Well, I was doing well with the daily posting for a WHILE there....

Let's see.... what have i been up to?

The baby has stopped gaining weight, now he's losing weight. Scary. Supplementing as much as possible, and i have an appointment with a Lactation Consultant on Thursday. His pediatrician doesn't seem too concerned though. He's still in normal range for his age, too.

I finished the 4th anniversary Tree of Life sculpture. She really liked it, which is always so nice to hear... I love how there are so many subtlely hidden allusions in there! Without getting into any presonal details, it seems like a perfect symbol for their relationship.


And, I made a couple of Chunky necklaces which is something I haven't made before. I have a lot of really nice beads that I have purchased over the years and many of them don't really fit into what I am doing these days, artwise, but some of them came together in this necklace:

http://mandala.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=3713249
This 17 1/2 inch necklace has big luscious beads on it in Blues, Greens , and Purples , and the Pendant is a Dichroic glass piece about 2 1/4 inches long that reminds me of a peacock feather. The other beads include glass beads, glass Lampwork beads, rectangular green Aventurine stone beads, round barrel shaped deep green Chrysocolla gemstone beads, and purple Fluorite and Green Fluorite crystal / stone beads.

And, while acquiring some Blue Topaz, I ran across some Peruvian Blue Opal that the same seller had, and it looked so beautiful, I just had to buy some, for no specific reason. I found just the right stones to go with it:

I really love this necklace. It was a pleasure to work with these lovely stones. It consists of spherical Turquoise beads from Tibet, about 3/8 inch in diameter (slightly smaller than a marble ) , lightly faceted Rondelle Peruvian Blue Opal beads, also about 3/8 inch in diameter but not spherical, more of a disk shape, and in the center, an Amazonite that is about 3/4 inch long and is rectangular overall but has some light faceting . Fastens with a clasp. The necklace is about 19 inches long and is very elegant and ethereal, and striking at the same time.











I decided to start putting it out there that I am willing to make custom Mother and Grandmother Tree of Life and/or Heart pendants for Valentine's Day and Mother's Day, and I have had one sale. I really love how the piece came out - so vibrant and colorful! The familial relationships are hinted at because the necklace is for a grandmother, and the branches with birthstones for the grandchildren are coming off of the branch of their respective parents. The piece contains Jasper, Yellow Opal, Turquoise, Garnet, more Jasper, and Blue Topaz. This piece went to Spain, and I haven't had an International jewelry sale before that i can recall, so that was exciting!

I finished the Custom Elk teeth commissioned earrings, with hammered oval frames, Wire wrapped elk teeth, 2 types of faceted Amethysts hanging from chain. I met up with the person who ordered them, and he was so happy, he paid me more than my price, so that was nice of him. He said he wants me to make a necklace for him in the future.. Another satisfied customer...


And, another commissioned pair of earrings, a lady contacted me a while back wanting a pair of earrings with Gold Danburite and Seraphinite. I told her no problem. Then i started looking into the prices for these stones. Wow! I had to charge her $75 and i actually lost money, but i have some materials left, so it was worth it (i suppose). These are highly valued Angelic stones, used in connection to a higher power for those who use crystals and stones in meditation.

I also made a Tree of Life pendant for which I have the highest price tag of anything I have made so far. Still, I hope it sells because it is so beautiful that its a shame its just sitting on one of my boards. I have to charge what I am because it took me a week to make it, a whole bunch of Sterling Silver, and some very nice stones went into it. Maybe it will take a while for it to find a home with the price tag of $200 but then again, people pay thousands all the time for pieces that are a lot less original than this...
http://mandala.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=3750673
One of a kind piece - there will never be another like it because these stones were sculpted over time by Mother Nature and are from all over the world, and now I bring them together in this original design

All wire in this piece is Sterling Silver. It is woven to create the frame. At the top, a Tree is created out of Sterling Silver and Czech glass leaf beads. The rest of the piece seems to be the roots of this tree. This reminds us that often what lies beneath the surface is as important as what meets the eye and is a hidden source of strength.
Nestled in these roots, in various shades of green, are Collector's Quality naturally formed Crystals, gemstones, and Minerals including:

-- a 38 Carat Green Kunzite aka Hiddenite
This stone is valued by healers that study the metaphysical properties of stones for its ability to promote feelings of unconditional love for self and others, to aid in releasing feelings of inferiority, and facilitating dealing with the past in order to move forward.

