Category: Jewelry

Lovely works of art by Mother Nature.     I’ve hand wrapped them with brass wire which I’ve put through a patina process and hand polished to give the wire an aged/antiqued finish.

They’ll be a fantastic focal point on a long antiqued brass chain with a few gemstone beaded links.

You can find the finished necklaces at JudysTreehouse.etsy.com

I recently had the pleasure of creating a custom order for a friend who happened across a picture of some rings I had posted on my Facebook page, JudysTreehouse.

I was a little nervous going into production as it had been a while since I had made these and hadn’t made many in the past.    I also wanted to add a little something extra special for her to the design.

Handcrafting jewelry usually results in each item being unique and different.   Depending on the design, you may not always get an exact duplicate of something you’ve made in the past.    You can try to replicate a piece but usually they come out with slight differences.    This is what makes handmade pieces so unique and special.  Then there are  those “oops moments” when you unintentionally mess something up; cut a piece to short, make a wonky wrap, break a bead, snap a wire, etc.     So, I decided to make two rings, just in case.

The first step was to cut the band.     I used 20 gauge copper.      After the cut, I then sanded the piece to smooth the edges, top and bottom.

The next step was applying the design I wanted to etch into the metal.

Etching the metal takes patience and practice.     Sometimes an air bubble can ruin your design.     Leaving the metal in the solution too long can result in the metal becoming too thin for the project.    Not leaving it in long enough can leave you with a partial uneven design or not enough of the design showing through.     In this case, it turned out perfect!

Applying the patina is my favorite part of the process.     I used a butane torch to heat the metal to create the patina.     As you can see, each piece turned out entirely different.     This is another process where patience and practice develops your skill level.    I absolutely love the colors that developed in each of the bands.

The next step was shaping the band around the ring mandrel.     Using a rubber or rawhide mallet keeps the metal from being damaged.   Hammering the metal not only gives it the desired shape and ring size but it also strengthens the metal helping it to maintain its form.

I knew my customer wanted a light blue rose but I wanted to consult with her on the band color since they were both so different.    She chose the one on the left in the above photo.

The next step was to wire wrap the stone to the ring.     Again, wrapping the wire and getting a secure fit takes time and practice.     I started on the ring she hadn’t chosen because I wanted to practice my wrap and determine the wire design.

I was happy with the design and set out on the ring for Dianalynne.     It came out perfectly…….BUT……….     To help tighten and secure the wire, I had taken my pliers to the wire wrap on the underside of the band to give the wire a little twist.    My pliers slipped and I gouged the wire!    The wire was damaged but still secure and appeared to be sturdy enough…….BUT…….it did not meet the standards of quality I do my best to attain with each of my creations.

I was so devastated.   The initial wire wrap had turned out so perfectly!   I was afraid a second attempt wouldn’t turn out as well.     I had to put the ring down and just walk away from it.     So, I went shopping.    But, all I could think about was the ring and how I wanted to handle the situation.     I came up with a few thoughts, bounced them off of my husband but in the end I knew what I had to do.

I had to believe in myself and my abilities.    So, I removed the damaged wire and set to rewrapping the ring……..and low and behold it turned out beautifully.

I was happy with myself  and I had one happy customer.

I still have the other blue ring available for purchase.     It is a size 7.    I have not listed it in my Etsy shop, but if you are interested you can contact me and I will create a custom order for you.

I’m out of blue gemstone roses and my original supplier no longer has them in stock.    But I do have many other colors in my stash and anticipate more rose rings coming soon to Judystreehouse.

Sometimes you just have to trust in yourself.     You’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish.

Love these!!!!      Just listed these lovely  necklaces today @ Judy’sTreehouse.etsy.com       Limited supply.    Each necklace is unique and lovely.

I found a few of these pretty Mother of Pearl (a.k.a. MOP) carved shell flower pendants a while back and, as is my usual habit, had to get them.     At first, wasn’t sure how I was going to incorporate them into my jewelry designs.

Although the flower pendants are beautiful enough to dangle alone from a long chain, I wanted to create something more unique with them.

It took a while but they finally took form in these colorful and flashy tassel necklaces.     Flashy, bold, colorful statement necklaces!

