Spring Jungle

     First, we would like to say a special thanks to all our friends and clients who are our friends! Thanks to your enjoyment of our creations, we had good sales both at Clayton Art and Wine, and Alamo's Mother's Day weekend Arts Festival. It was great to serve and visit with each of you again this year. Look forward to visiting again soon. Perhaps the Summer Fine Arts Festival in Danville, June 18/19(see our show schedule for more info).

Spring is bursting out everywhere around here. It is unbelievable that we are still having great sunny days only in the mid to high 70's, and an occasional low 80's. The weather pattern has been a  few days of soft rain showers, and back to beautiful sunshine.

 From the stark bare trees and brush of winter, our
area is bursting with green, wild flowers and...........

 POLLEN.
While Jerry and I were doing the past two shows we came in contact with what we thought  were allergies. Especially since every year Jerry usually gets them bad. By the time we were home from the Alamo show both of us were sick.  We gave it a few days and now, we had added bad chest colds, fevers, sore throats and you name it. So, off to the doctor.
Thankfully, I am now getting better and Jerry is slowly following. Seems we each had a viral infection which really knocked us to our knees. We were like hybernating bears, both of us sleeping almost around the clock. Just up for water, meds,  soup and showers. Thus why I haven't posted anything for awhile.

   Today, I am back to my bench. Still can't solder as my eyes are still healing from the viral infection.  Feels good to draft up designs for the summer shows and look out at the "jungle" above.
 
We have a very busy schedule for the summer months of June, July, and Aug. Check out our show schedule page for more information.

  Well, back to my design drafting.....
  

ON THE MOVE

 Jerry and I are now at the Sinclair Ranch for a couple days before going on to Clayton, Ca. for the Clayton Art and Wine Festial.
 As you can see Jerry enjoys working on the tractor. Here he is mowing this field, and sneezing most of the way. Up on the hill side the winds usually blow pretty fair, enough to "rock & roll" the motor home. And Spring time usually brings the season's allergies .
  We are very grateful to the owner, Sally Sinclair Brittian, who graciously permits us to park on her property between shows. Jerry and I have always enjoyed being out in the open!

  Tomorrow we will move over to Clayton, Ca. as this weekend is the 16th Annual Clayton Art and Wine Festival! Artists will be located on Marsh Creek Rd. and Main St. in downtown Clayton. Hours: Sat. 10am -7pm and Sun. 10am-5pm
We have been guest artists at this show all 16 years. The volunteer staff members are wonderful, each and every one of them!

14k&9.25 Opal & Ruby

14k & Arg.9.25 Larimar, Chalcedony, Topaz

 Look forward to seeing and visiting with everyone...Come on over and see our new Spring line. Many new items, as this is the first show we attend in the East Bay
   

Working around the yard on Easter Sunday

 Ok,  guys keep it moving!

   Lucy is checking out the new bark while watching and supervising  both Jerry and Red work in the yard this afternoon.
  It was time to re-furbish the landscape barking. Been around 6-7 years since the landscaping was done.  The older well worn bark washed across the drive and down into the berry bushes, with heavy winter rains.

  Red, our brother-in-law.
Mind you, this man is over 80 yrs. young. And he is out on the flat bed trailer shoveling bark from the trailer into the wheel barrows.
This man works everyday of the week!

With is back to you, is Jerry taking a break from the bench  to help Red put in new bark around the yard.

Beautiful, day to be outside!

Just fun'n, Jerry and Red mess'n around while they work. The two of them may "grumble" alot about working. But looking at them, you can see they enjoy it too. They got the entire flat bed unload today...but no Easter eggs were found. Guess the Easter Bunny didn't hop by.  LOL... Oh, well we are on diets anyway.

Happy Easter everyone. Hope your day was enjoyable also.

Enjoying the Coast

 Jerry and I are parked at the Westside Side Park in Bodega Bay for the next 4 days. Taking rest of today, Thursday, and Friday to relax and enjoy the gorgeous bay. We found this park about 4 years ago, when we were doing the Bodega Fisherman's Festival. And, ever since we get here as often as we can between shows. The park is run by the Sonoma County Parks and usually has a full time camp host. They do a good job of keeping the park as "natural" as possible. No hookups, but there is a dump station on site.

