Lisa– Behind the Scenes – Page 3

September 08, 2020

LPDstudios -Behind the Scenes - Blue Leather Stars with Copper Moon and Mini Star Earrings

By Lisa Parmer Ditty

Looking to the Heavens

I have assembled a vignette of the design process for these beautiful Leather Star with Copper Moon Mini Star Earrings. Just Click on the You Tube Link.

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Posted in Behind the Scenes
April 02, 2020

LPDstudios- Family Love Trinkets - Sharks Tooth Necklaces

By Lisa Parmer Ditty

Recently I received an unexpected email from California, a request for two custom necklaces. Through a google search they had come across my sharks tooth necklaces that I had made for a previous customer. My clients stories of travel, the sharks dive, tradition, and family was so beautiful, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to put all those ideas of love into one place. Not only did they want a charm for the teeth but they requested several other love trinkets to appear with it, the coordinates where the sharks teeth where found and a compass rose. The compass rose was their family tradition of always finding there way home.

I decided to create my compass rose charm out of fine silver metal clay. I love this product, its a finely ground powder of fine silver mixed with a binder. The end product is a material like clay or "play-doh", which is easily manipulated to create many shapes that can be built and layered. After all my shapes where created, I then combined the triangles and circles to create the compass rose. The challenge was to create two charms that where the similar. After the shapes are "bone" dry, they are put into a high temperature kiln, burning off the binder and leaving solid fine silver behind.

To make the coordinate charms I used stainless steel letters designed for jewelry making. Each letter is hand stamped with a brass mallet onto sterling silver creating the mark. I made vertical charms for the longitude coordinates and horizontal charms for the latitude coordinates. Your always going to have a few mess ups with this step, so its good to practice several times beforehand.

The coordinates are trimmed, sanded then polished to create the charm.

To attach the bail onto the sharks tooth, I must create a hole. I pull out my secret weapon, my husband. He is a dentist so I leave this step up to him, he never fails and is always precise.

For the final pieces I used liver of sulfur to blacken the charms, bringing out the letters and textures. A beautiful end result for a beautiful story.

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Posted in Behind the Scenes Custom Corner
August 02, 2018

LPDstudios- Behind The Scenes- Maine Workshops and Pop Up

By Lisa Parmer Ditty

I had such a blast in Maine teaching my craft. So many thanks to Lynette and her family for hosting the event. I meet so many amazing people. My students always surprise me and create such beautiful pieces, take a look.

Leather Clutch Workshop

My Students

Beautiful Clutch

More Fabulous Student Work

Pop Up

Bracelets and Bangles

Pop Up

Gold Bronze Jewelry

Leather Wrap Bracelet Workshop

Student Work

So many fun memories of my time in Maine with my students. In the meantime, I will be planning some new workshops for next summer.

-See you Soon -Lisa

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Posted in Behind the Scenes
April 15, 2018

LPDstudios Blog: Behind the Scenes: Craft on Tap- Pearl and Leather Jewelry

By Lisa Parmer Ditty

I can't wait for my next Craft on Tap class which is being held on April 19, 2018 at the Lancaster Guild of Craftsmen. I just love teaching at this facility because I am surrounded by amazing artwork, jewelry and pottery by incredible artist that are living and working in Pennsylvania.

The latest workshop is perfect for Springtime, who doesn't love a new piece of jewelry to kick off a season. We are going to be creating a pair of Pearl and Leather Earrings and Bracelet. This project is super easy and no skill level is required. One of the first tasks I had to do is prepare the pearls. I needed to widen the drill holes to accept the leather cord.

Here I am drilling the pearls, I never thought pearls could be so dirty.

A pile of finished pearls, I just love holding them in my hand.

Sometimes your intended design doesn't turn as planned, back to the drawing board with the earrings.

The new earring design, much cleaner and simpler.

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The finished bracelet

The final design for the Pearl and Leather Earrings and Bracelet.

Just Beautiful!!

Click here to register for the class! It's held at the PA Guild of Craftsmen in Lancaster, PA on April 19, 2018 from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.. The $35 class cost includes all materials, as well as a complimentary craft beer from Wacker Brewing Company!

Thank you for stopping by LPDstudios and I can't wait to see you in class!

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Posted in Behind the Scenes