Thai Silver Series

These Thai pendants are made by the Karen Hill Tribe in northern Thailand using traditional tribal methods passed down from generation to generation. Purchasing these Hill Tribe silver beads helps sustain a traditional craft and provides the Karen people with a reliable source of income. The silver content in Hill Tribe silver beads and pendants is typically 95-99%, even higher than sterling (92.5%). This higher silver content is softer and therefore easier to shape into all the unique and wonderful styles. On close inspection you will notice that no two pieces are exactly alike, attesting to the handmade nature of these beautiful pieces.  I love how gently each pendant is oxidized, giving it a well-loved look, and the weight is solid - you know you are holding a fine piece of silver!  These four necklaces are new to my shop this week.  Love them!

Feeling a bit down and creatively challenged...

I don't know if it's the hot weather, the fact that my #2 is sick, or that the baby swallows have left the nest (so SAD), but I am really lacking in motivation to get off my a$$ and create.  I received some amazing beads and wire this week, not to mention some nifty hand patinaed brass charms, but I just spent the last 2 hours staring at them  not knowing what to do.  This is the normal time that we'd pack the kids up for a week at the beach, but no.  So hot and no ocean.  That's my problem.  Hopefully the sky will open up tomorrow and I can sit in the wet driveway and create my own little beach, ha!  Here's to tomorrow, another day, another chance to make something pretty.

Baby barn swallows

Sad that these will fly away tomorrow most likely, they've been a great source of entertainment this month!

Here's to wishing we could get a dog

Maggie's laugh is the same high-pitched squeal, and she just goes on and on with it when her brothers are around, much like this clip :-)

New stuff for June!

I've stepped out of my comfort zone and am happy to say I love the results.  What started as a few custom orders turned into many new design ideas and techniques.  Check them out below, and at my Etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/SweetMaggieJane

The second picture is the first piece of sterling silver jewelry that I oxidized myself using the hard-boiled egg method ~ which is SO neat!  Since I have tiny tots in the house, I didn't want to use liver of sulfur to oxidize, which I understand to be quite odorous.  Instead, I followed these steps and in an hour I had a beautifully organic charcoal sheen.  Amazing.  I quickly rediscovered however that some of my s.silver findings were tarnish resistant.  I was a little disappointed when peering into the oxidization chamber (aka ziplock bag!) and realized that some parts of the necklace where still shiny.  After I took the necklace out and washed it off, I changed my mind.  I like the mixed metals look of it all.  Very interesting.