Category Archives: JEWELRY

A category for all of my Jewelry creations or attempts.

What’s up buttercup?

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Today’s post is a little unusual for me.  Typically I only have time to write a few sentences about the card I post, but today I have a little bit of time so I thought I’d let you know a little about other things happening in my life.

This past weekend was a fun one for me.  Saturday I spent the day with some girlfriends.  As most of you know, I live in Arizona.  Every year there is a HUGE Gem Show here in Tucson.  Not only is there shopping galore on jewels and beads and findings, but there are also a ton of classes and workshops you can take.  This year we took the Painting with Fire class, taught by the one and only Barbara Lewis.  What a fabulous time it was!!   We learned all about fun ways to enamel on metal with torches!  Oh ya….a girl with a torch.  Watch out!  Here are a few beads I made.  I can’t wait to create something fun with them.

beadsI just love these colors.  Just in case anyone is interested, the enamel is Thompson, and the colors here are Orchid, Bitter, and Flame Orange.   I’m really hoping to spend more time this year playing around with jewelry making, so perhaps you’ll see more of it here on my blog.

Speaking of beads… there’s a great giveaway going on at the Art Jewelry Elements Blog!!  And in some of my favorite colors too!   How awesome would these look mixed in with my enameled beads?!?

On Sunday, my hubby and I ran a 5K.  It was my first race ever.  I’ve run that distance plenty of times on my own, but never in a huge group of people like this.  And this one was even more exciting – it was a ColorMeRad run where they shoot color bombs (colored corn starch) at you.  Nothing like thousands of tye-died people running through the park!  It was such a blast and we had such a wonderful time.  I enjoyed it so much, I signed us up for another 5K next month!  This might just be a trend.  :)

Here’s us after the run…

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And here’s our t-shirts…

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Well, that was my weekend.  Sunday it was beautiful out for the 5K.  Sunny and almost 60.  Perfect for running.  Today, IT’S SNOWING HERE IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA.  Crazy weather!!  I actually turned on my fireplace!

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Hope you all are having a great week and staying warm!  Be sure to stop back on Wednesday for a Flutter By Wednesday challenge!!

Hugs, Jami

 

A new passion for the new year!

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Happy last day of 2011!  I thought I’d share my last project of the year with you.   It’s also one of a first, in a new passion I’ve found for jewelry making.  Last year I introduced my friend Krista to the joys of paper crafting, so this year she is returning the favor and teaching me all about making jewelry.  I am really enjoying it, but I think I might need a bigger craft room soon!

Yesterday she taught me how to make a spinner ring!  I have always loved this style of ring, but never thought I could make my own!

Here is how this project started…a plain sheet of silver.  You can see where I sawed off a strip to make my ring.  Not very straight sawing – which meant a lot of filing and sanding!

I learned how to use all sorts of new tools to create this, all of which I need for my own studio now!  Cool tools like blow torches!  There is something very satisfying about pounding metal.  I hammered the base to dimple the silver.  The spinner was made from copper wire.  Here’s the finished product:

I am seriously in love with making jewelry!

Here’s a little video to show how it spins (by the way, if anyone has a good plugin for embedding video from the iPhone to a WordPress blog, let me know.  Not too thrilled with this one)

I’m also hoping to rekindle my old passion for running.  Starting tomorrow I am beginning a 13 week training program to run a 10K.  I’ve run that far (and farther) before, but it’s been a couple years since I’ve run any significant distance.  So, I thought this would get me there without injuring myself.

This year I intend to live more simply, spend more time enjoying time with family and friends, and to do the things I love doing more.

What are your new goals, resolutions, or dreams for the upcoming year?

XOXOXO,
Jami