Sometimes I get stuck...

....but I always seem to pull out of the muck,

that sometimes tries to pull me under my work table.

Just in time, I remember who I really think I am.

My talented California friend, Diana Frey, has once again designed the most beautiful jewelry line for Robin Kaplan's Fall Collection. Diana has been both a wonderful friend, and an honest inspiration to me. This time her twisted wire and stone choker sang out to me.

"sari cross"

I decided to begin with one of the turquoise crosses bought at the Bead Market in Stafford this past weekend; along with recycled sari silk ribbon I found in an Etsy shop, Northcott Wilson Artisans. I attached the cross using a bail I hand-formed from my stash of brass etched in California. I bought the raw brass strips, yes! at Kit Kraft; but I'm also able to get them at my local hardware store in downtown Katy. Hobby stores will most likely sell them as well, perhaps even Hobby Lobby. They measure 12" x 1/2"; and I bought the 12" x 1/4" size. They are precut and ready to alter as you like.

I added copper chain, which I formed, soldered & oxidized; then gently stretched the loops using my long chain nosed pliers. I styled my chain using the method Stephanie Lee shared with us in class; but she also showed how to make this type of chain in her article called Totally Plastered, published in the January/February 2009 Belle Armoire Magazine. And, she shared it in her book, Semiprecious Salvage. My take has the loops linked together using torch shimmered spacers, bought from Silk Road Treasurers, at the Gem Show last year. They have the most beautiful shimmer & texture, and mirror the shimmer on my bail. I sprinkled a few in the wrapped part of my necklace.

Little did I know that Deryn mentioned in her latest post, Michelle Ward's Crusade No. 31~Make it Your Own. Deryn shared her wire nest charm as an example. (She sells the tutorial in her Etsy shop). Deryn said she was inspired by the wonderfully creative artist Susan Lenart Kazmer's resin-on-paper technique, which lead her to add wire and paper leaves and vines to her wire nest charm. She didn't use Susan's exact technique...but, was certainly inspired by it. She put her spin on it and re-spun her original design in the process.

I believe this is the highest form of flattery!

The ability for an artist to share what they know with others. Then, drawing from it, we add our spin on it....making it our own. Yes, Make it Your Own. I did.