#tasselnecklaces #handcraftedjewelry #judystreehouse #longeclecticnecklaces #flowerpower #hippiestyle #gypsysoul #bohemian #bohochic #jewelryboutique #shabbychic #flowerjewelry #exoticjewely #statementneckalces #longnecklaces #fashionjewelry #jewelrytrends @judystreehouse

I call these necklaces Mabel’s Cross.    And, there’s a story about how they came to be.

I live in the small town of Frederick, Illinois.   A small township located in Schuyler County.     I’ve lived here for just shy of twelve years.   Moved here from Belleville, Illinois where I was born and raised and lived my entire life until I met and fell in love with my husband and soulmate Greg.     City girl gone country I guess you could say.

Small town life was a big adjustment for me.    Frederick’s population is about 200 give or take and is pretty spread out.     It’s very rural.   Had a post office when I first moved here but the government decided we didn’t need one here so that’s the end of that.    Nothing else, no general stores or gas stations or malls (ha, ha).    But nearby Beardstown and Rushville are only a hop, skip and short car ride away and the big city of Springfield is only an hour’s drive (by car, not horse and buggy).

I’ve found this small town to be filled with quite a character mix.    Eclectic, unique, odd, normal (define normal I say), quirky, eccentric, you name it.

One such character is a sweet older woman named Mabel.   She lives up the hill from us.   From what I’ve been told she used to own a bakery and sold delectable baked goods.    She has retired from that and has now taken on the huge responsibility of praying for and bringing Jesus into the lives of all of Frederick and beyond.    She takes this job very seriously yet she is very very sweet about it, not overpowering.   I love her very dearly

Every harvest she comes out to the fields to thank us for working her ground and to tell us a little tidbit about Jesus.

Every Christmas she bakes cookies for most, if not all, of Frederick.    She has help from nearby neighbor children.   She packs the cookies up in brown paper lunch sacks, decorated by the children, tied shut with a bit of yarn and finished off with a handmade note with a bible verse and also decorated by she and the children.    Even adds a candy cane or two.

Last Valentine’s Day she gave us a heart shaped box of chocolates…..From Jesus.

She appeared at a funeral of a family member.   I’m not sure that she even knew the family, she shows up at times like this.    I sat by her and held her hand for a bit telling her how sweet and beautiful she is.   She lit up like a Christmas tree.    She opened her purse and pulled out a photo (her favorite) of Jesus.    She told me she carries these with her and asked if I would like one.   Yes, of course.    She took out a pen and wrote on the picture, “Jesus Loves You This Much” John 3:16.   She told me she loves this picture and always carries extra for others.    My grandson’s Baptism was soon to be.   I asked her for another.    She happily obliged.   Mine hangs on my refrigerator; the other went in my grandson, Christian’s, Baptism card.

We give her eggs and squash and this and that from our garden.   She gives us honey and home baked bread and homemade grape juice and carrot juice.   We can never just give her something without her giving something back to us.

One day she stopped by.   With tears in her eyes she told me she was looking for Gizmo, her dog, who went missing.   Please, if you see her bring her home.    I told her I would pray for her and would keep an eye out.    Later that night Gizmo was found.

One day she stopped by with a heavy heart.   She was having some sad times and she kinda told me about them but then said that that was the Cross God gave her to bear and so she would.

And so my creative muse said I know just the thing.    I had these teeny tiny cross charms just waiting to be created.    I made this necklace for Mabel.   I took it too her and said, so that your Crosses may never be too heavy to bear.    I think I stumped her, how could she give back because that is what she does.   So, a few days later she came to my door with this large Cross necklace and asked could I fix it for her, the crystals had fallen out and she wanted to replace them.    Unfortunately, after many months, I couldn’t find the size of crystals needed to fix her Cross so I had to return it to her.    It’s still a beautiful cross and I will keep a look out for the crystals to replace the shine but I think she will continue to shine without them……she stumped me!

And, tonight, after a long night in the field I come home to a large bag of empty egg cartons with this note attached….

Have you ever felt so much love……..pass it on!

 

 

 

If you’re looking for something to spice up your fall wardrobe, check out some of these fall inspired necklaces at JudysTreehouse.etsy.com          Can’t find what you’re looking for?    Contact me and I’ll help you find it or do my best to create it especially for you.