Dream Class with Rosy Revolver

I recently had the privilege of taking  a great class taught by Jessica Jordan a.k.a. Rosy Revolver.  I have admired her work for quite a while now and have wanted to take one of her classes but they have always been too far away.

I started following Jessica on social media was surprised to find that she lives only 2 1/1 hours away and has started teaching classes in her studio in Fuquay Varina.  Wonderful for me!  She has both studio time and scheduled classes available.  I signed up for her "Stone on Stone" class which involved creating a bezel ring from silver. Working with silver is new to me but am very excited to start learning.

The class was suppose to have four students but lucky for me there were only two of us.  Her studio is wonderful-everything beautifully organized in just the right spot with lots of "eye-candy inspiration" everywhere.

Just one view-plenty of light-space and tools

Jessica was very patient, knowledgeable and so willing to share not only her skill but her supply sources.  I  know I seemed a little over the top with my note pad and jotting down everything for later review.

Jessica demonstrating torch use

Demonstrating how to ball silver for our rings

The class was packed with technique and demonstrations-sawing, bezel making, drilling stones and soldering just to name a few.  I learned a lot of new skills that I hope to put to use soon and came home ready to place an order for silver and few new tools.

My bezels before setting stones and making the ring

Finished ring

I love my new ring and will return I'm sure in the near future for another class!

"Jewelia"s" New Dress

Last year I introduced you to my dress form-"Jewelia".  

At the time she was showing off her new finery-a dress made of vintage crocheted doilies.

This is what she looked like then...

Recently while getting prepared for an outdoor show I decided "Jewelia" 

needed something a little more exciting and colorful.  

After looking for a vintage 1950s prom dress without success, 

I decided to make one myself. 

One yard of satin fabric and six yards of tulle later this is the dress I came up with-

"Jewelia" graced my show and was a hit drawing the attention to my booth I was looking for.

This is the new "Jewelia"....

Bracelet Make-Over

This is the bracelet I made at Bead Fest in Kim St. Jean's "Ruffled Bracelet" class.

While I loved learning the fold forming technique, I'm don't think I would 

wear this bracelet-it's not quite my style. So I felt a bracelet "do-over" was called for.

I took it apart, re-annealed it and then was able to cut it into 3 separate pieces.

This is what I made with 2 of the pieces...now I do really like them!

Have you done any "do-overs"?

Bead Soup Reveal Day

It is finally here-"Reveal Day"-can't wait to show you what I made...

My "SOUP" partner is Loretta Carstensen of designsbyloretta.blogspot.com.  Loretta lives in South Ogden, Utah.   She is retired and along with making jewelry loves to travel with her husband.

This is the "bead soup" I received. 

Thanks, Loretta for a beautiful "soup"!

The large red beads are glass African trade beads 

and the small ones are red jasper. I don't know what the focal bead is. 

Please let me know if you do.

In the beginning I didn't think this would be such a hard challenge but the more I looked at it the harder it became. I wanted to complement the focal and not overpower or take away from it. After much thought and deliberation, I finally decided the focal needed some wire wrapping...but that was only part of the necklace.  Again, I had to set it aside and ponder how to add just the right chain to set it off.  This is the design I came up with.

The toggle clasp was bright brass that I patinated to match the bronze wire links.

I also made a pair of earrings using the red jasper beads.

The African trade beads will remain in my stash for a while waiting patiently for an idea to "pop" into my head...so until later be sure to check out Loretta's blog along with all the other participants in the Blog Hop.

I'm off to blog hop and see what you made...

Thanks again, Lori for a fun Bead Soup Blog Hop!