Website crash course...

Wow, I'm beginning to see why people pay someone to set up their websites -- there's a lot of work in it! LOL
I do believe it is meant to be a work in progress (kinda like housework -- it's never really FINISHED). That's a good thing though because you always have the chance to add to it and improve upon it.
Keep checking in on how it's coming along. I realize that I'm going to have to eventually learn HTML and set it up how I REALLY want, but for now I think I've got it to the point I can start adding more products to it. :)

http://katscustomkreations.com

Adventures in metal cutting...continued

This weekend was interesting! I did manage to work on a piece that the director of the community choir I am in asked me to work on for the ladies of the choir to wear the night of the concert. It still has some time to go in the tumbler, but it is coming along quite nicely!

Our NEW WEBSITE!!!

Whew!!!!!! Between trying to learn some new things and having to replace both of my monitors, this weekend has been a bit interesting...But we sailed right through it!

Now, for the newest development - I have been setting up our new website this weekend. I am so excited! Man, there is a lot of work in doing that! I'm sure it will be a work in progress, but I think I have enough on there to start letting people know it's out there to be seen. If you happen to get a chance, pop over and check it out...Maybe even leave us some feedback! :)

http://katscustomkreations.com/

Adventures in metal cutting...

Boy oh boy! Ok...I'm one of those girls who likes to get tools for her birthday, so it's no surprise that I'm excited about our "new" scroll saw acquisition! I had mentioned that I'd like to have one for cutting sheet metal and DH found one on CraigsList for a steal! It is exactly what we wanted...even has adjustable speed! I have been giving it a spin tonight on some 20ga copper and it seems to be working out quite nicely! (Can you tell I'm excited by all the "!" ?? LOL) I am using it to work a piece for a new sales opportunity that I've been blessed with! I'll have to tell you about it when I post the work in progress...STAY TUNED! :)

Caught in the swishing waves...

Last weekend we took a little walk down the beach at Pass-a-Grille and picked up several shells. One in particular was speaking to me which set my mind to reeling on how to capture it in wire. It was not all that pretty at first. It was bleached out but underneath all that scale was much hidden potential. I gave it a tumble in some polishing grit which revealed a bit of it's glory, but when I threw it in the shot to harden the wire is when even more of the beauty was discovered!

Being a newbie at the wire wrapping/sculpting, this was probably MUCH too challenging a task for me to bite off...but I was determined! LOL The picture doesn't really show it all that well, but the swirls at the bail remind me of how the waves look as they are breaking as the top tips forward and tumbles onward!

Anyway, I hope you enjoy viewing it as much as I enjoyed creating it!

Captured in 20ga square sterling silver.
Measures approx. 2 2/4" from bottom of shell to top of bail.


I thought I'd take this little guy down to the beach and get a pic of it looking more at home! A much happier shell, indeed!

His Promises - Salvation Plan

This is a custom piece I made for the upcoming birthday of a friend's daughter.

Each color represents an element of Salvation's Plan:
BLACK-Sin
BLUE-Gifts of the Spirit
CLEAR-Forgiveness & Grace
GREEN-Promise of Eternal Life
GOLD-Streets of Heaven
VIOLET-His Hours of Suffering
PINK-Promise of a New Tomorrow
RED-Blood of Jesus

Cross is hand formed of 16ga SS, wrapped in 24ga SS, 16ga ring showcasing Swarovski Crystals wire wrapped with hand formed SS balled head pins. SS chain and toggle clasp complete the piece.

Necklace measures 18" plus 1 3/4" pendant.

Netting...Bending wire and my patience! LOL

Well, I have been seeing some beautiful netted pendants lately and thought I'd give it a whirl...I managed to finish this one without throwing it out the window. HA! I don't think it turned out too bad considering I was figuring it out as I went and the 4' of easily coiled and kinked 30ga dead soft sterling was testing my patience. I have determined that 30ga is entirely too fine and have some 28ga ds on order (as of this morning!). I think I'll keep it to see how much I improve. =)

Some of David's Creativity!

Well, I must say, for a man who says he has no eye for style, my husband has outdone himself with wire wrapping! Here is a pendant he made over the weekend - isn't it stunning?!

My first wire wrap attempt...

OK...So, tonight I took the plunge - I asked my husband, David, to instruct me on how to wire wrap a stone. All I had was half hard 20ga so I had a bit of trouble with the bail but I think once the soft square I ordered comes in that will no longer be an issue! I think for a first attempt it turned out quite nicely! What a great teacher he is!

The stone is 25mm x 35mm Red Fossil Coral that I picked up at a shop in Winter Haven, FL when my mom, sister and I went to Orlando last month. I wrapped it in Sterling Silver.

Mother, Daughter Creation...

This is a choker that mom assisted me with while she was here last week! We are quite pleased with how it turned out.

Thanks Mom!

Crochet sterling silver wire, various round gemstones, ribbon.
Sterling silver: chain; heart clasp; Bali style cones; spacer beads.