Creative Metal Arts Guild Show

Come see my latest work this weekend at the Annual Creative Metal Arts Guild Show, April 24-26, at the Oregon Convention Center. Hours are 10-6 Friday and Saturday, and 10-5 Sunday. I have several new designs I’m unveiling. In addition, the Ceramics Guild, Handweavers Guild, Bead Society, and Glass Guild will be having their shows at the Convention Center this weekend…it’s a great time to view work from artists in the Portland area. I hope to see you there!

I’ll be having a show of my work this weekend, April 4-5, at the Fine Arts and Crafts Fair, at the First Unitarian Church, 1011 SW 12th Ave, Portland, OR. The show runs from 10:30-6 on Saturday, and 10-2 on Sunday. It’s the first year the church is hosting this show, and I’m going to give it a try. Come by to see me!

New pics!

 

Finally had some new photos taken of my more recent work. They will be available for purchase soon in my Etsy shop, or you can contact me directly.

This first one is the “Caged Tahitian Mabe Pearl” necklace, made of 18K yellow gold, Fine silver, sterling, Tahitian Mabe pearl, and Baroque Tahitian pearls.

 

This one is the “Trapped Petrified Wood” pendant, made of Oxidized fine silver, sterling, and Petrified Wood.

And here’s the “Hobnail Heart” in large, made in Fine silver and on a sterling chain.

The “Corseted Heart” pendant, again in fine silver on a sterling chain:

The “Trapped Green Dragon Turquoise” pendant, in Oxidized fine silver, sterling, and Chinese Green Dragon Turquoise:

And then the “Hobnail Starfish” pendant:

Wedding/Engagement Rings

I get so happy when I have the opportunity to make an engagement or wedding ring! I am currently at work on three rings, so when they’re done I’ll post photos. But for now, here are some pictures of rings I’ve done in the past.

 

These two photos are of rings I did in 18K white gold. The woman’s ring has a big chocolate diamond and smaller white diamonds set into it. These were fun to do.

 

This one was done in Platinum, using the customer’s diamonds from his Mother’s and Aunt’s rings. When he proposed to his girl, she said “yes!” I’ll soon be working on his ring, for the wedding…

 

And this one was done for a dear friend of mine. She had no idea what I was designing for her, but her fiance was involved every step of the way. This was done in 18K white gold, and set with an amazing white diamond and two beautiful rubies. It looks phenomenal on her, and I was thrilled that she loved it!

Some of my work

Here are some of my pieces. A few of these sold right away, but some are still available in my Etsy shop, or you can contact me directly.

Here’s the “Trapped Moonstone” pendant. This one sold out quickly.

And here’s Nicho Paloma. This particular one is sold, but I can make another to order.

 

Here’s the medium-sized “Hobnail Heart” pendant, in fine silver on 14K chain:

 

And the “Little Bird in a Window, with a Tree.” This was a special-edition, which is now sold out. However, I’ve released a similar one that is a bird in a window, also with a tree. It has a few changes from this piece. I will try to post a picture soon.

 

Here are the Hobnail Cap earrings, set with Sleeping Beauty Turquoise. This type of turquoise comes from the Sleeping Beauty Mine in Arizona, and is naturally this intense shade of blue, with little to no veining. I love using it in my work.

 

And here’s a whole flock of Little Birds:

 

Here’s the Caged Larimar with Diamonds pendant, in fine silver and 14K. This one is sold, but I can do a similar one by special order, with the combination of stones and metal you want.

Holiday Trunk Show!

Halo Shoes hosts a holiday TRUNK SHOW featuring my work! Please come take a look at all my latest creations, enjoy good conversation, admire some amazing shoes, and partake of some tasty snacks and refreshing refreshments. I hope to see you all!!

 

Thursday, December 11, 2008

4pm – 7pm-ish

1425 NE Broadway Street
Portland, Oregon 97232

Halo Shoes (503) 331-0366
Shannon Miranda (503) 709-2879

 

The pitted heart

I’m not really a “heart-person.” I swear.

Several years ago, in a jewelry class, I bemoaned that I might have to make a stupid heart. It seemed like so many projects I had been given used a heart shape. And so many people through my life had given me heart jewelry, heart greeting cards, heart this, heart that. What were they thinking? Didn’t they know I hated hearts? I was a tough girl. Not sweet. I had been through a lot in my life, and I was no Pollyanna. I needed angst. Not silly hearts.

For some reason, the instructor didn’t ask us to make a heart. And for some reason, a heart was all I could make.

Why? Could I have been a teensy bit wrong about myself? Did I actually, deep down inside, believe in good, and loveliness, and beauty, and hope, and, love?

Yes. But. This heart was PITTED. A weathered, wise, flawed heart. A heart that had had travels, and maybe not-so-nice experiences, but that could still believe in goodness and innocence. That, in spite of it all, placed faith in possibility. Brave enough to be vulnerable. Courageous enough to hope. That believed life is for the living of it.

So, let your own heart be pitted. A pitted heart lives in someone who fully experiences, and LIVES, their life. Both the light-filled wonder of it and the shadowy terror of it. Imperfections are what make us more beautiful. More wise. More soulful. More interesting. More who we are meant to become.