First Paid Piece!!

I have been teaching myself to make jewelry for about six months now. I started out, and kept on, using glass beads and basic base metal findings. Every so often, I would find a sterling kit that I could use for something without spending an arm and a leg for it. I did not want to spend a fortune on the better products until a felt comfortable enough with my skills.

A few weeks ago, a friend asked me to make something for her daughter's birthday. I sat down with her and her daughter for a design session. We had a wonderful time! Her daughter is in first grade and loved looking through my sketch book, bead magazines, and completed projects. After about an hour, I had a good idea of what she was looking for and was able to change some things on my sketches.

Fast forward to product delivery! I finally received all the items I needed, or so I thought! I discovered that the spacer beads I ordered had a hole in them that was larger than the entire diameter of the liquid silver tubes I wanted to use!! AAAGH! Quick change! Order more stuff, pray it gets here in time!

Arrival! Work! Still keep the family moving! Work some more! DONE!!

And...TA DA! Ashley's Crystal Garden.

Made with: 3.8mm Liquid Silver Tubes, 3mm Sterling Seamless Spacers, 3mm Swarovsky Bicone Crystals, 4mm Swarovsky Cubes in Light Rose & Violet, Swarovsky Butterfly Drop, 2mm Sterling Crimp Beads, 2.4mm Sterling Open Crimp Covers, 1 Sterling Chain Tag, Small Sterling Lobster Claw Clasp, Sterling Wire Guardians, Sterling SureSet Earstud, 4mm Pink Crystals.

I think Ashley will like the final design. But then, for a little girl to have her own custom-designed set of jewelry (that can withstand recess) that is pretty neat in itself!