Ready for Resin

I made a bunch of bezels this weekend and now I just have to find time to do a resin pour.  Everybody else has today off for MLK Day, but I am going back to work!!  

Working on Soldering Skills

I have been battling a flu bug, but it hasn't stopped me from soldering.  I hand cut and soldered this bezel and added the brass stampings and a found brass piece to frame it all in.

I am going to add my favorite Madonna and Child image and call it "A Pummeled Heart".  I also have been experimenting with soldering brass stampings and bezel cups.  It has been very difficult.  As soon as the solder gets hot, the pieces want to move all over the place.  I am wondering if there are some sort of clamps I can use to keep them in place.

Making Things More Difficult Than They Have To Be?

Sometimes I laugh at myself because I make things more difficult than they have to be.  For instance, I am working on this pendant...

My pic isn't very good and she is a work in progress.  Instead of taking the easy way out, buying a setting for less than a dollar, I scour antique stores and thrift shops and try to find items I can use from vintage costume jewelry.  I also hunt for vintage rhinestones, charms, chains etc.  This piece had a cabochon in it.  I pulled out the cab, sanded off the old gold finish (yuck) from the pendant, and blackened the base metal.  I looked through my stash of rhinestones and found the perfect size to go around the outside to frame my beautiful Saint Marie.  I laugh and question myself, why do I go to all of this trouble???  Does anyone else do this?  Or is it just me?

Rhinestone Assemblage Earrings

And my vintage rhinestone obsession continues with these gorgeous aqua dangles!

Something Old, Something New

I have been wanting to do something with this vintage rhinestone necklace piece that I've had for over a year now!  Can you say PROCRASTINATOR?!?  Lol, well, I finally sat down and did something with it.

I added vintage glass ab beads from a necklace that I picked up somewhere in my travels and a little bit of chain from a bracelet I found in an antique store.

This is now listed in my Etsy shop.  I think it would be great for a bride to be!!  What do you think of it?

Salvator Mundi Holy Card Soldered Necklace

Just listed today...Salvator Mundi Holy Card Soldered Necklace

I added a vintage 4 way religious medal to the top and beaded the necklace with antique gold Swarovski pearls which, in case you have never had the pleasure of touching, are as soft as butter.  This necklace is dripping with frosting with rhinestone disco balls and rhinestone rondelles.  Hmmm, I am making myself hungry.  Time for a sweet treat!  Enjoy your day!