I recently came across an article on some of the metals used in making wire jewelry and today I will share some information on Copper.

"The main property of copper that associates it with healing, is that copper is 'biostatic'.  This means that bacteria will not grow on its surface.  
~The 'ancients' realized this feature and made drinking vessels of copper to drink water  from as a healing method. 
~Modern man uses copper in garden sprays to dispel mildew and other bacteria from      plants.  
~Copper tubing is used in air conditioning units to prevent the spread of bacteria.
~Copper impregnated fabrics have many uses as socks, uniforms and underwear for the  sports industry.
~In healthcare it is used in articles such as gowns, masks, towels, etc.
~It is used in household pillowcases, mattresses and carpeting and for military and  industrial clothing.
Did you know that some hospitals use copper doorknobs to prevent the spread of germs?  And what are normally thought of as gorgeous older elevators are actually made using copper and brass as disease resistant decor - genius!

I do so love working with copper.  It is softer, and warms to the touch so quickly it seems.

New pieces

Have I mentioned that the Argentium Sterling Silver and Sterling Silver pieces are all made using reclaimed metal?  How cool is that?  The business that I buy my Argentium from will buy back my scraps!

Actual Snakeskin with the head (can you see the face?) 

Pendant - $25.00 - SOLD

Hand Embossed Woven Aluminum Pendant

w Hand Formed Bail

$45.00

Hand Formed Black Steel Key Pendant

w Hand Formed Bail

$35.00 SOLD

Hand Formed Argentium St. Silver

$20.00 SOLD

Hand Formed Yoga Pose on a chain

 St. Silver

$30.00

Hand Formed Yoga Pose w Hand Formed Bail & Clasp 

Argentium St. Silver

Gifted

Hand Formed and Hammered Argentium St. Silver

w Black Crystals

$20.00 SOLD

Hand Formed and Hammered Copper Hoop & Squiggles

$20.00

Merry Christmas to you all!

A Christmas visit from one of our resident Hares wearing its winter coat...can you find the rabbit?

Yesterday was my turn to do a shift at the Durham Christmas Market and I had a good time minding the space with Sandy, selling three of my pieces (two pendants and a pair of earrings) AND a commission for  two pairs of earrings!  At my last shift at the Hanover store a woman who was looking at the earrings wanted a pair that were dangley but fairly short so they wouldn't get caught up in her winter coat while she was driving.  She had some beads she wanted used for them and so I offered to make her an 'example' pair to see yesterday.  She was quite pleased, picked out her beads from her stash and ordered two pair to be picked up at the Hanover store next Saturday!

Newest Projects

Last week my supplies of wire to re-stock my box finally arrived as well as two books, one on making findings and another filled with projects that caught my eye.  I finally have some books to follow instead of figuring measurements and making a practice piece or two or three.  I'm finding it quite a bit less stressful!

Here are two pieces, the antiqued copper piece is complete, but the silver (actually silver coated Aluminum which makes it lighter to wear) needs to have the bail and the clasp made for the chain.

Antiqued Copper on Aluminum with Hand Formed Bail and Clasp
SOLD

 Hand Embossed Silver on Aluminum  Pendant - still to be finished with a bail and chain

It's a good day to stay inside - a windy much cooler day than the balmy +10 degrees of yesterday!

New items taken to Hanover store

These are the new items taken to the Hanover store on Saturday:

Rose Brass Wrapped Green Agate Donut with Stone Beads and Hand Formed Findings

(the green is not so bright as the photo)

$35.00

Hand Rolled Japanese Paper Beads w Silver Filigree Bead on a Cord

$35.00

Hammered Argentium Cat on a Cord

$25.00

 SOLD

Hammered Argentium Cat on Chain w Silver Filigree Beads

 $25.00  

SOLD

 Hand Embossed Copper with Stone

$20.00

What a weather today!  Snow squalls all day long with winds 50 - 70 kph and it seems the snow will keep coming until at least the weekend when we will be getting a mix of snow and rain.  If it weren't for the winds, it would have been fun to get out on the trails out back with the skis.  I think Ozzie will have tough time trying to run through drifts out there today.

The mix of birds are constantly at the feeders so we will have to be diligent in keeping them full.  The birds are barely able to hang on at times because of the wind gusts.  A good day to be inside, but soon it will be time to take Ozzie out for his walk.

