Work in Progress...

I'm really new to creating and sharing my work with the World, so to speak.

I feel extremely shy and awkward about throwing my work out for all to see and critique.

I know that we are so "open" in this digital age but I am one of the last people on the Planet to open a Facebook and Twitter account.  Honestly, I would have only opened a "Makings by Bee" Facebook account but it required my information too.  

I am bad at this self publicity part.

A lot of time, energy and thought goes into each piece, even the ones that look "random."

I'm in the middle of creating right now and filling custom orders.

It will probably be a few days until I get pictures of my new items photographed and loaded.

I promise that I won't let one full week pass.

As I am creating and filling my "Mommy" Halloween duties, 

I am also working on a smoother photography process.  

I am working on a tabletop studio with a specific and consistent layout.

That should help to ensure that lighting, framing and orientation are consistent.

Right now I hang my pieces from a beautiful maple tree in my yard.  

When it is raining or dark, I can't work.

Plus I feel like my pictures are missing a better representation of how they look when wearing.  Tune in soon for more accurate images.

Once my new photography process is achieved, I hope to list the available items for sale on Etsy with a link directly from the blog and/or Facebook to my store.

I hope that my work is well received.  I am always open to ideas and inspiration.

Drop me a line if you have any questions or comments.

Thanks!

Great Grandmother's Brooch

We all have a special piece of jewelry from a family member that is most treasured and never worn.

I'd like to say that we don't wear the piece because we don't want to lose it but that's not 

usually the case.  The jewelry isn't our style, we don't wear that type of jewelry, etc.

I made the necklace pictured for a family member who helps me out on a regular basis.

I love her work, I appreciate her work and wanted to give her an extra "Thank You."

I started with the gold feather and gold loop piece for this necklace.  The pendant base was formerly a brooch inherited from Great Grandmother.  As a society, we don't really wear brooches anymore.  Therefore the brooch didn't have a usable form for the owner.  The cool thing about this brooch is that the feather can be moved up to 180 degrees.  Personally, I think it looks best in one of the two manners pictured below.  Either having the feather "closed" or "open."

With a piece like this as my beginning, I didn't have to worry about what to add.  The brooch alone is beautiful!  Anything else that I add just enhances.  

I like to put thought, heart, purpose and meaning into my jewelry as much as possible.  Starting on the left, I added a rectangular mother of pearl.  Pearls symbolize innocence and faith.  Next I added a very small vintage sterling silver cross.  The large antique key in the center was a favor given at the recipient's wedding.  Finally, I added a chain on the right side that contained a heart and the letter M in celebration of her marriage.  The vintage pearls at the bottom of the chain were added for visual balance.  The pendant was placed on a 22" textured platinum plated chain with a traditional lobster clasp in the back.

I used a combination of silver, gold, antique bronze and pewter so this necklace would match any other jewelry that the recipient might be wearing at a given time.

I was really pleased with the overall look, sentimentality and design of this necklace.

If you have a piece of jewelry that you'd like for me to reinvent, contact me through the form on the left side of the blog or at makingsbybee@gmail.com

The cost of reconfiguration would be dependent on the additional supplies used plus labor ($40+).

Asymettrical Feminitiy

One thing that you'll see me repeat with varying levels of severity are asymmetrical designs.

My hope is that it keeps the wearer interested in wearing the necklace repeatedly.

I don't want to create a necklace that gets pushed to the back of the jewelry box and forgotten about.

That is the other piece that you will see me repeat...everyday necklaces!

I want to make a necklace that you'll wear with everything all of the time.  

I want you to say "I love this necklace, I am never going to take it off."

That means that my designs must work with casual, business and semi-formal.

My necklaces are soft and feminine.  I love to add dabbles of pearls because what woman doesn't love pearls?  Now I don't like complete pearl strands.  Too stuffy for me.

 I like to use delicate beads and chains.  

  Today I am in a t-shirt that can't be less than 5 years old,

with a 3 year old pair of trouser jeans, a pony tail and glasses.

I do not look my best today, not even close.

I don't feel like my best, not even close.

My feelings changed when I put on the "Random Yet Faithful" 

necklace listed below before I ran errands with my girls.

One little addition changed my outlook and self esteem.

It's great to be a woman!

 "Random Yet Faithful"

This double stranded silver necklace is fun and sweet at the same time.

A rhinestone cross rests at the center of a 22" vintage silver rolo chain from Ann Taylor.

The 18" feminine antique silver chain holds a neatly wire wrapped blue jade stone.

A metal Virgin Mary Catholic medal hangs asymmetrically on the left side of the longer chain, close to the wearer's heart.  

A pearl bead hangs next to Mary as a reminder of her "pure" faith.

A tiny frosted quartz teardrop hangs asymmetrically on the right side of the longer chain.

