The Bold and the Beautiful

I was pretty productive this past weekend. Partly because it was too cold to go anywhere. Partly because I woke up from a dream about making a ring!! Well, I made the ring of my dreams and a few other pieces to go along with it. I'm calling the trio Bold and Beautiful because that is what they are. All the pieces are made of sterling silver and are guaranteed to make a statement of their own.

The ring I made is a size 8, has a domed shape and is slightly hammered on the surface to reflect a lot of light.

The pendant is made of a two inch disk of sterling silver with a shiny satin finish. It has a bail that is 3/8 inches wide, making it perfect for placing on almost any chain or strand of beads.

Finally, make a bold statement on your wrist with a bold cuff bracelet. It also has a shiny, satin finish and a slightly domed shape. A little charm from my Graphic Collection gives a little extra appeal.

Have We Been Hit by the Plague?

I am soooo glad to be back at the keyboard!! It gives me a sense of slow victory and relief from the "germ warfare" that has been attacking my household over the past two weeks. Ailments of every kind first took over the health of my two boys, causing chaos and confusion... to the point of missing school (yikes!). Even I was taken prisoner and brought down from my top post, leaving hubby to fend for the family and dispense lots of medicine, fetch a ton of Kleenex and empty several yucky pails! Yes, the germ soldiers fought hard and dirty, but we fought harder and were dirtier... and survived!

I tell you all of this not just to gain sympathy, but to let you know why I haven't written in a little while. And now that I'm back, I do not know where to begin. I did manage to make it to my metalsmithing workshop the last two Wednesdays. I've been working on making several sterling silver ring bands to sell at upcoming shows. I like them... they're simple but with a flair, just like me! So far, I've made 15 of them in various sizes to sell for about $15 as a show special. I hope to be able to make another dozen before early April.

Mama is Back in Action

Hi all! Sorry I haven't written in a while, but my kids have been playing germ tag... seeing how many times they can pass the same cold back and forth. I really can't complain about their health because they are rarely sick, and even when they are they still want to go to school and church. It's just all of the nose blowing, doses of medicine and, of course, loads of special mama TLC that has kept me hoppin'.

Anyway, I'll give an update as quickly as I can while the little one takes a nap. Since my last post, I've been accepted into a wearable art show to be held on May 3rd in Shorewood, WI. There has still been no word on the other four shows that I applied to, but it's still pretty early. I'll let you know how it goes as I get the results, or you can check the "events" page on my website for more details.

I also had another metal smithing class last week at the Terri McCarthy Studios. During my second class, I met more people and got real friendly with the jump ring tool. Never again will I have to pay the high price for retail jump rings because I have figured out how to make my own. I made up several rings using 16 guage sterling silver wire and a #5 mandrel.


This gave me the opportunity to try a pattern in a book for a byzantine link chain. Here is a picture of my progress. Not too bad for the first time. In class, I also made a sterling silver disk pendant with a wide tube bail. It will look perfect on the chain when it is finished... if I must say so myself!

The Good Shepherd Bracelet

I love jewelry that has a purpose and a story behind it. In my opinion, this bracelet is one of the most meaningful that I have made. I call it the "Good Shepherd Bracelet" and it helps me memorize scripture, which I'm sorry to say that I never did as a child.

There are 12 Swarovski crystals in the bracelet and each color represents a key word or phrase. It all helps me remember brilliant pieces of scripture and God's provisions. "The Good Shepherd" is also made with an eclectic assortment of sterling silver beads, bead caps and spacers. It is finished with a sterling silver toggle clasp and two sterling silver charms. I like to think that the cross in the center of the Star of David charm shows how the passage elloquently points to Christ.

Fine Silver Jewelry Care

When I play matchmaker between you and your new jewelry, there are a few important conditions...

1. Give your jewelry posh, yet private accommodations. To a piece of jewelry, this means storing it alone in an airtight container. This prevents scratching on other jewelry and exposure to oxidizing elements.


2. Go on plenty of dates. The more you wear your piece, the more it gets coated with your natural body oils. These oils create a clear protective patina which prevents tarnishing.


3. Give it a lot of R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Unlike a silent partner, your jewelry will let you know if you aren't treating it right. Matchmaker suggests that you keep the piece from chemical spills, sharp objects, sudden impact and toddlers!

And just remember to have fun looking beautiful in Mama Mayborne Designs!

Let me know if you have any other suggestions or questions about jewelry care.

And FYI... all Mama Mayborne Designs ordered online are shipped to you in my signature pink gift box with ribbon. It has an anti-tarnish cotton lining and makes the perfect abode for your silver pieces. I also tuck in a zip top baggie with an anti-tarnish strip for times when your jewelry is on the go!

It's All Greek (and Jewelry) to Me...

This past summer, I was blessed with an amazing opportunity to spend two weeks in Greece following in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul. I traveled with a group of 40 lovely people and one awesome tour guide. Together we explored the ancient ruins all over that beautiful country. Everyday of the trip brought one breathtaking experience after the other.
Click here to see a few of my favorite photos from the trip.

It was truly a wonderful trip... very inspiring both as a Christian and as a jewelry designer. Standing in the same places that saw major biblical and historical events, made me feel awestruck.

It only took a few moments for me to realize that taking pictures of Greece wasn't going to be enough. I wanted to take Greece home... and that's what I did! I decided to collect leaves from plants that adorned the popular attractions and from ordinary places. Now in my studio I have dried leaves labeled, "poplar leaves from Olympia", "plant outside Paul's prison in Philipi", "laurel leaf growing next to the Parthenon in Athens" and "ivy leaf from the stream where Paul baptized Lydia".

I know that my travel mates thought that I was nuts at times, but I kept telling them that I had a plan for those leaves. And now everyone can see a little bit of my imagination come to life in the photo above. Here I have cast an olive leaf (left) from the grounds of Philip's tomb and a laurel leaf (right) from Apollo's temple in Delphi. I'm not going to bore you with the process, but I painted each leaf with several layers of a paste form of pure silver. After completely drying, I fired them in a kiln, applied a patina, polished and voila... perfect leaf impressions made of pure silver (click on the photo above to view larger). The process took about a week working at mom speed and I look forward to making more with the leaves that did not get ruined by the Greek heat or my cat.

The photo on the right is the olive tree that "gave" me a leaf.

The photo on the left is the laurel tree that did the same.

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Thank you trees!!! (and security guards for looking the other way!!!) and by the way the, the stones behind the leaves above are actual pieces of ruins in Corinth and Ephesus... but don't tell anyone!!!.