Blossoming Branches Wedding Band

My fiancé decided he wanted to start wearing his wedding band early (no complaints here!) I worked out a design with him and completed the cast this week. He was quite adamant about his right to a cool ring! Here's how it turned out:

Sweet and whimsical buttercup crown

I would love to see people think about accessories the same way they think about their wedding dress: as something to look glorious in and then be passed down. So many accessories on the market are comprised of pearls and Swarovski crystals wired to a cheap plastic comb. Or feathers and silk flowers hot-glued to a plastic comb. Would you buy a wedding dress if the beading had been hot glued to the bodice? Watching period dramas makes me long for the days of wood, tortoiseshell, and metal hair accessories crafted by hand with the utmost care (items that can still be found at antique stores and estate sales to this day!) I wanted to make my buttercup crown in that spirit of craftsmanship. It was my little pet-project last month which I hope to expand upon.

Autumn Jewelry

Fall has officially made it to West Texas! The leaves are turning some gorgeous shades of yellow and red and it gets pretty nippy at night. I've been compiling some autumn looks using the items in my stock in preparation for my favourite season.

Happy Fall y'all!

Rose Quartz and Sterling Silver Iris Pendant

A couple posts back I shared a commission for a sterling lily pendant I designed around an heirloom tourmaline. I loved the combination of a faceted stone in an elaborate floral setting. This pendant features a lovely, faceted quartz surrounded by two bearded and one Dutch iris (since I can never decide which kind I prefer!) Irises are a flower I associate with my Mom, and this particular stone reminded me of the foggy shimmer that white Iris petals display in the sun.

I am hoping to launch a business Facebook fairly soon (about time, I know...) This pendant along with several higher-end pieces will be featured.

Making Progress: a lovely vintage-style painted hair comb

Moving shop was bound to cause a few delays! Wasps caused the first one by building a forever home in the end of my propane torch (I hope they took out fire insurance). After purchasing an unoccupied torch only to have it not work either, my predictions about slews of new pieces are proving inaccurate for a couple of days at least. I do have something to show for myself which I thought I would share. I introduced a recycled pewter dogwood comb a few months ago for spring, and this new version is painted. It would be a lovely statement piece for a vintage wedding or formal tea. 

I enjoy the look of it so much I think I may have to start offering a painted version of all the designs in my shop! Here's to hoping more work will follow by the end of the week.

Shahmaran Update

I have several new pieces waiting to be cast today, but I just couldn't wait to share this exciting update regarding the last post and my Shahmaran wax. The original I carved for Omerli-CATOM in Southeastern Turkey has not only cast beautifully, but it is also being produced in both silver and pewter for use by the CATOM's artisans. Please check out the project website, created by Turkcraft design consultants James and Umut, where you can see examples of the exquisite micro-crochet and embroidery (a teaser below). My Shahmaran charms will be used in jewelry and as embellishments on their textiles. I will continue to update as the project commences.

Latest Custom Work

I'm getting settled in here in West Texas, and am hoping to open up my etsy shop and resume production to stores within the week. Here is just a taste of some of the custom work I was able to complete before leaving...

This sterling silver pendant features a special, heirloom tourmaline. I carved the lily setting in wax and cast it the day before I packed up my kiln! 

This was an interesting order. I carved this wax of "Sahmaran" a figure from Turkish folklore, to be cast and used in the artwork, jewelry and textiles of a women's art collective in Turkey. As you can see it's a fairly tiny figure! I was excited to be asked to participate in this project and will have more information as it progresses.

In the meantime, I'm just working on setting up my equipment! I will be starting to cast pieces for fall and winter weddings in the coming month, so be sure to have a browse around my etsy shop.

Busy Summer Update!

A lot has gone unrecorded this summer so I think it's time to get caught up! My dear friend's wedding kicked things off back in May, and my "Orchard Blossom" set made it's debut.

Magazine brides despair, you just can't fake pure glee!

