LEGGINGS TO LIVE IN

Eileen Fisher brand clothing is an inspiration when it comes to quality, sophistication and styling .

I need clothing and jewelry that is quick and easy to change from casual to a more polished look without too much fuss.

The images from my Instagram feed feature of some interesting stying ideas from Eileen Fisher. Leggings with a hoodie and causal shoes for out and about. A long sweater coat, boots some earrings create a polished dressier look. (I’d add a statement necklace too.) Soft and fuzzy leggings are comfy on a cold winters day.

I love to wear leggings. They are my go to pieces for quick style changes this winter.

TWIST WIRE HOOP

Hoops never go out of style. They’ve been around for centuries, dating as far back to ancient Egyptian royalty like Cleopatra and Nefertiti. Hoop earrings are part of a “uniform” in my everyday wardrobe. There are so many variations to choose from.

I’ve recently made a pair of thick twist wire sterling silver hoops. These post hoop earrings are 3/4 of a circle but look as thought they are a full circle earring when worn. The 3/4 shape lightens the weight of a otherwise heavy wire earring. No tugging on your earlobe. I like that! I wear these twist wire hoop earrings with a twist bangle to pull my look together.

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HAPPY NEW YEAR

We collectively face many challenges in the world today. It’s important to take the time to seek out beauty in the world around us. I find doing this helps me keep a balance in life.

The pastel painting below depicts of one of my favorite places on earth, the nature trail at Cedar Beach in Mt Sinai, New York. I walk this trail, as do many people, in all seasons and types of weather. Its uplifting spending time in this beautiful location.

The nature trail is equally as beautiful today as it was when I painted this pastel en plein air on a hot summers day back in the day.

I wish you a happy, healthy and safe new year.

Joanne

PASTEL ON PAPER BY JOANNE FORMAN 1990

WAVE BANGLE →

I love to wear bangles but they can get in the way when typing on the key board. My oval wave bangle fits right below the wrist bone so it doesn’t move around or feel uncomfortable. That’s a win win when spending time typing!

I fabricate it from thick sterling silver wire that is recycled. The bangle is assayed 925, the international stamp of sterling silver.

Want to see more? Click on the link to visit my Etsy shop, SoundBeachStudio.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1015705660/silver-bangle-textured-bangle-bangle?ref=shop_home_active_1&frs=1

HUGGIE EARRINGS

This busy holiday season I’ve fabricated many pieces. Among my personal favorites are these“huggie” sterling silver earrings. Classic and minimal in design they are currently my go to earrings for dress up and every day wear. Happy Holidays!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Wishing you all a very happy holiday season! A huge thank from the bottom of my heart to all of you for reading my emails, viewing my blog or purchasing my handmade pieces. Thank you for being part of my creative journey. The best of the season to you and a happy new year!

MANDALA EARRINGS

Connie Rae is rocking a pair of copper and silver mandala earrings It’s a joy to see her wearing these earrings I made for her recently!

Please message me for a made to order pair for yourself!

LEAF AND VINE EARRINGS

We’re deep into autumn with winter closing in fast. This time of year is beautiful but I felt the need to connect with warmer days. I chose a leaf and vine pattern for these sterling silver earrings because it reminds me of things lush and growing.

The earring sterling silver body is light weight making them comfortable to wear. I forge a gentle curved into the metal which reflects the light from different angles. They are stamped with the 925 quality mark. The pattern and shape of the earrings varies slightly making each matched pair unique from the next pair.

Here’s a short version of how I make them : I select the leaf and vine pattern that fits best with the petal shaped earring body. That selection gets imprinted on sterling silver sheet metal and is then forged into a gental rose petal like curve. A patina, which darkens the metal is applied. Hand buffing and polishing brings out the pattern detail on the high lights.

STERLING AND GOLD RIGID LINK NECKLACE

My handmade necklace is all about proportions, balance and symmetry. Geometric shaped sterling silver bars contrast with warm gold filled beads, nested next to round shiny black onyx beads.

FLOWERS AS INSPIRATION

Summer is gone now and today is a rainy autumn morning. Most of the flowers in my garden have faded but I continue to be in awe of the image of this glorious bouquet from my summer garden.

The hot riot of colors, the shapes and textures in this bouquet inspired the beginning of the beaded necklace below. I couldn’t resist putting aside my metal work for just a bit to explore this bouquet and “paint” with colorful beads as a means to pay homage to natures beauty.

I’ll complete the triple stranded necklace on some rainy and cold day and remember the glory of the colors, shapes and textures in this bouquet.

A big shout out to my daughter who designed a marvelous flower garden for us this year. Nature, especially flowers are an inspiration for artists.

TRIPLE STRAND GEMSTONE AND GLASS BEAD NECKLACE IN PROGRESS

AUTUMN NECKLACES

It’s autumn I’m drawn to richer and deeper colors in jewelry. Layering necklaces together makes fashion sense and looks great and celebrates the seasons color display.

From the left, Labradorite oxidized sterling silver pendant on leather cord; oxidized sterling silver spiral necklace; handcut fair trade Afgan turquoise with oxidized handmade sterling chain. The beautiful and glowing “Sundrop” carnelian briolett pendant makes me feel warm and cozy, it’s rich glow reminds me of colorful autumn leaves, pumpkins and all things about the Fall. Red aventurine beads, sterling silver links and twist wire circles embellish the handmade chain this marvelous glowing pendant

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TWIST WIRE HUGGIES AND BANGLE

I’ve been making “Huggie” twist wire post earrings at my jewelry bench lately . They “hug” close to your ear lobe. The beautiful shape and twist of the stud earring is echoed by pairing it with the bangle of the same thick twisted sterling silver wire.

