This Week At the Bench...150 Penadnts...

I have been working non-stop for the past week to get 150 Square Abacus pendants finished, bagged, boxed and shipped. My fingers hurt and my eyes are tired. I would have never been able to get them done so quickly without the help of my husband, Ben. Thank God I married a fellow metalsmith!

These pendants are on their way to a the Lakewood Ranch Country Club in Florida for their annual Men's Invitational Golf Tournament. The pendants will be given to the participants' significant others during a formal 5 course dinner at the conclusion of the tournament. I can't describe my surprise and happiness that the Golf Shop Buyer expressly wanted to promote handmade designer jewelry, rather than mass-produced jewelry from a faceless company. She has an art background and as a result is an art advocate. A big thanks go out to her! Buy local, buy handmade...now is the time!

150 Square Abacus Pendants - finished

150 Pendants - bagged

150 Pendants - boxed

The Forever Flower

When I returned home from my recent business trip, I found this beautiful gift waiting for me on my jewelers' bench. My husband and I never get to spend Valentine's Day together because my biggest wholesale show falls over the holiday every year. He made me this flower while I was gone...it will never wilt, fade or loose it's petals...it will last forever.

Mort Abelson Scholarship

I recently applied for the Mort Abelson Scholarship at the Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts. This unique scholarship was funded by designers, for designers and consists of an all-expenses-paid trip for one recipient to attend a master class of their choice at the school's upcoming International Masters Symposium. The contest honors Mort Abelson, who was instrumental in raising the awareness of jewelry design and promoting jewelry designers in the U.S.

Unfortunately I did not win the scholarship. However, I was awarded Honorable Mention! I am happy that my work was received so well and I will try again next year! Wish me luck!

"Butterfly Brooch" by Danielle Miller-Gilliam
18k gold, oxidized sterling, tourmaline with freely gliding diamonds & tsavorite