Reticulated and Recycled Silver

It's been a while since I played with reticulation silver. Reticulation silver is a combination of sterling and copper so that when you heat the metal, the different melting points of sterling and copper create a tiny network of wrinkles in the surface of the metal. I like to layer the reticulation silver with little melted beads of recycled sterling silver that I heat fuse to the surface.

sterling silver, reticulation silver, blue chalcedony, and patina

I had forgotten how much I like the effect until I recently saw one of my customers wearing this one-of-a-kind ring that I had created for her in 2010. It's actually one of my favorite pieces to date!

Last week, I created a handful of new pendants and earrings using the reticulation technique. Some of the pendants already sold at the Arts Around the Lake show at the University of Richmond last Sunday, but the remainder will be available this weekend at Occasion for the Arts show in Williamsburg, VA.

I hope you can make it to the show!

SILVER LEAF NECKLACE now on ETSY!

You may have seen my Silver Leaf Earrings online (or perhaps you are one of the lucky few, who own a pair) but have you seen my Silver Leaf Necklace yet?  If you see me in person, then the answer is probably "yes", because I wear mine all the time.  I've been keeping this treasure to myself for some time, but I've recently decided to release this lovely design in my Etsy shop!  Previously, I only made a couple of these pendants to sell at shows, but now you can win one on Etsy!

My Silver Leaf pendant is effortlessly graceful, hanging 1.5 inches in overall length. The width of the pendant is about 3/4 inch at it's widest point. Each pendant is entirely handmade and comes with a matching sterling silver ball chain. Hand built from scratch, I use both fine (.999) and sterling (.925) silver. Lovely and organic, the silver leaf is highly textured and reflects light beautifully! A hand-applied satin finish helps the details sing!

This pendant was designed to coordinate with my Silver Leaf Earrings. The Earrings come in two lengths: 

Extra Long: https://www.etsy.com/listing/51924067/silver-leaf-earrings-extra-long-sterling

 and Medium Long: https://www.etsy.com/listing/91103538/silver-leaf-earrings-medium-long

STOCKLEY GARDENS ART FESTIVAL IN NORFOLK, VA

Come see the entire Dream Spiral Art Jewelry Collection this weekend at the:

Stockley Gardens Art Festival  
Saturday, May 19 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. &
 Sunday, May 20 from noon to 6:00 p.m.
Stockley Gardens Park, located off Olney Road in the Ghent section of Norfolk, VA 

Looks like the weather is going to be perfect. The festival is FREE and held outdoors in the park both days.

This is my last show until the Fall! 

SHOW SCHEDULE for SPRING 2012

With my first 2012 Art Festival right around the corner (this Saturday), I thought I'd better list my Spring show line-up. All shows are held outdoors - rain or shine. Hope to see you there!

 UPCOMING SHOWS:

Fool for Art at John Tyler Community College
Saturday, April 21 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
800 Charter Colony Parkway
Midlothian, VA

Sunday in the Park with Friends 
Sunday, April 29 from noon to 5:00 p.m.

Forest Hill Park in Richmond, VA

Stockley Gardens Art Festival  
Saturday, May 19 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. &
 Sunday, May 20 from noon to 6:00 p.m.
Stockley Gardens Park, located off Olney Road in the Ghent section of Norfolk, VA

This year I will not be participating in any summer shows, but I'll be back for a few favorites in the Fall. And remember you can always find a selection of my handmade jewelry at Dream Spiral Art on Etsy and at GlassBoat in Carytown. 

Here's a sneak peak of some brand new earrings that will be available this Saturday at Fool for Art.

Beads are back! Paired with a careful selection of gemstones and pearls, braided sterling silver hoops shine in these dangly handmade earrings.

Lepidopterans in my Shop

So for the last few years I have been using resin in my jewelry to encapsulate organic materials such as birch bark, moss, flower petals and lichens. (You can view my entire "Captured Collection" here). Last fall I found a few discarded butterfly and moth wings and have been excited to try my resin technique on them.

Sterling Silver, Resin, and Butterfly Wing

Sterling Silver, Resin, and Moth Wing remnant

Sterling Silver, Resin, and Buckeye Moth Wing

If these lovely Lepidoptera pendants make your heart flutter, be sure to catch one before they all fly away.  Each piece is one of a kind and available in my Etsy shop now.

By the way, I'm getting ready to email a top-secret coupon code for my newsletter subscribers only.  If you do not already receive my newsletter and would like to, be sure to sign up by clicking the text "Subscribe to my Newsletter" in the column on the right side of this page.  I only email about 4 newsletters per year, but each one contains show schedule updates, new product info, and exclusive coupon codes for subscribers only.