So I made two things with silver filled wire in the last two days.  I am calling this the Mother and daughter Trees of Life in honor of The Vampire Diaries.  The smaller one is itty bitty, and the smallest tree I have ever made.  I would like to imagine that Katherine Petrova would have found a way to get the smaller tree to her baby girl who was given away at birth.  The amethyst chips on the bigger tree are a darker shade of purple.  Before making these trees, I had only made the trees in argentium.  The birthstone of February, amethyst is thought to have protective properties. 

I am liking the pearls that encircle the bottom of the bails of these trees, but future trees may have other beads or even snapsets.  The fun part about making these trees is twisting the branches, adding the leaves and gnarling the roots.  There is also something spiritual about finishing a tree.  I like all the trees that I make, but the purple ones are my favorite.  The first tree I made was a copper amethyst tree.  A photo of this trees appears on my hangtags and will also appear on my banner for when I do craft shows, although after today, I don't know when I will be ready to do another one. 

I have noticed that delicate chains are in vogue right now.  At a recent trade show, I bought a few feet of the most comfortable delicate chain that I have ever worn.  I haven't posted anything on etsy.com using this sterling chain, but when I do, I will post it here.  Both of the chains in these photos are sixteen inch chains.  These Trees of Life hang very close to the throat.    I want to make more of the itty bitty trees with different colored leaves.  

...and every three thousand years, the Tree will produce a single peach.  Whomever shall eat from this fruit shall have eternal life....