New Workshop registrations now open for September 20th, 2014.  Join me for a fun-packed session where you will learn the basics of wire bending and forming, applications of patinas, basic soldering and more.  You will learn how to weave tiny treasures into this cage-style necklace form, and leave with severable wearable pieces AND the skills to continue creating on your own.  Seating is very limited so contact me to reserve a spot early!  email www.valleymetalarts.com for further details, being held at Creston, BC

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Can’t believe I forgot to include these in my post earlier…I might forget my kid’s birthdays and where I left my car…but not my newest  bling….  I started with come copper wire that I shaped into – well,  not sure they have a name.  Like a partial circle with tabbed ends with holes punched through.  Anyhow, I beaded up the ends of some Sterling silver wire and wound it around the copper base-no rhyme nor reason, just because.  From my stash I used 2 luscious jet black Swarovski  crystal briolette beads, wrapped THOSE with more silver wire and then added silver ear wires.  The whole works just kind of came together and I lov’em….

They swing, dance and dangle and did I say I lov’em?…cause I really do! Not sure these will make it to my online Etsy store – if you live in the Creston area and are interested, $35 and they can be on your ears tomorrow:).

Thanks for coming by-love blogging almost as much as melting/pounding/beating on metal ♥♥♥

These gorgeous little green glass rondelle beads have been languishing for several years in one of my boxes of stuff…I know, I know….I just didn’t know quite what to do with ’em.  This weekend a tiny 2″ piece of brass provided that final link, and this is where they ended up.  They whirl, and twirl and are just so fun.  It’s taking every ounce of restraint not to keep them-I am terrible at letting my work go, but am working on that.  Really hard….honest.

Full frontal–

Do you like the little paddles?

Love how the light plays on the glass

Long story on these guys-got my hands on an acetylene torch last year-burns stinkin’ hot.  It melts metal-even brass.  So I did a huge lot of “reticulation” (fancy word for melted metal)..and then had no idea what to do with the stuff.  Looked “interesting” but that’s as far as my brain went.  This week I figured out I could re-shape and play, not just work with the original challenging shapes. These irregular teardrop shapes look like cocoons-not at all intended, but sometimes things just turn out the way they want to…I took sterling silver wire and did some wraps and twists, added sterling ear wires-and we’re done!  Oh-also added some of my most favourite beads-Swarovski Golden Bronze briolettes. (Another fancy name for squashed cushion beads)….

And just a few more,  until now, forgotten gems…These little beauties are moss agates, can you see how the sunlight comes through?  This is one of my all time favourite stones to work with- am I repeating myself???  But they really are, still have the first stone I cut nearly 40 years ago- yup, moss agate. These guys are paired with layers of Keishi fresh water pearls-love, love, love these little lumpy disks of lusciousness.  And of course I had to top them all off with another Swarovski crystal-can never have enough sparkle..or bling..

These will be posted for sale in my Etsy Store but if interested, PM me for pricing any time.

Thanks for hanging in there to get this far in this wordy post–come back again soon!

Cheers!

Carol