  Took a short walk from our site and found this pretty little jewel....
The Ice Plants this time of the year are really beautiful and just coming into bloom. On our way in on Hwy. 12 I saw an older dairy farm with the entire long drive leading up to the house from the road. And the road side edge  lined in Easter Lillie's that were in full bloom. Wanted to take a picture but, the road is very narrow and I found no safe parking.

  From our site we can view the incoming and outgoing boats. This picuture was taken during low tide of a fisherman coming into the harbor. Salmon Season opens on Saturday. So the crab boats are working overtime to get their crab pots pulled and packed away.

  We also have a great view of the bay. Right across to Bodega Bay village. Had lunch at Lucas Wharf this afternoon which is on the far right side of this photo. 

 So from this you can see that Jerry will really enjoy himself. He has already just return from his first walk down to the boat dock .
I will kick back and work on crossword puzzles.
Any of you that want a drive or live close to Sebastopol. The Apple Blossom Festival is on Sat. and Sun. April 16/17 and we will have lots of new pieces for you to enjoy! So come on over and join us.!!
See you soon......

Finishing Up

Another beautiful Spring day. Started off rather on the cool side @31 degrees early this morning!
  I finished up the rest of the new work I had been working on. Still would like to finish up a hand made metal bead necklace tomorrow given enough time.

Pretty "gemmy" Rosy pink Rhodocrosite designer free form cut cabochon with a trillion shape facet cut pink tourmaline. Hand fabricated in Sterling 9.25 with accents of 14k Gold balls. 16ga. round silver wire is hand forged with a forging hammer to form top accents. Bail is located behind center curl.
size: approx. 2 1/2 in. x 1 1/4 in.
$245.

These earrings are hand fabricated in Sterling 9.25 and 14k yellow Gold. 14/20 G.F. hand made ear wires. At the top are a matched pair of 5mm trillion shape faceted Apatite and below a pair of 11 x 9 designer triangle shape Aqua blue quarts druzi.
size: approx. 1 1/4 in. long x 1/2 in. wide
$325.

Jerry finished this pendant today. Hand carved designer cut cab of Covolite, by Rock Raven Lapidary with 10 x 8 Emerald cut facet of London Blue Topaz.

size: 2 1/2 in. long x 1 1/4 in. wide
$420.

Whale pin: One of a kindBelieve it or not, this is a baroque fresh water pearl! Very unusal shape and texture. When I spyed this pearl, I immediately saw a humpback whale. It is made in 9.30 Argentium Sterling, with a pin at the back. I added a 2mm round facet tanzinite blue diamond. Approx. size: 3 in. long x 1in. wide $335.

Another one of Jerry's today...we decided to make this piece into an optional pin. So, he has added a "tail" and a pin to the back. Hand fabricated in 9.25 Sterling. The georgeous bead in the center is a "reptilian" lamp worked bead by Patty Lakinsmith Plays' With Fire studio. Approx. size: 3 1/4 in. long x 3 1/4 wide at the widest point of legs $265.

That's all for tonight. Have a nice evening....Fran

A Few More Done

 With the beautiful Spring weather we are having. It is hard to keep my mind on working inside. However, I did manage to finish a few more nice pieces yesterday.

Larimar Slide

This one is a beauty. When I found these stones at the 2010 Tucson show. I just fell in love with them.
Large Slide (pendant)
Handfabricated using 9.25 Sterling, & 14k yellow Gold. The large designer cut cabochon of natural Larimar has "modeling" blends of baby and sky blues. Accented with a 4mm rd. facet Apatite at top, below this is a 5mm sky blue Topaz facet. Then to the left is a 10mm rd. cabochon of Ocean Blue Chalcedony which glows with a "cat's" eye shimmer. 
size: approx. 2 1/2 in. long and wide - $540.00

Cherry Creek Slide

Another larger piece is this pretty pendant. Handfabricated using 9.25 Sterling Silver. The bottom stone is a large "teardrop" shape cabochon of Cherry Creek Jasper from Colorado. Accented with a 8 mm rd. faceted L. G. Padparadscha Sapphire. And features 3 leaves with a flower setting the sapphire at the top.
size: approx. 2 1/2 in. long x 2 in. wide -
$275

