SToNZ: New Work

Happy Holidays!
The news here is that I have plans in the works to remodel my studio, which I am SO very excited about! Demolition begins just after the new year. The frustrating part will be not being able to WORK on new SToNZ pieces while the construction is happening. In anticipation of this smithing hiatus, I have been making as many new things as I can while I still have access to my tools, torch and workspace.

Today I will be listing what might be the last of my work for 2014. Check out these fun silver and leather wrap bracelets. These eclectic bracelets will fit just about anyone, as you can link the hook clasp anywhere on the chain at the opposite end for the fit you want.
They also work as necklaces. Sterling silver and thick black leather cords. So bohemian. So funky. SO you!
I'll be listing these today in my shop.  I don't make these very often, so grab them while you can.

I have been hanging out a lot on Instagram lately (My latest addiction. Seriously.) where I have connected with some really talented people. Recently I was the lucky recipient of a "pay it forward" gift courtesy of Thomas Hewn who treated me to a gorgeous chrysocolla cabachon from the talented Jeremy Kirk of Cabsinthe. (Jeremy actually sent me THREE gorgeous cabs, which I will work into new pieces in the coming months. I will be paying it forward as soon as I figure out how I want to to that.) I don't normally work with cabachons, as I prefer natural beach stones and seaglass as my focal points for SToNZ, but this was a fun exercise and resulted in this great ring. The 14K gold doodads alongside the bezel add a fun touch, I think. Sadly, at a size 9, it's too big for me, so I won't be keeping this for myself.
You can find it in my shop here.

I want to thank all of you who have supported SToNZ over the years. It has been an incredible year and I am so grateful to be able to do what I love and share my creations with people all over the world who appreciate my work. Thank you so much for your support, and I wish you a creative, healthy and inspired 2015!

 

Too Many Bracelets?

Sunday morning SToNZ arm party.
:)
All bracelets are currently available in my Etsy shop.
The more the merrier, I always say!

Aggregate Necklace With Seaglass

A second aggregate necklace.
This time with a gorgeous piece of bright aqua seaglass dangling below.
Made with silver from an antique spoon and hung on a gorgeous vintage sterling chain.
Sold right quick. Guess I need to explore this idea more. I wasn't sure whether folks would go for the look, but apparently it's got potential!
What do you think?
Cool or strange?
:)

A Conglomeration of Aggregate

I don't know exactly what this stuff is, but I have been collecting it from the shores of Lake Erie for many years. It appears to be aggregate of some sort. Like lots of smooth beach pebbles held together with cement, broken into chunks and then tumbled for years in the Great Lakes.
If anyone has information on this stuff, I'd be very interested to know more. Many industries have dumped their slag and junk into our lake over the years and I imagine that these lovely rocky clusters I find are the byproduct of some manufacturing process.

I thought it might be fun to bezel set one of the smaller pieces of this stuff into a silver necklace. The back plate was made from the bowl of a sterling silver antique spoon. So upcycled and recycled all the way around. Something different. Find it here in my Etsy store.

Lake Erie Living Magaine

I am so excited to find my riveted Lake Erie beach stone charm bracelet featured in the November/December 2014 issue of Lake Erie Living Magazine! On stands now. (At least in the stores where I didn't buy them out.)

;)

Lake Erie Beach Stone Charm Bracelets

I returned from my last visit to an antique show with a handful of glorious old heavy sterling silver chains. This means it's time for some new SToNZ "charm" bracelets.
Process pics show the drilled stones before during and after lining the holes with hand wrought sterling silver tube rivets. Heavy jump rings link the stone charms to the chains and are soldered closed. After some filing, sanding, oxidizing and buffing, they are ready to go!
Oh to wear a whole wristful of these at once.
Yummy.

 

Lakeview Cemetery Cleveland, Ohio

Perhaps it was the beautiful weather, or maybe it was thoughts of my mom, gone now for 8 years, but something compelled me to visit Mayfield Cemetery this week to place a stone on my mom's grave.
I do this several times a year when I feel the need to talk to her. This week I decided to also pay a visit to the vast and idyllic Lakeview Cemetery right next door.
I had in mind that I wanted to go to President Garfield's tomb, which I had not visited since grade school. Little did I realize that he died on this date in 1881. Serendipitous.
There are also many other well known people buried at Lakeview, and I thought I'd see what I could find there. The Haserot Angel is a well known sculpture which as it turns out, was quite easy to locate. I did it all without a map. I'll have to go back as I missed many highlights.
Some of my photos from this visit. Enjoy.

Tiffany window, Wade Chapel

Tiffany mosaics, Wade Chapel