Happy New Year

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for stopping by and to wish everyone a safe and prosperous 2010.

Aftermath

Well, the sales are over now as we start wrapping things up for the Christmas shipping deadlines. We wish everyone a wonderful and safe holiday filled with peace and joy (and from the looks of things quite a bit of snow!).

www.silver-byfire.com

Sale madness

I think I am in the true spirit of the season as I have decided to really let go and put everything in stock on sale for 3 DAYS ONLY! Don't miss this as it is a real bargain at 25% off!

Check it out here!

Snow Day

It snowed here today. A very big deal in this area and really helps get the spirits up for the holiday. I hope everyone is staying safe and enjoying all that is best about Christmas. I think most of us are focusing more on quality rather than quantity this year especially; I know I am, and it is really taking a lot of stress out of my shopping. I hope you find the same peace.

www.silver-byfire.com

Double Bargain

While the recovery from my latest surgery did not go as well as hoped it was still far better than the last one so as I recovered this time I decided I need to clear the decks for making new things. In order to do that I am setting up my best sale ever. And just in time for you to take advantage for some Christmas shopping. I call that a double bargain. So check out the sale items on the website by clicking here.

www.silver-byfire.com

Options

I thought I would share these photos of a beaded crochet scarf I recently completed using Bamboo Thread. I think with the popularity of crocheted scarves we see mostly heavier weight yarn ones at least around here. But after her trip to New York my daughter informed me that, at that time anyway, they were wearing silk scarves there.

I happen to have done most of my scarf pin photos using the heavier yarn scarves and sweaters as they show up better for photography purposes. But the pins do work just as well on silk scarves, cotton bandannas (think Rodeo Days) and this light weight crocheted thread scarf. I just wanted to encourage everyone to think about other ways to use the same piece of jewelry.

Just remember that fine silver is softer than sterling silver in much the same way that 24 carat gold is softer than 14 carat. When adding other minerals to increase strength you decrease the value of the precious metal. This is something we keep in mind when choosing how different pieces are made.

www.silver-byfire.com

Other plans

No matter what plans you may make, life sometimes has other things in store for you. Now I intended a quick recovery from my last surgery so I could spend the summer and fall on all these wonderful ideas I have had for new jewelry pieces. But the surgery required a long recovery instead and just as I was getting over that there was this little fire. Doesn't look too bad from the outside.

But inside was another story!

And while we waited on the insurance someone helped themselves to the air conditioner. Now that's just wrong!

But after months of waiting the construction began.

Or maybe I should say deconstruction?

All in all it has been a bit distracting and time consuming what with picking out paint colors and new light fixtures etc.

But it will be nice - when it is done. In the meantime, tomorrow I am scheduled to have the next oral surgery. I do hope this recovery goes better! So keep in mind there could be some minor delays in shipping and no special orders for the time being. Sorry about that, but life had other plans.

www.silver-byfire.com

Halloween Spider

I thought you might like to see something I made a few years ago. I found it to be on the delicate side so never put it out for sale as I have my jewelry worn to be sure it will hold up to normal wear and tear before I sell it.

Even so it is a fun piece. Can you see the fly caught in the spider's web?

The back of the piece reminded me of a full moon and just really needed some creature of the night winging it's way across this cold silver orb.

www.silver-byfire.com

Inspriation

People often ask me where I get the ideas for my jewelry. Inspiration for me often comes in waiting rooms from other directions. For example, this week I was waiting for my daughter at the Dr.'s office and after checking my calendar and adding to my TODO list I started playing with some sketches for pendants with stones sparked by the pattern on a glass topped table.

I then had a thought for some personalized silver tags as something personal to make for my family, which led me to jot down ideas for a sampler quilt. One of the "blocks" I created in my mind turned into a sketch for a piece of jewelry entitled Never Ending Love which I couldn't wait to get home to make.

My friends often comment that my mind never stops. And I guess that is true. I get many ideas while waiting in line or in traffic or in waiting rooms. The trick is in remembering them until I can get them down in a notebook or sketch pad.

www.silver-byfire.com

Temporary quarters

This week I had family come for an extended visit and I just can't go that long without making jewelry so we did some rearranging and moved my work out to the dining room.  We will see how this works out.  We seldom eat in the dining room anyway.   I hope I can walk past it without stopping on my way to bed. 

www.silver-byfire.com

Scarf Pins or Shawl Pins?

