Animals Coming to Life

Hey friends, I've been getting a lot of questions lately about how my animal earrings are made. So I decided to make a whole blog post about it. Hope this answers all your questions!

I design all the animals on my computer and print out sheets of them.

I design all the animals on my computer and print out sheets of them.

I rubber cement the animals to sterling silver, and drill tiny holes for the eyes and ears.

I rubber cement the animals to sterling silver, and drill tiny holes for the eyes and ears.

I cut out the eyes and ears by hand with my jewelers saw.

I cut out the eyes and ears by hand with my jewelers saw.

It's way easier to cut out the tiny pieces when they're still in a big sheet.

It's way easier to cut out the tiny pieces when they're still in a big sheet.

It's also easier to stamp on noses when they're all on the same sheet.

It's also easier to stamp on noses when they're all on the same sheet.

Then I cut out all the critters.

Then I cut out all the critters.

It's easier to stamp on whiskers after I cut them all out.

It's easier to stamp on whiskers after I cut them all out.

Look I made a GIF!

Noses and whiskers are all stamped! (Also, I made all my own stamps for these critters, so bonus points for me)

Noses and whiskers are all stamped! (Also, I made all my own stamps for these critters, so bonus points for me)

Next I file all the edges so they're not sharp and won't snag on your clothes or hair. Sorry I don't have an action shot of filing, but I promise it's not that exciting.

Next I file all the edges so they're not sharp and won't snag on your clothes or hair. Sorry I don't have an action shot of filing, but I promise it's not that exciting.

I solder all the earring posts to the back of the animals. Sorry I don't have an action shot of soldering. It's actually pretty exciting and it's my favorite part.

I solder all the earring posts to the back of the animals. Sorry I don't have an action shot of soldering. It's actually pretty exciting and it's my favorite part.

Then I clean off all the oxidation and flux from soldering in an acid solution called "pickle."

Then I clean off all the oxidation and flux from soldering in an acid solution called "pickle."

I darken them with a patina called "liver of sulphur" that works really well on silver.

I darken them with a patina called "liver of sulphur" that works really well on silver.

Then I sand off all the patina that's not recessed in the stamped parts.

Then I sand off all the patina that's not recessed in the stamped parts.

I tumble all the animals in my magnetic pin finisher. It makes them shiny super fast.

I tumble all the animals in my magnetic pin finisher. It makes them shiny super fast.

Nice and shiny after the tumbler.

Nice and shiny after the tumbler.

🐶🐱🐶🐱🐶🐱🐶🐱🐶🐱

🐶🐱🐶🐱🐶🐱🐶🐱🐶🐱

I put them on my earring cards. And yes, I did design and make the earring cards myself too.

I put them on my earring cards. And yes, I did design and make the earring cards myself too.

And there you go! Animal earrings!

And there you go! Animal earrings!

Thanks for going on that journey with me. I love making animal jewelry so much. If you love it too, check out all my little friends here.

More Critters

Hey friends,

I'm really excited to share some new critters with you. I've added snakes, elephants, horses, rats, and goats to my animal collection. Follow me on Instagram here for some fun facts about these animals. Shop for them here.

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Back from Israel

Hello everyone,

I just got back from an amazing vacation in Israel! The experience was life changing. I saw some beautiful buildings, parks, and historic sights. I ate some pretty good food. I'm now more obsessed with hummus than I was before. I made new friends from all over the world. I tried something new every day and had the time of my life.

It's been hard to re-adjust to real life, but I'm glad to be home. I want tell you about a pop-up sale I'll be participating in today: The Jubilee Women's Center Valentine's Day Craft Market. I've been working hard all week get ready for this sale, and I'm super excited to be supporting such a good cause.

The Jubilee Associate Board is hosting an arts and crafts market to raise funds in support of Jubilee Women’s Center, an organization that supports and houses women facing homelessness. A display of crafts and art by local Seattle artists will be available for purchase, along with light libations to enjoy while shopping. Products will vary from paintings, graphic prints and stationary sets, to embroidered home decor, jewelry, ceramics, and more!

When:    Sunday, February 11, 2018, 2-6 p.m.
Where:  Generations, 507 East Mercer St, Seattle 98102

Come on by with your family and friends and support the extraordinary women of Jubilee!

Click here to learn more about this event. Hope to see you there!

Me on top of Masada in Israel

Me on top of Masada in Israel

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