Snowing

It is definitely Winter here in Northern Nevada.  We had snow all day Friday, then it turned to rain on Saturday, now it's Sunday and snowing once again.  I'm glad I'll be here for Christmas so I don't have to worry about traveling in this.  I guess we're going to have a white Christmas after all!

I'm looking forward to the days after Christmas.  My sister and her hubby are going down to So. Calif. for Christmas (they do every year) and then bringing my other sister back with them the day after Christmas.  I will get to see them on Tuesday (I'm taking the day off) and then hang out till Thursday.  Fun Fun Fun.

Well, I guess I should post some more pics of earrings I have

for sale on my ArtFire store:::

 
The website is http://www.tstrinkets.artfire.com/  -  I know Christmas is only 6 days away so it's getting a little too close to be ordering specialized jewelry, but I thought they looked good and just wanted to post them.

Enameled pendant

Well, I finally got around to using my kiln FOR the FIRST TIME!
It was a little intimidating -  made a little pendant.  I think for the first time EVER enameling it turned out nice.  The pics aren't too good cuz they're close up and you can see all the booboos.  But it looks nice if you're not right on top of it.
Love it!

I'm glad I got around to at least trying it.  I'm going to wrap it in Copper wire and see how it turns out.

Christmas is coming!

It's only 16 days away.  Christmas Day.  How did THAT happen??
I had a wax casting class a couple of weeks ago and made a "rose".  It was supposed to be a rose, but I don't think it is.  But it's pretty, anyway.  I cast it out of pure silver.

It was a fun project.  I'm sure I'll be making more.  I belong to a club called the Reno Gem and Mineral Society and when you are a member you can take classes there for a very reasonable price.  It's pretty much one-on-one instruction which was really good for me.

I had taken a wax casting class at a college here but there were over 25 people in the class and it was very "busy" so I didn't really have the type of instruction I really needed.  This class was wonderful!

I am pretty much a "do-it-yourself" type of person.  I learned how to make my jewelry I sell on Artfire by watching videos on the web and reading books.  I did the same thing with the wax casting, but just didn't quite understand until I did it "hands on".  I guess sometimes you have to do that.  Like my wire wrapping.  I do pretty good with that until I have to make a bail - then the wire just looks all twisted up and stupid on the top. I am taking a wire wrapping class at a bead store near my house.  The class I signed up for is for making prong rings out of wire.  I can't wait to learn that!  I'm going to take another class for wire wrapping.  Then I can make some awesome jewelry!  I have some beautiful cabochon stones that I need to wire wrap and hopefully I will learn that skill soon!  And I haven't given up on my enameling - I just haven't had time to set up my kiln and really get into it yet.  I did make a design out of copper wire and will try to make a cloisonné pendant out of copper.  I hope I don't screw it up.

In the meantime, I made some more Christmas tree chandelier earrings.  One is all red in gold and the other is black/clear crystals in silver.  I like them.

I really enjoy making them.  It's so hard to try to take good pics when the sun has refused to shine here for the last week or so.  But then, that's winter, right?

Well, Christmas shopping doesn't wait - If you know what I mean.  I gotta get out there and get some stuff done.

I'll write again~~~~~~~~