working, working, working

minis
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

i have been very busy lately getting ready for chimneyville.
i am trying to be very thorough.....
making flower earrings, making post earrings, making enameled minis, making big rings, making little rings, making necklaces...... you get the picture.
we'll see if it all pays off in a few short weeks.

find enameled minis here

my little sister got married

Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

yes, she did

it might just be a miracle...

canyon rose
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

i am FINALLY updating my shop with some new pieces.

i have been working quite hard to produce some new work (and some old work), but the rain has prevented me from taking pics.
it finally let up and i will be frantic all week trying to create more for the chimneyville arts festival and trying to take pics of everything i have lying around.

find canyon rose here

a growing boy

book project
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

i am pretty sure that i am not the one who told parker that he could grow up.
i still miss my little buddy hanging out with me all day.
but, i am so relieved that he loves his school, adores his teachers, and has made new friends.

bling

project runway challenge
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

after admiring maggie j and sara westermarks hollow form rings, i knew i wanted to make one.

this week's project runway challenge was to make a show stopper that was sparkly and shiny.
i thought this would be the perfect opportunity to combine some modern metalwork with my new rose cut gems.
this ring was fabricated from scratch and features two green amethyst gems.
i plan on exploring hollow form rings more in the future.

to see more bling, check out the etsymetal blog.

more project runway jewelry challenge

project runway challenge
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

last week's challenge was all about blue.
i decided to incorporate my enamel work with my flowers.
i think the idea (especially with the etched enamel and patina) will be something i expand on.
this pair did not turn out perfectly and will be in the sample sale section of my shop shortly.

check out the etsymetal blog for some of this weeks fab entries.

miles

miles
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

i have offically decided that miles is very different from parker but equally as awesome.
it almost seems silly that just a few months ago i was worried i wouldn't adore him as much as his older brother, but i do.
he is such a sweet, mild manner baby boy.
he loves his older brother and all of his shenanigans....
gnawing on him, dancing around him, yelling at the top of his lungs, singing in his face...
each of these things makes miles smile or laugh as much as a sweet kiss on the face.

project runway challenge

project runway challenge
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

this week's challenge was to select a movie genre (western, film noir, period piece, sci-fi, or action adventure and to create a costume for a character of your own creation.
i wanted something that would be a challenge in both the story aspect and the actual 'costume' so i choose sci-fi.
the ring itself was a challenge because it had many solder joints and i only use hard and medium-hard solder.
(i am much too rough on my jewelry to use anything else.)
everything went together just as i had planned and nothing melted unless it was planned.
the ring itself belongs to a wandering alien (for lack of a better word.)
she does not feel at home in any one place and chooses to explore far away galaxies.
thus, the ring is weathered and worn in appearance.
at the uppermost point is a star ruby that extends from its hollow base and is used as a homing device when she is ready to be whisked away to the next mysterious world.

to see other pieces for the challenge check out the etsymetal blog.

in other news

Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

parker began kindergarten almost a month a go.
he loves it and seems to be mellowing out just a big.
but, life at home is soooo quiet during the day that i sometimes find myself wandering around wondering what to do next.

miles is still the sweetest baby.
he is holding his head up and smiling all the time.
i can even get him laughing when he is in the right mood.

i have also been working on new pieces to fill up my etsy shop since it is so barren as of late.

i am back at the bench

at the beach
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

and participating in etsymetal's project runway jewelry challenge.

this week the challenge was to make something surf inspired.
i am not a surfer and immediately thought of the beaches at home.
this mammoth cocktail ring consists of a huge coral cabochon set in a handmade bezel.
it is accented with hand cut and filed beach grass and tiny fine silver grains of sand.
everything rests on a double band which also features a couple of fine silver grains of sand.

hopefully, i will be able to continue participating in the challenge.
it was nice to create something a little out of my comfort zone and to see how the other talented metalsmiths interpreted the challenge.

see some of their work here:

metalriot
bijougirl
Kathryn Riechert
Sara Westermark
experimetal
rubygirl
Cynthia Del Giudice

Nina Gibson designs
Beth Cyr

finally, the new addition

all
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

miles peter was born on may 23rd after a fun 18 hrs of labor.
he arrived 2.5 weeks early, but was healthy.
parker has truly been the best big brother ever by letting me know (repeatedly) that i should check miles' diaper, questioning me nonstop about breastfeeding, and giving lots of soft kisses and hugs to his brother.
miles has been mellow (for the most part) and super easy to drag around while i try to keep parker's life as 'normal' as possible.
the past month has been quite chaotic as we have tried to juggle them both.
needless to say, both my house and my jewelry have been neglected.