_Just in time for Valentine's Day!
It's the 5th Annual McLean Jewelry Showcase

This fabulous showcase will feature a variety of quality, handmade jewelry collections and designs by exhibitors from around the region.  This is a must attend event, and it's happening just in time for you to find unique fashion jewelry at affordable prices for yourself or your sweetheart.

McLean Jewelry Showcase
Saturday, February 4th
11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Admission: $3 - Click here for $1 discount coupon

The McLean Community Center
1234 Ingleside Avenue, McLean, VA 22101

My first show is this weekend at NOVA, details below:

Northern Virginia Handcrafter's Guild (NVHG) 2011 Fall Festival
Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA)
Look for me at Space #14
Saturday, October 8: 10am - 5pm
Sunday, October 9: 11am - 4pm
Richard J. Ernst Community Cultural Center
8333 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA 22003

• The Admission Fee is only $3
• Free Parking in the “B” Lots during show hours

Hope to see you there!

I'm so excited that my jewelry is now available at Splash!  - a wonderful gallery in Cape May, NJ.

The green movement is good. People are finally making an effort to live their lives in a cleaner, better way. From the smallest things like changing over to compact fluorescent bulbs to chucking the gas guzzler in favor of a hybrid, people are doing their part. And businesses are starting to jump on the wagon. Our world will be a better place for everyone because of this movement.

Of course, jewelry has always done its part to add a little beauty to our everyday lives. But it isn't often that a jewelry making material can actually make a difference in our world. There is an exciting new way to make fine silver jewelry. Pure - as good as it gets. And it is environmentally friendly.

Photographic film is manufactured with silver compounds. During photo processing, a substantial amount is recovered for recycling. Some of it is made into a new material called metal clay. There are two brands available -- Art Clay and Precious Metal Clay or PMC, made by Mitsubishi Materials Corporation. A 22K gold clay is also available.

Finely powdered pure silver particles recovered from the photo developing process are mixed into a binder, forming a clay like material. This "clay" is quite heavy, and feels cool in the hand, similar to metal. It can be worked like any clay; it can be sculpted or used to build hollow forms; after it dries, it can be filed, cut or drilled before firing. It is truly an art jewelry designers dream material.

Once a piece is made from the clay and air dried, it is fired in a kiln - a furnace that reaches well over 1000 degrees Fahrenheit. The binder holding the metal particles burns, and the particles pull together in a process called sintering. The particles fuse, and when the object cools it is solid metal.

After it is cooled, jewelry made with PMC can be set with gemstones, it can be joined with other parts by soldering, it can be enameled - anything that can be done to any other precious metal object can be done with metal clay jewelry.

Jewelry artisans have embraced PMC as a wonderful new medium that allows individual expression. PMC pieces have been winning awards and competitions. The designs are as varied as the artists that create them. One day, you'll see a piece and say "That is gorgeous ... " and find it was made from PMC. Its a great way to use all that recycled silver - it makes our world a cleaner and more beautiful place to live.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1036543 by Robert Edwards

I've been exploring styles of jewelry and find that I'm drawn to Art Deco.  The architecture and jewelry offers so much inspiration.  Here are a few pieces I've created. 

My wonderful husband made this beautiful display unit for my jewelry at the Artists' Undertaking Gallery in Occoquan, VA.  My contribution was the design and paining.   

I'm going to get the lighting adjusted to better highlight my work; but in the meantime I think it shows off my work nicely. 

A birthstone is a treasured material that signifies the month that a person was born. It is thought that they hold powers and personality traits that are unique to the individual born under a certain zodiac sign.  Wearing your birthstone can pass on powers to your body and mind.  The twelve birthstones are:

1. January – Garnet:
   Garnet is considered to bring purity, truth, faithfulness and friendship. Garnets occur in many different colours except blue.  The gem is found in colors such as orange, green, purple, yellow, brown, black and even colourless. Garnets enhance sexuality and sensuality.  It is successful for lung, blood, heart and infection conditions.  It is located in Africa, India and Uruguay
2. February – Amethyst:
   The amethyst is extremely beautiful and is believed to protect against evil spirits. It extends from a pale lilac to a deep, bright violet colour and is said to bring good luck. This stone has healing properties and is effective for conditions connected to withdrawal symptoms of any addiction.  It is found in Brazil, Uruguay and Zambia.
   
