of South East Asian plants in it.  Last weekend when I picked up some dried cat food, I took a look at the male Bettas in the store . . .

One of the Red guys really caught my eye.  He was very attentive and just beautiful.  And he told me that if I rescued him and gave him a new home he'd be beautiful and would protect us from all the "snailzs" in the world.

How could I refuse?  Besides he needed saving!

Red Sez:  See how betta~full I am?!?  Aren't I big and scary?!?

Now, SHHH!  Be Very Very Quiet, I'm hunting snailzs and I'm hiding behind these leaveses so they can't see me.

For L.'s Consideration ~ More Possibilities !

(Photographed on white paper under room lights ~ there's definitely some color drift!)

A new image of some possibilities because I forgot a Carnelain and the gorgeous Starry Jasper!

Clockwise from the top center:  Petrified Bali Coral, three Butterfly Agates, Bird's Eye Jasper, Maramuabe (an Australian Tiger Eye), small glowy Carnelian, Goldshine Obsidian, a pair of Crazy Lace Agates, Tiger Iron, a darker glowy Carnelian, and Starry Jasper.

Sprueing & A Surprise!

This is a custom ring's wax that Pat carved for The Jewelers Workbench

Here's the pattern for A's Anniversary Brooch

Pat pricks the pattern with a pin to transfer the design to the blue carving wax.

I spent a lot of time thinking about how to sprue this piece . . .

There so much time in the carving that I want to ensure it casts perfectly!  I actually began sprueing this wax Wednesday, then decided I wasn't happy with it.  So I stopped and took a break.  These views are after I finished sprueing it Thursday . . .

I

I used three pieces of 6 gauge and one piece of 8 gauge wax sprueing wire.

Definitely better safe than sorry!

Thursday's high was only 52 degress; too cold to invest.  So I invested both flasks late this afternoon so they'd be ready to go in the kiln first thing in the morning!

I had to run to The Home Depot to pick up an extra bottle of oxygen.  Hmmm ~ gorgeous yellow primroses at the checkout for only $1.46.  They're such beautiful plants that I couldn't resist getting us one.  We may just have to go back for more!

Since I was out I swung by Ingles to pick up some ingrediants for dinner tonight (mussels fresh in from Maine with pasta).  For some reason as I strolled past the magazine section one caught my eye . . .  The April issue of Blue Ridge Country is out.  It's a special issue celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

I picked it up thinking about recommending it to our writer Friend Tim W..  When I leafed through it I found the Guild's ad on page 15 . . .  And there was our first Ancient Seas pendant!!!

What a Fun Surprise!

Reflections and the Perfect Rissotto!

Because of the rock slide on I-40 we made the trip to Gatlinburg yesterday by the old 25-70 route.  It was a beautiful drive and only took us about an extra thirty minutes.  As always it was wonderful to have a chance to talk with Craig and Emily and Laurel.  And to get Laurel's reaction to our new Reflections pendant!

This Reflections pendant features an oval Ridgelines cast in Sterling Silver and oxidized.  The stream pebble is coated so that it will always be shiny-wet looking, then it is set in Sterling step-bezel.  The lichen was windfall gathered from our yard.  We both have always loved and admired the wonderful textures and shapes of the lichens in our mountains.  Tom was so inspired by the special pieces that had been falling at his feet that he developed a new technique that allows him to cast them perfectly.  (If he hadn't they would end up mulched by the city of Asheville!)  The Pearl adds the perfect compliment to the colors of the pendant.

When we left Arrowcraft we stopped at Greenbriar, an amazing part of the Great Smokies National Park, right outside of Gatlinburg.  We had a picnic and a wonderful walk through the faery land beside the river.  For once our trilliums are up first!  We were so overwhelmed that we didn't take any photos.  But here is one from a visit there last April.

On our way back home that last night we stopped in Marshall . . .  It's been years since either of us had been to Marshall.  It was amazing!  The town has stayed small, but it looks to be thriving.  We were lucky enough to discover the Bacchus Bistro.

The Chicken Marsala came with the best Risotto Parmigiano we've ever had.  It was stunning.  It was also the perfect ending for a perfect day!

More Snow and Work

We had a couple of inches of snow again Tuesday . . .

Last week was busy for both of us.  I surprised Pat by casting the two bronze flasks Monday.  I was actually cleaning the sprues off in the quench bucket when she came home!  I had meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday.  When I got home Tuesday she had finished coating our river pebbles and had formed and soldered the step-bezels for five of them!

(They're on a sheet of white paper!  Color drift because I didn't set my lights up.)

We both took the weekend off.  Which was good, because by Sunday I was coming down with something!  So Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday I was pretty lazy ~ following Doctor Pat's orders!  I'm much better today and raring to get everything caught back up!

So here's where we are right now . . .

Both flasks I cast last week turned out.  But the ferns arent going to be usable; I had some porosity in each one . . .  But I do know why and what to do about it!  Which is really exciting to both of us.  (As soon as I compared the castings to the photos I had taken as I was working on them the causes were immediately obvious!)