-- an 11 Carat Moldavite
A stone treasured by Royalty, this stone is purported to have the ability to participate in bringing dramatic change to one's life and to open up access to other realms of existence

-- a 9 Carat Green Kyanite
Kyanite aids in aligning the Chakras of an individual as well as helping energy to flow properly between other stones.

--a 4.5 Carat Green Apatite
When placed near the throat, facilitates feelings of peace and harmony. Also helps people relinquish influences in their life that are causing them harm.

-- 1 Carat Peridot
Traditional birthstone of August, stone of new beginnings and growth

-- 1 Carat Amazonite
Considered a sacred stone in Egypt. Associated with luck , self confidence, understanding of others, and reception of inspiration

-- 4.5 Carat raw Emerald
Traditional Birthstone for May, associated with Venus the Goddess of Love

-- 12 Carat Malachite
Removes blockages between ourself and a higher level of existence. Counteracts the tendency for self destructive behaviors in love, encouraging pure love instead. Cleansing of negative energies.


-- 2.5 Carat Green Tourmaline aka Indicolite
Green Tourmaline aids in Concentration and Stimultion of Creativity

I include this metaphysical information for the benefit of those who are interested ; Obviously this information is not necessary for an artistic appreciation of the piece :)

Overall, this piece is approximately 4 inches long. So it is substantial although not enormous! I will include a Sterling Silver plated 18 inch Figaro Chain or other chain if you wish, or a black leather cord with clasp if you prefer.

A lot of work went into this piece, and I hope it goes to a good home!



And, since February is coming up, I made an Amethyst tree of life.

Made a simple pearl necklace... http://mandala.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=3761409

And I made a wire wrap that includes two of my favorite magical looking stones in one piece: Moonstone and Labradorite. Because of the shimmering unusual nature of these stones and my horrible photography skills, i never really did get a good picture but there are a couple at the link:
http://mandala.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=3761326
This necklace consists of a 20 carat luminous Labradorite with beautiful markings and brillliant blue flashing fire, and a 16 carat genuine Rainbow Moonstone glowing a lovely purple

They are elaborately and durably wrapped in all Sterling Silver
shown here on a Sterling Silver plated Figaro chain or we could work out some other chain or cord


I'm sure i've done a thing or two that i'm not recollecting right now..

Oh well.

Ordered a bunch of Silver and Gold wire from a couple of different sources, some new beads including Sapphire, Emerald, Ruby, Tanzanite, and more. Every time I make a dime, I spend it on new supplies! But i love doing this, so...

Keeping busy..

So i made the Shark Tooth custom necklace this morning... It's 3 shark teeth wire wrapped in Silver alloy, with glass beads and shells, on a Sterling Silver plated chain. Not bad for $15 including shipping and handling...

The Grandmother Birthstone heart necklace person still hasn't paid me or responded. She didn't have any feedback yet. I should have gotten payment up front... I have to be more patient though.

I finished the custom Tree sculpture yesterday and boy is it monumental!
Still have to write about it....
beyond the stones that are labeled, the leaves are Czech glass leaf beads, Peridot gemstone, Malachite, Serpentine Jade, Turquoise, Tiger's Eye, and more. She is getting a heck of a deal at $50 but I enjoyed making it... Lots of different stones...Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Peruvian Blue Opal, Topaz, Citrine, Garnet, Sapphire, and more. Yep, all genuine gemstones.
















I also made a metalsmithing piece today:

"One of a kind copper necklace created by art student .. Square pendant

This one of a kind piece was started a couple years ago in a Metalsmithing class. . The Copper Square has been fired by a torch, creating a bubble and other lunar-landscape textures on one side. The other side has been painstakingly textured with a planishing hammer and other implements. Now I finally completed it, 2 years later. It has been attached on opposite corners to a vintage unused copper chain, 30 inches long, that hangs to about the bust, easily slipping over the head with no annoying clasps to mess about with. You choose which side of the square to wear outwards..they both look completely different!"



All I sold today was a bracelet - a multicolored, multi stone bracelet on a stretchy cord. Very colorful


New idea today, courtesy of Mystery from Tooboard : Custom made Mother's necklaces with the Birthstones of their kids , as a tree of life

Making Progress - and - i HAVE to get organized!

