Now that the pandemic restrictions are easing craft fairs are back on the street !! Hope you’ll stop by this Sunday at THE BRICK POTTERY AND CRAFT SALE. Hope you’ll stop by.
WAVE BANGLES
I’ll be wearing my newly forged copper “Wave Bangles” to the beach this summer. I often wear copper jewelry in the ocean. Did you ever notice how salt water cleans copper beautifully?
Soon to be on my Etsy store, SoundBeachStudio!
Two handmade cooper wave bangles
Forged copper bangles worn together. Surf’s up!
HONORING OUR FALLEN HEROS
Memorial Day is a special time to remember our fallen heroes who protected our country. We can’t bring them back, but we can honor their memory. A special thank you to those brave heroes.
MORE BANGLES
I added a splash of color to a concave sterling silver bangle by applying a thick piece of puffy kimono cord around it. A elegant thin rim of silver lines peeks out around the bracelet edge. A sterling carved bead echos the detail in the fabric..
The kimono cord fabric is just gorgeous. It’s floral patterns are a reminder of nature in all its beauty.
Want to see more? Click here to view my Etsy store.
2 concave bangles, one without cord and one with.
BANGLES, BANGLES AND MORE BANGLES
Bangles are like people,, some are kind of square, some round, some are thin and some are wide. The top bangle is round textured wire, the next underneath is square textured sterling wire, The thick bangle with the black braided fabric is a concave bangle holding my hair scrunchie. The one on the bottom is a concave textures think bangle.
Stack them up on your wrist and enjoy the jingle jangle of sterling silver on your arm. The more bangles you wear, the merrier!
They will be coming to my Etsy Shop, SoundBeachStudio very soon!
Four different sterling silver bangles.
RECYCLED AND REPURPOSED BEADS
I love repurposing and recycling, especially beads, precious metal and gems. I was given some gorgeous antique bakelite beads. I unstrung them and put a modern spin on this black and sterling necklace.
Custom made antique bakelite and sterling silver necklace for Kate.
A custom design I created from antique beads.
BANGLE WITH KIMONO CORD
My jewelry-making always suffers in spring time. I love to be in the garden this time of year. Here’s a behind the scenes peek at some bangle designs I’m working on, that is when I can tear myself from gardening and get to my jewelry bench .
I’ve created these two bangle bracelets in copper. Once I’ve finalized the design and worked out the details, I’ll making them in sterling silver too.
The top bangle has colorful rayon kimono cord tucked inside the concave area of the bangle. The soft feel of the fabric again the shiny hard surface of the metal is an interesting contrast and the kimono cord brings a surprise of color. The floral fabric keeps me close to the garden and nature too.
The bangle stacked underneath is embellished with a sterling silver wire with gold-filled wire wrapped around it and a handmade copper bead as a focal point .
These are fun for stacking together or worn alone. Hope you’ll come back tony blog to see the finalized bangles!
2 bangle bracelet in progress.
KIMONO CORD NECKLACE WITH RED RIVER JASPER PENDANT
This kimono cord necklace features a sterling silver bezel set red river jasper pendant that is off set by 14 karat gold balls. The warm tones of the gold bring out the warm tones in this gorgeous in this multi colored fabric necklace.
I enjoy wearing fabric necklaces, they are so soft and comfortable. The multi colored patterns in the fabric make it versatile choice for so many outfits.
The kimono cord is a rayon fabric that is used in the making of modern Japanese kimono’s. The patterns often have themes such as Tea House, Koi Pond or Maple Festival. They are subtle, beautiful and rich.
If you’d like to view some pieces of my kimono cord collection in my Etsy store, click HERE.
Kimono cord fabric pendant with bezel set red river jasper pendant.
KIMONO CORD NECKLACE WITH A CLOISONNÉ PENDANT
Im enjoying working with the beautiful patterns of kimono cord fabric these days. I’ve designed this rayon fabric into a necklace with a cloisonne bead as a pendant. The delicate gold wire lines in the bead are echoed not in color but shape in the kimono cord fabric pattern.
Cloisonee is decorative work in which enamel, glass or gem stones are separated by strip of flattened wire placed edgeways on a metal backing. This decorative work has been practiced in both Japan and China.
Click HERE if you’d like to see this necklace on my Etsy store.
Kimono cord necklace with a barrel closinne bead pendant, and 14K gold bead.
OUR RESCUR CAT NADINE MAKES AN APPEARANCE
Our rescue cat Nadine is my constant companion. When I’m working at jewelry bench she sits in her “cat cave” and keeps me company. If I’m late she meows to remind me that it’s time to come and work. Nadine is the love of my life.
