Rings created from Decorative Baby Spoons

I have had so much fun designing these rings.  I use small baby spoons and hammer the ladel and then slightly heat them up to make them easy to bend.  Then I carefully forge them around a ring mandrel and then polish with my foredom.  I like these because they are bigger than the usual spoon rings and don't really look like silverware. 

New Silverware Designs

 I've been working on some new jewelry designs using some new pieces of vintage silverplate silverware I found at various antique sales.  I'm having so much fun!  In the first picture I created a gorgeous bangle from vintage sugar tongs.  I've been creating spoon jewelry for over 10 years and I have never run across this pattern. It is Nils-John silverplate.   I curled the fork ends around and charms could be added for some extra bling.   I'm still trying to decide if I'm going to keep this one for myself since this is a one of a kind piece. 

More to come, so stay tuned!

Love you to the moon and back..

Back by popular demand! One of my favorites and a saying that I have told my children for years. I love you to the moon and back. This can be customized numerous ways but most customers prefer this one. I left out the "I" on this one because sometimes more than one person will be giving the gift or some people just prefer to leave it off. Of course, I can always add it. The stars are additional charms I add with the children's inital. You can add as many as you would like. Each one is $5.00. The total cost as you see it here is $42.00. If you are interested in ordering one, please feel free to contact me at mel@melstreasures.com or go to my website at http://www.melstreasures.com/ and if this is for Christmas, all online orders have to be submitted by December 15th.

New Design Challenge~Bezel Setting

I cannot believe the Holidays are already here again!  I have 32 orders for custom jewelry designs and starting to panic just a little bit on how I will get them done.  Take one day at a time..(I tell myself this daily)!  I am so thankful for the orders and cannot believe that I have made it another year with my business.  11 years and counting now.  Wow! 

One of my newest design challenges have been soldering mixed metals and silver bezels and rings.  I have finally progressed to making family trees and charms with birthstones that will fair the worst wearer.  If you're like me, you forget to take that necklace or bracelet off when swimming, sleeping or showering.  These will definitely stand the test of time.  It is a bit more of a process, though.  I first purchase a tube of sterling silver.  Then slice the pieces based on the thickness of the stone.  Buff and smooth the edge, then solder to the silver.  Clean, polish and tumble the piece, then set the stone and press the silver all around the stone to insure it will not come out.  Then more polishing and another tumble.  Here is a picture of one of the first ones I did. 

Also the family tree.  I have ordered some extra polishing tools to attach to my foredom so that I can get in the nooks and crannies to get the smooth shine through out the piece.  This was my first family tree.  The prices are $6.00 per bezel (stone setting) plus the price of the silver charm with stamping or the family tree.  If you would like one, feel free to email me at mel@melstreasures.com and I will quote you a price for the entire piece.  I will stop taking Christmas orders around the first week of December.  I ended up working all the way up to Christmas Eve at 9pm last year and missed my Christmas Eve dinner with my in-laws and was so tired I didn't even feel like socializing so I plan to be closed on Christmas Eve this year. 

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all of you wonderful Mother's out there.  I didn't get to post on or before Mother's Day due to trying to complete orders.  I had prom, Mother's Day, weddings (still have more of those) and online orders to complete.  Needless to say, I was burning the midnight oil.  No complaints here.  I'm very thankful for every one!  Here is a follow up to some of the orders I completed.  I really enjoyed the expressions from the local customers when they picked them up.  It is such a treat to have people that appreciate the hard work that goes into each piece.  Thank you again for all of your support.  I have some new design ideas swirling around in my head so I hope to get those in play soon. 

Spring Has Sprung! Bright New Jewelry

 I have finally got back into the swing of things and decorated the store.  I have bright new "Color Fusion" pendants with silk necklaces, Lampwork Easter Egg charms, Purse charm~key chains, crystals and so much more to go with that new Easter dress.  I'm currently working on Prom and Bridal jewelry and getting orders in for Mother's Day.  If you haven't been by, you need to stop in and see all the beautiful new colors.  The Color Fusion necklaces were a hit at the Farmer's Market this past weekend so I have been working very hard to get more made.  Some of the popular colors are lime green and orange.  The sunflowers with the yellow in the middle are so cute!  Come by and check them out and if you're not local, just drop me an email and I'll get yours right out to you.
I also have to mention my sister's pocket bags.  She makes some of the most gorgeous bags with customized pockets and uses top quality fabric including real leather.  She owns the fabric store which is where I'm located and you can come in and pick your own fabric and design and she'll make it up for you.  They are the best!!

To Market, To Market..... New Fused Glass Pendants

This is just a few of my new fused glass pendants I've been working on for the "Farmer's Market" opening April 9th.  I've been working on a complete new line of jewelry and this is my "Color Fusions" Collection.  I have also created earrings to complete the sets and will upload those on my next post.  I love the new fused glass I found and wish I could get more.  There are a limited amount of these I can make with this glass.  Gorgeous spring colors that remind me of bright Easter Eggs.  They have an iridescent finish on them that really stands out.  If you would like one, come by and see me at the market on April 9th from 8:00am to 1:00pm or if you are not local, feel free to email me with an order.  The largest pendant (orange in picture) with a leather cord is $38.00, the medium size like the blue and yellow in pic are $32.00 and the smallest in green is $28.00.  I do have lots of other colors and beautiful dochroic glass that can be substitued.  I can also substitute the leather cord for a sterling chain, ribbon necklace or many other options.  Hope to hear from you soon!!  These won't last long.

