Etsy Store Opening!

It's official! I have an etsy store! Go check it out please =] You'll find some cool stuff and I'll be adding more every week or so! <3

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ElanaJoveroJewelry

Pics of Goodies!

Just what the title says! In progress and finished pieces, all going up on etsy in the next couple weeks!

New Beginnings...

I am so very excited to show you guys my new bench, and a sneak peak of a bunch of work I'm going to make! Firstly, the bench. ZOMFG. I got it from Otto Frei in Oakland--I'm lucky enough to live in California where a lot of the main warehouses for stores you mainly buy online are located.  Not to mention the West Coast is the Best Coast, but that's a song for another time.  This bench is a little smaller than the ones I'm used to at UArts, and it honestly weirds me out there are no dings or scratches or marks on it at all.  I need to start cracking or it wont look like a real bench--it's just not acceptable!

I have just about everything set up.  My baby (the flexshaft) is all ready to go, and I replaced the hose on my torches and it doesn't seem to be leaking anymore.  I've forgotten how sooty acetylene is so I want to find a way to keep the rest of my room from acquiring thousands of little, black specks of dust. You cant see it in this photo, but theres a HUGE white shag rug that I don't want to ruin.

Now for the pretty part--the stones! These are a bunch of stones I've collected over the years and some I got recently for this very project.  I'm putting together a collection to sell--don't worry, you'll be updated with in-progress shots--and here is a quick sneak peak of what I'm starting out with! If I make everything here it'll be twelve rings, five pairs of studs, and one large brooch.  For now I'm calling it "stones and metals," so keep your eye out for my next little collection of wood carved pieces.  <3 Lani

It's been two months....

...And I haven't posted.  The holiday season at Watch Repair was nuts, and we're losing a coworker so I've been working so much.  Currently I'm sick (after a Reno vacation to the snow), so I thought I'd update you with the good news:

I'M MOVING!

And treating myself to a real Jeweler's Bench! I can only afford the one that has a few drawers, not a full bank of drawers, but the difference in price is over $800+  I think most of my tools will fit, and I still have the plastic drawers for anything that doesn't.   I'm so excited: a proper jeweler's bench to welcome me into my new apartment!

Lastly, here are some pics of the ALMOST completed pipe.  There is one component that I haven't gotten a hold of yet, but once I do it'll be done and I can deliver it! I think it came out pretty nice.  If I can learn how to turn soon, I'll be making more for sure. =] I want to sell pipes and some jewelry on etsy soon--once I move I'll have a proper space to be doing work! Until next time, <3 Lani

Update and project pics

Hey! So it's been forever since I updated anything on my blog so I wanted to let y'all know what I've been up to. I started working at Macy's Watch and Jewelry Repair, and I'm still working with a jeweler in Sausalito, so my schedule has been insane lately. One of the biggest pieces of news is that I got my own set of torches! I've been working for my jeweler at home now that I have those torches--it's an amazing tool to have again, though I am finding it hard to find time to make my own work!

A client of mine commissioned me to make an oldschool style pipe. It feels amazing to be carving again. I needed a break from it but now I'm ready! I'll take more Studio pics once I clean my room. It's Uhhh, pretty messy. That I have not had time to deal with either haha. And I need new furniture! And I want to move into a new apartment, but I'm trying to save money right now. We shall see what happens! But before I get too off topic...

Here is the pipe in mid production. I NEED to learn how to turn ASAP. if anyone wants me to make them a pipe I'd be happy to talk to you about it. Hit me up via text or at elanajovero@att.net and we can go over details. <3 Lani

Some pics

Here are some pics of what I've been up to at my own bedroom studio. More to come soon :)

I got this little butane torch so now I can solder at home. Yay! I made this pair of earrings in that same style as before, and I'm actually getting the little bubbles cast so I can make a mini collection of rings/earrings etc.

As always, a cute pup photo has to be thrown in

Getting back into the swing of things

It has been 2.5 months since my last post, which means that it's been 2.5 months since I've really made any work.  In this time I've had a lot going on, some jewelry related and some not-so-jewelry related haha.  I've been working as a production jeweler at Love and Luxe, a wonderful gallery in the Mission district of San Francisco, and recently started working with another artist, Amy Nordstrom, in Sausalito.        I've been enjoying my break from making, living it up in the warm California sun (insert beach boys reference here), hanging out with friends I haven't seen in forever, and making new ones too =]  Finally I'm ready to get back into making work and I'm seriously jonesing to start ASAP. It's gotten to the point where I'm seriously obsessing! Supplies, you better get here fast!

The main thing I am working on now is "breadcrumb" work or production work--do you remember those tasty little bubble rings I made for the artUnleashed ring workshop? Yup, those are going to make a comeback, and even better this time.  I have a lot of exciting designs and ideas around them, but I'm going to start off small at first.  I plan on taking them to galleries and jewelry stores and seeing if they want to sell them, wish me luck! Luck might be a little forward though--I have to actually make the work first =P

I would also like to officially state here that I'm going to start carving one of a kind pieces again.  There is a project, I can't remember if I mentioned, that involves orchids and earrings and such like that.  It might be that.  OR it might be a life size star gazer lily.  But I'm not sure the Lily is going to be a jewelry piece. I kinda want it to just be....REGARDLESS. Are you excited? Yes! Am I nervous? Of course...Haha.  PS: to let you in on a little secret, I'm stating this officially here so that I have a commitment to start carving again! (not that I really need one persay, but I've just been in a weird out-of-school funk where the lack of deadlines are....terrifying.  I'm still getting used to being done with school)

Until next time, my sweets! <3