Exhibit A: my big clunky writer’s ring. 
I occasionally hang out with other romance and science-fiction authors. Large dramatic rings seem to be part of the uniform.
Until I can afford the Swarovski crystal emerald ring that I rather lust after, I decided to make my own. Sterling silver wire, an old garnet and silver pendant I’d made at least 15 years ago, little garnet cylinder beads, and some near-random wire twisting and wrapping…and, ta da, the Garnet Star ring.
Exhibit B: the Slash Gem. 
This one happened in the summer of 2002, when I made a charity prize for a UK fan convention primarily centering around M/M fan fiction.
We dithered back and forth about subject for a few months, especially since I’d already done a couple of very subtle nods to M/M erotica in jewelry. Finally, the convention organizers and I settled on one of the oldest stories in the genre: Ganymede and Zeus.
I had recently seen several marvelous modern examples of erotic-themed fine jewelry, and wanted to adapt my skills toward something similar.
The result is the Slash Gem: a miniature acrylic painting on cotton rag paper under a rock-crystal cabochon. The setting is sterling silver sheet and wire, accented with silver wirework and glass enamel referencing ancient Hellenic and 19th C Neoclassical designs. The commercial silver chain is accented by more enamel inlays on the custom clasp. Its owner loves it very much, I hear – especially for how decorous it appears from even a short distance away. (It apparently gets mistaken for an angel.)
I really want to update this piece, with better painting and a beadwork setting instead of a silver one. There are some beadwork contests coming up that might benefit from a few raised eyebrows.
Exhibit C: the Maker pendant
This necklace no longer exists in this form, since I separated the heavy figure-eight chain from the pendant a couple of years ago for another project. It happens, even for pieces as old and dear as this one. I’ve saved the central silver figure, the hand-carved antler spike, and the silver and fire agate clasps and accents. 
It dates from 1996. While the central lost-wax pendant may look like a gargoyle (and I introduce it as such, to save breath on explanations) it’s actually a depiction of a demi-goddess from my Lonhra Sequence fantasy universe. The antler spike shows her in human form, holding the same lily. It will be fun to rebuild a different chain for this piece, when I decide on a new look.
Why did I make it? I’d described it first in a manuscript, and wanted to see how close I could get. Silver was also a lot cheaper back then!
