I'm on ArtFire

I have made myself a site on ArtFire.

My web address for that is http://berginsjewelry.artfire.com

Check out some of the new stuff I have placed on this site.

If you would like to set up an account on ArtFire I would appreciate it if you would us this reference link. Register on ArtFire.com

I could get an update account with them if you would use me as a reference.

Thank you

Karen
Bergin's Jewelry

Bergin's Jewelry at Balboa Park, San Diego CA

I have joined the San Diego County Art Mart Association through Balboa Park's Park and Recreation Department.

This group has about 30 members and we set up and sale in the park the 2nd and 4th full weekends of each month.

We display our items in the grassy area on the corner of President's Way and the Pan American parking lot, by the International Cottages.

HOST A JEWELRY CLASS IN YOUR HOME

FRIENDS NIGHT OUT

RIGHT AT HOME

Host a jewelry making party, invite friends and learn to make a one of a kind piece using your creativity.

Brides: This party is for you. Host a party for your Bridesmaids as a thank you, and you can all make beautiful jewelry to wear at the wedding. You too!

Birthdays: This can be the most enjoyable birthday ever! You get exactly what you wanted. You made it.

The host receives a one of a kind piece of jewelry that I make during the class just for you!

I have extensive experience in jewelry making, design, teaching and love sharing my craft with others.

If you live in San Diego County, Temecula or Murrieta I will travel to you.

For price quotes click here

Item placed in San Diego County Fair

Princess Pendant

I entered this pendant into the Class 60: Wire wrapped jewelry, single piece category.

As you can see I won 1st Place with this pendant.

All parts of this pendant is created using sterling silver wire. Nothing is soldered. All is hand weaved.

I created the prong setting to hold the 8 x 10 mm Simulated Alexandrite faceted stone. I hope you will take a closer look at this pendant because the farther shots do not do it justice.

I was very excited when I saw that it won first place. I hope to get to work on some more pendants like this one.

Item placed in San Diego County Fair

Double Vision
I entered this necklace into the Class 60: Wire wrap jewelry, single piece.

I won 3rd Place for this necklace.

The focal pendant is made using two Brecciated Jasper beads and a Black Onyx bead wrapped all together continuously starting with seven wires. The wire wrapped pendant is incorporated into the stringing of the double strand beaded necklace with a hand made chain and clasp at the top.

I included a close up picture of the focal pendant. I hope you like this necklace. The beaded necklace section has been taken apart and remade many times. There is a smaller picture in the slide show pictures at the top right of my blog that shows the necklace a little differently. Same focal, but different in the beaded necklace strands.

Item placed in San Diego County Fair

Mermaid's Treasure - Turquoise Necklace

I entered this necklace into the Class 50: Southwest Jewelry, any method, single item, modern.

I did not win an award for this item, but learned a good lesson from it also. Know the difference between modern and traditional before signing up for a category.

The pieces that this was competing with were out of this world beautiful and very much modern. I have a picture of the side view to see the weaving that holds the turquoise stone in the middle setting. I learned this technique through a tutorial listed on www.jewelrylessons.com

I have sold this piece while it was being displayed at the fair and had the luck to meet the people who purchased it. I hope they really enjoy it.

Item placed in San Diego County Fair

Viking Knit - Bracelet and Earring Set

I entered this set into the Class 44: Constructed Jewelry, all Metal. Amateur category.

I did not win an award for these, but I did learn something while making them. Don't sign up for a category before you make the item. I entered the category and could not make the bracelet look good with just a clasp on it. The hook closure looked better with a bead on it rather than just pain, so I should have entered a different category because it had beads incorporated.

The bracelet is made using on continuous piece of sterling silver wire. The earrings were cut off from the longer length of the bracelet. The beads are faceted black glass about 12mm. The bracelet measures 9 1/2 inches long. Way to big for me so I made myself a bracelet after I saw how sparkly this one turned out.

A MidSpring Night’s Dream Contest 1st Place Winner

Now that the contest is finished I wanted to post my necklace that won 1st Place.

Fairy Dust

The fairy focal piece is a vessel with a cork at the top. I purchased this item from Bead Island. I teach at this store at least once a month and just happen to see it. The fairy is wrapped in a Netted Bezel in sterling silver wire.

The leaves that come off each side of the fairy are made from sterling silver and copper wire. The copper wire is weaved from one side to the other side. The flowers are beads that are wired together using the center bead and surrounded by AB crystals. There are two flower beads that attach the wire leaves to the viking knit at each side.

This was my first attempt at viking knit. I used copper wire, I did not know how long the necklace would be until I put it together, because I could shorten the viking knit if needed and not worry about wasting sterling silver wire.

The closure at the top is from my swap partner. We had to make a component and swap it with another person. We then had to use their item in our design. This is not an easy task when you have a lot of creative ideas in your head, because you need to incorporate something that you have not seen into your design.

Thanks for looking.

Karen

Crystal Ball Rings

I was looking at all the tutorials listed at jewelylessons.com and really liked the Woven Bezel Pendant.

By looking at the pictures I was able to come up with my version of the adjustable ring pictured here.

Loren Damewood's Class

I went to Loren's class this past weekend. I had been collecting supplies to create the items that I needed to make my own rings like Loren's. When I heard about his class I was so excited that I
contacted Terri and then Loren to get on the list.

Loren is a great teacher (I am a jewelry teacher also) and very patient with all levels of students. He gives you as much information as you are willing to receive. I arrived early both mornings and Loren was very friendly and willing to explain to me what he was doing and what the class was going to be about. Some of his information is technical so his handouts are really good to read after you have come home and rested.

Loren will stay as long as you need his help and complete the project. He is very friendly during the non teaching times where you can get to know him a little better. You go away feeling like you have made a friend. Terrie Masters of Whaley Studios in San Diego, CA is a very warm person. She makes sure that we were well taken care of. When you leave her you feel like she is a friend. She personally helped me try to locate a cabochon that I was in need of. Terrie really went out of her way for me. Thank you Terrie.

I highly recommend taking a class from Loren.

Karen