​We just returned from 10 days in Seattle, visiting our younger son and his girlfriend. Our older son and his wife joined us there for a long weekend - what a special time it was. I love to travel and when I can combine that with a family visit, I am in heaven. 

Another quote I love about family is from Michael J. Fox: "Family is not an important thing, it's everything."

I came home refreshed and energized for creating new jewelry and vowing to be more in touch with each of you, because, after all, you are the next best thing to family! 

One of my goals for quite a long time has been to be able to photograph my jewelry on a model and the opportunity finally happened! This beautiful lady agreed to be my "model for a day". A friend volunteered to shoot photos using her 35mm camera and I took photos with my phone. The end results? Hundreds of photos and lots of great ones! 

There is already one of my favorite photos from this day on my homepage (go here to see it) and more will be popping up in the next month or so! 

One of the most useful tools I use is the torch - used to put two pieces of metal together or to "ball up" wire, as I am doing here. These little balled silver wires are used to make the earwires that come with every pair of silver earrings I make! 

Making my own rings to use in designing my silver bracelets and necklaces is something I enjoy doing. It is a tedious task but I like the control I have over the quality of the rings (both in the precision of the sizes and the smoothness of the rings) when I do it myself.

It is possible to buy rings pre-made but I have not found rings of the quality that I am looking for. The sizing is especially important - if the rings to even 1 mm too big or too small, the design doesn't work as well (or, sometimes, not at all). So I continue the making from plain round wire to perfect, finished silver rings!

Everyone loves sterling silver earrings especially in the "stacking rings" category! Wear one, two, three or more - even as a "midi" or knuckle ring. 

Fun fact: did you know that the most common ring size for women is size 7? I always make sure I make plenty of that size!

I am working to get photos of the new collection but am hitting a few road blocks. I don't want to give away too much but let's just say that getting good photos of this collection is challenging! If you are on my email list you will get first dibs on these new designs - for 24 hours before I show them to everyone else! Click below to join our community!

I have a new jewelry collection coming out on March 1 - it will be shown ONLY to those on my email list for the first 24 hours, then to everyone else.

Because I am working with a different material, I needed a new tool; I love buying tools....  Sign up below if you want to be the first to see the new collection!

Copper in its natural state has a bright, metallic luster with a reddish-orange color. Over time, a "patina" develops that many people find desirable. At this point, the copper coating resembles the color of an old copper-plated penny. 

In most climates, it is not feasible to "coat" the copper to prevent the patina from developing. The coating may become sticky or the patina may develop under the applied coating. 

A simple mixture of household vinegar and a tablespoon of table salt, followed with polishing with a polishing cloth, will clean the copper. The patina will soon return so this will be an ongoing process. Something to think about if you love copper jewelry.

Like all businesses, January is a time for many things: reflecting on the past year, considering things I might do differently or better in the new year, making plans for new jewelry collections and, last but not least, inventory.

Not my favorite thing to do but it is necessary and I do get a sense of satisfaction in knowing what I have & what I don't have! It keeps me from having to dig in boxes and bins at shows looking for that special piece of Laura Teague Jewelry for you - with an accurate inventory, I know right away if I have something or if I need to make it for you.