Setting Up My NEW Studio

We moved a few months ago and i finally have a chunk of time to set up my studio.  So blessed to have a room with an inspirational view of the mountains.  Now all I need is time to create.

Welcome to Vine Design Jewelry

I love creating! I often lie awake at night drawing designs in the sketchbook on my nightstand. I just can't get jewelry out of my head. When I have a spare moment I am in my home studio creating one-of-a-kind jewelry. My specialty is hand crafting silver.

I have a variety of styles of jewelry ranging from everyday wear, to night-on-the-town and rock & roll bohemian chic. It you love silver, gemstones and well crafted unique designer jewelry, then Vine Design is a great source for your jewelry collection! To view my creations double-click on the slide show above.

Want to create your own jewelry? I teach metal techniques and basic jewelry design in my studio in the San Francisco Bay Area. My current schedule is listed on the right side of  this page. Contact me at virginiahuffman@gmail.com.

Latest Work PMC and Traditional Metalwork Creations

Stingray Texture on Metal with Diamonds

Midievil Hinged Cuff PMC and Bronze

This new creation took weeks to make and I am very pleased with the end result. I used PMC to design the middle portion and soldered bronze edging that I carefully hammered and polished. I added aquamarine and amethyst for added interest. The hinge was used to work around a challenge with the design....so here's to happy mistakes...and creative solutions!

PMC Ring with Bronze & Sterling Band

 

Another sample of my work using the flexibiliy of PMC and fine metal work.

More.....

Bronze Cuff with Sterling Setting

 

Taking a MetalSmithing Class from Davide Bigazzi to see how to incorporate traditional metalsmithing with Precious Metal Clay and Bronz Clay. This took awhile to work on fabrication but it is time well spent.

My All-Time Favorite Ring

 

Adore this chunky ring band. Added some 22K gold to it and WOW! It is now my all-time favorite.

Transforming my Studio for a Jewelry Show

Just finished setting up my studio for a jewelry show. Its exhausting but worth it! Watch this video clip to see how I did it.

Photo Session Maddness

 

Am getting ready for a show. Enjoying taking and editing photos.

Saw a link today about my PMC submissions (see pic below)on CraftGossip.com What fun! The bottom left pieces was selected for publication in the PMC Guild 2011 Annnual. Sadly this is the last year they will be publishing the Annual.

jewelrymaking.craftgossip.com

PMC Guild Submissions 2011

I have been working dutifully in my studio finishing up projects, taking photos and editing them for submission to PMC Guild's Annual Publication for 2011. I pray that a few of my pieces are selected this year! Will find out in August sometime.

Chunky Amethyst Ring

This ring started as a vision a few months ago. I used wax to make a mock up of the stone so i could account for shrinkage in the PMC. I love the weight of this and the rustic quality with such a beautiful stone.

Firing A Bronze Clay Cuff

I am revisiting Bronz Clay now that the price of silver continues to rise. With a little help from my friend Norma i was able to successfully fire this behemoth of a cuff so it is nice and strong. At first I tried firing in "Magic Carbon" at 1525 degrees for 2 hours just like the package said with no success. Then I tried at 1550 for two hours. No success. Norma's trick worked. I ramped my kiln to 500 degrees per hour to 1525 and held for 2.5 hours. Took about 6 hours total to fire but it was worth the wait. Now all i need to do is add a little interest to the piece with some Precious Metal Clay and perhaps a stone. Will post the finished product later... now to cleaning my studio so I can clear my mind and get to the creativity.

Rock and Roll Bohemian Chic

Am working on photos for my website. Went with a friend to Rancho San Antonio Park for a photo shoot yesterday. It was a gorgeous day. Love the outdoors after the rain.

Creative Women Make Gorgeous Rings!

There are a many reasons I teach. Number one is beacause I get to hang out with new people. Number two is when people enjoy the creative process. Todays class was a blast AND my students walked away satisfied with their creations. What a way to spend a Saturday!

Rings that make you go....WOW!

Here are the finished rings!

Making a Collection of Jewelry

I love varitey. After all isn't variety supposed to be the spice of life? Unfortunately my love for variety has caused me to design jewelry in styles that vary all over the map. Many of my customers love that as people's tastes vary. As I look forward, my desire is to simplify my life, to have a cohesive design style. One that pleases me and tickles others fancy. I think I am getting there. Here are two designs that use one of my favorite stones ... smoky quartz..and some of my newly hand crafted fine silver components.

Fun in the Studio

Lately I have been rethinking what the focus of my jewelry business should be. I love to create AND I love to teach. Honesty, I get the best of both worlds offering instruction. Yesterday I gave a class to two wonderful people. Brenda Levine, a long-time beader created the beautiful pendants in the middle. Amy Peters long-time metalsmith and jewelry designer, who also shares a history teaching at The Bead Shop in Palo Alto, created the whimsical pendants to the left. www.amypetersstudio.com

Ladies, you make my job fun!