Momento Mori Friends  Be Yourself Silly & Social Media What Wild Prairie Silver is… and is not Take Care Of Yourself ~You’re Worth It It’s

Hi there! I am trying to get a blog post out before we leave for the Tucson Gem Show… It’s 0 degrees here right now

I have a theory that Vincent Van Gogh actually cut off his own ear, not because he was love sick, but because he had to

A very long time ago before I could create my own website and before Facebook Pages or Instagram even existed I had a blog. I

Hi all. It’s been awhile since I have made a blog post & a lot is going on. It’s much easier on the day-to-day to

I have not posted on my blog in a zillion years so I figured I had better for the Christmas Show Schedule… I don’t post

ArtiGras is this weekend in Green Bay at Shopko Hall across from Lambeau Field: Saturday 10-5 and Sunday 10-5      link: http://mosaicartsinc.org/artigras/about.php   I will be

It’s been too long! 🙂 I have not been writing in my blog much and got an email from a reader asking me if I

Had a nice thread of conversation on Orchid. What is Orchid? It’s a jewelers network of questions and answers for all kinds of things from

Smithsonite Specimen Stone…pink, weird, cool. Link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/153927532/smithsonite-pink-stone-sterling-necklace This is the cast iron ingot mold and melting cruciable. I pour it in a steel pan just

“Miracles for Michelle” cancer benefit Screamin Head Buzz 788 Armed Forces Dr, Green Bay, WI 54304Venue Phone: 920-499-3110 Saturday, March 23:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

  Take this class Feb 23 Saturday at 10am! Yellow sparkle bracelet class fee $20. Call to reserve your spot! 920 845 1755 Great Bead

    Had a lot fun making these earrings. I think they have been on my bench for three weeks getting a coat of resin

Again here I am with a just awesome necklace and can’t get a decent picture of it. Some natural sunlight would really help. I have

This is an article on how to make a Riveting Jig. It’s from Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist March 2010. I cannot tell you how many

Had pretty dismal show this past weekend. It was a 99.9% craft item show which I don’t fit into at all. I will say that

  This is a Sting Ray fossil… specifically it’s mouth. Pretty cool fossil. Pretty weird as well. Just had to post this pic before I

    This is a friend of mines ring that is for sale. It is 14K White and Yellow Gold. I cannot sell it on

Just made this necklace for a good customer. Hope she likes it!    

  Pretties I just bought at a local traveling bead show! Fun little stop to purchase some badly needed gemstones I use as birthstones. I

  Gemstone Embellished chain made for a bride in Canada. Earrings to match…. I have made this chain before with my Angel Wings attached and

  Here is what these sweet little charms look like done with birthstones attached. Simple and Sweet. Got awesome news to share as well…I have

  This was my favorite picture taken in yesterdays photo shoot. We had a great time and good to see my friend KT again. I

It’s sure great when artists can collaborate! I hope Tammy Rae loves the look of her amazing boro glass in this bracelet. It’s completely handmade

Got a friend named Susan Murtaugh who is a wonderful woman who did some wonderful/generous things for me and my family out of the kindness

Made it home last night from being gone 6 days… It was a good experience. I learned a lot for the benefit of my business

Tomorrow I will  be done getting ready to leave for Milwaukee. I can’t pack my car until Monday morning. I’m going to make sure my

Wow, nice black sky! This was the sky at 8am on Sunday and here are some of the tents that made it through the night

Just a couple new pieces I finished last night and this morning for up coming show this weekend…TGIF!Sterling Feather is finished! I am going to

Went to the beach on Sunday with my husband and kids… We are so close to so many beautiful beaches, state and national parks, private

Here is one box of goodies getting ready for the Bead and Button Show. Thanks to Katie this looks great! Katie is a big help

Just making a feather and this is the beginning. I draw what I want and make a photocopy of it incase I mess up or

One of the bees in the flower sculpture… there are several bees.This is the underside of a stainless pool…. the framework that would normally be

Just had to put these pics in of two different stainless steel welding projects. This first picture is a stainless steel vase of flowers. It’s

BlackHeart Sold today. This is bittersweet because I love this piece but it’s going to a good home. The woman that purchased it walks the

I am all done getting show stuff ready. It’s packed up and in the trailer: one week to go! First Show of the season in

Wow, what a mess. Got all my show stuff together… emptied the basement, my little trailer, and some things I had in an out-building. Some

Class Schedule At The Flying Pig Gallery in Algoma Wisconsin. For the first time The Flying Pig Gallery has a ‘classroom’ for all kinds of

Got these beautiful Amethyst in from India. You can’t always know and trust product when ordering it from overseas… This company I have dealt with

This is Roxanne’s Pendant. The original piece is the center and it’s moves freely over the back piece. It was boulder opals she got on

