Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Dragonflies and Roses? I supposez!

These are my latest copper and cholla wood sculptures. I've never seen a dragonfly land on a rose bush, but I like the two together. This one is called Dragonflies and Roses (OK, not such an original title). More views at:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/86700716/dragonflies-and-roses-sculpture-copper

The two below are called Dragonfly at Rest, and Dragonfly & Rose (Variation on a theme). But I think these types of titles get found easier on web searches, so there is method to my madness.
More views: http://www.etsy.com/listing/86699684/dragonfly-sculpture-copper-and-cholla?ref=v1_other_2
http://www.etsy.com/listing/86700250/dragonfly-and-rose-sculpture-copper-and?ref=v1_other_2
My Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarSkiesJewelry?ref=pr_shop
My Jewelry: http://www.lunarskies.com
My Sculpture: http://www.lunarskies.com/pages1/fineart.html
My Cabochons: http://www.gemalchemy.com
Creating The Hive Artisans Group: http://www.creatingthehive.com

Labradorite, I love the glow!

Labradorite can produce a colorful play of light across cleavage planes and in sliced sections called labradorescence. The usually intense colors range from the typical blues and violets through greens, yellows and oranges. Some rare specimens display all these colors simultaneously. (scientific explanation below picture for those not bored to tears by this first paragraph).

With jewelry, it's all about color and flash. This stone has it all. Below are some pieces I made recently. I've included some Blue Topaz accent stones in some of the pieces. I love this combination.
More Views:
A  http://www.etsy.com/listing/86698891/labradorite-and-sterling-silver-ring
B  http://www.etsy.com/listing/86698724/labradorite-and-sterling-silver-ring
D  http://www.etsy.com/listing/86698398/labradorite-and-sterling-silver-pendant
E  http://www.etsy.com/listing/86698724/labradorite-and-sterling-silver-ring
C and F are sold


The color display is from lamellar intergrowths inside the crystal. These intergrowths result from compatible chemistries at high temperatures becoming incompatible at lower temperatures and thus a separating and layering of these two phases. The resulting color effect is caused by a ray of light entering a layer and being refracted back and forth by deeper layers. This refracted ray is slowed by the extra travel through the layers and mixes with other rays to produce a light ray coming out that has a different wavelength than when it went in.

My Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarSkiesJewelry?ref=pr_shop
My Jewelry: http://www.lunarskies.com
My Sculpture: http://www.lunarskies.com/pages1/fineart.html
My Cabochons: http://www.gemalchemy.com
Creating The Hive Artisans Group: http://www.creatingthehive.com

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Rescued! Am I a Hero?

No, I'm not a hero, but I am frugal. The jewelry pieces shown below are all rescued orphans. for one reason or another. Things don't always work out as planned; Three of the pieces below had stones that cracked (two from the heat generated while polishing, and one that I broke while trying to remove it from the metal). Two of the rings were started and forgotten (I have been a negligent creator at times). And one pendant was soldered with the bezel flipped (rookie error on my part).

Ah, but I, like the mad scientists who built the Six Million Dollar Man knew I could rebuild them! Yes, I cut new stones for five of the seven pieces and finished the metal for the other two.
The ring and pendant on the left are Amber. This particular amber reminds me of champagne; it is nearly clear with little bubbles throughout. The two red-brown rings are crazy lace agate. The three pendants on the right are Citron Chrysoprase. These pieces are now available in my Etsy and Artfire shops.

My Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarSkiesJewelry?ref=pr_shop
My Jewelry: http://www.lunarskies.com
My Sculpture: http://www.lunarskies.com/pages1/fineart.html
My Cabochons: http://www.gemalchemy.com
Creating The Hive Artisans Group: http://www.creatingthehive.com

The Last Time I Posted I was a Year Younger!

OK, not actually a year, but I did have a birthday since then so numerically I was . . . never mind, I was just trying to get your attention. It really has been a while since I last posted, so now I'm going to drive you nuts with a series of posts. I've been busy, of course; what artist or crafter is not busy this time of year? I've been making jewelry and sculptures.

These pieces are Larimar, an opaque stone in pleasing patterns of blue and greenish blue similar to the color of the ocean in tropical climates. Larimar was named by a Dominican for LARIssa his daughter and MAR the Spanish word for sea. Larimar came on the market in the1970's and has to date only been found in the Dominican Republic.
 The pendant at far left has a garnet accent stone, the pendant just off center has a Lemon Citrine accent stone. The stone in the ring on the far right is huge. These pieces are available in my Etsy and Artfie shops.
 
My Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarSkiesJewelry?ref=pr_shop
My Jewelry: http://www.lunarskies.com
My Sculpture: http://www.lunarskies.com/pages1/fineart.html
My Cabochons: http://www.gemalchemy.com
Creating The Hive Artisans Group: http://www.creatingthehive.com

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Kindred Spirits, Fairy Sculpture is completed

This one took a while to complete, but I've got to say it's my favorite so far. The fairy sits upon a pokadot mushroom and beckons to an elusive butterfly whose wing pattern matches her own.
 All the finished copper pieces
The wood pieces
The finished work assembled (more views below)









She'll be going to her new home very shortly. I hope you've enjoyed viewing the process.


My Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarSkiesJewelry?ref=pr_shop
My Jewelry: http://www.lunarskies.com
My Sculpture: http://www.lunarskies.com/pages1/fineart.html
My Cabochons: http://www.gemalchemy.com
Creating The Hive Artisans Group: http://www.creatingthehive.com





Monday, October 17, 2011

I am the victim of a crime!