This morning I went to work. When I was done, I met up with a lady who wanted a shark tooth necklace for her son. This was an interesting transaction because it was a birthday present for her son, and he was going to be with her when she picked it up. We arranged it over the phone, and I thought it would work out if i secured the necklace inside a little mail order catalog from a department store, and met at a predetermined time and place. She handed me the $20 bill in a handshake, and I handed her the catalog with the necklace in it, showing the piece to her, first. Fun.

While I was working, I checked email from my phone and learned that someone on Etsy ALchemy had accepted my bid to make a gem tree sculpture for her husband's birthday. She was looking for something with "fruit and flowers" - the traditional gift for a 4th anniversary. There were other elements she wanted included too, and other little symbols and allusions contained in the piece... some of which i can't give away without revealing their personal details.... But i will be making a tree with their birthstones, and their kids, other Green gemstone and glass beads, a polymer clay apple and apple blossoms, and I will be making a 4 in the trunk, semi hidden, as well as other numerological allusions. She and I have been carrying on some pretty good discussion and I hope she is very satisfied with the results.

I also made the base for her tree, as well as the other tree I am making. I started the rest of the sculpting for that first tree, too. And I found most of the stones I will need for it. I also began working on the Grandmother necklace. And, the girl with the shark tooth necklace finally wrote back expressing her preferences, so now i can start on that.

And, I spent about 2 hours looking for some nice Amethyst briolette tear drop shaped beads that I need for several projects, and of course they were in a box that i searched 9 times. In the meantime i had ordered some back up replacements. I guess I will be able to do work with them. But I really need to organize my craft stuff. At one point, I had it somewhat sorted out in storage containers and drawers but it is now all scrambled together and can be so difficult to find things sometimes. Not really sure when i'll get around to it though!

I guess this blog will help me keep track too

Can't wait to type out what's going on, just to keep it all straight...

Well, this morning I took a bunch of photos of beads, shells, etc for the girl with the Shark tooth necklace to match the earrings to choose from... She hasn't written back yet.

The fellow with the Elk Tooth earrings wrote and asked if i could do ovals instead. After clarifying which orientation of oval (egg standing on end, or egg laying down), I said "sure". Now he wants the hoops hammered instead of out of twisted Sterling Silver. Glad he does, because it would be harder to hold an oval shape with that twisted Sterling Silver.

Cropped and adjusted the photos for the custom Gem Tree sculpture that I am making as the gift for the Grandmother with the 5 grandkids. Put them in Photo charms. Wrote to the mother commissioning it:
"Tomorrow, I will make the base for the sculpture.

I will also begin the stone selection process.

My idea for including your generation, the parents of these children, is that I will have a naturalistic division of the Tree trunk, with you and your husband on one side and your offspring, and your sister in law and her spouse and kids on the other side. Just like a family tree diagram except more organic! Since you aren't including your generation's photos, I can still include branches with the corresponding birthstones for you and your husband, and your sister in law and her husband, and branching off your branches would be your kids' branches.

If you'd like, you could send me names and birthdates of all nine of you and I can print them on a Parchment paper along with descriptions of the stones, to go with the sculpture"

She loves this idea and sent some info already.

Made a shark tooth necklace for a mother who wants to give it to her son.

Placed this bid for someone wanting a necklace for her mother incorporating her Grandkids' birthstones and won the contract
Description: I would make a heart out of hammered Sterling silver. Then would be another Sterling Silver heart inside that heart, hanging from which there would be two teardrop shaped faceted Amethyst gemstone beads, a spherical Garnet bead, a little cluster of Peridot beads, and a little cluster of Blue Topaz beads. It would be about 1 1/2 to 2 inches across. I would include a Sterling Silver snake chain. Any beads that I would use would be submitted for your approval first

Completion Date: 1/15/2009

Price: $25.00
Terms of payment: negotiable

Estimated cost of shipping: $6.00
Shipping method: Priority mail

Placed and lost a few other bids...

An interesting fellow saw my ad around Christmas time, for a Necklace incorporating a gorgeous Green Tourmaline and Two Topaz Points... (my husband and i refer to him as the guy who thought i was a sorceress -- long story) ...he said he was strapped for cash but to get back to him around January 6th.. he's no longer interested in that but asked me for recommendations for a Scorpio and also for a Taurus.... after getting a long email from me about that, he said he's leaning towards Tourmaline.. here's the lowdown I gave him on the Tourmalines I have around right now... (although I have a few more pieces too)

As far as Tourmaline goes, I could do a single Black Tourmaline about 2 inches long in a simple Sterling Silver wrap on a black leather cord or a Sterling Silver plated chain for $25. $20 for a slightly smaller one.

