New organic vine cuff bracelet

organic vine cuff bracelet
Originally uploaded by bcyrjewelry

I took some time off of making these, worked on revamping them and am very pleased with the results! They are sturdy and strong and elegant all at the same time! I've been making some that are larger and also working on a bangle version - which is quite difficult to achieve, thought its getting there!

You can check it out here.

front page AGAIN!!!

front page 2.25.09
Originally uploaded by bcyrjewelry

I'm pretty speechless. Today has been another incredibly awesome day. I've made some incredible sales and then was on the front page again!!!
Its amazing how one week can seem so terrible and awkard, and then next week is the exact opposite! The bad times sure do make the good times seem that much better!!!
Just want to share my happiness with all and hope that everyone is having an equally amazing week :)

900 AND a front Page!!

So I hit a lovely milestone - my 900th Sale!!! It is incredibly exciting on its own, but then the cherry on top that I was on the front page!! Sigh, I am just elated. Must get back to earth though and work on those custom orders!! Thank you to all my lovely customers and fans that have helped me reach my goals!!

Possible new website?

Template
Originally uploaded by bcyrjewelry

I've been working and thinking awhile on updating my website.

This is sort of where I have gotten. My problem is that I am so indecisive and every few months I seem to change my mind. I am currently working on redoing a lot of my photos. So I don't want to do a whole new website and 6 months from now, not be happy with it because I don't like the photos. I've had my logo for awhile, but recently have been thinking, should I change it?

Does Ronald McDonalds ever think - "I don't like my logo anymore"

Its not that I don't like my logo. I do, I just wonder if I couldn't have something better?

I am extremely happy with the fonts I picked many years ago and definitely don't want them to change. And my colors - any variations of green w/ light blue.

I think it just all comes down to the fact that I like change. Change is exciting and keeps things from being boring. I've never really thought I was one to get bored easily. If I love something, I don't get bored with it at all. If I only just like something, I usually think I can do better until I find something that I love. Sigh.....

Constellation Key Chains

orion and big dipper key chains
Originally uploaded by bcyrjewelry

So I had a custom request for a constellation key chain. I loved it! So I decided to start doing more. I'm using an 80/20 alloy instead of sterling as, well, key chains don't really need to be sterling do they? But I didn't want to use another metal that might end up contaminating my silver supply. Maybe its weird, but with all the dust I sweep up and little bits of scrap everywhere, I'd hate to get nickel or pewter or something like that mixed in.

I'm hoping to start doing more key chains too, not just the constellations. I remember when I was a student, my first student sale was coming up and a friend of mine stayed up late one night making really fun key chains. They are a great way to do something quick and fun and loose. I remember that more fondly than a lot of projects I was assigned! You can check it out in my shop here.

Green Leaves and Tree Bark

Originally uploaded by bcyrjewelry

I get so excited when a customer asks me to expand upon a current design - I hadn't found any marquise shaped colored stones that I could cast in place. But then again, I hadn't really looked that hard. So when asked, I went on a search and found some from a company that supplies premade wax ring and stones to cast in place. They had some fabulous colors, but I just went with the green for now as thats what was requested and it obviously makes sense as a leaf. I was ecstatic with how they turned out and particularly how the two different sizes looked together with the tree bark ring. So lovely and adds a whole new dimension. I do so like a splash of color when it works with my designs.

I know a Grammy Winner!

When I heard on NPR that Art Rosenbaum won a Grammy, I was SO excited, almost as if I had won it! Though I never had him as a professor, one of my painting classes was next to his class one semester. The painting room was a very large with extremely high ceilings. It was divided down the middle w/ some lockers and organizing slots for paintings and drawing boards. They didn't go up to the ceiling and didn't block off the two rooms from each other very well. Which was a good thing! Art often brought in his banjo and invited other musicians to come in and play for his painting students (it was a figure painting class if I remember). It was such a treat to get to eavesdrop. His wife, Margo, is in the continuing education jewelry class that I help out with. Her photographs are in the book that comes in the box set of field recordings. I am so happy for them to be honored in such an amazing way. Check out the youtube video above and this article which includes links to more info on him and a video about Volume II.

New Wedding Band set - Midnight Vine

Midnight Vine - set
Originally uploaded by bcyrjewelry

These were based on a ring I made many many years ago. One of my very first cast rings. Its refined a little bit from the original version, but I think has the same essence - and I think is a much more successful as a wedding band. You can check them out here.