Here are the works from yesterday:

Argentium Sterling Silver with Malay Jade Beads 
$20.00
SOLD

Copper with Swarovski Crystals & Square Glass Beads 

$20.00

SOLD

Argentium Sterling Silver with Swarovski Crystals & Square Glass Beads 

$20.00

More Cats Today!

Hammered Brass Cats

$20.00

Hammered Brass Cats
$20.00

Hammered Argentium Sterling Silver with Copper Collar w Argentium St. Silver Ear Wires

$20.00 - SOLD

Black Steel with Red Wire Collar and Argentium Sterling Silver Ear Wires

$20.00 - SOLD

Hammered Copper with Green Wire Collar and Copper Ear Wires

$20.00

It was an exceptionally fine Remembrance Day.  A sadder one for most Canadians this year.

We had mostly sun yet north of us I could see a wall of dark clouds that thankfully went west across the bay.  I was able to work in the gardens in shirt sleeves and managed to clean up the semi mushy Hosta leaves and remove some encroaching grass.  The wet earth is just ideal for pulling out trespassing weeds and such.  Less to do in the spring! 

Two more new additions were made yesterday and this morning.

Argentium Sterling Silver Cats with Copper Collars and Argentium St. Silver Ear Wires

$20.00
SOLD

Hammered Copper Cats with Copper Ear Wires
$20.00
SOLD

         Another cloudy day, but still not too bad temperatures to be out walking with Ozzie this morning.  We scared up three grouse and a Red Tailed Hawk that has been hanging around the trails for a week or so.  Yesterday morning there was a beautiful year old buck with little spike antlers grazing on apples about 40 feet from the house - a wonderful sight to see first thing in the morning.

Today's Work:

Paua Shells w Argentium Sterling Silver

$20.00
SOLD

Hand Rolled Japanese Paper Beads w Rose Brass

$20.00
SOLD

Hand Rolled Japanese Paper Beads w Black Pearls and Argentium Sterling Silver

$20.00
SOLD

Hand Rolled Japanese Paper Beads w Swarovski Crystals and Argentium Sterling Silver

$20.00
SOLD

Hand Rolled Japanese Paper Beads w Rose Brass

$20.00
SOLD

Hand Rolled Japanese Paper Beads w Rose Brass

$20.00
SOLD

Hand Rolled Japanese Paper Beads w Crystals & Rose Brass

$20.00
SOLD

I'm really loving these new ear wires that I've been making.  They sit very well in the ear lobe and even though I include 'stoppers', they seem to be more secure and the Argentium Sterling Silver I'm using means almost no tarnish and less bending.

Quartz w Argentium Sterling Silver

  $20.00

Hand Rolled Japanese Paper Beads w Argentium Sterling Silver

$20.00
SOLD

Hand Rolled Japanese Paper Beads w Argentium Sterling Silver

$20.00

Green Chalcedony w Argentium Sterling Silver

$20.00

Hand Rolled Japanese Paper Beads w Argentium Sterling Silver

$20.00

Yoga Pose in Argentium Sterling Silver & Green Serpentine Stone

$25.00

Unknown Stone w Hammered Argentium Sterling Silver

$20.00

SOLD

Black Glass w Copper

$15.00

Black Glass & Pearls w Sterling Silver

$15.00 

Blue Glass & Pearls w Sterling Silver

$15.00

This morning we had a tiny casualty - not a fatality thank goodness.  A Golden Crowned Kinglet.  It is only four inches in length and so delicate.  The poor thing hit the window but landed on the cushioned settee underneath.  I wrapped it loosely in a towel, but had its head exposed so that it knew how to get out, and by the time we got back from groceries it was gone, leaving the inevitable poop in the towel...happy ending!  





New additions:      Hand Embossed Aluminum w Artentium Ear Wires

$20.00  SOLD

                     

                                      Hand Embossed Antiqued Copper on Aluminum

$20.00
SOLD

                                                Hand  Embossed Brass on Aluminum

$20.00

        Green Jade w  Hand Formed Argentium Bail and Clasp
$35.00  SOLD

                         Tiger Skin Jasper w Japanese Paper Bead; Green Unkanite Bead;                                                           Hand Formed Findings, Bail and Clasp.

$35.00
SOLD

                     Blackstone w Japanese Paper Bead, Hand Formed Findings w Rose Brass

$35.00

                                      Hand Rolled  Japanese Paper Beads w Rose Brass

$20.00
SOLD