Jorgensen Studio Silversmith

The Holidays are my busiest time of year, so it has been a bit hectic with orders lined up on the bench. I was laid off from my bookkeeping position in November so it was a bit scary not knowing if we would be able to have presents under the tree. The job market being what it is right now and after a few interviews for jobs making half of what I had been, I decided to make jewelry a full time job. Thank goodness I have an established presence and customer base on Etsy or I would not have been able to. I had already put money towards advertising for the Holidays before I was laid off, so I thought there will be no busier time to give it a whirl. I could not have done it in August. My customers really showed up in force and I was so blessed to be able to pay all my bills and put presents under the tree. I took a few days off after the rush to catch my breath. But I can't tell you the satisfaction and the joy that comes from waking up in the morning and being able to earn money doin...

I always have a hard time with my Mom's Christmas presents. We have different taste so it is usually hard for me to pick out something for her. I think I do well picking out art for her. She says she likes it, anyway. So it has become sort of a tradition that I get her a print of some sort each year. But I make jewelry, and most everyone else's presents from me are jewelry so... I tried a new technique with my gift for her this year. Wirewrapping . Now I must say I don't have the patience to do this on a regular basis, but I do like how they turned out. I think I should have made them a bit smaller, but Mom lies big earrings. These are big. I added some briolette drops and freshwater pearls to luxe it up a bit. All in all they turned out well.

I have been busy taking pictures today so i can hopefully get the new pieces into the Etsy Shop today. I am really happy about how the new designs turned out. Really excited! You know it is hard sometimes c oming up with a new design or at least a new twist on a classic. There is so much jewelry out there that I really strive to do things I haven't seen before. So the new ruffle pieces are set with peridot and I am in the process of cropping the pictures. The ruffle pieces are in the picture above on the right. I don't think ruffle is a creative enough name for them. I will have to think about it a little longer. The big Taos earrings are great. You know my love of silver and jewelry stems from my first passion of Native American silversmiths. They are so inspiring and amazing. Back in college I used to scour this little shop that sold Native American jewelry and pottery. I was so smitten, If I had saved any pennies to shop it would always be there. I wonder if it is sti...

You know I just love color! It is reflected in my metal work and my majolica pottery. Color is just so much fun. So I have fallen for this new technique that I blogged about last week. It is sort of a cross between a patina and a coloring book! I am just reeling with new ideas for it. These are the latest... balloons. Remember that song from the 80's.. Nena's 99 luftballons ? That's what I have been signing because of these sweet things! My kids think I am nuts, walking around the house signing in German...well more nuts than usual. You know you can see it on youtube ! Youtube is a marvelous thing for seeing obscure and random things from the past...but I digress. I listed the red balloon necklace and the red ring in the Etsy shop....just scroll down and click.. What can I color next.....

So it seems my big debut that I have been waiting month and months to be published.... you know the bit with the photos of my jewelry in ME Home Companion.... well it seems that ME's is looking for a new publisher because theirs is dropping them! ' Scuse me ... I read it.. isn't that enough. So it seems that my jewelry will not yet be seen by a national audience in print. Ah well... maybe they will find a new publisher print the march edition and make me famous! if at least not famous how about busy with sales! The economy is in the tank and that makes it hard for artists to make a living 'ya know. This Christmas season is so much slower than last year. Even with the new ads out it is just so very slow... I know, I know ...everyone is saving their pennies just to be sure they can pay the mortgage, but for gosh sakes did everyone forget it is the Holidays? Go shopping... boost the economy from the bottom up...I know I'll do my part! Starting with the artists on et...

I've been experimenting with a new and interesting process of color on metal. I love patinas as most of you know so this was a really natural direction for me to pursue. The process is on copper and begins as a regular green verdigris patina which you then layer hand applied colors on top of. Then you can blend and blend the colors into each other and it is really fabulous. I am so enthralled with this I really just want to color all day. The first two pieces I have set in a silver pendant and listed in the shop but I can't wait to experiment with more complex designs and shapes. The designs are pouring out of me head. I just wish I like to saw more. I keep putting off getting out the copper and sawing. procrastination for a job i dislike doing....wish I could skip that part. href =" ">Link

The first of the new quartz pendants has been added to the shop today. As well as the two new circle pendants that I showed you in progress awhile back. It's been busy here as usual, but my daughter was ill yesterday at school and I had to go get her. Nothing serious just the usual stomach ickiness, but it did allow me to get a great deal of work done yesterday, because I got to go home early from work. I had a banner day in the Etsy shop. I think it was my best ever. I went back to read my last few posts and it seems all I write about is being tired all the time. I guess that just comes with the fullness of my life and my love for staying up late to watch John Stewart and Steven Colbert. The sun has come back to Florida though, and that always sends the drearies away. I don't think I could live somewhere where it rained and was grey all the time. It so effects my mood. Living here in Florida spoils a person. Not that we all run to the beach and get tan when we have a few min...