Hey everyone have not been blogging in awhile…. sorry about that. Kids had some spring break time off and it’s hard to keep a lid

If you need metalsmithing classes PLEASE sign up for the Bead and Button Show in Milwaukee WI. Many of the classes are filling or full

This Treasury Made The Front Page Of Etsy with my earrings in it…..so exciting! Take a look! http://www.etsy.com/treasury/NzU4NTkyN3wyNTEyNDIzMzE5/spring-showers

This was really fun. I have a zillion rocks at my house…. so the rocks are a renewable resource for me. The stainless I also

I just got these lights for doing shows. I have two indoor shows scheduled this year and planning on a third or fourth during the

I finished making the stand for BlackHeart… I take that back…. My husband made the stand… I could not drill that rock if I wanted

Black Heart is done… I really enjoyed making this piece! The arrow was especially fun and I love the way it turned out. I have

 Arrow is done…. Now I am configuring the chain…. Might not stay like this at all. We will see how it hangs and wears. Also

Sterling Arrow is getting there….. will finish up today and post it later!

I found this rock on Lake Michigan about 4 years ago. It’s amazing that it’s such a heart with no alterations from human hands. It’s

Falling Leaves Earrings Handmade Jewelry by Wild Prairie Silver is just listed on etsy at www.joykruse.etsy.com sign up for shop announcements: www.wildprairiesilver.wordpress.com findings/supplies www.midnightinsavannah.etsy.com

Hammered Cross Bracelet that I made yesterday…. Seriously been wanting to make this bracelet for a year. I am wearing it right now and it’s

Just some pics of work being done outside. My husband made these tables for classes I will be teaching at a local gallery, The Flying

Here is one Crazy Lace Agate Necklace which is finished. Love it even though it’s a little on the petite size for my pendants. The

Fun earrings just outta the tumbler.

Class was great! These wonderful women had experience already with torches and tools so they really took off. Their minds are spinning now with possibility!

I really love to use tiny little details to texture a piece. Why I don’t know. I should take a granulation class or do granulation

In this chain I have made all the links myself. I make all the jump rings in mass so they are ‘On-Hand’ and I don’t

More Pics from yesterdays photo shoot….. We were cold but it was worth it.

Photo Shoot Today! Unseasonably warm weather allowed us to work outside and almost not freeze to death…..We did have hot chocolate to follow 😉 The

Feb 11th is a great class in Fish Creek Door County at The Peninsula School of Art. We will be focusing on making small parts

When soldering really small things it really helps to leave the parts whole. So, in the photo I have the entire piece of white gold

‘Something Blue’ for the bride is finished. It’s beautiful. Hope she loves it. I will deliver it today. Her wedding date is Feb 10th in

Here is all the rough being worked. Can’t wait to see it done and polished! Should have pics of that tomorrow.

Here We Go! with Terra’s ring. I was waiting for white gold medium solder and I just got it on Monday afternoon. I need wh.gold

I made six of these gemstone, hammered link bracelets. They were fun and summery feeling for this cold time of year… Nice color pop!

This is different than the last band. It is again sterling silver to be used as a mock up for the customer. I like it

Here is Terra’s 14k Gold Engagement Ring with a one carat Sapphire…. pretty ring and I love it that it is not the usual engagement

Happy New Year!!!!!! It finally snowed here yesterday. Last year we had feet of snow at this same time. You never know in Wisconsin! Wishing

In my tiny little studio I have a little table that is waist-high dedicated to shipping. I have this so it’s fast, organized and I

This post is a detailed post on mass making an ‘S’ clasp. I like the ‘S’ clasp for a couple of reasons: it’s really easy

This necklace turned out beautiful. Too bad I cannot get a decent picture of it. The pictures are terrible…sorry.  I will have to play around

I took a Viking Knit class a while ago. It was great and my teacher was great. I really enjoy making chain so Viking Knit

Cyn’s ring is done. She loves it. She wanted something with some victorian inspiration. We incorporated the lace from her wedding dress in the texture

This is Cyn’s Ring. She went out West this summer and bought some sapphires…gorgeous. She wanted to incorporate the sapphires and a jasper into a

“I Love You To The Moon & Back.” Beautiful quote tag made to go with one of my angel wings for a young lady who

Had a special request to make these surgical pins into a necklace. They are from a young lady who lives near me and was injured

Made this dog tag for a Marine Platoon: Black Boots….The Skull with Paddles behind it is their logo and their saying is on the back:

This is the last pieces of my Lampwork Beads I purchased from Tammy Rae. (Tammy Rae.com) The bracelet is just gorgeous and a very simple

More beautiful and amazing Glass Lampwork Beads from Tammy Rae. She is a glass artist local to Wisconsin. Her website is: www.TammyRae.com Thanks Tammy for

