New Additions/Brister

June and July have been incredibly inspirational months. Museums, galleries, hikes and the anticipation of a new niece/nephew have been revealing tons of new ideas and helping me recognize how I have found my way to some existing designs. Here are a handful of the new manifestations of the "serpentine" texture that I have been creating. Starting in wax, then using a scribe and wood carving tools, I employ a version of the unfortunately named "dreischnitt" technique to work the triangular pattern.

These are sketch to model for the new "Brister" earrings. (My brother and his wife are not sure of the gender yet, but this afternoon, there will be a new addition to the family!)

This was the original sketch. The dots at the top will hold the birth stone of each of the children: James, Oscar and ???

This was the wax model I carved, sans the beads that will hold the stones. I will keep this as a stone-less, slightly more economical option.

I foolishly cast the basket part without adding the balls and had to solder them on, but will be easily removed for stone-less wax. I made a mold of this piece.

Yesterday I learned that I am aunt to my sixth niece! I cannot wait to meet her. She is represented with the August birthstone, peridot. In the middle is topaz (November/Oscar) and the left is ruby (July/James). These earrings are sterling silver with 1.5mm stones set in the beads. Now if they could only decide on a name...