Baby Blue Flower Enamel and Freshwater Pearl Necklace

Yesterday I completed a matching necklace that matches the blue enamel earrings and I love it! I love baby blue and white and the colors in this necklace are perfect for a spring necklace. Scoop neck tee, especially brown, and you'll have a beautiful color combo. This is my all-time favorite necklace. Vintage inspired, each copper flower has been hand sawn from a sheet of copper, shaped into a 3 dimensional flower, enameled with the softest baby blue enamel and wire wrapped with plump white freshwater pearls complete with solid copper chain and secure catch creating the sweetest 17 1/2" necklace. For more images go to: www.restringit.etsy.com

Blue Copper Enamel Spring Flower Earrings

Sometimes I make a piece of jewelry and I just love it! This is one of those times. These blue enamel earrings look even more beautiful on than they do in the photograph. Sometimes you take a picture of something and you think that it looks so much better in person, and then sometimes you take a picture of something and you think that photo came out really good. I love these earrings and I love the photo of these earrings, but even my teen daughters agree, these earrings looks fabulous on, just fabulous. They are not heavy but the colors and size create a pair of earrings that are sure to get compliments galore.

These earrings have been created from a sheet of copper. Each spring flower has been hand cut with a jeweler's saw, enameled with a pale blue enamel, and hung from handcrafted French style solid copper ear wires. The drop on this pair of earrings is 1 1/2" and diameter is slightly more than 3/4".
For more images you can go to: http://www.restringit.etsy.com

Mixed Metals Giraffe Ring

I find it so hard to photograph copper, sometimes the pictures take longer to do than the actual product. :)

This giraffe patterned ring is made from a domed piece of copper which has been acid etched with a giraffe pattern, lightly oxidized, and polished. Both ring base and band are sterling silver with the base having a diameter of 3/4". This ring is size 7 1/2 but can be made any size upon request. Please allow one week if requesting a different size.

For more images go to: http://www.restringit.etsy.com

Turtle or Tortoise Shell Ring

I made a tortoise or turtle shell ring today using mixed metals, sterling silver and copper. The copper piece was etched with acid in the pattern of the tortoise shell, domed, oxidized, and polished. The silver part was the rest of the ring. Tomorrow I plan to make a giraffe patterned ring using the same method and eventually a zebra patterned ring.
I love the idea that I can still use my favorite metal, copper, and yet others that like it and are worried about its green effect will still be able to enjoy it because the copper part doesn't rest against the skin.
This particular ring is size 6 but can be made in any size.

Tucson Gem and Mineral Show

This is an exciting week in Tucson. The much awaited Tucson Gem and Mineral Show has arrived in town and just about everyone is affected by this event. We love it and hope it remains in Tucson forever! There is talk, sadly, that the event may not remain here, but who can ask for a better location. We have sunshine galore, warm temperatures, and the best, I repeat, THE BEST Mexican food I have ever had the pleasure to experience. Even our former president Bill Clinton came here just to enjoy a Mexican meal at a favorite restaurant, and it happens to be my favorite in Tucson, although there a many, many wonderful Mexican restaurants in town. I have never had a bad meal at a Mexican restaurant. You can't go wrong and the prices are always super reasonable.

I'll be scoping out the vendors for lots of natural stones. Last September I fell in love with aquamarine and do believe I'll try to pick up some more, I just love the soft blue color that looks so beautiful against ones skin. This is a stone that looks even better on than it does alone.


Maybe I'll take my camera and add some shots of my shopping to one of my blogs, sure wish everyone could be here to enjoy this yearly extravaganza. Natural stones, to antique artifacts, sterling silver, and findings galore. You would love this event that begins tomorrow and can entertain jewelers to fossil lovers, vintage jewelry to contemporary, and the scent of grilled foods on site that are perfect for lunches as you break from your shopping adventures.


If you're interested in something and you'd like me to hunt for you, let me know!

Enjoy!

http://www.restringit.etsy.com
http://www.tucsonvintage.etsy.com
http://www.GreenWayAvenue.etsy.com

Vitamin D Deficiency - Hype or Real

I love weather like this in Tucson. It is beautiful and perfect for outdoor living. Perfect for getting that vitamin D that is all the rage. What is the deal with vitamin D deficiency? Is it real or are we just helping out the vitamin industry? Is it a fad like vitamin E, that they have now found isn't so great for your heart after all...

This is the first year I've attempted a garden. I have cauliflower, brussel sprouts, and lettuce to name most of them. So far it has been lovely to look at my garden but here's hoping I'll actually be able eat something and hopefully make some soup. I love cauliflower soup!

Hoping Haiti a speedy recovery and lots of help, soon!

Wendy

Happy New Year

We rode our bikes to the Oro Valley Farmers Market today. It is a 9.5 mile ride round trip. We bought mesquite cookies, pea soup, German potato salad, kumquats, mesquite tortillas, and red lentil soup. I LOVE mesquite cookies. They have no sugar, are a puffy soft cookie, with almonds in them. Delightful! The weather was so nice we had to remove our jackets and tomorrow is supposed to be pretty much like today. :)

It is hard to believe that it is 2010 already. Time flies... Happy New Year! Good health, comfort, and creative adventures to all!

We flew Southwest Airlines to Kentucky over the holidays and it was a very nice experience. All of the Southwest employees that we encountered were very nice and helpful. It was a great trip and the travel part was very pleasant, aside from the drive to the Phoenix Airport where we encountered the awful 22 car accident on I-10 due to the dust storm. The dust was very thick, we drove for a minute or two unable to see. You can't stop because cars or trucks will plow into the back of you and you have to continue driving with the fear you'll drive into someone. Awful!! I couldn't pull over either because it was in a work zone and they had the concrete pylons. Maybe someone should build a tunnel through that stretch of blowing dust.

Now I'm looking forward to the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show. If you've never experienced it, you have missed the best thing that happens in Tucson every year. We have many wonderful events in Tucson, but in my opinion, the Gem Show is the BEST!

Again, Happy New Year and may it be the best yet!
Wendy