There are many choices of lighter weight twist jewelry on the market and thick, weighty twist wire jewelry seems harder to find. I make my own twisted wire by hand to get the rich sophisticated look and feel I’m after. The result is a modern, refined look that pairs well together.

I start with thick sterling silver round wire and mill it so it turns it into square wire. The square wire then gets turned by hand to form the beautiful twists that are a signature to this look. Next the the wire gets sized and shaped to form a bangle, earring or maybe a ring.

The beauty of handmade jewelry is that you can make what you need to get exactly what you want. Heavy weighty pieces that are luxurious to wear and modern and refined.

WHEN SUMMER ENDS

This New Yorker magazine cover captures the bitter sweet ending of summer so well. It was painted by Perry Barlow and published on September 13, 1952. That’s 69 years ago. Some things never change!

FORGED STERLING BANGLE

Sterling silver “wave” bangle is created with fire (my jewelers torch) and hammer. The process is similar to the blacksmith in the previous post. Forged hammer texture marks create a play of light on the bangle surface. The opened back design makes this bracelet easy to get off and on. It fits snugly just below the wrist so it stays put even while typing on the keyboard. I wear it daily even while sleeping.

Coming soon on my Etsy store, Sound Beach Studio.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/SoundBeachStudio?ref=search_shop_redirect

This bangle doesn’t interfere with typing on the keyboard .

CREATING WITH FIRE

The Village Blacksmith Shop, located in Greenport New York is a small and exciting work shop that is part of the East End Seaport Museum. Here resident blacksmith Tom Barry creates with fire and hammer, welcomes visitors, gives public demonstrations, hand forges items for sale in the shop and more.

During my visit Tom explained his process as he worked on a bottle opener; heat the metal in the hearth to prepare it to be forged, forge it with directed, steady consistent hammer blows and shape it with a variety of tools.

Click on the link below to check out the Village Blacksmith Shop and other East End Seaport Museums. It’s well worth the trip.

https://www.eastendseaport.org/village-blacksmith-shop

PS. In addition to this bottle opener, I bought a goldsmithing tool that Tom custom made for me. Thanks Tom!

A bottle opener Tom forged that’s inscribed “Happiness” in ancient Irish symbols .

TRIANGLE PENDANT NECKLACE

The clean fresh lines of geometric shaped jewelry are understated and uncluttered. This sweet little triangle nests comfortably in that little notch at the base of your neck, the pre sternal notch.

I’ve fabricated this triangle necklace from sterling silver using what’s called hollow form construction. Hollow form is a method of metal fabrication, it’s one way to give flat metal dimension . The triangle is puffy, thick at the top where it meets the box chain and it tapers down at the bottom.

The sterling silver I use in creating this hand made pendant and all my jewelry is recycled.

If you’d like to see this necklace in my Etsy shop click here.

Sterling silver triangle pendant necklace

A SEA GLASS POEM

I’m sharing a lovely poem by Bernadette Noil. It’s a lovely simile for aging gracefully. Enjoy.

BEADED NECKLACE WITH LEAF CHARM

Nothing says summer like wearing a beaded necklace on a hot day. They feel cool and comfortable and oils from the skin enhance the luster and beauty of the beads.

Faye is modeling a 16 inch necklace made of the semi precious earth gem, Silver Leaf Jasper. This necklace features a removable sterling silver leaf charm and sterling silver oxidized beads which echo the patterns in this elegant semi precious gem.

My interest in making jewelry started many years ago. On a hot summer day me, my young daughter and friends would sit together for the afternoon under the shade of a tree in our yard. A cold pitcher of lemonade was always on hand along with our favorite glass beads along with materials to make jewelry. The afternoon would pass pleasurably as we would compare and swapped beads, make jewelry, share stories, laughter and friendship. I’ve put glass beads aside and work with sterling silver and semi precious gems now. I still enjoy stringing beads outside on a hot day. This brings back those wonderful memories.

Click here if you’d like to see this Silver Leaf Jasper necklace on my Etsy shop.

Faye is modeling a 16 inch beaded Silver Leaf Jasper necklace.

FLOWERS AS INSPIRATION

Summer is synonymous with flowers and nature is a constant source of inspiration for artists . Roses are bursting into bloom, anomenios, filled with color and shape are popping opened and the garden is a riot of color.

The call of spending time in my flower garden makes it hard to get to my jewelry bench this time of the year. Below are a few metal flowers waiting patiently to be made into jewelry.

An anemonie in my flower garden.

Metal flowers inspired by those found in my garden are waiting to be made into jewelry.

SHOP LOCAL SUPPORT BEE KEEPERS, FARMERS AND CRAFTERS

It’s wonderful to see lots of people out and about attending craft fairs and farmers markets. There’s so much local talent here on Long Island and local markets are a wonderful place to support local crafters, artists, farmers and make new friends.

This past Sunday my husband and I went to the Port Jefferson Farmers Market . Below Mark (my honey) is shopping at Barne Bee’s Raw Long Island Honey. Margaret is walking him through their extensive line of honey and related bee products. Barne Bee’s, is a fourth generation family of bee keepers located here in Suffolk County. They spin especially delicious local raw honey.

Shop local, support bee keepers, honey bees, crafter, artist and sustainable farming.

Visit Barna Bee’s at https://www.barnabeehoney.com

Here’s my honey, Mark, shopping for raw honey with Margaret from Barna Bee’s Raw LI honey.

Two delicious selections of amber honey from The Original Barna Bee raw LI local honey. Dark or light honey? Which is the best?