Sunday, August 24, 2008
Michaels August Challenge
The gang that hangs out at the
Michaels message boards holds monthly challenges, and the challenge this month was to make something primarily of metal.
Well, I love metal...so I couldn't resist! I actually made two pieces using the same wire wrapping technique.
Challenge rules include that your piece must be made of at least 75% materials available from a Michaels store...for these projects, I used 26g Wild Wire in fuchsia and teal, as well as 18g silver wire for the frame.
Here are my two pendants for the August Michaels Challenge. The first is a version of my Fairy Ladder pendant, using the team Wild Wire. For this piece, I also used 18g Wild Wire in silver color for my frame, but I was not happy with the way the frame flopped around when I wrapped it. Michaels, please carry heavier gauges of wire for folks who don't want to use sterling silver!!! Size on this little pendant is about 1" long, about 1/4" across.
Next up, I decided to use some (shhhh) sterling silver wire for the frame, again in 18g. Shape held up much better with this one. Teal and fuchsia wire are used to wrap...I can see a couple of small errors, but overall, I'm really pleased with the way this turned out!! Size on this one is also about 1" long, 3/8" across the widest point. Lots of wrapping in that tiny space!
These may end up being gifts for a couple of special little girls I know...not sure yet. I think they would like them, however. :-)
Thanks for peeking...if you'd like to join in the fun on the Michaels board, please join us!!!
Labels: challenge, fuchsia, michael's, michaels, necklace, pendant, pink, teal, wire, wire working
Saturday, August 16, 2008
20% off coupon for Michaels!
My friend Cindy on the Michaels message board tipped me off to a great online offer! Michaels occasionally posts a coupon to be used in-store, and there's one available now for 20% off your entire purchase! Some items ARE excluded, so read the fine print carefully.
Michaels
20% off coupon - good through August 23
Beading Help Web's review of MichaelsAnd if you'd like to join in the Michaels August Challenge, we'd love to have you! This month is all about metal - my favorite medium.
Labels: challenge, coupon, michael's, michaels, treat
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Michaels July Challenge
One of the fun things about making jewelry in the 21st century is belonging to online groups who share interests, knowledge and sometimes challenge other members!
In addition to several other online jewelry message boards, social networks, and groups, I am active on the
Michaels message board. I've gotten to know a terrific group of beaders there, and we hold a monthly challenge, which anyone is welcome to enter!
July's challenge was especially fun. Each member assigned a three-color combination to another member, and the challenge was to make a piece of jewelry using those colors.
My challenge came from CrazyKat, an energetic and fun beader who asked me to make something using pink, purple and blue. Not my usual color combinations, but I was up to it!
I decided to use
Swarovski crystals in the three colors, and keep the overall design very simple. Fine silver headpins, and a fine silver link that was fused and hammered. The overall design was organic with some bling, and I was pleased with the end result.
Pendant in an "artsy" pose.
Pendant hanging from a silver Omega chain
If you'd like to join the Michaels message board and one of the challenges, go to the Michaels website and click on the Beads tab, and then on the message board link (bottom of the page). You'll need to sign up (free) to post comments.
Labels: challenge, crystal, dangles, fine silver, message boards, michael's, pendant, Swarovski
Sunday, April 13, 2008
One Pendant, Three Options
My good friend Judy presented me with a challenge a few weeks ago. "Make me a necklace using this pendant."
She didn't want a plain chain, and really didn't have any ideas on what she was looking for...just said she knew I'd come up with something.
When I started thinking about what to do, I first looked for colors. The crystals in the pendant are green, pink and clear AB
Swarovski's...but that green is more of a Granny Smith apple green than anything else.
Peridot stones were close, but not a perfect match, and I couldn't find any colors in
seed beads that were even all that close.
I decided to offer Judy options...anything that she didn't like could be sold, after all! The first thing I tried were some pink 11.0 seed beads interspersed with Peridot chips, and then twisted with another strand of the pink seed beads.
Second try was a tubular herringbone using the same pink seed beads. I love the feel of this snakey chain, and while bead weaving isn't one of my favorite things to do, it worked up pretty quickly once I got started.
I got my final inspiration after I posted the first two options on a jewelry making forum...I thought about using a chunky chain and tossing in some peridot and light pink Swarovski crystals. Since I didn't have any chunky pre-made chain, I made my own! The ovals are soldered jump rings, which I then "spread" using my
Wubbers chain nosed pliers. I really like the looks of this chain a lot, and I think it sets off the pendant well - a funky and hip look overall.
I like this chain a lot, and I think I'll make another - it was time consuming, but I think the end result was worth it.
So tomorrow I hope to present Judy with all three options and let her decide which is her favority. How about you? What other options could I have come up with?
Labels: chainmaille, challenge, necklace, pendant, seed beads, sterling silver, Swarovski, wire working
These may end up being gifts for a couple of special little girls I know...not sure yet. I think they would like them, however. :-)
