a few new things...

black teardrop crystal necklace

For the past week I've been doing a lot of different things all at the same time, but with the holidays fast approaching, that's about to come to a much anticipated end. Yay for relaxation time, even if I do still feel totally apprehensive about my next and final semester of school. As life is returning to normal I've finally had a chance to update my Etsy shop with some of the new items that I made for the craft sales I did at the beginning of December. Many of the new pieces are one of a kind and incorporate crystal geodes, vintage findings, and maybe a little tiny bit of gold wire. You can take a closer look at them all in the Sadie shop, but I'd also like to share a few pictures here.

moonstone crystal teardrop necklace

These tiny crystal teardrop necklaces are soooo lovely to wear and, yet, so difficult to make! I swear, for every one that I succeed with I've botched at least three previous attempts. The thirty gauge gold-filled wire is really, really thin and everything has to be just right to ensure the crystal stays in place. The crystals themselves are only 4mm x 6mm big. I can't wait to get a good desk lamp with a magnifying glass to make this kind of work a little easier. The light we currently have available just isn't good enough when I'm working on such small, intricate pieces.

I've also got some new Cave Explorer necklaces in the shop. The last ones are gone gone gone. The pickaxe wielding man in the bottom piece looks a lot like a friend of mine. I'm tempted to tell him about it, but I think it's best if he just figures it out for himself. A magnifying glass and better light is also gonna help me make these dudes in the future. They are tiny! Just 10mm tall and, as you can see, they fit their geode homes perfectly and that can make them tough to get in there.

pink mitts cave explorer

cave explorer in an agate geode

So, I've revealed some of the struggles that I have when making jewelry, but don't get me wrong! I love it! It's so great to sit down with a pile of supplies and make things happen. It's even more fun to go and get new supplies and I always find inspiration for something new in the local shops I frequent. In fact, I'll be posting even more new work tomorrow, so stay tuned!

Oh yeah, and how did I manage to miss sharing this feature from Lune Vintage on the Sadie blog? Check it out, there's a coupon code for the shop, too!