Over the weekend I was busy designing the earrings, pendants, and bracelets which I hope to bring to Arizona and California in a couple of weeks.  The sketches serve as working drawings.  After they are complete, I trace the outline of each component of the piece in graphite on frosted acetate.  Next, I "pick" each tracing up with transparent tape and tape it to the sheet metal.  I was able to tape down all of the pieces to the sterling silver sheet by 9pm, but still have the more difficult task of laying out the extremely tiny 18k gold trim pieces.  The material is expensive, and they need to be fitted carefully to prevent waste.

On Febuary 28th, in a few short weeks, I'll be leaving for my Arizona and California art shows.  Yesterday, I got back from the Tucson gem show with new colored stones and fossils that I am pretty excited about.  I'll be blogging, hopefully daily, until I leave in order to show you my design process.  
Today I had all my stone trays out and was choosing stone combinations for both my new Prismacolor drawing cabachons and the gem cabachons.  In the center picture, I have combined an Indonesian "grape agate" with gem spinels and iolite.  This will be a pendant.  On the right is one of the Prismacolor cabs with a gem silica chrysocolla and other small accent stones.  I got the bezel finished before I left, and started work on the pendant bale.
Tonight I will come up with a schedule for the steps:
Step 2:  Making bezels
Step 3: Drawing the designs/ working drawings
Step 4: Tracing and laying out the patterns for cutting the sterling silver sheet and 18k gold trim
Step 5:  Cutting out (piercing) the sheet metal
Step 6:  Bagging the parts and removing tape
Step 7:  Soldering the bezels and 18k gold trim pieces onto the bases
Step 8:  Trimming and filing 
Step 9:  Laying out the designs for internal piercing work
Step 10:  Drilling and piercing the cutout designs
Step 11: Final fabrication; riveting, soldering
Step 12: Initial sanding and preliminary stone setting
Step 13: Initial polishing and final stone setting
Step 14: Texturing and final polishing
​Step 15: Photography, pricing, and website upload

New designs are making their way onto paper, my spring show schedule is starting to take shape, and I'm getting started back on the bench.  I know many of you are looking for a rare stone to match a piece of mine you already own, or for a stone you just like but have not been able to find.  After a few years away, I'll be making my way down to the Tucson Gem show in a couple of weeks.  Please send me an email to goldgraphix@gmail.com along with a picture of what you are trying to match, and I'll be sure to look for it.  I can even text pictures from the show.  My next two shows are in Phoenix (Carefree) the first weekend in March, and in La Quinta, CA on the second.  I'll put a more comprehensive schedule up on my show page soon.
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I just finished uploading my new designs, click on "Shop" to check them out!  I'm getting ready to go visit family and then to Art On the Square in Belleville, IL on May 18th and then the Denver Art Festival the following weekend.  Be the first to own a brand new one-of-a-kind piece, and I'll ship it by May 9th.  It will be difficult to ship once I am on the road.

We lost Mike on December 22nd.  After a couple of difficult months, I began to try to heal myself in my studio.  I did the La Quinta Art Fair in March, and have been busy making new bracelets, pendants, and earrings for the spring season.  I published a few dozen new pieces yesterday, and will get more up in the next week or so.  After a Mother's Day trip with family, I'm off to do the Belleville, IL Art in the Square show followed by the Denver Art Festival on Memorial Day weekend.

Happy Hannukah to all of you who celebrate!  I wanted to let all of you know that Mike and I are back home from Salt Lake City.  I have access to my studio, and finally after nine rounds with the post office, my mail.  Thank you to all of you who have sent us your prayers and well wishes.  Although Mike has exhausted his treatment options, he is at peace and very happy to be home.  We have enjoyed a steady parade of friends and family.  I'll be sure to write another post when I start building up my inventory again, but there are still many, many good pieces left right now.  Love to all!  Wendy

Mike and I have been "camping out" close to the hospital since the beginning of November.  The game plan for his treatment changed, and continues to do so.  We decided to move back home on December 1st and just come up when needed.  I'll have my studio back and be able to make jewelry again.  I was just able to update the website.   Remember, I still have my sale going on now.  With the coupon code EXTRA25 you can take 25% off your order, including what is already on sale.  I have been humbled by the response to the sale, and appreciate all of you who have been keeping Mike and I in your thoughts.  ​

​Welcome to my new website!  I think this will work better for both of us.  The site will be easier to use on tablets, phones, and will be easier to run sales, and for you to shop!

Many of you have been following me and my husband Mike for the past 30 years or so since I've been doing art shows.  We were thrown a curve ball first in 2014 when Mike was diagnosed with a small melanoma, then, ultimately last fall when we found out he was suffering from an extremely rare form of lymphoma.  As he has gone from active disease to remission to relapse, it has been harder for me to travel and do art shows.

I love what I do, and I am hoping that I can keep going with an internet based business until we are able to travel again.  Please share this site with your jewelry loving friends!