Moroccan Exchangeable Bead Pendant

Working handmade beads into my designs is always a fun part off the process and I use them in as often as possible. This time it was so easy and I've done it in a way that will allow you to pick beads that are your favorites to wear with this pendant.

Any bead 7/8 of an inch wide or narrower should work with the pendant.  

As you can see if the bead is smaller you can use some spacing beads to fill the area. This necklace will come with a set of extra spacing beads of varied widths so you can change beads as the mood strikes.  I will be selling these for $70.00. 

I love to show the process, this is a hand cut pancake die I made and here is the beginning idea I had. The big holes didn't give the gipsy feel I was going for so I scrapped that idea.

Here is the puffed piece showing how I used tiny copper beads to seperate the layers

I decided to use brass rivets to put two layers together. 

Here it is before polishing and patina, I'm not a fan of bright copper but if you are I can leave the patina off. 

My New Potter Press

I've been in love with the hydraulic press at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts since I first touched it but driving over to Kalamazoo during open studio time was flustrating so I decided I would save my penny's for my very own Potter USA Hydraulic Press. I decided on this press because I had pancake dies from them and loved their customer service. Everything from the Potter shop is made right there in Tucson and you are supporting an amazing bunch of hard workers. I also wouldn't have to pay shipping since I would already be in Tucson in February. 

Here's the beauty, this one is the medium press, it can do everything the larger press can do with a smaller footprint. I have shown it here with one of the magnetic bracelet bender atachments. 

These are a few of the pancake dies I've got to use with it. If your interested in what more the press will do head over to YouTube and do a search, you may want to lock up your credit card first!