If you check out Pins under shopping you will find some Scarf Pins. However, I just finished crocheting this Diagonal Lace Shawl and find the pins work very well if not better on this. It also inspired a sketch for some new designs. I can't wait to get to work on them. I will take the time for better photos of those. This one was focused more on the shawl.

www.silver-byfire.com

Why do I do it?

I confess I started making Silver jewelry for purely selfish reasons. Namely because I enjoy it so much and it is so rewarding to create something of value. (I love to crochet too but it just isn't the same) Doing it as a business however, requires an inordinate amount of paperwork and organization. Now most of my friends would describe me as organized but when it comes to my creative side, that just doesn't apply. Many jewelry makers insist on being neat and organized but when I am in the midst of an inspiration or working out a design to suit me I am solely focused on that. So organization becomes a drudge for me in the studio.

And then there is selling. Like many artists I am not particularly comfortable in sales. Obviously - I am an artist not a salesman. So why do I keep doing it?

There are days I confess when I question keeping the business open vs just creating to my messy heart's content but then I get a letter, email or comment like the one from Darlene (see the Aug. 12 post comment) that reminds me that God directed me to this endeavour for a reason. And the reason wasn't mine!

Gifts of jewelry touch people's hearts. Flowers are nice but don't last. Jewelry lasts a lifetime and beyond. The recipient can wear it as often as they chose and are reminded of the giver as well as the purpose each time they see it. Jewelry touches people's hearts. And to be a tiny part of that is reason enough.

http://www.silver-byfire.com/

A New Look

Did you check out the Special Deals section on the Shopping page? I loved the look the tubular necklace gave to these pendants. For those who prefer the chains they are still available that way in the necklace section. Since I have been laid up it has given me time to take a second look at what I already have which is always a good thing. I am getting restless to get back in the studio though so I can feed my need to create!


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Update

Well, my trip to see the surgeon today brought some unhappy news as I have to go back for more surgery tomorrow as the implant was not to his satisfaction. While I am not happy about it I am pleased to know the man I trust with a scalpel is a perfectionist. (you'd think I was having plastic surgery!) This of course is a setback on the recovery and requires me to once again place all shipping on hold. I am so sorry for this inconvenience and if there is an urgent need you can email and we will do the best we can to help you out.

www.silver-byfire.com

Recovering

As you may have discovered at the website we have not been making any shipments since last Friday, which is when I had some rather extensive oral surgery done. The surgery went quite well, however it takes time to recover from this. We are making shipments again but it will be a while yet before I am back in the studio. It will be interesting to see what designs I jotted into my ever handy sketchbook while enjoying the benefits of my painkillers.



http://www.silver-byfire.com/

Freedom Bracelet

The freedom bracelet at the head of this blog is one I have not posted for sale yet on the website but you saw it first here! I made it after reading an article on mirror finishes, which are a more time consuming technique than with a textured background and small pieces are harder to hold onto while hand sanding to get that fine shine. The design however, was floating around my head waiting for the right time to blossom. But more on my creative process later.

http://www.silver-byfire.com/

In Memory of

This ribbon pendant I designed in memory of my late husband who died on active duty 15 years ago today. I wear it on special days in his honor. Eventually I decided to offer this design as a special order and was touched when one lady bought one in honor of her late sister and then ordered one for her other sister and her mother. This is certainly not the first time a piece I have made has had a special meaning for someone else.

I have found that people buy jewelry for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it is to set off a particular outfit. Sometimes because it just jumps out and cries their name. Sometimes because it jumps out and cries someone else's name, and those pieces are cherished for a lifetime. I do not consider myself a girlie-girl. More like the proverbial tom boy, but this is part of the reason that designing fine silver jewelry is so very rewarding for me. I love seeing and hearing about the way in which my jewelry designs touch people and add meaning to their lives.

http://www.silver-byfire.com

Welcome

Welcome to my blog! I decided to start this blog as a way to connect in a less formal setting and hopefully on a more regular basis. If you have questions you would like to ask this is where I can hopefully answer them. I do know that finding the extra time for this will be a challenge but I have hopes that you will find the results interesting. This is still a learning ground for me so if something is not right please let me know. I look forward to learning and growing and sharing more of my craft. Thank you for checking this out and come back often.

http://www.silver-byfire.com/