I think theft is one of the worst crimes of which to fall victim. Recently I've noticed small items disappearing from my shop. I've just identified the thief.
I don't like to single out any specific group, but these little guys have a well earned reputation for this very type of activity. That's right! I'm talkin' about pack rats.
I was out of the shop for a couple of days, and one of these little guys was VERY busy while I was gone. I guess I'm just going to have to lock everything up. I thought this stuff was over when my children grew up.

OK, back to my fairy project. It's getting closer to completion. I got the wings cut out. I start with the wing pattern glued to plates of copper.
Drill a hole for each opening
And saw out the opening along the pattern line (forgive the fuzzy pic)
For the butterfly body I start with a piece of round copper stock and carve until I get the final shape
Here's a view from the top
The mushroom top required a lot of hammer work
The body parts are about ready for assembly
And the hair is coming along nicely
So now it's just about time to select the pieces of cholla I'll use to complete the piece. Thanks for looking.
My Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarSkiesJewelry?ref=pr_shop
My Jewelry: http://www.lunarskies.com
My Sculpture: http://www.lunarskies.com/pages1/fineart.html
My Cabochons: http://www.gemalchemy.com
Creating The Hive Artisans Group: http://www.creatingthehive.com

Lunar Skies "Paisley Butterfly" is featured on Artfire Daily Collecton!

http://us1.campaign-archive1.com/?u=98fbd55a1d5bdaf9e1d296c27&id=bb3af0ba2b&e=69f5cba8fb

I keep hoping I'll win the $100.00 prize, but this is pretty cool too! One of my sculptures is featured in the Copper Age Daily Collection.
My Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarSkiesJewelry?ref=pr_shop
My Jewelry: http://www.lunarskies.com
My Sculpture: http://www.lunarskies.com/pages1/fineart.html
My Cabochons: http://www.gemalchemy.com
Creating The Hive Artisans Group: http://www.creatingthehive.com

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Kindred Spirits, Fairy Sculpture Work in Progress

This is blog number two as this project continues. I've got the body parts of the fairy rough shaped, and now I'm beginning to work on some of the details.



Above & Below: One leg shaped except for the foot which looks like long swim fin at this point
I like the feeling that the piece is already inside the metal and I'm just freeing it
Both legs shaped except for feet, the body is in good shape to except for the head which still needs a considerable amount of work
One arm shaped except for the hand
Both arms shaped, the arms and legs need to be mirror images. My method allows me to compare the pieces as I work. It's all subtraction of material and hand work, so it's imperfect by nature, but I can manage to get pretty close. Since the final pieces will be bent into different positions, any imperfections seem to disappear.
Body, arms and legs rough shaped and ready for some details. Right now it looks like there's been a terrible accident

My Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarSkiesJewelry?ref=pr_shop
My Jewelry: http://www.lunarskies.com
My Sculpture: http://www.lunarskies.com/pages1/fineart.html
My Cabochons: http://www.gemalchemy.com
Creating The Hive Artisans Group: http://www.creatingthehive.com

Sunday, October 9, 2011

My Newest Fairy Sculpture is now a Work in Progress

Now and the I get a request from someone to create a work specifically for them. I enjoy this type of collaboration. This request was for a copper fairy on a poka-dot mushroom. Working with the client we came up with the following Photoshop version of the design. Now the challenge for me is to see how close I can come with the actual work.
The piece will be titled "Kindred Spirits"
I start these sculptures with some pieces of copper. I need a pretty big piece for the body so I have to cut it from a thick copper block (not really an ad for DeWalt tools)
These pieces will  be the fairy's body, arms and legs
Then I start the rough grinding
Each step gets a little closer to the finished component
The metal gets pretty hot during grinding. That discoloring is the result, but it's just on the surface



She's starting to take shape
I leave quite a bit of material for the head since I have to subtract the material (math was never my strong suit). She has a bit of an alien quality at this stage
She's in there; stay tuned.

Started it on My Vacation, Finished it at Home

One of my galleries back east requested some jewelry pieces with certain stones. I was headed to California right at that time so I took along my portable workshop and worked when I could. I finished the pieces in the week following my return. Hopefully the gallery will take some of these pieces and I'll have some left over to put in my etsy and Artfire stores.
Lapis Lazuli with Peridot acccents
Montana Agate pendants
Kingman Turquoise pendants and earrings
Petoskey Stone pendant and earrings
Ocean jasper pendants and earrings
Amethyst pendants and earrings

Thursday, September 29, 2011

I've been away, I'm making a rocky return!

I've just returned from a ten day trip to California. I worked on a few new jewelry pieces while I was there, but mostly it was a pleasure trip. I've missed my friends at Creating the Hive http://www.creatingthehive.com and Facebook. I hope you guys can catch me up on all the happs. I stopped by Quartzite on the way home and paid a visit to my favorite rock shop (Watch for Rocks below).

 This is Azurite in Chrysocolla; each stone is about 2" by 2-1/2".
All I could say when I saw this stuff was "WOW"!
I found some great Turritella fossil slabs
I got this nice Bloodstone, It's got some great red on one end.
I needed some Ocean Jasper for a gallery order. I cut the smallest of these stones today, it has a beautiful crystal structure with small green and orange orbs, very cool!
The next two pics are Montana Agate. These slabs are small
(about 1" by 1-1/2" for most of them), but they're choice!
This stone is called Red Freckled Dolomite. I don't know anything about it yet, but it looks like it might make some pretty nice cabs. This stone is about 3" long by about 2' thick.
Rounding out the group are three round Petoskey Stones, about baseball size. If you look closely you can see the coral structure on the surface. I hope this cuts well, it's kinda the "box of chocolate" thing with this material but . . .  Question: What would life be without a certain amount of risk? Answer: Wonderful.