Both chains are attached to a traditional lobster clasp with split rings for added strength.

UPDATED 11-25-2013
The 22" Figaro chain has been changed to a vintage Ann Taylor rolo chain.
Updated Pictures: 

 

Broken Porcelain Turned Wearable Art!

This 1 ½ inch piece of antique Chinese porcelain was "framed" in silver and "messy" wrapped at the loop.

Artfully placed vintage pearl beads, glass and charms hang asymmetrically on the left side of the chain about half way up the left side of chain.

All of this on a 26" textured platinum plated chain with traditional lobster clasp closure in back

 

 "Vintage Gold"

King Midas would be proud because 

it just doesn't get easier than this!

I honestly don't think that you could ever go wrong when wearing this necklace.

It is elegant yet simple, colorful yet plain.

This 22 inch antique bronze Figaro chain holds a vintage gold plated filigree hoop earring turned pendant. A vintage beaded clover/cross pendant dangles between the arch of the pendant.hoop.  I added a vintage red wooden bead to hang asymmetrically on the left side.  The necklace is complete with a traditional lobster clasp in the back.

Circles within Circles

I love circles.  I love using circles within circles.

I use them in my decor and in my art.

It is said that an unbroken circle represents eternity. 

My obsession with circles gets deeper with the significance of a circle as a wedding ring.

During a marriage ceremony, the exchange of rings represents a couple's pledge for an  unbroken and eternal bond.  

You will see a lot of circles in my jewelry.

 "Between The Rings"

This is a cool necklace.  It turned out much better than what I intended to create.

There are 4 items of varying length, size, color and texture suspended in a vintage gold plated earring.

I disconnected the earring post and wire wrapped crisscrossed circles "closed" to form a base.

At the top I secured a split ring instead of a jump ring for extra strength.

Suspended within the gold plated rings are a spiral wrapped sea-green Fluorite stone, Labradorite stone wire wrapped with a messy look, a clear Quartz teardrop and a vintage brass bead.

The pendant is hanging from a 24" antique bronze chain with a traditional lobster clasp.

 "Faithful Healing Beauty"

When I began creating this necklace, I had no idea that I was going to end up with a powerful result.  Many people believe in the healing power of various stone properties. 

To create this necklace, I used silver wire in a messy style to wrap a large Labradorite stone, hung it from a large silver plated ring, added an antique silver Catholic Rose Locket and a dainty pearl bead.  I hung it on a 24" antique silver chain with carvings.  The chain was finished with a heart shaped toggle clasp.  

When you combine the elemental properties you get: 

• Silver Plated Ring - An unbroken circle of eternity
• Labradorite - A stone that is known for its healing qualities
• Antique Catholic "Miraculous Mary" Rose Locket: Catholics believe that wearing the "Miraculous Mary" medal will bring them special graces through the intercession of Mary if worn with faith and devotion.  By having the medal images inside of the locket, the wearer has a private affirmation of faith.
• Pearl: Not only is a pearl June's birthstone, it is also known to be the "stone of faith and sincerity,"
  Many Catholics around the world wear the Miraculous Medal, which they believe will bring them special graces through the intercession of Mary if worn with faith and devotion. - See more at: http://www.thecatholicgiftshop.com/miraculous-rose-locket.html#sthash.c4GK9Lcf.dpuf

I wish that I could tell you that I meant to combine these mega-powerhouse elements together but it was a coincidence.  I think it is divine intervention.  

God at work through my hands and heart.  Yes, that sounds corny.

These three necklaces have all been sold but are additional examples of my circle obsession.

1. "Sassy by the Sea" - Sea-foam green Chalcedony stone with 24k gold plating along the edge, hung inside a 14k gold plated antique brooch turned pendant.  I attached the pendant to a vintage gold plated 24" chain with a vintage rhinestone earring.  A simple but extraordinary piece.
2. "Purple Passion" - A vintage piece of purple dichotic glass that was created by a jewelry artist combined with an antique silver earring hanging from a silver plated oval.  The pendant was put on a feminine, delicate, antique silver, 22" chain with traditional lobster clasp.
3. "Key to Jen's Heart" - I combined an antique bronze key with a vintage brass bead, a brown and gold class bead in front of a hammered bronze ring.  These items were placed on an 18" bronze chain with toggle clasp.

Wire Wrapping

I've tried to be creative when I wire wrap stones.  

I work to create something unique and unexpected.

Sometimes I prefer neat and orderly wire wrapping while 

other times I prefer messy and random.

Here are three examples where wire wrapping took center stage.

"Pinky Pearl"

This necklace was a custom order for by best friend.  

Jen wanted something feminine, silver and pink that could be easily worn with her work attire.  

I came up with this fun piece.  

The wire wrapping on the pendant is not firmly connected to the stone.  

