Juniper Jewels

06/03/2015

I have noticed that my page is getting alot of traffic lately. Probably because I am active on a few cooking pages. I am very appreciative of the visits. Please note that I am on a sabbatical & have been for about a year. I plan to begin again with new designs in July/August 2015. Please visit my page again & see what I'm doing! I promise it will be interesting! Thanks! Laura

10/12/2013

I am trying to find a recent Red River customer ( a nice lady) last name Williams. If you are Miss Williams & you see this post could you please contact me? I can't seem to run your credit card charge & need one more bit of info in order to do that! Sorry for any inconvenience!

02/17/2013

I just returned from the International Gem & Mineral Show in Tucson. I spent four days wandering around a half dozen of the forty shows that make up the Intl. Gem & Mineral Show! It's the largest in the world!

I found some amazing turquoise beads from the Royston & Kingman mines in Arizona, gorgeous deep rose colored kona dolomite & luscious dark green verde marble beads from Michigan, Chinese fresh water pearls in dark blue/green/brown color they call peacock, mabe pearls, spiny oyster shell beads & much more!

Because I am a tool j***y, I bought a few small tools! I just can't seem to pass them by!

I saw tons (literally) of gorgeous semi-precious stones cut into cabachons for setting in bracelets, earrings, pendants & such. One had to fish through the "junk" to find the amazing stones cut by individuals (not machines), but the material was really lovely. I made some terrific contacts with vendors so that the next time a customer asks for a "true red stone, heart shaped cabachon pendant" I will know just where to go! Unless of course some of you are even more challenging than that!

I noticed an absence of silver/gold vendors. I imagine this was due to the every rising cost of silver. Something I had not seen before was copper beads & clasps plated in silver. It would have been impossible to tell the difference between sterling silver & this "wanna be" without a metal content test. So I caution you, before buying sterling, be sure to ask if it's sterling silver or plated. Sterling must be marked with the ".925 or sterling" hallmark.

Give me a call to set an appointment to come out to the studio & see what's new!

11/10/2012

Hope you can all come to our Holiday Open House! Santa will be there! Many artists in an intimate setting. Buy Local this holiday season!

Created with Smilebox

10/27/2012

The story behind this bracelet is really a good one! A local man (who shall remain nameless) went out to buy something for his wife. He found a really nice pendant in a local shop & bought it for her. Time went by & he asked her why she didn't wear the pendant. She replied that she doesn't wear pendants because it bothers her neck. So they got in touch with me & asked me to make a bracelet which would include the pendant. Well, that challenge is right up my alley! So the wife & I worked together to design a cuff bracelet to include the pendant.

I also did some research on the stone because they didn't know what it was. Turns out it is gaspeite, in the turquoise family. It is becoming harder to find & much more expensive than even 5 years ago!

One thing I learned while making this cuff is that no two people's wrists are shaped the same! But after sizing a couple times, this is the end result. They seem very happy with the bracelet & that makes me want to do more work! Nice!

07/31/2012

Just finished the weekend in Eagle Nest at the High Country
Arts Festival. Had a good show, the highlight being that I got to see many friends & customers that I only get to see once or twice a year. It's always great to see what other artists are doing, catch up on the gossip about upcoming shows, travel, spouses & kids. & I made a few new artist friends. Nice. Had lots of positive comments about my new fabricated (hand forged & soldered vs. cast) pendants. I am leaning more & more toward silver work & less & less toward bead work. I would like to continue doing bead work, but only high end bead work. Quality stone beads & clasps, etc. So, much of my bead work is on sale at half price through the end of this year.
I have been accepted into the Red River Aspencade show September 28-30 & am now getting ready for that show. The theme is Steam Punk! Okay, now I'm feeling old.. what the heck is Steam Punk??? I'll have to do my research! I would like to decorate my booth in theme.
Will post photos of new work soon!

07/16/2012

What a great event I was involved with this weekend! The Moreno Valley Art Council held its 32nd annual Arts Fest, a juried art show. The opening event was a spectacular dinner at a private ranch here in Black Lake...stunningly gorgeous views! Not to mention the home! The food was incredible, the decor perfect, the mariachi band (on their way to the Olympics!) was GREAT! the socializing/networking was really fun! & (even tho I don't drink very often!) my favorite micro brewery Comanche Creek Brewing of Eagle Nest, NM were there & I had to have a beer! Plus a winery. The weather was perfect!

Then the show started on Saturday & sales were very good. The variety of artists was really a nice mix. I always feel honored to be chosen to be among this group.

Now the show is over & I'm pooped! Will unload the truck tomorrow. Elaine, my friend/sister from Kingwood, was a great help both before & during the show. Thank you to her & all of the volunteers & donors that made this event happen!

07/09/2012

Well, another long day in the studio. But today I had a guest. My dearest friend Elaine helped me make (her first) hand knotted pearl necklace. Not one strand, but three! Quite a task for a beginner! It's beautiful. You will have to come to the Angel Fire Arts Fest this Saturday & Sunday to see it. She made it to complement a pendant that I have made. Really nice!

I managed to burn my middle finger on a very hot piece of sterling silver. That is (believe it or not) the first time I have done that! Wowza! OUCH! Dang! *=**% #!

I will have an assortment of silver pendants, silver or copper earrings, really nice beaded necklaces & more at the show.

If you miss me there I will also be part of the Eagle Nest High Country Arts Fest on the last full weekend in July. Hope to see you all!

06/19/2012

Well, I just invested in a new tool that I will use to sculpt wax. How exciting for me! I am such a tool girl! The funny thing, my old wax sculpting tool (which was given to me about 4 years ago & has now been reclaimed by the "friend" that gave it to me) worked like a charm even tho it was only about 25 years old. I went on-line to buy one just like it & the company quit making them...or so it seemed. After much looking I found one that looks identical to my old one...but now sells under a different name. Crazy! Maybe the new company bought out the old company?? Anyway, can't wait for it to arrive...come on UPS!

06/17/2012

Just thought i would replace my crazy, out of kilter logo with a photo of my work. Makes sense to me!

06/13/2012

I just notice that the watch cuff that I re-designed is centered around the spider web design which, as I understand it, signifies creativity. Get it...spider weaves a beautiful web...