Dream Catchers for Chloe

.925 Sterling Silver, 1.25" long (yes, these are tiny and I had to use a magnifying glass to make them!)

Chloe asked me for a pair of dream catcher earrings awhile ago. I looked for them in CO, and in AR and just couldn't justify spending the money for the quality and construction. So, I made them for her today.

 

I needed hoops and luckily I had some 16 gauge sterling wire with which to make them. This is how they look when they are just soldered---I then shape them into circles. I had to make the feathers, too, because I did not like any of my pre-fab options. I cut rectangles, soldered a wire down the middle and added the lines and dents with a scribe and tiny files.

 

(Above) I was just trying the feathers on the hoops for scale.

 

After weaving with 24 gauge sterling wire, I soldered the wires shut and set the bezel cups on.

Here are the hoops and cups fresh after firing. After this they go in my studio crock-pot (not the one I make the poker cheese with, of course) with warm "pickle"---the name for the acid bath that eats off the flux and firescale. This turns them the pure silver-white color you see below.

.925 Sterling Silver

I took the turquoise cabs out of old ear clips in my "junk" drawer. I think the clips are probably antiques but they are unmarked, so I justified the theft. The above photo was taken before they tumbled for the final polish. I'll add the final photo when they come out of the tumbler.

Chloe will not open them until Christmas day---shhh! Chloe is usually pretty bored with my silver---but she doesn't wear much jewelry. I do hope she appreciates them some day, if not right away. My mom always made my homecoming and prom dresses...and I always thought it was nice but did not fully appreciate how amazing Mom's work was until years later.

Also, with what I've been reading about the elusive JAR lately, I have renewed confidence to choose to make and protect and sell my jewelry at my own will. Just today at lunch I told Cody I am ready to sell my tools and focus on painting. I was only slightly joking. I do loathe making the same thing twice simply for money..and it's usually after these experiences that I want to quit making jewelry altogether. It also doesn't help when I hurt myself---and if you have not heard, I sent myself to the emergency room for the second time in my studio career last weekend. This time I only got butterfly stitches but I needed another tetanus shot anyway. Accidents (on me or my metal) usually do me in for awhile. Watching a copper crescent dremel and whirl down between my fingers and into my hand was quite scary. And, it's a dumb place to be cut---every time I move my hand a certain way the thing splits open again. I'm so glad it wasn't worse.

Anyhow, I really needed the good vibes time in the studio tonight. *Grateful*