Monday, November 7, 2011

Sunday, November 6, 2011


Check out my new animal pendant collection.... More animals coming soon!

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Wally working from home today. 

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Wally likes to take early morning walks. 

This is Wally, my Bunnycone mascot! :) 

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Downtown LA

Shrine Auditorium


These were taken by Pablo...


Babes in Toyland at Tiara Cafe

LA Memorial Coliseum
We drove to LA this weekend to see Real Madrid smoke the LA Galaxy! Had a great weekend in downtown LA!

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Nightlife @ The CA Academy of Sciences

At Nightlife @ The CA Academy of Sciences! 
This was a fun event, I would do it again next time! :) Thank you Bizaar Bizarre SF!


Earrings...

Necklaces...

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

I will be vending at the CA Academy of Sciences tomorrow night from 6 -10pm! There'll be music and cocktails, bugs and critters, and 40 of your most talented local arts and crafts vendors! Wouldn't miss it if I were you, sounds like it's going to be tons of fun!! I'll be in the African Hall, stop by and say hello! 

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Rats on Valencia and 15th Street. 

Thursday, July 7, 2011

QR Codes

Just discovered QR codes! .....best thing ever!
qrcode

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

4th of July

I love that I can see fireworks from my living room window! Boo to my landlord who prohibited us from going up to the roof! That was prime view! Oh well, at least we can still see the fireworks!
I like the happy face one! :)

Monday, July 4, 2011

How to make a Sterling Silver Filigree Ring

Materials:
(1) 4" 16g Sterling Silver Wires
(2) 4" 18g. Sterling Silver Wires

Easy Silver Solder
Borax mixed with Denatured Alcohol
Liver of Sulfur

Tools:
Micro Torch
Soldering Charcoal Block
Pliers: Round-nose, flat-nose and a flush cutter
Metal Ring Mandrel
Rubber hammer 
Hammer
400 grit sand paper
Set of metal files
Steelwool
Ribbon

First thing I did was size my finger. I used a ribbon to measure the finger where I want my ring to fit. Then I take the ribbon and measure it with a ruler. For this sample, I used my right middle finger, so my measurements are 8.5 size ring, and the ruler measures 2.5". I take my pencil and draw a 2.5" line to make my sketch.
This is what I want my ring to look like.













After I've sketched my design, I take my 16g wire and curl the ends with my round nose pliers. I make sure that the length is the same as my sketch below.













I do the same for the other (2) 18g. wires, making sure they match the length of my sketches.


Once I have all 3 wires done, I prepare them for soldering. First I make sure that they fit together nice and snug. Then I dip them in my jar of borax and denatured alcohol. They will turn white like the picture below.














Now it's time to put the silver solder on the edges that touch. Sometimes, it's a challenge to put the solder on these wires because they like stick. I use a silver wire to put the solder on, most times it doesn't like to stay put. Now once you have your solder in place, it's time to fire it up!  

Now that I have my wires soldered together, I take a hammer and hammer them just lightly, so that they lay flat on the surface. Sometimes during soldering they tend to move a bit. Hammering them will put them back in their place. I hammer my end curls flat (that's the 18g. wires on the sides) for some depth and design. Then I take my soldered wires and put them on a metal ring mandrel, looking for size 8.5. I take my rubber hammer and hammer them into shape.

  












After my ring has taken it's form, I take my metal file and file away any scratches. Then I use my sandpaper and file it down smooth. Once I have it filed and smooth to my desire, I then dip it into a jar of liver of sulfur to give it it's antique look.  

Finally, after about 15 minutes, I take it out of it's stinky pool and wash it in the sink. Your ring will look black, and that's okay because that's what it's supposed to look like. I take my steel wool to rub off the blackness. You won't be able to get into the corners and nooks, but that's what will give it it's antique look. Rub off as much as you like. I like to take it all off, most of it, until it's silver again.  

And.. tadah! You are finished!  















Mystic Quartz Sterling Silver Earrings

I love, love these new gemstones! I made these heart-shaped chandeliers especially for these stones... I think they came out beautifully!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/77181756/mystic-quartz-sterling-silver-earrings

Friday, July 1, 2011

Filigree Ring

My very first filigree ring. Yay! I really like how it turned out. I like how the ring is adjustable... it's a size 9, but you can make it bigger. But unfortunately, it can't go any smaller. Next time I make one, it's going to be smaller. It's hard to judge the size when I started making it... but, I'm still learning!
Next time, I will measure my finger or what whatever size I need, lay it out on paper and design the rings around it. That way I can make the size I need accurately.

It turned out great though.. everyone that's seen it, gave me a compliment.



















Thursday, June 30, 2011

Lolite Sterling Silver Necklace

This is my new favorite necklace! I used these really cute 4mm blue lolite gemstones and the sterling silver flower pendant is handcrafted by me. I love the way it's put together... Lovely, elegant,  unique...

http://www.etsy.com/listing/75658190/sterling-silver-lolite-necklace

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Mystic Quartz Violet Blue Briolettes

Just got these in the mail from Tiger Beads! I'm super excited to use them to make a new piece of jewelry! I've already got a few ideas in my head... Hurry up 4 o'clock!  :)

Check out Tiger Beads shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/tigerbeads 
I get a lot of my beautiful beads from her! :)

19th Century Parade in India

I was in the waiting room at Kaiser yesterday evening waiting for Pablo to get his MRI done and I noticed this little model set along the side of the wall. I thought it was really interesting.. Here's one of the shots I took with my hipstamatic! I love this iPhone app!