Carey Burns

This project was on my mind all summer but I finally finished her! When I look at the finished piece, I can't believe I actually created it. It started with an antique brass match holder from Sweden I found at a junk store. It took me a year (not kidding) to decide which side to use. They're both fantastic! I had the head of a blinking doll that I had removed the hair from in my junk bin and one day I saw the two pieces together and had an a-ha moment. I started researching Aztec gods and goddesses and discovered Chalchiuhtlicue. As I learned about her being the 'lady of the jade skirts,' I decided to eventually add some jade tones. Playing around with other pieces from the junk bin, I settled on a skeletal torso and skeleton hands to crown the piece. I rusted them and dry brushed them in white, a golden yellow, and a lightened thalo green. The piece cried out for colorful flowers so I colored Tim Holt's Heirloom Roses in alcohol ink shades...

Well, it's Maker's Monday once again! I was on vacation all last week so today's project was thrown together at the very last minute. I've linked supplies to where I have purchased them but you may buy them elsewhere. Supplies: 2 natural brass headpins (2 inches long) 3 4mm Swarovski crystals in Light Turquoise 1 natural brass connector/pendant 28 inches of brass-toned chain 3 brass-toned open jump rings (3mm) 1 brass-toned lobster clasp (not in photo) Tools: Jeweler's pliers (one or two pairs, depending on your preference) Flush cutters Instructions: 1.  Slide a crystal onto a headpin. With the tips of your pliers, make a 90 degree bend in the headpin just above the bead. 2.  Cut the excess tail from your headpin so that it measures just under 1/2 an inch long.  3.  Here's a quick tip for cutting headpins so they are all the same size: when you have trimmed your headpin to the desired size, take your scrap end and line it up...

It's Maker's Monday! Today’s project is a pair of natural brass and Swarovski pearl earrings with a simple loop cold connection. Some people have sensitive ears so they may not be able to wear brass ear wires. Please substitute accordingly. I've linked supplies to where I have purchased them but you may buy them elsewhere. Supplies: 2 natural brass fishhook ear wires 2 8mm Swarovski pearls in Night Blue 2 Vintaj Wandering Pathway embellishments 2 lengths of Vintaj 20 gauge Artisan Copper wire (about 5 inches each) Tools: Jeweler's pliers (one or two pairs, depending on your preference) Flush cutters Instructions: 1.  With the tips of your pliers, make a 90 degree bend in the end of one wire, roughly 1/2 inch from the end.  2.  Line the very end of that 90 degree bend up with the mark on your pliers. Make sure the mark is facing up and clamp the pliers around the end of the headpin—hold the rest of the wire tightly with your other hand.   Line th...