3. March – Aquamarine:
   Aquamarine occurs in different shades of blue ranging from pale yellowish blue to deep shades of blue.  It signifies compassion, trust, harmony and friendship.  It is successful for throat complications and illnesses brought on by stress. It is located in Brazil, Nigeria and Zambia.
   
4. April – Diamond:
   Diamond is the most valuable and most expensive gemstone. It is extremely scarce and brilliant. It is effective for brain disorders and to draw out toxins.  Diamonds represent true love, passion and commitment.  It is found in Australia, Ghana and Zaire.
   
5. May – Emerald:
   Emerald is green and represents loyalty, faith, love and friendship. It is effective for disorders linked to the eyes, fertility, the spine and headaches.  It is also used to boost mental capabilities.  Emeralds are found in Colombia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Brazil.
   
6. June – Pearl:
   A pearl symbolizes beauty, happiness, love and wealth. It is used to boost personal integrity and also for health complications in connection with the stomach, heart, spleen, intestines and also ulcer complications. It is the only gemstone created as a result of the biological activities of living organisms.  Some places where pearls can be found are the Gulf or Mexico, Europe, Japan and Australia.
   
7. July – Ruby:
   The ruby is well-known for its brilliant red colour which signifies blood, love, romance and passion. It is effective for health problems linked to the blood and infection.  It is also used to boost energy and bring about success. The ruby can be found in Thailand, Sri Lanka, Kenya and India.
   
8. August – Peridot:
   The peridot signifies power and influence.  In olden days it was taken internally for asthma.  It is effective for health problems relating to the lungs, breasts and sinuses.  Peridots can be found in the United States, China and Burma.
   
9. September – Sapphire:
   Sapphires are accessible in a variety colours. They symbolize clear thinking and wisdom. They can be found in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Kenya and Tanzania among other countries.
10. October – Opal:
    Opal is available in nearly every shade, from milky white to dark black.  It imparts hope and harmony.  It is effective for eye complications and can be found in Australia, Mexico and the United States.
    
11. November – Topaz:
    Topaz are available in shades of brown and yellow.  It is considered to bring long life and fidelity and represents beauty, splendor and happiness.  It is effective for asthma, blood diseases and sanity. Topaz is found in countries such as Sri Lanka, Pakistan and China.
    
12. December – Turquoise:
    Turquoise is clear blue and is really expensive. It is said to bring good health, fortune and peace.  It is successful for throat, teeth and depression problems.  Turquoise can be found in countries such as Iran, United Sates and Africa. 

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/friendship-articles/lets-be-aware-of-birthstones-by-month-2657818.html

On May 1st I became this month's featured artist of the international Metal Clay Yahoo Group which has over 6,000 members.  I am truly humbled to be honored in this way by the wonderful artists of this group.   

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MetalClay/

I am often asked what PMC looks and feels like while I'm working with it.

The following photos give you a sense of what silver metal clay looks like during various phases of the creation process.   These sample photos were taken of different independent projects.  

Metal clay out of the package has a consistency similar to modeling clay.  It allows artists extraordinary creativity because it can be formed into nearly any desired shape.

When it is dry and before it is put into the kiln it is extremely fragile - ask me how I know ;-)    It's almost like a very thin layer of chalk.

The heat of a kiln firing burns off the binder and what is left is pure, precious metal - fine silver (.999 silver, which is 99.9% silver vs. sterling, which is only 92.5% silver) which appear white.  It's just the silver crystals "unaligned" - think of your carpet before you pass the vacuum cleaner in one direction, the light "shines differently on it.  Same with the silver. 

After burnishing, tumbling, and polishing it really shines.

My "Sunshine" box ring was featured in this month's issue of Metal Clay Artist Magazine.  The article, "Big Bling Rings" by Christine Kramer Norton, chronicled the class I took in January with world-renowned metal clay artist and instructor Barbara Becker Simon.  This class, offered at Ann Davis' classroom - "La Ruche Davis", was the first in her Visiting Master Artist Series.  It was an unbelievable experience where everyone had a great time learning new techniques and tricks from Barbara (who's a hoot, in addition to being a fabulous instructor), created the most amazing rings, and in general had a blast!