Have you checked out Jackson Gallexy on You Tube? He’s an awesome cat psychologist and one cool dude. There’s a clickable link below for you to check out his web site. He’s awesome and I understand cats better as a result of listening to his videos.
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KIMONO CORD PENDANT NECKLACE
Kimono cord is an interesting choice for a fabric necklace. It’s soft on the body, wonderfully colorful and beautifully patterned. The kimono cord I use to make pendant necklaces is made from rayon and is similar to the silk chirimen fabric used in making traditional kimonos.
The beautiful patterns in this fabric have names that translate to things like Tea House, Koi Pond. My favorite pattern is “momiki-gari” which translates to “maple viewing” which refers to the ritual visitation to mountains each fall to view the brilliance of wild maple trees.
I’ve paired this lovely kimono cord necklace body with an agate leaf, a sterling silver bail and a jewelers brass hook style clasp. It’s perfect for casual wear any time of the year.
If you’d like to see more on my Etsy store, click here.
HAIR ORNAMENT
Hair ornaments are great for up-do hair styling. Featured on the left is a a silver inlayed, stamped oxidized copper hair ornament. . Also featured securing an up-do is a sterling silver hammer textured circle.
INSPIRATION
Here’s a look at some behind the scenes studies I’ve created. These drawings and photographs serve as inspiration for design jewelry designs or art work.
Star flowers in my spring garden.
Contour line drawing in my sketch book..
SPRING FLOWERS
Spring is finally here on Long Island! Here’s a behind the scenes peek at some mixed metal flowers from my bench. These are inspired by my favorite spring flowers, Forget Me Nots or firmament. They certainly will end up in a bracelet, ring or necklace. Stay tuned to see more!
Forget Me Not flowers from my garden.
Sterling silver and copper flowers fabricated at my bench.
HANDMADE VERSUS MASS PRODUCED JEWELRY
Handmade pieces of jewelry are unique as the artisan who makes them. These pieces are produced by an artists skill, aesthics and watchful eye therefore handmade pieces can’t be compared to mass produced fabrication. Handmade pieces of jewelry are so unique. All the jewelry you see on my blog is handmade for sheet or wire sterling silver in my one person studio.
The hammer textured cuff I’m wearing here is great worn alone or stacked with thinner bangles. The hand buffed hammer textures worn against black make a bold statement, almost like an animal print. I hand finish this made to order cuff so that the texture develops to just the right pattern.
You can reach me on my contact pager here on my blog to inquire about a custom order.
Hammer Textured Sterling Silver Cuff Bracelet
CZ RING
Cubic zirconia gems are lab created gems that have beautiful sparkle. I’ve created a tube set ring with a 3 mm cubic zirconia that is nestled between two delicate sterling silver round ring shanks. This ring is suitable for an engagement ring.
Click here if you’d like to see it on my Etsy store. Or go to my contact page here on my blog to inquire about a custom order.
Cubic Zirconia tube set in a double shank sterling silver setting.
Tube set CZ ring.
BEZEL SET LABRADORITE PENDANT
Marie is rocking the new fire labradorite pendant I made for her with style and flair. She’s double layered contrasting tops and is layering her necklaces too. Marie’s red glasses and lip stick polish her look. Well done!
The 28 inch sterling silver bezel set fire labradorite pendant really pops against her black top. The rose cut of this oval gem stone brings out a magnificent an internal play of light that is a hallmark of labradorite.
If your interested in a custom order click here to send me an email. I’d love to talk!
Marie wearing her bezel set Fire Labradorite pendant.
WINTER LANDSCAPE
The beauty of the beach if often overlooked in winter. I love this time of the year at the shore, so long as I’m dressed for it. So many beautiful things to be found! Stay warm and enjoy exploring!
Winter beach college, February 2021 by Joanne Forman
STUD EARRINGS
Stud earrings come in all shapes and sizes.. These sweet sterling silver earrings are the shape of rigatoni pasta. Wear them layered on your earlobe with other earrings or by themselves.
If you’d like to see them click here to visit my Etsy store.
PASTA SHAPED STUD EARRINGS
MY RESCUE CAT NADINE
Our rescue cat Nadine is my studio assistant. Her “cat cave” bed sits next to my bench. If I’m detained from going to my bench, she meows to remind me to sit down to work. We keep each other company as I’m working on new pieces. Nadine is my buddy, constant source of amusement sweet inspiration! She’s the love of my life!
Nadine and Me pose together.