blue patina necklace

This is a necklace I created some months ago as a submission for a book on use of patina in jewelry.  They only wanted images and I haven't heard anything back from the book company yet so I am thinking it is safe to sell!  I created this beginning with a flat piece of copper, cutting it out into two circle shapes of same size using a jeweler's saw.  I stamped the pieces with a bird and a moon/star.  Then I domed the copper pieces into two rather organic shapes- meaning they were not meant to be perfect and were a tad crinkled on the edges.  Lightly tapping around the perimeter of the domes while held together with the fingers melds them into each other for a perfect fit, mirrored crinkles and all.

Super stinky ammonia is the simple ingredient that produces this pretty intense blue.  Easy as pie.  Lots of info about using it for metal patina online.  I intended to spray a clear glossy coat to seal this but I still haven't done it and months later the color is still true.  I'll probably spray several coats on before I place it at its next stop-- my etsy shop.

Sterling silver chain, a hand stamped silver round (with the patina and stamped textures I love...) and some pretty apatite and gemstone citrine teardrop complete the piece.  Look for it later tomorrow http://jenniferstumpf.etsy.com.

Where Mango can be found every single morning from about 7 a.m.- 10:30 a.m.  Don't tell but I keep the window open for him in this intense heat, and run the AC full blast, just because I love him so much and he loves the window open.  Shhhh....

trudi bird bracelet

Just a quick post since I am heading out to work and I'm running late!  But here is my latest creation-- the Trudi Bird Bracelet, which is currently for sale at http://jenniferstumpf.etsy.com.  It is created from some of my prettiest beads (agates!  prehnite!  apatite! vintage czech glass!  lampwork glass beads! Swarovski crystals!), some of which have been in my stash for quite a while, waiting for me to get the lead out and make something with them!

Awww..  isn't this turqoise bird the sweetest little thing?  He has a sterling cap and a lovely Swarovski crystal perched on his head.  A faceted green agate egg is next to him...  Above is a drilled river pebble and a pretty antiqued round bone bead-- peeking above is a lentil shaped lampwork glass bead purchased years ago from the Greater Washington D.C. bead society bead show and I'm sorry to say I have lost the name of the artist who created it.

Paired with my grand-dad's watch, it makes a handsome piece and is very comfortable to wear at 7 3/4". I'm heading out for the rest of the day and evening-- thanks for looking!!  xo

Beauty Walk- reloaded!

I made a necklace today, incorporating a pendant previously created and dismantled with different elements.  More and more I am enjoying simpler designs with just a hint of sparkle and color, just enough to catch attention but not so much that it is distracting.  The pendant is hand stamped brass and is from the Navajo Beauty Way poem.

I am also loving the simplicity of vintaj wire and chain (this one is 20" with a 3.5" inch pendant drop), which goes so well with a summer tan and does not tarnish as easily as silver (no, it does not turn your neck green!).

Lanyard hooks are so cool!  This piece has two-- one vintage lanyard hook on the 3.5" drop pendant and one as the clasp.  I see all kinds of design potential using these simple but interesting elements.

And I had to post a cute photo of my big boy Mango the Manx, propping his head on his new squirrel toy.  :-)  I didn't plan for the sofa, toy and kitty to be the same color!

For a closer look (at the necklace, of course), check out my etsy shop http://jenniferstumpf.etsy.com.

Boho Bracelet on Etsy!

It's taken me almost a year of life getting in the way but I finally made time to make a piece of jewelry for sale. Woo hoo! This is an eight inch bracelet chock full of lovely earthenware, bone, nut and lampwork beads. Lots of charms to jingle jangle and a comfortable fit with double leather cord band and sterling silver clasp. All the details are besides the point, but it felt very good to make something again. What with tambour embroidery, weaving, crochet and needlework projects stacked to the ceiling, jewelry took a long term back burner! I'm happy to be back. I hope you enjoy this bracelet and you can find it for sale at http://jenniferstumpf.etsy.com. Thanks for looking!

tambour embroidery class piece finish

Last June 2010, I took a tambour embroidery class at the University of Kentucky, under the direction of Professor Bob Haven, who is a professor of costume design and also a graduate of the Lesage school of embroidery in Paris, France.  This is the piece he designed for us to complete, using basically four techniques of luneville or tambour embroidery, which, simply put, is a form of embroidery using a very tiny sharp crochet hook.  After some serious practice, intense concentration and a few painful (and bloody) stabs to my thumb, I got the hang of it all and here is the finished piece.