Rock n Roll Post Earring finished and done…..I Liver of Sulfured them and put them in the tumbler. The other pair of earrings is handblown

I had a request for my RocknRoll Hoops in a post style! I have sold three pairs of the swinging RocknRoll Hoops and I’m happy

Found some great vintage steampunk watch parts at the bead shop near me: Rocks of Ages Jewelry and Beads. I bought about 20 pieces! I

Here is the pic from the weekend. I handmade this chain to go with this pendant I had already made. I enjoy making chains for

ArtStudio Tour was really great! Every person that came was wonderful, beautiful person with something to share. Every person was thankful for us being there

Mom is doing great. All lymph nodes clear of any cancer and no further treatment is recommend. She just has to recover from her surgery

Just made these earrings. Named them ‘RocknRoll’ Earrings. They are kinda tough-girl looking…maybe I should name them that…Tough Girl…. Anyway I made a huge pile

Mom is doing well ~ Thank you to everyone for their prayers and concern. I am drinking coffee, reading metal related magazines and when my

Did not post this necklace completed. I love it. I love how serious it is and that was my intention. This necklace is named ‘Collect

Well, my shop is as wrecked as it gets. That is what summer and shows do to the shop……got everything going on all at once.

Thank you ~ Thank You ~ Thank you to everyone that helped me with Artstreet and all the people that came to Artstreet. I got

I have so much to share with this post. For starters ArtStreet is in Green Bay WI this weekend. It is a great event. I

Had a great photo shoot with my good friend and assistant.  This young lady use to be the little kid next door and now she

Having a great summer so far. It’s been hot, humid and beautiful gardening growing weather. Just sharing with you a finished piece from the last

On my bench right now is the very beginning of a copper and silver pod. This shape is a favorite of mine to make and

Had a great Making Your Own Findings Class! Wow, all the ladies really knew their stuff and really benefited instantly from the simple tricks and

Had a great show in Neenah WI at the Berstrom Mahler Museum and by great I mean HOT……Wow. Lots of humidity and almost 100 degree

Wow! We tore up the metals studio at Peninsula School of Art! It was great. I had to take a picture of the table on

I am teaching at Peninsula School of Art in Fish Creek all week. It’s a pretty fun class because it’s a metals class for kids.

The Table is done and it looks amazing. It will be a serviceable table for more than one lifetime. The top looks great even though

Feel like my inventory is gone. So, I got everything out but the kitchen sink today and laid it out on the table to see

Cedarburg is really a cute town. I had never been there. Just did their Strawberry Fest over the past weekend and it was just awesome.

Just posting a table update. It looks great. Put the 2 inch ring around the bottom. One picture is of the top of the table

Husband and I decided to make our own patio set. We went and looked at some and knew in a few stops at stores that

Got back on Sunday from the Bead and Button Show and have hardly a chance to take breath or I would have had this post

Made this necklace today. It has a sad sobering story attached to it and it is appropriately named: Promise Lost. My good friend’s niece was killed

Materials: 20g Square Sterling Silver Wire Half Hard Graduated Madrel Nose Pliers One Side Flat (not both round ~ the round pliers mar the metal)

Will be posting a mass making of ear wires and jumprings next week. I wanted to show my tumbling operation first because it is so

Wild Prairie is an amazing place to live. It really is just that: a wild prairie. The history here is amazing too. In the 1920’s

Sorry if you got some crazy post from me about a present. It was a hacker and I just changed all my passwords and did

Had my first show this weekend as Wild Prairie Silver. It was the Sturgeon Bay Fine Art Show in Door County WI. Last year the

Just finished this piece! It was one of the pieces that was unfinished on my bench in an older post. I love it. I love red agates

Ok, Ok, Ok….I am a little nervous because my first show of the season is this weekend. This is last years tent and setup. I

This will become a copper pod with little details peeking out from within. This is formed with my hydraulic press. You push the metal so far

Here is the piece I was talking about. It has four tube settings in it which I included to just be my own challenge and

Here are two pieces I am working on. As I write this one is finished and one has really changed a lot. I will post

Here is a metal sculpture made for charity for the City of Algoma. It will sit at the Public Library for the summer and then

Had a person ask about my torches and soldering station. I use Smith torches with Oxygen and Propane. I have a Little Smith torch and a

If you look back a few posts this pendant was unfinished and just being ‘set-up’ on my bench. I changed it completely and even used

Just received my copy of ‘Hydraulic Die Forming For Jewelers & Metalsmiths.’  It is by Susan Kingsley. It is all you need. It is very

I spent a lot time this winter making displays which is working against me now because I am playing catch up on jewelry making. I don’t

My husband made me this hydraulic press and I have been having a blast with it. It changes everything! My shop is so much more

Had our first photo shoot. It was fun. I have been planning it all winter long and was just waiting for a decent day and

Just made these for a friend I work with at the hospital. Her niece died of cancer 5 years ago this Mother’s Day. She was 9

I had a jeweler inquire about tables for festivals. They need tables that would easily transport in a car. A good friend of mine has

Just my next piece up on my bench getting ready to be actually soldered together. I will send a photo when it is complete.

