I've been working this week on a bunch of fold form earrings and a wedding order.  Leaves have been on my mind, as you'll see, and I'm thinking about an upcoming necklace design that will feature a leafy design, too.  Just trying to squeeze all the enjoyment I can from those awesome green summer leaves while we still have them.

First, a pair of pleated copper earrings... these were so much fun to make!

This first pair of leaf earrings makes a big, fun statement -- not for the bashful :-)  The hoop assembly is 2 1/8" top to bottom.  I actually made them for myself, not being the bashful type!  The others are about 1.5" long.

This sparkly piece will be worn this Sunday by a beautiful mom of a gorgeous bride; all sterling silver and Capri blue Swarovski crystals to match the wedding colors.  It's a design I originally created for bridesmaids several years back.  Hope you like it.

The weather continues to be unbelievably beautiful here.  For our friends that were in Irene's path, though, what a cleanup they have on their hands.  So much flooding and damage.  The Center for Metal Arts in New York, the wonderful place that hosted a workshop I attended in July, had several feet of water fill the first floor studio. It left a 2' mud line all over everything.  Fortunately they heeded the storm warning and moved quite a bit of equipment before it hit, but what an awful mess.  My thoughts and good wishes go out to everyone dealing with the aftermath right now.

Jeesh.  I have completely lost track of time this week.  Just realized it's Wednesday evening and I owe a post. 

I came home from my workshop determined to torture myself with pennies.  Making stuff out of them, that is.  They are SMALL.  I should practice fold forming on reasonably sized copper sheet, instead. 

Why pennies, you ask?  This all began with a visit to my daughter in Washington, D.C., after the workshop.  We did a lot of sight seeing -- I just never grow tired of the art, architecture, and history, and I love to sight-see there.  We visited the National Cathedral (an amazing place) and hanging in the gift shop was a statement that it's legal to elongate / reshape U.S. coins.  I've always wondered about this, having heard it's a crime to deface money but knowing perfectly well that there are machines where your penny can be flattened and stamped with a design.  I just never bothered to look up the details.

This led me to do some reading.  There is debate right now about whether to take pennies out of circulation completely.  Also, pennies made pre-1982 are copper, but midway through that year they began making pennies with copper-plated zinc (so I'm using older copper pennies.) There is also a good possibility that nickels will be made with cheaper metals in the very near future, since the scrap metal value is higher than face value.  Some people think it's a good time to hoard them, in fact ;-)

Not sure if you're snoozing yet, but I found all of this FASCINATING.  And I decided to make some jewelry out of pennies and nickels:

NOTE:  I've noticed that lots of people visit my blog after searching for fold forming.  If you're one of them, please also visit  http://www.facebook.com/foldforming , and join our community. 

I've also been working on a wedding order this week.  This is a comb and matching pearl bobby pins for the bride:

And that just put me in a hair mood, so I decorated some more little combs and pins.  Since I had a hair appointment today at Element of Dublin (my fav-ever salon) I took them with me... and they bought a nice selection!  So now you can find SueLacy Designs at Element, on Frantz Rd. in Dublin.  :)

So that's what I've been up to... lately I just want to stay up all night making stuff ;-)

I have a jewelry tip for you today that may save you money and heartache.  I'll share my latest project at the same time because I really like how it turned out :-) and it's the reason I have a tip to share.

The project challenge -- create a wedding band to compliment this unique and gorgeous white gold engagement ring:

This is the wedding band I made for the ring; a simple, matching curve of white gold:

And here is the set together:

And now for the tip.

There is a possibility the wedding band will tend to spin a bit on the finger, putting the curved part of the ring in the wrong position as it's worn.  Because of this, I've suggested the rings be soldered together after the ceremony -- a common thing to do with wedding ring sets.  This is not something I can do myself without damaging the stones, and I'll explain the reason. 

So to get an estimate on the work to share with the bride, I visited two very well-respected, long established local jewelers who each have huge, beautiful stores.  Both have high end jewelry and do their own bench work on site.  Their responses surprised me -- hence, the tip. 

The first store preferred not to do the work, BUT offered to try without guaranteeing the result, saying the heat might damage the stones.  Yikes.  When I asked about their process, they told me they use a flame torch similar to what I can affordably use at home.  Why is that significant?  Because in order to solder this way, both rings must be completely heated to temperatures well over 1000 degrees F.   Some stones can survive that heat, but others definitely won't.