The wire ran through the hole to attach the stone to the necklace but it could sway side to side as it moved.  This method of wrapping allows the necklace to constantly change as it is being worn.  

I added a cluster of pearl beads in blue, peach and white to give an extra touch of femininity.

"Bee Sweet"

Float like a butterfly, sweet as honey.  Corny, right?

Bees have special meaning in our household, hence the use in my business name.

I find that many people have an affinity for bees.

This necklace began with a saffron yellow sea glass pendant that I wire wrapped a bit randomly on both sides.  It is mean to exhibit the randomness of a flight of a bee.

I added a vintage 925 gold bee charm, amber colored glass bead and a antique bronze patina bumblebee charm to add to the whimsey.  Hung on a 26" antique bronze chain with a traditional lobster clasp that fastens on the antique bronze ring in the front of the necklace.

 "Pure and Simple."

Quite honestly, that is the best description and name for this necklace.  This is a lariat style necklace which means there is no clasp.  

I used a 22" antique bronze chain with tiny (2mm) ball beads spaced every 1-2 inches.  

One end of the lariat contains a white stick pearl that has been wire wrapped to the chain. 

The other end contains a frosted chalcedony stone with hints of brown.  

It was wire wrapped to the chain with a loose and messy look.  

The messy wire wrapping keeps the lariat from being too formal and stuffy.  

This is a necklace that would look great with your favorite pair of jeans or with your little black dress.  To fasten a lariat necklace, tie a knot in the chain at desired location.

Paper Crane Necklace

For those of you who are familiar with me and my quirks, you probably already know about the cranes.

1,000 to be exact.

In elementary school I read Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr.  For the demonstration portion of the report, I learned how to fold a paper crane and taught the class too.

Desert Storm was going on at the time so I was asked to attend other classrooms to teach folding.

A tree went up in the lobby and cranes were added one by one.  We wrote soldiers names on the wings.

It was beautiful.  I was too young to remember.

My family reminded me on my wedding day, September 18, 2004.

My mother and sister folded paper cranes out of extraordinary paper and added strings and beads.

They were at every place setting as a beautiful favor.  It was beautiful.  I remember.

In 2006-2007 during a difficult time, I began folding cranes.

An ancient Japanese legend promises that anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish by a crane.

On March 1, 2007 I took a picture of myself with 1,012 cranes.

It was a spiritual and emotional journey to fold 1,012 cranes and then give them away.

It seems fitting for my first featured necklace to be the one I call "Paper" Crane.

“Paper” Crane Necklace

In Asian tradition, cranes stand for peace and long life.

I started this necklace with a vintage white enamel crane pendant.  
I dissected a large pair of graphite and silver teardrop shaped earrings.  
I framed the crane inside graphite colored teardrop and added two delicate pearl beads.
I completed the pendant by adding a antique silver raindrop charm.  

The pendant hangs on a 16" antique silver feminine chain 
with a traditional lobster clasp closure in back

A petite handmade paper crane, one of 1,012, is included with this necklace.

LAUNCH!

This is a huge endeavor!

I didn't start "Makings by Bee" as a joke but I did stumble into this venture.

I found a necklace online that I loved but couldn't afford since I am a stay at home Mom.

I had a few necklaces that I could combine to create the necklace that I wanted...sorta.

That knock-off  turned "Michelle's Creation" necklace led to a bunch of 

"Where did you get that necklace?"

Here I am!

I love need to be creative.  I am not whole or happy if I am not creating.  I've had a million and one hobbies but creating jewelry has brought me the most personal satisfaction and happiness.

So far I've designed a few necklaces for family members, bartered for some services like logo design, sold my first necklace in line at Costco and continue growing this business in teeny tiny steps.

My promises: 

1. I promise to create 100% unique strands from modern and vintage elements.  I may create two designs that look similar but will never be duplicated.  I accept and purchase vintage jewelry which allows me to ensure that most of my elements are not currently mass produced.  I buy new elements such as stones, chain and charms that can fluctuate from vendor, timing or current obsession.
2. I promise to obsess about every single piece until I think it is perfect.  That can be a long process for me.  So far, I've worn every piece I have created for a minimum of an hour while doing my normal day to day activities (which are plentiful).  This allows me to see if anything gets caught in hair, flips over, tangles or comes apart.  By the time I sell a necklace, the imperfections should have been corrected.
3. I promise to use quality products.  As much as possible I try to ensure that the elements I incorporate are free of allergens.
4. I stand behind my product.  If you want something altered, talk to me.  If a jump ring breaks, contact me.  If you want a custom piece created using elements that you own, bring them to me.  I am trying my best.  Things won't always be 100% perfect, much to my dismay, but it won't be for lack of trying.

Thank you for checking out Makings by Bee.  I look forward to seeing you wear my artistic combinations.

Michelle Blackwelder