New Custom Project
Posted on 28 June 2011 | No responses
I’m loving these custom projects that have come my way lately! The most recent was for an inspiring friend who just this year opened a preschool in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. With the end of their first school year approaching, he asked me to create a series of pendants for the teachers based on the school’s logo featuring an intricate tree design. Considering the school’s strong environmental emphasis, I thought a wood rendering would be perfect. I immediately got in touch with Amy Bengtson, a good friend and fellow jewelry designer based in Seattle who creates awesomeness out of a variety of eco-conscious woods. After a bit of back and forth, she sent these beautiful (and sustainable) bamboo pieces down to me:
I loved his suggestion of etching "First Class" on the back! So clever.
The next task was to create silver frames to protect the edges of the bamboo pieces while showcasing the custom message on the back. I ended up creating open backed bezels out of sheet silver.
Step 1: measuring bezel wire, cutting backing and soldering
Step 2: Rough bezel form completed
Once the basic form was down, I sawed out the frame from the back of the bezel
- Step 3: cutting away the backs
After much filing and scrutiny, I was ready to give them a pre-finish.
- Step 4: ready for the setting and polishing
I’ll spare you the minutiae of the polish process and go straight to the “ta-da!” moment:
- The final product
It was such a fun project and great to finally collaborate with Amy on a design. We already have other ideas cooking for a future combo effort!
Friday Favorites
Posted on 17 June 2011 | No responses
A quick installment of those things delighting me these days.
He's still got it!
Found “Drug Buddy” on Youtube and it’s lead to a revival of the Lemonheads in my studio this week. Oh Evan!
Can't stop thinking about this perfect view
Our Memorial Day beach trip to Florida. An amazing home with a beach backyard. Could it get anymore relaxing?
On heavy rotation at our house
The Kruger’s Farm stand down the street from my house. Cheap, a lot of local goods and open air. Summer is here!
AND a fun little project for Ms. Erin Loechner of Design for Mankind wrapping up today. Photos forthcoming just as soon as I figure out the packaging.
Recent custom work
Posted on 13 June 2011 | No responses
Finally found that pesky camera cord and wanted to share some pictures from a few recent custom projects I’ve completed. The first project was a sweet custom pendant from a husband to his business-owning wife. It was a congratulations gift to celebrate the opening of her skincare studio, Cake Skincare, in Seattle, WA. He wanted an enamel pendant of his wife’s logo, so I started with this lovely image:
After a few go-rounds with the saw, I ended up with a rough cut that satisfied me:
I also hand-cut the copper backing as I didn’t have anything in stock that worked with the proportions of the logo font. Once that step was completed, I worked on approximating the color scheme out of the enamels I stock in the studio. Vitreous enamels are not like paint in that you can mix them to get a new color. What results is instead a speckling effect of all of the different colors you’ve combined. Cool, but definitely not what I was going for here.
To get the desired result, I sifted some colors to various grits and applied them with a tiny dental pick. I wish I had better lighting for the pictures of the final product because the colors were rather close to the original logo and I was pleased.
Pre-polishing but post-enameling stage. Please ignore scary jeweler's fingers!
After a 4 step polishing process of the copper and the surrounding enamel, this was the final result:
Darned lighting! The copper was very close to the orange in the logo and polished up quite nicely.
The husband took a photo of his wife opening the pendant and sent it to me. So sweet! It really makes my week when customers are so kind and easy to work with.
If you have any custom requests, from the simple to the complex, please email me at alisha (at) alishalouise.com and I’ll whip up a quote for you. I work with several awesome vendors such as expert stone setters, laser etchers and casters that can make your designs a reality. More custom postings to come!
More to love, Friday fun times
Posted on 13 May 2011 | 1 response
Despite my best efforts, the twice to thrice weekly posts just haven’t been happening. I think I need more structure in my life. Thus, the beginning of the More to Love series! Just a few quick bits of internet fun that have passed my way this week. Here’s hoping it becomes a habit!
The lovely ladies of First Aid Kit. Gorgeous harmonies + simple songs = LOVE
Three cheers for giving a book another try! Couldn’t get into it and it sat on the shelf for a year or two. Currently being devoured and loved. Not sure about the blockbuster movie version set to drop next year, but happy for Mitchell that people love his work.
Home projects, especially those that are visually appealing (as opposed to, say, cleaning gutters and dog poop). My favorites so far of ours include fancy wallpaper and the soon to be installed George Nelson pendant in the dining room! Also obsessed with this, even though the contest ended before I had a chance to vote.
My annual neighborhood street fair! Live music! Weird parade! $1 microbews! It’s the first of hopefully many summer street fairs I will attend this year. Though it’s gorgeous today, it’s supposed to be in the 50s and raining all &$(*&! weekend. Portland springs are painful seasons of longing and small glimmers of hope.
Cheers!
Laid up
Posted on 10 April 2011 | No responses
Last week was a blur of cleaning/shipping 10 orders/taking care of all things administrative so that I could rest peacefully after a minor knee operation. Now, 3 days after the fact, I can say things seem to have gone well and I’m already restless, ready to get back to work and make something new! Here’s what’s been getting me through the recovery time:
One of many great magazines (thanks Rebecca!)