Once upon a time in a land not so far away a girl had a small wood repair project to do. So, she set off

I just got this mini-bench top dust collection unit from Foredom. Notice I bought the foredom handpiece vise too. I was very hesitant to buy this little

Here are some of the chunky sterling bands I made for summer. I am missing one from this pic. I just happened to be wearing

This is an Imperial Jasper stone. It is huge. I love the setting I created for it. I make each little detail out of sterling

This was a pendant made for a good customer of mine. (Hi Mary.) It is pure and simple. The pendant about 1.75 inches across so

These are the stackables being worn. Had some questions reguarding this so here is the pic.

Here is a close up of the stackable rings on the box. I will have more pics of the super chunky Organic Band, Pebbles in

Here is Pat. She is a family favorite 🙂 We kinda love her. Behind her is the gallery and all of it’s goodies. Of course

Here is the pic of the box at the gallery. The Flying Pig Gallery that is……Hwy 42 Algoma WI All new jewelry display there for

The Flying Pig will be open daily starting May 1st  🙂  9-6

I made this stainless steel ring box display. It’s pretty dynamic! The rings are all attached with a small flexible wire to a heavy washer through a

The Algoma ArtWave is tonight and it’s a great time!!! It is also free!!!! For a map of all the stops go to www.algomaartwave.blogspot.com ~ Super fun

This pendant was made with my eyes closed. I opened them and there it was all done. Just kidding but sometimes that is how a

Here is some new work from this week. One of the rings is already sold and on it’s way to a southern state. Hope she loves

Had another fellow craftsman/woman ask me how I mass make earwires for earrings. I like to make them for the entire season at one time. I

I have work coming out of my work and I better get it done. I have been focusing on rings and finishing up custom orders

Just hung these words of wisdom up in my studio. Smile, Smile….. “I don’t want to make money. I just want to be wonderful.  ~

Cherry Blossom post earrings are springtime fresh with garnets as berries.

Almost put the snowblower away last week. Got 17 inches of snow yesterday. Was sooooo liking looking at the ground instead of white snow but this is

Copper, Bronze and Silver Letter Charms have been a best seller for two years. I didn’t offer many of them last year and had lots

These are fun little beauties for Spring and Summer. I made about 50 of them this week. They are like a party on your finger.

Here is the finished necklace. Hand-made endcaps really finish it off nicely.

I had a post on a class I took and learned how to make a Viking Knit bracelet. Now I made a Viking Knit chain and

This is ready for pick up and I hope the lady loves it as much as I do because I kinda want one for myself.

A good customer wanted this custom order. This is just a mock up stage for her to see. Will show you the ring when it is finished.

Put a nice patina finish on these displays. Sure beats black velvet neck displays (yuck…sorry if you have to use them..so glad mine are all

This is a collection of metal works inspired by spring. Spring….please come….. http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d6659843b928eef9c1dad6f/metal-awaits-spring

Check out this beautiful Treasury. Nice pics…. The skeleton key is mine so thanks for spot in the shadows!! http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d64c7c954a58eef4d3013d7/shes-playing-with-the-shadows

Here is my heap of displays. I just finished puting small bars (back or bottom) on each one to secure jewelry to so it cannot fall off

It is no secret to friends and family that  I have struggled with my pics. They are getting better ~ sorta…. Someone wanted to know how

Took This Viking Knit Class at Rocks of Ages Jewelry with Barb Heike. It was great!!! What a wonderful old world technique to make chain. Loved it. The bracelet shown

Yippy….Made Etsy Front Page…..Here is what was shown and where http://www.craftcult.com/vault_list.php?list=18170&userid=&fm=2&esn=joykruse&m=2&d=14&st=2&pagenum=1&ls=0  www.wildprairiesilver.com

Just finished this ring. Great Rhodocrosite stone.

Just ordered a fresh batch of supplies from Thailand. The American woman I know there helps coordinate sales all over the world for a small village. This

Just finished this piece. The stone is amazing. The garnets among the details are amazing as well. Love it. Chain is also impressive and matches

This was my run yesterday…..still wondering about training for the cellcom marathon. I have done this training 6 other times all in the winter outside. Anyone else

Made some displays. I just love them. I have to put a finish on them yet and will wait until they are good and rusty.

Just took a picture of this ring which is not finished for a preview for a different custom order. Rhodocrosite stone is a favorite of mine

Shop cleaning is coming soon. Alittle earily for spring cleaning but it needs it. Made all new event show displays from iron. They are a