Sakura Blossom Necklace

March 25, 2010

I really wanted to make something similar to a Native American Squash Blossom necklace, but I wanted to use my own goddess flowers. I just happened to notice on the day I was setting the last stone that they looked a lot like the cherry blossoms that had just opened up that day. Sakura is […]

Read the full article →

Andamooka on the Brain

March 10, 2010

I have a new batch of Andamooka in the kiln.  I have been playing around with temperature settings, and with running gem grade Andamooka through it.  Gem grade is much denser, and tends to explode in heat, but I am trying to find that perfect time and temperature for fully carbonizing the sugar, without burning […]

Read the full article →

We Won First Place

March 1, 2010

Our design entered into the “Bras for a Cause” charity contest won first place in overall design and we raised $4,500 for breast cancer.  Thank you all for taking the time to vote at $1 a vote. Our latest philanthropy is less crafty, but the details are a secret.  But, a hint is that I […]

Read the full article →

An Experiment in the Treatment of Andamooka Ranbow Matrix Opals

February 22, 2010

My question going into this experiment was how can rainbow matrix opals from Andamooka, Australia be treated safely and efficiently in a small lapidary studio? The Andamooka variety of rainbow matrix is know in the bush as cement.  It is an opalescent play of fire within a matrix of dull gray and tan limestone, and […]

Read the full article →

The Time is Upon Us…

February 9, 2010

Metalsmith buddies, lapidaries, jewelry lovers, and friends, help out a great cause. Know When I was young runny nosed kid, I remember people telling me that this thing or that would give you cancer; smoking, junk food, drugs, DDT, alcohol, sex, birth control, the color red, walking backwards, breathing, liberals, and chemicals the government put […]

Read the full article →

Bra for a Cause

February 5, 2010

Here are a few pictures of the finished bra designs for the “Bra’s for Breast Cancer Fund Raiser.”  I didn’t get a chance to make a more professional photograph of these before Lora took it to Tuscaloosa’s Druid City Hospital’s annual Bra’s for a Cause fund raiser, but these show off Lora’s beautiful contribution to […]

Read the full article →

Bras, Breasts, & Piercing Clouds

February 2, 2010

Busy, busy, busy, here in the Cosmic Folklore Studios.  We’ve been wrapping up orders as fast as they’re coming in to be able to take a weekend off and do the gem shows in Tucson.  In this blog I am showing off the newest pendant design and sharing this year’s philanthropy. This year, Lora and […]

Read the full article →

An Approach to Teaching Metalsmithing

February 1, 2010

I’ve made some blog posts before concerning teaching and my struggles between teaching a technique, teaching a project, and teaching some very narrow “follow the leader” step by step project.  I’m not going to say what I’ve come up with is better, or even entirely original, but it works for me and my students.   I’ve […]

Read the full article →

Lora’s Gift

January 9, 2010

This was a Christmas present for my girlfriend, Lora.  She handles so much of the business part of what I do.  I am at home at the workbench, sketching, cutting stones, and working the metal; but, when it comes to selling my work, I am just not comfortable standing behind a counter fielding questions.  It […]

Read the full article →

One that Binds them All (or Combines)

January 7, 2010

I was asked to create a turquoise ring for a husband. This was for a gentleman who had just gotten into riding motorcycles, so a combination of machismo, Western, and classy was in order.   I started to really like this idea and really wanted to make this my own.  We talked about places and rings […]

Read the full article →

WordPress Admin