Half Broke Horses, the story of Jeanette "Glass Castle" Walls eccentric grandmother
It's a love/hate thing with these; pain relief AND nausea!
I’m proud of myself for not watching much TV at all so far, just some Real Housewives and bad comedies really. Going to open the vault of awesomeness that is my external hard drive today to retrieve some choice books and shows from my sis-in-law Amy. Biggest thanks go to the hubs who has acted as house cook, caretaker, maid and cheerleader for 3 days strong. Love ya!
Inspired by: Ancient Rome and Greece
Posted on 4 April 2011 | No responses
My love of buttery 18k gold has lead me to dig up photos of all kinds of ancient jewels lately. I’m so inspired by the rough beauty of pieces made entirely by hand. Here are a few examples of the lovely and off-beat nature of ancient works.
Ancient Greek Crab Coin, 18k setting
Braided 18k Roman hoops
6th century Roman earrings
Greek gold wreath, the original picture that inspired my Laurel Wreath Crest necklace
A modern take on classic Roman braided studs by Kent Raible
Oh, dear gold, will you ever be remotely affordable again? I’d love to have the luxury of fiddling around with 18k gold wire and sheet. I have some lovely cabochons waiting in the wings for the chance, but gold fill will have to do for now.
Catching up
Posted on 10 February 2011 | No responses
After almost a week of little or no time spent online, this week’s searches have turned up a treasure trove.
Spent quite awhile perusing the posts on the blog Tomboy Style. More than just a fashion site profiling great women writers, musicians, activists and personalities. Plenty of inspiration too.
Cooking is back on my radar in a big way. Looking forward to Greek feast night, starring these babies. Will probably do less eggs though.
Lauren Manoogian leather bracelets, Katie Diamond ring, Jamie Joseph Watermelon Tourmaline slices.
Been looking at a LOT of jewelry online lately and am loving a few trends: bright and geometric with of touch of earthiness. I bought some watermelon tourmaline slices at the Tucson Gem Fair last year and am still afraid to use them! Time to buck up, methinks.
Back again
Posted on 7 January 2011 | No responses
Boy, it’s time to really start a blogging schedule around here! Once the holidays hit, life in general is chaos and all those lovely extras kind of go by the wayside. I’m not typically a resolution person, but I have a few in mind this year:
1. Nail down a productive work schedule for 2011. The whole running in 1,000 directions thing is tiring and unproductive.
2. Take risks. Did a great job with this the last few months of 2010, more on the way!
3. Do something active and non-work related every day. Seriously. Life is short.
4. No more comparing. ‘Nuff said on that.
5. Finish my home studio! A tangible, realistic goal that would delight be beyond belief.
6. Keep computer time productive and succinct. Life down the rabbit hole of the internets can be depressing and leave you more confused than when you started. Keep it simple.
As always, I appreciate the support from each and every one of you who bought a piece from me this year. It was wonderful to get out there and meet more of you this holiday season! Oh and new camera on the way, so expect more frequent and fun posts in the coming months. I’ll leave you with this brief “love” list for the weekend:
Mod Cloth chevron tank. Loving all things chevron these days!
Madewell menswear pants. Perfect fall through spring item.
UO striped boatneck sweater. A classic staple.
And, lest you think I'm clothing obsessed, finally getting a library card in my newish hood! Got a Nook for xmas and you can "check out" public library books for free! How cool is that?
Home Sweet Home
Posted on 7 December 2010 | No responses
I’m back in Portland after a fabulous weekend in Seattle where I had a booth at Urban Craft Uprising December 4-5. Why did I wait so long to apply to this show?! It was so great in every way, but in particular the customers were the best. I mean, when a beautiful lady with a teenytiny baby comes up to tell you your earrings were her birth present, how can you not feel the love? I’ll definitely be back!
Unfortunately, it was WAY too busy to take photos at the show. So, in lieu of the action, I present you with a boy and his buffalo plaid.
Remember: today is the last day of 15% off on the website! Free shipping until December 20th.
December Shows
Posted on 28 November 2010 | No responses
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We did, hosting our first one in the new house. Yes, it was madness, but so fun and really a good feeling to have everyone over (finally!) for a home cooked dinner. The only downside was waking up Friday morning with a full-on cold–boo! It’s clearing up a bit today and I’m ready to get on with the busy month of December. I hope you can join me at one of the following shows:
SEATTLE
In case you can’t read the fine print: December 4-5, 11am-5pm, Seattle Center Exhibition Hall. The mother of all craft shows in the NW, I can’t wait to see what it’s all about!
PORTLAND
A new collaboration of NW jewelers, Uncommon Jewels is not to be missed! December 17th, 3pm-9pm, the atrium of the Olympic Mills Building, 107 SE Washington St.
If you are not in the Seattle or Portland area, you can take advantage of our holiday sale online, right now through December 5th. Just enter “holiday10″ at checkout to receive 15% off your entire purchase AND free shipping! The free shipping offer is good through December 20th, the last day to receive items by Christmas via USPS Priority Mail.
As always, thank you for your support and here’s to the holidays!