I spent two weeks in the UK visiting with my wonderful family, friends and the incredibly talented craftspeople!

 Coveting studio spaces...

Coveting handmade tartan...

Coveting fresh, local produce!

Faulds Forge is relocating to West Texas at the end of the summer, but business will go on as usual. And just look at where I'll be working:

Happy summer to all!

Etsy Denton Summer Bazaar

Etsy Denton's Summer Bazaar this weekend was my introduction to the world of craft fairs. I really enjoyed representing Faulds Forge alongside so many talented local vendors. It was a great feeling to see my hard work and all the help of family and friends pay off in a big way!

 I made my own displays at the last minute out of picture frames and moss, hoping the dark green would compliment the silvery combs and pendants. I think I got more compliments on the displays than on the jewelry ironically!

Thank you so much everyone who showed up to support me! 

Dawn of the Wed

 I'm a fan of colour on metal and my friend Katie's Halloween wedding was the perfect excuse to try out a satiny black patina. I introduced a polished pewter version a while back for more traditional brides. The black changes the mood completely, making it the perfect accessory for an elegant gothic or nighttime wedding. I'm thinking a black birdcage veil and some blood-agate earrings would make this thing (coincidentally, already made!)

Thank you for letting me make your wedding jewelry, Katie!

A Departure

This past week I was commissioned to make a belt buckle to commemorate a 50th birthday. The recipient: a proud Tex-Irish Cowboy! The buckle incorporated his initials and important emblems, and sports a nice antiqued finish...kind of like the man himself ;) Happy 50th Bart!

Dogwood blossoms and Employee of the Month

This week among other things, I was able to cast another pewter hair comb featuring dogwood blossoms (one of my favourites!) with their unusually curled petals. I'm pairing it with a single dogwood bud on a light chain. I think the buds look like tiny presents! Dogwood, magnolia and pine trees always remind me of the brief time I lived in Georgia.

It's important to note that none of my waxes would ever find themselves in durable metal form without the help of my hardworking equipment! As such, I'm launching a segment called Employee of the Month, in which one of my non-human shop mates gets his day in the limelight. March goes to my lovely burnout kiln, without whom nothing would have been made this month. Congratulations Val!







Tea Rose Hair Comb

Anyone with a summer wedding coming up? This is what I've been working on this week with summer on the brain. Tea roses are fresh and fragrant and tousled, the complete opposite of the long stemmed, tightly curled Valentine's Day variety. And sculpting them, though time consuming, is very rewarding. I'm hoping to replicate this comb in a pinky bronze which I think would be lovely and romantic for a vintage inspired wedding.

Like all the combs I've been working on lately, this one could be quite easily fitted with a veil. The pendant in the picture is my Trillium Necklace in recycled pewter on a silver-filled chain. I like understated jewelry...no rhinestones please :)

Eco-friendly Cherry Blossom Bridal Set

Cherry Blossoms have been a bit overdone I'll admit. But there is something so appealing about the little curled petals and twiggy stamens that people in every craft medium have at some point felt the need to feature them, despite the overwhelming availability of mass produced blossom charms, fabric and prints. I submit to you yet another attempt!

I'm interested in creating adaptable bridalwear, suitable for use after the wedding for special occasions or anniversaries.

What makes this set eco-friendly? The blossoms are cast in pewter upcycled from old beer steins! So if you're ecologically minded, or just plain like beer, any of these pieces would make a great addition to your collection. 

Lastly, I wanted to give this set some character with a beautiful antiqued finish. The stamens are dusted with gold leaf to resemble pollen!

Hand-painted pewter butterfly clip

This is a follow up to the last post in which I mentioned painting the pewter butterflies. This is a lovely peacock butterfly which I plan on pairing with a cabbage white and a holly blue as a set in my etsy shop.

I love the look of painted metal myself, but am more than happy to offer any of my designs unpainted for more traditional girls.

Happy spring to all!