The lichen flask worked beautifully and Pat is in the studio cleaning them up right now!  The technique I developed for them worked perfectly on my first try.  And yes, maybe I am crowing a little bit.  But hey, I think I've earned it!  The textures and shapes are amazing.  I'm really looking forward to these pendants becoming real.

And yes, I have to cast more ferns as soon as the weather warms up enough for me to do so!  I also have a custom ring's wax waiting to be cast.  (It was being approved when I cast last Monday, and it's been freezing ever since.)

Pat finished the wax for A.'s Anniversary Brooch today!  Here's the original design he choose

Here's the finished wax for A.'s Anniversary Brooch

If the forecast is right we might just get up into the 50s this weekend.  If it does warm up that much I'll have at least two custom pieces to invest and cast.  If tomorrow goes well I just might have some ferns ready for Pat too!

J.T.'s Earrings and Commissions

We had wonderful weather over the weekend!  It actually hit 62 Sunday and we were able to spend a little bit of time outside, once we finished up some work.  Here are the earrings that Pat finished for J.T. . . .

They are oxidized Sterling Silver with Niobium wire wrapped around the dangle as a nice color accent. with four prong mounted Garnets.

As I was photographing them this morning A.P. came by with a deposit for his commission.  It's an interesting one!  (And is an example of how time flys!)  Ten years ago we made their wedding bands.  Five years ago he had us make his Fifth Wedding Anniversary gift for her.  And now we are making his Tenth Wedding Anniversary Gift!

Here are the initial designs Pat skectched after we first spoke with him.  He decided on design number 8, with 10 2.5 mm Rubies in Sterling Silver.  It's going to be a lovely brooch!

Now, I have to get back to minding the kiln!  With this warmer weather I have to use every chance I have to get some castings done!  Right now I have the two flasks in that have been waiting so long.  I'm looking forward to seeing them in metal!  These pieces will be some of the first for our new River Ridgelines series and I'll be casting them in Silicon Bronze.

I have at least one more commission piece to cast and finish before next Monday.  Since the Guild's Board meeting is tomorrow and I'll be at an all day Fair Committee meeting (as the Board's Rep) Wednesday I won't have a chance to even think about casting again until Friday!

Time sure flys when you're having Fun !!!

Before & After and Spring is Coming!!!

Here is a "before" photo of one of the pieces that Pat M. commissioned for last Christmas. (I'm still hoping to eventually 'catch up' and post more about them!)

After making some changes for the recipient:

I took this yesterday as proof and a reminder for us that Spring really is coming!!!

This morning sharp-eyed Pat spotted the first of the Trilliums coming up!

This is River Fern, the first in a new series of our Ridgelines jewelry that we will be exploring in greater depth this year!

The oval Ridgelines is cast in Sterling Silver and oxidized.  The fern is cast in Silicon Bronze and it accented with Black Onyx.  The river pebble, from one of our favorite spots, was coated so that it will always look wet and shiny.  It is set in a step bezel.  The frame is Sterling Silver with a 14 K Gold accent.

This is the very first pendant in one of the new series that we are so excited about! Today it warmed up to 45 degrees. Soon it will be warm enough for Tom to cast those two flasks of new pieces that have been waiting so impatiently for well over a month now!!!

Falling Water

Well, we were "snowed in" over Valentine's weekend!  It started Friday afternoon so we canceled our planned delivery by 3.  By Saturday morning we only had about 3 inches, but the plow had stopped about three houses before ours . . .  So we stayed in, "snowed in" until late that afternoon.  Then we made a quick run to the store, more to get out of the house for a bit than from any pressing need.  Our road was still hairy enough that we decided that we were snowed in for the whole weekend.  So we loafed and watched some spectacular Olympians compete.

Since I had problems with the image of Falling Water 2, here's

Falling Water 1

Varscite from Australia with a Peridot in oxidized Sterling Silver.

The two outer arms have Ridgelines facing outwards too.

Falling Water will be one of our new series of Ridgelines jewelery, and we are both very excited by some of our design ideas.  (And yes, the name was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Water ~ as well as by all of the water that we have falling in Western Nortch Carolina!)

Back to updating our Guild Members' Webpage!  (I hadn't realized how behind I had gotten!)  Please feel free to check the new images.

New Work Shipped! And Happy (Belated) New Year!!!

It's hard to believe that it's already February and that we're "snowed in" yet again!!!

The quick update is that we had a truly wonderful Christmas filled with Love and Fun and a wonderful Family visit!  Unfortunately as soon as everyone returned home we both got sick.  As in nasty yucky incapable of doing much of anything sick.  It wasn't much fun, but we did rest and sleep a lot, and we took lots of naps.  (Lets just say that we were both so sick that neither of us was online enough to keep up with our email!)  We pampered ourselves.  And now, almost six weeks later we are finally about back to normal!

We haven't been completely idle.  As we began to recover we were able to finish some of the new designs that we've been so excited by!  So now we are (finally) posting again and have even began to (finally) update our Guild members' webpage too!