Jasper Combo Slide

This is another "pretty". A large slide (pendant). I wanted this one to be a pin, however when finishing it I felt it was too heavy. It is featuring several stones together with an unusual color combination. At the top, a free form piece of Baltic Amber; left a rare piece of "old stock" Sugilite; right, a 8mm trillion shape facet of Peridot; at the bottom a large free form designer cut cabochon of Deschuttes Jasper, beautiful mixed shades of browns forming a "picture" to each of us. This piece is handfabricated using 9.25 Sterling and Bronze.
Size: approx. 3 1/4 in. long x 1 1/2 in. wide
$295.00

This is last, but not least!
Larger freeform designer cut cabochon of blueish green Turquoise (old stock). Accented with a 7mm rd. cabochon of Amethyst. Handfabricated in 9.25 Sterling and Bronze.
Size: approx. 2 1/4 in. x 1 1/4 in
$165.00




Again, I hope you have enjoyed seeing these pieces. I am finishing some more work in the next few days. So follow our blog so you won't miss anything. :>)


Later..............................

Another great sunshine day.....and more finished work

These are the ones that I finished up today. Hope you are enjoying the previews.

  Pretty 5mm rd. faceted Rhodolite Garnets prong set with hand forged daisy flower petals, accent at the with 3 14k gold balls. Argentium heavy duty french wires
Size: approx. 1 1/4 in. long x 1 in. wide
$85.

Very different pair of 10x8 faceted Gismo Topaz from Nigeria.Color flashess from strong pink to pastels with a hue of purple. Prong set and 9.25 Sterling 16ga. & 18 ga. rd. wires used to form design. Sculptured earwires enter the lobes and grace downwards in a single motion. Design accented with 14k yellow Gold graduated balls.
size: approx. 2 & 1/4 long x 1in. wide
$165.

These beauties are Ocean Blue Chalcedony square buff cut cabochons set in 9.25 Sterling. Below are two matched Osmena pearls from the Phillipines. Heavy duty posts and backs are included.
size: approx. 2 in. long x 1 in. wide
$150.00

 Uniquely designed matched pair earrings. 4mm faceted Pink Tourmaline and underneath match pair of Black Mother of Pearl tear drops. Earring is hand fabricated using 9.25 Sterling, heavy duty french wires
size: approx 1 1/4 in long x 1/2 in. wide
$150.

 

Matched pair of Almadine garnets, checker board face trillion shape. Unique design is hand forged  16 ga. round wire.
Size: approx. 1 1/2 in long x 1 in. wide
$75.00

Very uniquely designed for a very rare stone...Rasberry Ocean Jasper. Accented with fresh water pearls and Rhodolite Garnet cabochons. The stones are designer free form cut cabochons and bezel set in 9.25 Sterling. The design wires are 14 k yellow Gold and Sterling. Earrings have heavy duty posts and backs.
size: approx. 2 1/4 in. long x 1 in. wide earrings
pendant is about 2 in. long at the largest point and about 2 in. wide
$395. for the set

Matched pair of 10x8 Sun Stones cabochons. Very radiant colors of orange/reds (rare)The material was mined from the Dust Devil mine on the Oregon Idaho border. This color intense is rare and considered AAA grade. Earrings are hand fabricated using 14k yellow gold.
size: approx. 1 1/2 in. long x 1 in. wide
$535.00

These are a fun pair...hand fabricated in 9.25 Sterling with a single 18 ga. rd. hammered wire added to face. Very light and airy design, 9.25 Sterling ear wires and 8mm rd. faceted Canary yellow Topaz from Nigeria.
Size: approx. 2 1/4 in. long x 1/2 in. wide
$155.00

Matched pair of Captivating Blue Topaz 6mm rd. faceted, material is from Nigeria. Earring is hand fabricated using 18 ga. round wire of 9.25 Sterling and 14k yellow Gold.
Size: approx. 1 1/4 in. long x 1in. wide
$135.00



Well, this is it for tonight. I will be finishing a few more pieces that need soldering and fixing after getting caught in the buff wheel. I hope to have them posted by Sunday.
  Have a great night looking at the stars outside.......