The base fabric is organza, with metallic and polyester threads, flat and cupped sequins, beads and gold lame to complete the design.

Tomorrow I am heading first to Pennsylvania with my husband, to attend first his art opening at the Dressler Center for the Arts in Somerset, and then a memorial "jam session" to honor my late father in law, who passed away in March.  Sunday we are driving to Kentucky for me to study again with Bob Haven for an intensive three day course in tambour embroidery.  From this embroidery study has come a new passion for me and when I am working it, I feel completely alive and aware, totally in the moment.  More to come on my future with tambour embroidery featuring very prominently in my life!

updating since November!

This is a necklace I made a few weeks ago.  Probably is a little hard to tell but it is a domed piece of copper held together with brass eyelets and silver wire.  How long have I been out of the loop?  Last time I placed an order for silver I think it was around $18 an ounce.  Imagine my shock at yesterday's prices!  Upwards of $39 an ounce! :-O I think I'll be using up what I have and then working with lots of lovely colored copper wire and base metals!  This piece was one of those immediate ideas that came to me and I just sat down and banged the whole thing out, except for the blue colored copper, which took longer for a nice patina.  I am really liking the look of stacked flat beads and metal elements these days and as always, I love gemstone drops!  This one is a gorgeous faceted citrine tear drop.  I have very little sterling chain left.  *sigh*  When will prices come down, people?  I really like silver chain with my pendants!

A close up of the pendant.  Because I cut out my own round copper pieces, I don't always get them perfectly round (even though I try!).  Consequently, when I use the dapping block, sometimes the pieces get a bit wonky and warped  out of shape.  After I hammered and banged (and annoyed the neighbors to no end), I was bemoaning that this piece didn't come out perfect on both sides to match evenly.  WAAAAAAAA!!!  BUT!  I then discovered that if I held both wonky domed halves together and held them tight, then lightly tapped the perimeter with my little hammer, each wonked half conformed to the other and it fit perfectly, wonks and all!  This one is not yet for sale, but probably will be soon on my long, long empty etsy shop.  Just for the heck of it, here is the link http://jenniferstumpf.etsy.com.

Many things have happened this year of 2011 so far.  Painful still is the death of our sweet dog, Lucy.  We had her for fifteen years, since she was 10 weeks old, when I found her broken and bleeding by the side of the road, having been thrown from a car and abandoned.  We were lucky to have her for so many wonderful years and she is missed to no end.   Rest in peace, Lucy!  You deserve it and we will see you again, sweet girl!  August 1996- February 23, 2011.

Ah....  still makes me cry.  Hasn't been that long.  But we are still inspired to save another little life via animal shelter rescue and even though it hasn't been very long, we have started looking for that little critter that clicks with us.  It's not like there is a shortage of dogs or cats or other critters for adoption and life is too short and precious to wait!

What else?  I splurged and treated myself to a Bernina sewing machine.   I taught myself to crochet and LOVE it.  Needlework is still a passion, especially tambour embroidery.  The University of Kentucky School of Fine Arts is calling my name again in May for the next advanced master class in tambour embroidery.  The instructor has taken and completed the coveted Lesage school of professional couture, and he is most excellent at his art.  I am in awe of his abilities.  Since I can't get to Paris for the several hundred hour class myself, I head for Kentucky once a year for a week to learn all I can from Bob Haven.  Most exciting!!

Hope life is treating everyone well.  It there is anything that I continually learn, it is that we need to be kind to each other.

My husband and I are heading out for an evening power walk now.  We both are trying to get into better shape.  Ten hours prone in a chair at work has not worked wonders on my physique!