We were supposed to go to Gatlinburg this last Tuesday, for the Gatlinburg Fine Arts Festival's committee meeting.  Which was the third or fourth time in a row that we were foiled by the weather!  And now we have even more snow coming down again right now!

Since we weren't able to make the trip (again!) we shipped our newest pieces to Laurel, at Arrowcraft.  It's not as much fun as being there and getting to share our new work with her for the first time but it will have to do for now.

I know these photos aren't that good, but they are the only ones that we have!  It turns out that the lens was a little smeary and I had left a normal flourescent light on, so not only are they a little out of focus but the colors aren't quite right.  So, here are some of our first pieces of the year, and our first post of this year!

Cycles of Time

The rings of Cycles of Time are individually handmade and are all free moving.  The Rhodolite Garnet is set in a 4 prong mount and the Boulder Opal is set in a handmade bezel.  The Garnet bead at one end of the handmade chain isn't visible in this view.

Eye of the Night

Eye of the Night was inspired by this spectacular deep deep blue Labadorite.

Meteorite

Meteorite was inspired by this really cool Australian Tiger Iron.  The Citrine compliments it perfectly!  (And I have to admit that we have been watching, and greatly enjoying, "Meteorite Men"!  It might just be time for us to make a pendant or two using the pieces of the Gibeon Meteorite that we have  .  .  .  .  .  .  )

Spring Rain

This unusual green Labadorite inspired us to make Spring Rain after we saw the first tips of our daffodils pushing up through the Winter ground!  Spring is coming!!!

I had trouble with the photo of the second Falling Water pendant (which was also shipped to Arrowcraft) so we don't have one to share with you.  Which is a shame, because that Starry Jasper really is that special a stone!

The Falling Water series is our newest exploration of Ridgelines design ideas and motiffs that we are really excited about.  (And yes, we still have two more flasks of other brand new prototypes invested and waiting for a warm enough day for me to cast.  I'm well and raring to go on them!!!  If only the weather will let up!)

It started snowing at 2 this afternoon now, at 6, we have had at least an inch of snow with more coming down in that particular hard plummeting to the ground way.  The forecast is only calling for one to three inches by the morning.

Merry Christmas !!!

Merry Christmas to All !!!

And to all a Good Night !!!

Oh Yeah!

We've been so busy that, among other things, I forgot to post these . . .!

I think it was last Friday, right before the snowstorm hit, that we shipped this pendant off to A. H. via UPS (his choice).

Oxidized Ridgelines Pendant,

Red Fern Agate complimented by a Garnet,

 in Sterling Silver with 14K Gold accents.

Today, after I shipped A.'s bracelet for Nancy and Norman, Pat delivered "Night Falls on the Mountain",  J. T.'s Ridgelines Pendant, and the Earrings to compliment it.

Oxidized Ridgelines Pendant,

Garnet, Maramumba

(a very special type of Australian Tiger Eye;

which is very difficult to photograph),

and Amber, in Sterling Silver with 14K Gold accents.

The Earrings are Sterling Silver with 14K Gold accents,

the stones are bezel-set Amber

Another view of J.'s Pendant.

Normally I would just delete images with so much light reflection.  But I'm glad we have this one, because it better shows the deep subtle colors of the primary stone.  (Now I'm sorry that I didn't take the time to set up my scrims and play with it more.  It's such a pretty stone, and the Hematite in it is so reflective, that I'm sorry that I didn't take the time to set up my scrims and take a proper photograph of it!)

Shipped!

One of the greatest and most satisfying things about being self-employed jewelers is getting to create really special pieces for really special people.  When our work is a gift for someone that is loved and cared for so much then our work becomes even more special, and more energized.  Since we both are Official Santa AElf Helpers it is a lot of Fun too!!!

We have been very busy this year, and this Winter!  And we have been snowed in for a few days (and I want to post some of the photos I took on a wonderful late night walk Saturday).  So we worked!  And I still haven't had a chance to post the in progress photos I'd taken of some very special Christmas gifts that we got to help design and then make real.  (And I am still determined to post the work shots because some of them are that cool!!!)

We shipped one of them out via FedEx today.  (Our shipper of choice!)  Nancy L. had the idea for this bracelet for one of nieces.

Since they can't share Christmas morning together, this is for Nancy and Norman so they can see what A. will see when she opens her Loving Aunt and Uncle's package Christmas morning!

Hand inscribed Christmas 2009  Bauman 14K

Her bracelet is constructed of 14 karat yellow gold.  The base of the bracelet is 6 mm wide and 1.5 mm thick, and was textured with a .5 mm burr after all of the soldering was completed.  We used twelve inches of 3 mm tall 20 gauge 14K sheet to make the individual ridges, which are individually soldered in place.  The AA Emerald is 3.5 mm wide and is set in a 14K yellow four-prong head.  All of the edges are carefully rounded and smoothed so that no part of the bracelet will snag or pull on something.

Nancy's bracelet turned out beautifully!  It is even more stunning in person.  The proportions worked out perfectly!

We hope that A. will have a Very Merry Christmas and that she will wearher bracelet for many happy years and that she will think of her Loving Aunt and Uncle when she does.