Initial Charms

Jocelyn's wonderful LA sales rep asked her to do an initial line for his showroom and before she even had all her samples ready, she was getting orders. Her only question is, "Can you wear an initial that isn't yours?"
Initials can be purchased separately as charms (Silver $13, Gold $23), on a necklace (Silver $46, Gold $66) or on a bracelet (Silver $46, Gold $66) and more than one charm can be worn on the same chain. Email Jocelyn or check our her website for details.

Gold Ring

With all the Christmas orders, many of them custom, I was on a roll and decided I wanted to make myself a little something. The custom skeleton key I did was too time-consuming for yesterday afternoon at 4pm with my workbench still full of unfinished orders, so I opted for a simple hammered 10k gold band. My first! And I am truly pleased with the result. Price is $169.

Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies

The Holidays are here and even though it's a wilting 102 degrees outside, I still had a craving for good, old-fashioned sugar cookies. These come out lovely and chewy and you can, of course, use any and all types of colored sugar to roll them in or to sprinkle on top after baking.

Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies
Makes about 30 cookies

2 3/4C Flour
1 tsp. Baking Powder
1/2 tsp. Salt
1 1/4C Butter, softened
2C Sugar, Granulated
2 Eggs
2 tsp. Vanilla
1/4C Granulated or colored sugar for garnish

Combine flour, baking powder, salt. Cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs one at a time, add vanilla. Mix dry ingredients into wet. Roll dough into walnut-sized balls, roll in sugar. Refrigerate balls for 20 minutes or freeze until ready to bake.

Place 2" apart on ungreased cookie sheet and flatten slightly.

Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until edges turn barely brown.

Cook's Notes: I don't flatten the cookies and I use parchment paper underneath.

*Photo courtesy cooksillustrated.com

Rings!

well, i made my first wedding set today. okay, i started days ago, but finally finished today. i've never made a basket setting for a trillion-cut (faceted triangular cut) stone and quite frankly, haven't made very many basket settings. this was my first for a real grown-up girl ring. i like it so much i want it back! alas and alack, it was only finished and in my presence for a couple of hours. but it looked very lovely on my client's finger. i'm quite taken with the simple band as well. thinking i'll be making more of those for sale . . .

Healing Stone Site

i finally took the time, after a gentle nudge from a good friend, to make a healing stone site. i'll let it, and this luscious photo, speak for themselves.

Initial Charms

well, when an idea comes at me from more than five different directions, i tend to stand up and take notice, or at least mull over the pros and cons for a few months before i dive in. the idea in question is initial charms. everyone does them, everyone loves them. just not necessarily me. but when my LA rep asked me to do a collection for his showroom, i decided his was the straw that broke my camel's back, or at least got my camel thinking about its back, or something like that.

i spent quite a bit of time figuring out how to make them mildly original, totally handmade, and affordable. here's what i came up with, and low and behold, i love them! i'm wearing all my samples today. (i didn't make 26.)

Beading Class

I just finished my first Tamarindo beading class! I had four fabulous students ages 10-12 and had so much fun i'm already planning my next one!

This was a basic stringing class in which each student makes a necklace (two also made bracelets!) and learns what materials to use and how to use them for professionally stringing and finishing a piece of jewelry!






I'll be offering another class soon, but anyone interested in having a class, please contact me at 8376.6417 or jb@jocelynbroyles.com and we can set one up! There is no minimum amount of students needed for a class, and price is $30 for an hour and a half.

In addition to classes, I am also offering bead parties for birthdays or just for fun. Call or email for more information.