Keep Your Eyes Open...

When one door of happiness closes another opens,

but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which is opened before us.

~Helen Keller

Photographing Jewelry Outside

Wow...I don't think there is a better argument for taking pictures outside, in natural light!

The color and detail are so obvious in this photo and would never have been so true inside...even with my light box.

Now that the weather should be getting better - grab some props, your camera and your creations and head outside.

It can make taking clear, detailed jewelry photos so much easier...especially with natural stones that might show reflections of artificial lights.

I know...lugging your stuff can be a pain...so plan to do several pieces in each shoot.

I am no photo expert but try not to photograph in direct sunlight...a sunny day with a little shade is great...and always use a tripod.

Happy Spring!

Brought Back To Life

Salvaged from an extremely "dated" piece of jewelry...

This pretty, hand made glass sculpture was given new life.

There was something so ethereal about this piece when I found it...it reminded me of the ocean and I knew I needed to rescue it!

I held on to it for a while...not really sure what I wanted to do with it.
Then I found these iridescent beads and that was it.

I knew I wanted to keep it simple and not distract from the beauty of the pendant. I think these beads did the job perfectly. They highlight the colors and have the same watery feeling. They are delicate without being to flimsy looking for the weight of the pendant.

It brings me joy to have been able to give new life to the wonderful artwork of a fellow artist!

Your Outlook...

There are only two ways to live your life.
One is as though nothing is a miracle.
The other is as if everything is.

~Albert Einstein

Ethnic "Tornado" Earrings

I have had these small sterling silver and amethyst charms for a long time.

I purchased them online with other items and just wasn't inspired when I actually got them. The were pretty but much smaller than I thought they would be and consequently have been sitting in one of my drawers since.

Then, while I was playing around with some wire I made these little "egg-nests" in gold and silver...a ha! I had an idea...I covered the traditional and uninspiring loop on top of the little charms with the tornado of multi-colored wire and bingo...delicate, interesting...current hand made earrings!

I finished the look with hand made sterling silver ear wires.

I really enjoy mixing things up...industrial with delicate...vintage with sleek...ethnic with machine-made, etc...

As I have said before, I am inspired by real life...and in real life stuff is mixed! That is definitely part of my artistic style.

A Happy Photo Accident!

Sometimes I find photographing simple pieces really difficult.

I think when there aren't a lot of details the clean design can get lost in a photo.

This is the perfect example of that...

I had the hardest time photographing this collection...necklaces, bracelets and earrings featuring skinny leather lacing with Swaorvski Crystal accents...but then this picture happened and I saw things in a new light.

I think the way the necklace is laying looks like a heart...which was a complete accident.
I like the shadow showing too...I think it makes it look a little graphic.

This showed me that in a photo, the simple shape of the piece can be visually pleasing and that might be enough.

I have been having fun learning about photographing jewelry...this was just another of many lessons!

A Useful Studio Tool - Button Storage

I often use buttons for creating textures in my PMC designs but I was so tired of hunting for the right button as they laid face down on my desk or tossed in a bin...especially when I would be in the middle of working - trying not to have the PMC dry out.

Then...inspired by Styrofoam packaging for electronics, I devised a workable solution.

I purchased a shallow, clear, hinged-topped box and cut a piece of Styrofoam to fit snugly inside. With the back of a paintbrush I made indentations at regular intervals...like little wells for the button shanks. With buttons in many shapes and sizes, figuring out the right spacing was a little tricky and my first attempt was hidden by turning the piece of Styrofoam over in the container and trying again!

The covered box keeps the buttons dust free - but as I have said many times before...for me, with my tools and supplies, out of sight, out of mind...so that is why I chose a clear box.

The buttons lay face up...unless I knock the box over...which I have done.

I find that knowing what I have allows for creative freedom...and helps me not to purchase duplicate supplies!