My website overall is at http://www.mandalarain.com
Here are some links to items that are made with Tourmaline:

http://mandala.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=2723639
http://mandala.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=3646718
http://mandala.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=3036968
http://mandala.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=2709359
http://mandala.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=2321415 (This one I'd be willing to reduce to $30)
http://mandala.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=2195987 (Would reduce to $45)
http://mandala.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=1893613 (would reduce to $50)
http://mandala.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=1877842 (would also reduce to $50)
http://mandala.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=678237 (would take $50 for this one too)
http://mandala.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=2829925

These are SOME of the pieces I have already made up, containing Tourmaline. I do have various Watermelon Tourmalines, Green TOurmalines, Ruby (deep pink)Tourmalines, Black Tourmalines, and Champagne (maroon) Tourmalines just waiting for a home. I even have a gorgeous Green Tourmaline that has Purple Lepidolite Crystals growing all over it and also another Green Tourmaline that was broken in nature and rehealed itself, both that I will be making into jewelry eventually.


Also made these two pieces:

A Citrine Crystal wire wrapped in Sterling Silver and also a Black Tourmaline Crystal wire wrapped in Sterling

Descriptions:
This piece consists of a Citrine Crystal hand wire wrapped in STerling Silver. The Crystal has little crystal points around the main point and chevron formations. You can have it on a 18 inch medium Curb chain Sterling Silver plated or a black leather cord with lobster clasp, or a black necklace cord that you can cut to the length that you want and tie, your choice.

Mystical Properties:
In ancient times, citrine was carried as a protection against snake venom and evil thoughts. Citrine is known as a "success" stone because it is told in folklore to promote success and abundance, especially in business and commerce.

Citrine is one of the only stones that dissipates negative energy and never requires cleansing or clearing. It emits a warm energy that promotes optimism. It attracts abundance and is known as "a merchant's stone" to be placed in a cash register or where one conducts business, to not only acquire positive wealth but to maintain it as well. It enhances the body's healing energy and opens the conscious mind to intuition. It helps one adjust and adapt to process changes, feeling confident and secure. Citrine's magnetic radiating energy can aid in voice projection, making this the perfect stone for actors and public speakers.

Assists in acquiring wealth and to maintain the state of wealth. Citrine is helpful for directing creative energy into the physical body. Some find it helpful in building self-esteem. This crystal is an invaluable aid to the digestion of all emotions, place it on the solar plexus in crystal healing layouts. I find that Citrine is useful in combating decisiveness allowing me to make important decisions on a regular basis.

Healing Properties:
Physically, citrine can aid digestion, increase visual ability, and to balance the thyroid. It is beneficial to the endocrine and digestive system - cleansing, purifying and eliminating poisons that have built up. Citrine has the power to calm and soothe distressed conditions. It reduces ulcer flare-ups and is good for detoxifying all the bodies.

Magical Properties:
Energy: Projective
Element: Fire
Powers: Anti-nightmare, protection, psychic power

Citrine is worn at night to eliminate fear, to prevent nightmares and to ensure a good night's sleep.

Citrine may eliminate self-destructive behaviors or tendencies, and raise self-esteem. This stone should be used to align with the higher self and to protect your aura.

A member of the quartz family, citrine can be used is most the same fashion as crystal/clear quartz. The benefit being that it's golden yellow color adds Sun energy to the work. When worn, it's vibrant shades help to lift the spirits if one is feeling down or perhaps dealing with mild depression.

Citrine is a good stone for scrying into matter pertaining to money and other forms of prosperity.

hakra Classification:
Citrine is generally to be called upon when there is a creativity block, an inability to solve problems, repressed anger, sleeplessness, nightmares, problems with the stomach and digestion, obesity and other physical problems regarding circulation and vision.

Citrine is used to heal and balance the 2nd, Sacral or Navel Chakra.




and



Black Tourmaline Crystal wire wrapped in Sterling Silver, on your choice of free size black necklace cord , 18 inch leather cord with clasp, or Sterling Silver plated chain.

I guess the second description is a big shorter!

Made a Thai Chicken Curry with Water Chestnuts and Baby Corn for dinner..
A Chocolate Pudding Pie for dessert..

Well, I felt like i got nothing done today, since the baby was having a bit of a rough day, crying a lot more than usual and whatnot, but I guess I did get a few things done!