My Next Project - Coconut Heart Pendant

After returning from my trip to OZ, NZ, Fiji, it took me a while to get back into making jewelry. Funny enough, it was a trip to Hawaii that reignited my interest.

While on a work trip to Kauai, which Melissa was lucky enough to be able to attend with me, we came across a women selling coconut carved jewelry in our hotel lobby. Melissa was torn between two different pendants and was struggling to make up her mind (not an uncommon occurrence). I suggested she pick one and I would make the other pendant when we returned home. Of course, she thought I was just being cheap (which was probably part of my motivation) and would never actually make the other pendant.

Much to her surprise, I returned home and started gathering the necessary tools to start carving coconut (e.g. dremel tool, files, sand paper, saw, coconuts, etc.). I figured it was probably similar to carving bone and remembered most of what I learned in New Zealand during my bone carving class.

Well much to her surprise I duplicated the heart pendant that she wanted in Hawaii. It's still unstrung, which is embarrassing. Finishing my projects has been an issue for me, which is partly why I started this blog. I'm hoping it will put some pressure on me to get things done. I'll keep you posted if I finally complete this pendant.

How I Started Making Jewelry

Two months after meeting my wife, Melissa, I went on a 6 month trip to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. During that time, we stayed together and she visited me in Australia and I was able to visit her in Hawaii for the Kona Triathlon that she was doing. While in Hawaii, Melissa was looking for Bone Carved Fish Hook Pendant, which are traditional Polynesian jewelry sold throughout Hawaii and other Polynesian Islands. She never found one that she really liked. Many of the fish hooks are large and aggressive looking, which makes sense given their roots as a fishing tool. But she wanted something smaller and more feminine looking.

After our visit in Hawaii I returned to New Zealand and keep my eye out for a nice fish hook pendant for Melissa. I did eventually buy her a jade fish hook but I never found a bone fish hook that I thought she would like.

While staying in a hostel on the South Island, I saw a posting for a class where you would learn how to make your own bone carving for only $25. Perfect! I love to learn new things and this would really make it a special gift. The class was awesome and I made the fish hook shown below. I was pretty stoked on how well it came out. Melissa loves it and still cherishes it to this day.

Welcome to my Jewelry Made Easy Blog!!

I started taking jewelry classes at the Sharon Arts Studio in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco this year. I want to track my progress on this blog and share what I learn and make as I go. I hope the information I provide is helpful to all those that are just starting out in making their own metal, stone, bone and coconut jewelry.

I look forward to reading your comments as I add more posts.

Below are some photos of my most recent pieces.

9/2/10 - 3 Stone Pendant - Ocean Jasper on Silver (Front and Back)

(Made this for my wife's birthday. She loved it!)

8/10- Bronze Textured Earrings

3/10 - Bone Swirl on Silver - Pendant

(I hand carved the bone a few years ago ... more on that later)