The next jeweler assured me the task would be no problem.  Why?  Because they use a VERY expensive precision welder.  Jackpot!  The rings are only super-heated at the bottom, where they are joined.  No danger to the stones.

So when you need work done, ask your jeweler questions!    Even the best skill isn't good enough without the right tools.

I'll close with the last piece of my wedding band project.  This a keepsake pendant made from the gold left over from the wedding band, with Swarovski crystals to match the ring.

I'm still planning to post on Wednesday, so please stop by again!

I've been busy with some commissioned pieces and thought I'd share one of them.  This is the first Tree of Life I've done in silver, and I love the look.  It's fine silver with turquoise.  The other trees have all been in copper, which has a beautifully organic, rustic look.  This gives the design an entirely new flavor.  I seriously want one for myself.

This one is destined for a new bride's future mother-in-law.  A Tree of Life is such a perfect gift for that, don't you think?  A statement piece, a treasured keepsake, a future heirloom... so symbolic as families join together. 

This is an early post because I may be out of town for a few days.  If so, this will have to be my Wednesday post.  A little break from fold forming...  can't wait to get back to it.

This is a design I came up with for a beautiful group of bridesmaids a few years ago.  It's sterling silver with Swarovski crystals to match their dresses.  What do you think?

I should really get my Wednesday posts out in the morning.  In some ways it was easier to post every day than to post twice a week... this way, I seem to get caught up in other things and it's evening before I know it.  No promises for Monday though, right after Mother's Day. 

Have a happy Mother's Day!

Just a quick little Wedding Wednesday post.  This is a Swarovski pearl and crystal necklace; a simple but elegant design.  I hope you like it. 

I hope you see you tomorrow! 

Just-in-time Art Event
Thurs April 28, 4-8 p.m.
At The Candle Lab
646 North High Street, Worthington, OH 43085
Watch the video (under 2 minutes)

Welcome to the third installment of Wedding Wednesdays.  This is another Swarovski crystal necklace and earrings set with sparkle that is off the charts.  It's a wonderful style for the bride, but also unforgetable for bridesmaids or mom-of-bride.  And just think how it will look with your next New Year's Eve dress! 

Swarovski crystals come in just about every color you can imagine, and the necklace can be any length you like.

If you're a local reader, I hope you'll come and see me in Worthington later this month. 

Just-in-time Art Event
Thurs April 28, 4-8 p.m.
At The Candle Lab
646 North High Street, Worthington, OH 43085
Watch the video (under 2 minutes)

Thanks for stopping by!

This necklace is all Swarovski crystals and sterling silver.   The design is very elegant and very princess.  The sparkle of these crystals is off the charts; in fact, I'm finding these pieces a bit difficult to photograph.  If I don't block the direct light, there are highlights and shadows everywhere.  If I do, the picture is a bit washed out -- like these.   So this series will be an adventure in photography as well as jewelry, and I'll try to improve.

This design is of course customizable.  It would gorgeous with perfect Swarovski pearls in place of the blue crystals, for example. 

Stop by again on Monday for artist's choice, and don't forget Wedding Wednesdays!

This is my first Wedding Wednesdays post.  With spring and summer weddings coming up, I thought it would be fun to spend some time on wedding jewelry and formal wear.  I'll be thinking about the bride at her rehearsal dinner, wedding day, or honeymoon, and also the bridesmaids, flower girls, and mothers-of-the-bride and groom. 

Don't be fooled by my "Wedding Wednesdays" label, though.  This style of jewelry is perfect for a dinner party, award banquet, prom, graduation, New Year's Eve... you get the idea.

Quite a style change from my March One-a-day challenge!

So this is the fun I had today:

 

This necklace and earrings set is made from sterling silver wire and Swarovski crystal beads.  The clear crystals have a finish called "AB" which have a slight rainbow effect when they catch the light.  There is one freshwater pearl in center of the flower.   The necklace is a little over 19" long, the flower about 1" in diameter, and the earrings about 1.25".  The clasp is a small swan style.

The amazing thing about this type of design is its ability to be customized or changed.  I picked crystal AB with blue (something blue for the bride) but these beads come in all colors.  I put the flower low to the side, but I can easily move the flower higher or to the bottom.  Links can be added or removed for the perfect length.  Other pieces can be made to coordinate.

Stop back on Mondays and Wednesdays!  Mondays are artists choice.  Comments and ideas are always welcome;  I'd love to know what you think.