This necklace wears beautifully on a 16″ sterling silver chain so it lays right below the divot in the collarbone.
Rain Drops Pendant available at Silversmyth.com
Woke up with the brilliant idea in my mind for the above necklace. When great ideas come, I run to get my sketchbook. It’s usually those mornings when waking up slowly is possible. The alarm clock is no friend to my creativity. I open my eyes to sunlight and while still half asleep I start to imagine designs. It’s not a *try* kind of effort. It’s effortless. Thoughts just pass through and when that one brilliant moment happens I’m ready. Then I do my mad dash. Have to get my design on paper before it is forgotten.
I’d been thinking of ways to interestingly set cabachon gemstones. I just love lots of bright colors set in bright shiny sterling silver! I’m already thinking about my next multi-gemstone piece. Ideas are popping into my head constantly.
A good view of the bezel set cabachon gemstones
Wish there were two of me so one could be drawing up the ideas and the other could be working away at the workbench. Heck, I could probably keep a team of people busy with all the ideas floating around above my bed. Here’s just a couple of design sketches to tease you with…
Sterling Silver Multi-Gemstone Necklace and Earring Design Sketches
The peridots could have been on the outside of the bottom rings instead, and point down. You know that would have been an easier way to set the stones as there would have had more room to work around the settings. But I’m never one to take the easy path. I take the path less travelled by. You know that has made all the difference.
Actually, now that I think of it that would be a stupid idea. Only short people, children and dogs would get a good look at the pretty stones unless the top ring is fused to the bottom… But I’d only do that by request… I kind of like rings that float around freely when I move them.
I tried these on… just to make sure they hang right and it happened again. The inner argument began. It goes like this…
Bad Julie: I want these.
Good Julie: You can’t have these. You need to sell them.
Bad Julie: Mama like! Must have!
Good Julie: Well they do look good on you…
Bad Julie: Hey you are supposed to be the *good* inner voice.
Good Julie: I can’t be perfect all the time.
Bad Julie: So it’s decided, we’re keeping a pair of these.
Good Julie: We’ll probably need a pair in each color.
The intertwined bubbles design was created yesterday to be symbolic of marriage.
I was thinking about design in its relationship to writing prose or poetry. The goal when writing is to say the most you can with the fewest words. Writing should be clean and uncluttered.
My husband and I discuss design often. He tells me that poetry is kind of like design in that it’s best when simple, not over-reaching for depth or meaning. It has to happen and not be forced, or at least it has to appear that way.
Here is a poem my husband wrote just before we married in 1998 which I believe to be an excellent example.
(Excuse me, I must go off topic for a moment… but isn’t that the sweetest gift? I love that poem. I have it stored in my jewelry box. It’s as special to me as the treasures I keep beside it. )
So much of the jewelry design I see when shopping online or in stores is cluttered with stones and beads. But my favorite designs to see and wear are simple and classic. His advice on writing and design put into words what I believe about design. My designs should be simple and elegant. Uncluttered and clean. They should make the person wearing them feel confident in wearing a classic look that will not go out of style.
What I like about this circle design that it is versitile enough to compliment any outfit from jeans to an evening dress.
On leather (as shown) this pendant is a great everyday wear item. If you plan to wear it with evening wear I suggest selecting a sterling silver chain in 16, 18, or 20″. The pendant should fall just below the collar bone. On a small person, that’s a 16″ but on most people an 18 or 20″ is better.
Pendant with brown/black cord or varius lengths of sterling silver chain. Your choice of White (Super Premium) Cubic Zirconia, Simulated Aquamarine, Lab-grown Ruby, Natural Yellow Citrine. (See photo of stone colors reminiscent of Andy Warhol’s lithographs and Paypal button below.) $84.
Just wanted to share this awesome email I received today (April 12, 2010) regarding the above necklace that I sold over 5 months ago…
“Anyway, what I wanted to say was “THANK YOU”! I’m in absolute love with my amazing bubbles necklace. It has definitely been deemed my favorite necklace by FAR…this includes my other ‘mom’ necklaces and ALL my Tiffany’s! It’s not often I don’t wear it and that’s only depending on the neckline of my shirt OR if I reeeeally need to wear gold that day – both are RARE. You and Jeff are simply adorable and I’m very grateful you knocked him in the head of what I needed.
I wanted to make sure you realized how important my necklace is to me and how much I truly love it. It’s not like it was a new bday novelty that lost its excitement. That just won’t ever happen.”
There is just no question as to why I love my work so much and why I am delighted to take custom requests like I did on this occassion.
Just finished these stackable rings this evening. They are stacked up but not fused together so any number of color combinations could work. These would make a fabulous Mother’s Day gift.
These look like candy and make me really hungry for jelly beans for some reason… I know there’s an Easter basket around here somewhere!
$42 for February-Amethyst, June-Moonstone, July-Ruby, August-Peridot, September-Sapphire, November-Citrine, December-Blue Topaz.
$52 for January-Garnet, March-Aquamarine, April-CZ(cut tube set), May-Emerald, September-Sapphire, October-Opal
I custom carved and cast this cuff earring to replace one my customer lost. More available in pairs or singles. $58 for 1. $99 for a pair. You get your money’s worth in silver on these earrings. They are not lightweight and are only for people who like heavier solid pieces.
So a while back I noticed that a perpetually perky gal living in Fort Worth was following me on Twitter. In fact, this broad was always there. She’d be there over my 6 a.m. cup of coffee tweeting away like some verbose, glaring sunrise. Over lunch she’d still be there happily tra-la-la-ing while I was alternating between swigs of flat Diet Dr Pepper and bites of limp lettuce sandwich…. [Read more]
Sterling Silver with Lab Grown Ruby, Sim. Peridot and CZ
Really enjoying adding stones to both ends of tubing and creating designs to show it to its full advantage. Many great ideas are popping into my mind all the time. If only I had a team of people to carry them out! : ) Okay, back to work!
* Children Welcome
* FREE Concessions
* Art Exhibit
* Entertainment
Quick Links…
Please note our web address:
www.artsfifthavenue.org
Dear Students & Supporters…Friends & Family,
Please join us as we celebrate our 8th Anniversary and for our 1st Annual Artist-In-Residence Showcase.
Opera, Tap Dance, Sculpture, Jazz Vocals, Hip Hop, Comic Monologue, Oil Paintings, Mime, Multi-Cultural Storytelling, Modern Dance, Mosaics, Beaded Jewelry, Weavings, Mixed-Media Paintings, Photography & More…must be Arts Fifth Avenue and where else but in Fort Worth!
I’ll be there with my Silversmyth Jewelry Collection!
Arts Fifth Avenue opened its doors and held its first classes on Tuesday, September 11, 2001.
We watched the tragedies of the day unfold and listened as the skies went silent. We were unsure of what we should do or were supposed to do in the aftermath, so we did the only thing we could – we tap danced with tears in our eyes and broken hearts.
We would like to thank all of you of for your support through the years and each year as we celebrate our anniversary, we will honor the lives interrupted through our art. We invite you to join us now and in the future.
Thank You.
Arts Fifth Avenue
1628 5th Ave
Fort Worth, TX 76104
817.923.9500
Silversmyth jewelry handcrafted by Julie Hiltbrunner. Unique and custom designs with classic simplicity in sterling silver. Blog details what has been created in the Silversmyth workshop, Fort Worth events and an occassional story on an an interesting artist... Enjoy!
Silversmyth jewelry handcrafted by Julie Hiltbrunner. Unique and custom designs with classic simplicity in sterling silver. Blog details what has been created in the Silversmyth workshop, Fort Worth events and an occassional story on an an interesting artist... Enjoy!