Spring Bangle featured on Divapreneur Homepage

Thank you to Divapreneur for featuring my bangle on your homepage!!

There is a little story behind these pieces...

I was recently juried for the local "Farmer's Market" and this bangle and earrings were some of the items approved for me to sale at my table.  I didn't realize how far the market had come with artists and how flooded the market is with jewelry designers until I decided to ask for a booth.  I went through strict judging by other artists and was thrilled to be approved but sad that I cannot do any "beading" for my booth.  Only silverwork, my stained glass pendants, spoon bracelets, hand stamped items, lampwork glass items and hand forged items can be sold there because of other jewelry designers that had been approved before with beadwork.  At first I was a little down because beadwork really helps me fill my table and also allows me to price some items at lower cost for people that are there just looking for a simple trinket or small gift.  After I thought about it a bit, I realized that this gives me an opportunity to expand my creative outlet and have fun with wire work and forging and create unique items that are really heirloom quality and keepers!  So I'm having a lot of fun coming up with creations.  The only problem is I can get my brain to quit designing when its time to sleep!!  Our first day at the market is April 9th.  So needless to say, I will be very busy creating lots of items for my booth! 

This bangle is hand forged with sterling silver and I have included some gorgeous lampwork glass beads and a few whimsical Thai Hilltribe silver insects.  I finished it off with a hand forged clasp in sterling silver.  The earrings are made with the same set of lampwork glass and have been wire-wrapped in sterling silver.  If you would like to purchase this bangle or earrings, just email me.  The bangle is $62.00 and the earrings are $22.00. 

New Stained Glass Jewelry

I've been working on this for a few years on and off and finally just sat down and forced myself to learn how to do this.  After many trials and errors, I think I'm doing a lot better.  A special friend sent me these dichroic cabs and they are just beautiful.  Thanks Deb!!  I know I have a long way to go, but I really like how these turned out.  The pictures are in the order that I created them.  The sunflower has been sold.  I'm not sure if I will let the butterfly go.  I am a collector of butterflies and this is the first one I made.  The other pendants are hot off the bench.  Just made them yesterday.  I got a creative hair and worked till I was just to tired to continue.  Hope you like them. 

Dreamers Into Doers - Martha Stewart

I was thrilled to have my photo of a Mother's Necklace design featured on Martha Stewart's Dreamers into Doer's website.  Thank you!!

Dreamers Into Doers

A Beaded Affair - Lois A. Linquist is one amazing lady!

Almost a year ago Lois was kind enough to write about me on her blog.  The title and link is Have you met Melissa?  I felt honored that she had taken the time in her busy life to do this.  Especially seeing her beautiful designs! 
Now it's time to honor her!  This past year I have followed Lois and  her incredible drive from designing, running a store to publishing magazines.  Let me just tell you a little bit about it all.  This only touches the surface, I'm sure.  She creates some of the most beautiful jewelry including flawless wire wrapping.  I have included a picture of her design here of a beautiful pearl bracelet incorporating a very hard pattern of chain maille (I struggle with chain maille horribly).  She runs a supply store that has pretty much everything you need including gorgeous gemstones, copper findings, pearls and so much more on her website at A Beaded Affair and at her Etsy store .  You will love her products.  In addition to this, she has created a group called Copper Wire Jewelers where designers meet, talk and discuss techniques, offer tutorials, showcase their designs and have the opportunity to submit their designs to an online publication of Copper Wire Jewelers Magazine.  This is her 4th publication!


Lois is doing all of these things while dealing with the pain of recovering from recent back surgery.  I just can't imagine how she does it.  I personally want to thank you, Lois!  You're amazing and you deserve many rewards for all you do. 

Family Spiral Necklace

My family spiral necklaces are one of my special designs.  I love making these.  It forces me out of my comfort zone and challenges me each time.  Each one is carefully made by using a 20guage piece of sterling silver sheet metal.  A spiral is drawn on the metal with a sharpee pen, then cut with a jeweler's saw.  This is not an easy process because you still have to file and cut more out because when you go back to stamp the names, it spreads and overlaps where you have cut.  There is a lot of filing and buffing with this project.  This is when I'm very thankful for my Foredom Flex Shaft.  Each one is special to me.  I add the birthstone before or after the name based on your specifications.  Birthstones can also be left off and a design added in it's place. This necklace is $56.00 with the sterling necklace.  Special bails with Swarovski crystals or cz's can be added for an additional cost.  This is a great gift for that mother or grandmother for Valentine's Day or Mother's Day.  It can also be stamped with a special saying or verse instead of names.  Feel free to contact me with your order.