MEOW! Photo Gallery: Cat-inspired wire wrapped, enamel and precious metal clay jewelry

If you've read this blog for a while, then it's pretty obvious that I'm a crazy cat person. We've had cats since 1999 and my favorite feline, Maya, is often my muse for jewelry pieces. My children's line, MayaGirl Creations, is even named for her!

I've designed a lot of cat jewelry, including an enamel cat necklace, a precious metal clay cat pendant and even wire wrapped earrings shaped like cats! The PMC necklace was sold to my friend's aunt, who is also a cat lover; I got a kick out of seeing her wear it to a Christmas party a few weeks ago. That cat pictured with the necklace is my Maya. She likes to supervise while I'm working...

So if you love cats, head to my shops Naomi's Designs and MayaGirl Creations. You'll find the purrrrrfect piece.

Silver wire wrapped enamel and cloisonne cat pendant necklace

Well, my first craft fair of the season was a complete and total bust. We had some heavy rain yesterday, but the ad for the fair said "rain or shine" so I dragged my butt out of bed on a Saturday and schlepped down to the fair site. When I got there, I was told that most of the other vendors left because of the weather and the fair was cancelled. So much for "rain or shine!" I wish I'd just stayed in bed, but I paid a registration fee... and have now unfortunately lost money. They offered to let me sell today, but it's Mother's Day so I can't. My husband says not to worry about the lost wages, but it's frustrating. Grrr...

Still, I'm trying to look ahead. I have another fair coming up in a month and this one is for a great cause: the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I enjoy selling at charity events where I can donate a portion of my proceeds -- at least my money is going toward something worthwhile! Plus, it'll be indoors so the weather won't be an issue.

Meanwhile, Tuesday will be my last enameling class of this semester. The "summer" semester begins two weeks later, but I'm saddened that this particular class will be ending. We just happen to have a great group of people who get along really well. Most of the students with whom I've worked have been very nice, but many haven't been that into the craft we're learning. In most of my classes, there are only a few people left by the end of the semester. However, everyone has stayed in this class and everyone is really into enameling, which makes it all the more fun to learn.

What I also love about this group is that we spend many classes having interesting discussions about things other than jewelry making. Sure, we talk about enameling and go over projects, but as we work, we talk about politics, family, history, TV shows... any topic you can imagine. I've learned so many non-jewelry-related factoids from my fellow students and have shared a lot of laughs. When I originally signed up for jewelry a year-and-a-half ago, THIS is what I envisioned the classes would be like: places to learn a skill and meet some interesting folk. I didn't expect that first class to be so serious and, well... sucky. Anyway, we're having a party to celebrate our successful semester, which will be bittersweet for all of us. A few others will be in the summer class, but it won't be the same.

I don't know how much work I'll get done on Tuesday, but I did finish my latest piece: an enamel and cloisonné cat pendant with a silver wire wrapped chain:

I used the cloisonné wire to create an abstract design. I wanted it to suggest the idea of a cat's patterns, but to be a little surreal. I based the colors on my sweet baby, Maya:

As a cat lover, I can never get enough of cat-shaped things! Hopefully, another cat lover will fall for this item.

To purchase my jewelry, head to Naomi's Designs or MayaGirl Creations.

My cat, the best jewelry making partner

Okay, time for a silly, cutesy post. I just had to show off some pictures of my baby cat, Maya, who loves to keep me company while I make jewelry.

She's usually very well behaved. She doesn't grab at the wire or bat the beads around, or anything like that. But she does like to watch. So when I was working at the kitchen table, she jumped up to keep me company. She'll often stay there with me for hours. She's such a sweet girl.

For more of my jewelry, head to Naomi's Studio or Naomi's Designs.

Silver wire bracelet with square turquoise crystals

Any creative person, whether you're a writer, artist, musician or jewelry maker has to expect criticism at some point. I've gotten it in pretty much every venue I've been involved in. In college, I told a music professor to eff off because he didn't think I took playing the flute seriously enough (his argument was that I was a journalism major instead of a music major). And when I attempted to get a novel published a few years ago, I was forced to develop my thickest skin ever. Of course, there are people who don't like my jewelry, which is understandable; everyone's tastes varies.

However, my biggest critic so far is ... my cat, Maya. Maya is very lucky because we never dress her in sill costumes or make her wear a collar since she's strictly an indoor cat. But when I began making bracelets, I realized that they could double as cat tiaras. I put one on Maya's sweet little head and she looked absolutely adorable, just like the princess she is. This is our Maya:

Anyway, Maya looked up at me and narrowed her eyes. She then shook her head, tossing the bracelet onto the floor with a "Mraow!" of disgust. I grabbed another bracelet and put it on her head; same thing. I got it; she did not like my jewelry!

Later that day, I put my jewelry down so I could take some photos and as soon as I was about to snap the picture, she jumped into the frame. This happened two more times. She then knocked the jewelry onto the floor. Guess she didn't want me to be able to photograph it for Etsy.

Even though she doesn't like my work, I'm happy with how this bracelet with turquoise blue crystals came out. I love this color blue because it reminds me of tropical waters, like the blue we saw when we were in Hawaii or Puerto Rico. I also like the square crystals and the way that they pick up the light.

I know that I won't be able to please everyone, but hopefully, I'll be able to win my cat's approval sometime soon. Perhaps if I made her a blinged-out collar...?

To purchase my jewelry (which I'll bet your cat or mom or friend would love!), head to Naomi's Designs or Naomi's Studio.