As the saying goes, “Every cloud has a silver lining…” and that is what I have created with this cloud necklace. It has a sterling silver frame around the enamel piece. The cloud is made of several layers of white enamel kiln fired on copper, then etched to give it some tooth for me to draw with graphite pencil and lay in a blue wash of acrylic enamel. A thin layer of clear enamel is sprinkled over the top and torch fired to a sugar finish. The firing also sets the graphite into the base enamel and the acrylic enamel fired to retain it’s painterly style.

So where did this saying come from?  John Milton coined the phrase ‘silver lining’ in Comus: A Mask Presented at Ludlow Castle, 1634

I see ye visibly, and now believe
That he, the Supreme Good, to whom all things ill
Are but as slavish officers of vengeance,
Would send a glistering guardian, if need were
To keep my life and honour unassailed.
Was I deceived, or did a sable cloud
Turn forth her silver lining on the night?
I did not err; there does a sable cloud
Turn forth her silver lining on the night,
And casts a gleam over this tufted grove.

It was also used during victorian era as a common quote in literature. I am betting my cloud does have a silver lining…

What does this have to do with jewelry? Well I think jewelry, fabric, visually stimulating things are a great experience. Coming up is World Travel Market in London, the second largest travel show in the world. You can walk the floor of the show and see countries you never knew existed. It makes you realize how small your corner of the world is. The opulence by some destinations is amazing. I haven’t attended the show in 5 years but hold fond memories.

One of my favorite things to do during my off hours for years was to make a pilgrimage to Liberty London. I walked through the shop and the different floors feeling the unparalleled fabrics both in touch and visually, then soaked in the carefully curated jewelry, walked through the sweet shop and purchased a small box of something chocolate. Even the crafts and yarns are wonderful! This is my kind if shop from days of yore! Then you hit the Christmas Shop…so many decoration, not just for “Christmas” but really the season and the holidays. This is the link to their website. If you haven’t ever been and you are in London, go off the beaten track and spend some time enjoying your senses!

http://www.libertylondon.com/

Life has a funny way of coming full circle. I started my “career” doing animal portraits while in high school. I picked it back up in my late 20s and now I am doing little portraits in graphite and acrylic enamel, incorporating them into a sterling silver custom frame to create wearable art.

I have always loved the feeling of delivering a portrait and having the person smile broadly and delight in seeing their beloved pet immortalized in art. As some of you know I have Baldwin, my horse and three black kitties–Spencer, Sawyer and Katie.They bring me such joy! It’s a special feeling animal lovers share. This is why I am circling back and offering animal portraits, this time as jewelry. They can be found here on my website.

Great holiday gifts for friends and family members! I work from photos which you can send to me.

For those of you looking how to bezel set a cabochon, this post has nothing to do with jewelry but more life in general. Please stop back to read some of my upcoming posts and I assure you there will be tips and pointers galore.

On Monday I was dumped from my job. It really had nothing to do with me.

Today I got dumped by Baldwin, my horse. He was a little wound up because they were doing some work on our road. Tacking him up and he was hyper. I got up on him and rode him up the hill and tried to do some 10 meter circles with him in a trot. There were a few little crow-hops here and there but nothing really. In the back of my mind I kind of thought I should lunge him but he had been doing so well just getting up and going lately. Well, I rounded the corner and 1 buck, 2 buck and then he had his head–and 3 buck. On my butt, holding the reins, I got up, dusted some of the dirt off and marched him down the hill. Called to Alan to babysit me while I lunged the tar out of him (like I should have done in the first place) and got up on him while Alan held him and walked him around the arena. I got off, ran my stirrups up, thanked Alan, marched him back down the hill (considerably more tired–both of us) and untacked him.

Lessons learned so far this week? Listen to your gut, do what you know you should do and if you do get dumped–get to a point you know is right, get back up and continue on.

I recently started receiving 3-times-a-day inquires with HARO (Help a reporter out) to find PR leads for my now-I’m-doing-this-seriously jewelry business. My first match I saw was a request for “Gift Under $100”. I responded with several links to some of my products and low and behold–Joe responded!

This is the link below to his gift guide. You need to scroll a while to find my product but enjoy! Cool items and you may just order something.

http://www.dailydealscoupon.net/top-deals-to-purchase-in-2017/

For as long as I can remember growing up I have had a paint brush or pencil in my hand. My high school art teacher would always say, if something unexpected happened, that I should look at it as a happy little accident and embrace it into the piece.

I attended Parsons School of Design for either illustration or fashion design but practicality lead me to graphic design then to destination marketing but my creative side popped up and I began making jewelry about a decade ago and I have really enjoyed it.

Several months ago a new friend Dawn Lombard, a new transplant to the area and an amazing glass artist and enamelist, introduced me to enamels. LOVED it! Then she asked if I wanted to take a cloisonne class in NJ with Jennifer Park. I did the class and loved it! The ability to paint with powdered glass in vivid colors was so inspiring. The exploration has just started. Here are a few pieces I completed. I can’t wait to explore this new, colorful door that opened! A splendid, happy little accident that I am embracing into my jewelry work and seeing where it takes me.