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Thursday, July 29, 2010

ocd & a jeweler's hands

Greetings Sweet Hearts,
Thanks so very much to Miss Lesley Venable
for her fabulous guest post!
I LOVED finding out more about her
& getting a chance to see some of her amazing & creative mixed media arts.
I want to take a class on each & every one of them...especially the burnt tins. I'm totally enamoured with those lost & tattered looking boxes!
So, my questions to all of you...
Is this the way a jeweler's hands are suppose to look or am I just having difficulty in wire wrapping? lol

Next question...
Am I the only one who when starting a new project or passion, becomes completely OCD about it & can do nothing else, or do I really need to find some medication to control my urges?

This is my 2nd charming handmade necklace & earring set 'Buttons & Baubles'
& I really do love it.
I made this set from vintage buttons & faux black pearls, with Vintaj brass findings. The white flower button is made from an abalone shell & is just adorable.
As I continue to practice, I have begun to have a feel for the wire.
The round nose pliers have become my friend rather then a stubborn bureaucrat unwilling to bend. My 2 long noses, help he hold my creation firmly as I work & my sweet wire nippers give me a feeling of accomplishment every time I nip the tiny tail off of 1 of my links.

For my 3rd set I found a fabulous source on etsy,
Studio on the Hill
where Karen creates amazing hand torched wire in different colors. Her fishhook ear wires are so beautiful, there is no need for me to try & duplicate them as I could never make them as lovely!
I chose her brown copper penny wire & love it. The 22 gauge is perfect & just what I wanted to use to make this next set.

My inspiration for this piece was a gorgeous vintage rosary I had seen made with natural stone beads. I used a wonderful old vintage brooch as the focal point & accented it with smoky quartz. My photos so don't do it justice & I should probably use a different surface to photograph on other then my rusty old desk top...but what the hey! It's what it was sitting on! lol

{check out those great fishhooks Karen made}
I've listed these in my etsy shop, all though I'm still learning how to let go.
Who knows?
Next week I may decide to run away & join the circus,
but for today I'm a
jewelry designer!

Smiles,

21 comments:

  1. This post brought a big SMILE! How wonderful your site is. I will be following you now also and checking in often:)
    XXX
    Becky

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  2. My hands are the tools I use in my daily life
    They bear the scars and wounds that occur
    As I do the things I love.
    Not beautiful or elegant in the classic sense,
    but expressing graciously my heart's content.

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  3. IF and WHEN you run away to the circus...phone me...I'm coming too!

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  4. I think many of us crafters have had our battle wounds. I sewed right through my finger with an industrial sewing machine. I laid down about 12 more stitches before I FELT the pain.. let me tell you, I was a hoopin and hollerin I tell ya.

    OCD.. whats that? Nah... only x's 100!!
    Good to see you again!
    Tammy

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  5. Nothing wrong with OCD....I've been very lately. I recently started wire wrapping too, making tree pendants...and I just finished my first ATC for a swap which I can post after the partner receives, lol. Next on my plate is collaging on canvas, but right after I get a digital image outta my head! hahahaha....your jewlery is awesome!

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  6. well as an artist AND gardener by trade, my hands, well they have a "well worn" look! hey, i USE my hands and am proud of that. lovely jewelry. thanks for following me and right back at you...and i totally am digging joni mitchell!

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  7. I am your newest follower. Glad you returned and told me about this site. I love the burnished wire too. I disagree, I think your photos are fantastic. It is hard to photograph jewelry. Yours is great. I think I am OCD with blogging right now, and I want to do and make everything I see, including more beautiful jewelry. So many fun things, so little time.

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  8. Buttons and Baubles is just sweet! Wire wrapping is a skill that takes practice (like so many) and a creative mind has many passions.
    Continue to follow your passion!

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  9. Susie dear,
    You have me here. I just cannot get into wrapping little bitty pieces of wire around itty bitty baubles. But I must say, your ocd is coming in handy and you are turning out some beautiful jewelry!!!!!!
    xoxo
    lynn

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  10. Thanks for popping by and saying hi. Love your site, your jewelry and your digital work!! I'll definitely be following.

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  11. LOL!
    I can say I have been there and done that Susie.
    My obsessions run a broad and winding road and they are never ceasing. Wire wrapping will become second nature if you do it long enough.
    Can you say, "I can do it in my sleep?"
    You will. Trust me.

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  12. My hands definitely look like that.

    I remember shaking hands with a metal sculpture artist at a show and his hands were so rough, and so strong, and I actually loved that he had hands like that. I can't remember his name but I remember his hands.

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  13. I often clip my fingers with scissors cutting out tiny pieces. It is not good to bleed on the work! Hee hee. But, we could truly say at times our blood, sweat, and tears go into our work!

    I may join the circus with you. Today I am being a mom. I may be an artist some this weekend. I feel like my wings have been a bit clipped, but they'll grow back. Thank you for your lovely message on my blog. That truly helped and you described a lot of what I've been battling. It's been hard for me to explain to folks, but you get it. Now, if you ever have time to come down and *not get parking tickets*, I will have the time to join you perhaps!

    Have a great weekend! It was so nice to come peruse your lovely blog today!

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  14. Love your fun jewels! I love picking up a new habit, and then another, and another, and another.... :)

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  15. Suzie,

    We just hit 100 followers on Etsy and you were one of the first! We are going to have a drawing on Monday to thank all of our followers and give away a special gift box of things that the winner personally would like . We will be drawing on Monday and, of course, you will be included!

    Just wanted you to know...Thank you for making us pretty!

    Hugs,
    Kat and Suz
    Katsui
    http://katsuijewelry.blogspot.com

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  16. (I meant on our blog, Susie!!!)

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  17. Oh my, Susie...that IS a battle wound! But all for the love of jewelry, right? Your wire wrapping is perfect and your new necklaces are just so gorgeous. I love how you incorporate your vintage pieces...each so unique because of the little treasures you included. Have a great weekend!

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  18. And p.s.
    I love your "rusty" ole desk top as a backdrop...such character!!

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  19. Oh my, my hands have looked like that as well. Just as I'm about to slip with the tool, I think to myself I better not do that and then too late... I've wounded myself! Love your jewelry, especially the piece with the vintage rosary...beautiful colors!

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  20. So sorry for your fingers dear heart. sometimes art hurts! You jewelry set is very very pretty! I so love the things you create ~ they are exactly my favorite kind! I too wish we could go flea marketing together! Although we would probably fall in love with the same pieces and have to arm wrestle for them! Lovingly ~ Katie

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  21. Nope, you're not alone, not by a long-shot! I'm pretty OCD too, and even though I don't primarily create with my hands (being more a writer and photographer), I can relate to not being able to rest until it's just right.

    Your work is simply lovely! :-)

    Have a wonderful week!
    Hugs,
    Anne

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