Friday, November 07, 2008
Friday Fun!
Early holiday gift to myself is more time...for the last several years, I've managed to save enough vacation time from my day job to take off one day a week during December. This year, I somehow finagled it so I began working 4-day weeks in November!
Of course, jewelry making is at the top of my list - two more shows to go this year (one tomorrow, one in two weeks), some commissioned pieces that have been ordered, and a to-do list that seems to grow over night.
Today I'm taking out my little torch. Have some fusing and soldering projects that I'll work on. This week I've been building inventory for the shows - earrings and rings that are priced less than $20...great stocking stuffers and impulse items.
Here's an idea for a cute earring and pendant set that I hope goes over well. I made these in several colors using Swarovski crystals. The earrings use 6mm bicones on a simple dangle, and the matching pendant uses a 4mm bicone. I used a 14g fine silver ring that I fused for the ring in the pendant, but you could use a jump ring - just make sure the join is closed well!
Happy Friday...off to fire up that torch!
Labels: earrings, Friday, pendant, torch
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Still Kicking
I've had a few folks dropping a line with concern that I haven't blogged in some time, and "are you alright?"
Thanks for the concern. :-)
Yes, I'm alright. Fine and dandy, in fact. Just been a little pre-occupied with school starting up for the youngest, wedding plans for the oldest, and starting prep for shows that seem to be non-stop until Thanksgiving. Plus the myriad of other "stuff" that seems to just pile up on top of everything else.
Until I get back in the swing of things (which will hopefully happen soon!), take a gander at a few "older" articles and projects that are perfect for fall and this time of year!
Sparkling Pumpkin Pendant is perfect for fall or Halloween - easy to make and a great little gift. And what youngster wouldn't love a
BOO bracelet for the month of October?!
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and it's right around the corner. Why not order the supplies you need to make our fancy
Think Pink BCA charm or a classic
BCA Stretch Bracelet?
Attending some craft fairs this fall? Be sure you print out a copy of Beading Help Web's popular
Craft Show Checklist before you pack up! I've been showing for 8 years and still use it!
Happy fall!!!
Labels: bracelet, breast cancer awareness jewelry, checklist, craft shows, free instructions, halloween projects, october, pendant
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
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
Monday, July 28, 2008
An Axe (or three) to grind...
So if you've been keeping up with my Westfair stories (what do you mean you have your own life and don't spend hours following mine?) you know I had an unusual request from a couple of the entertainers.
Michelle and Alissa are lumberjacks. Lumber JILLS actually. Chicks with Axes. I watched them working with chainsaws and axes and was absolutely amazed at their talent, power, and ability to not cut off body parts. In addition to their talent with those blades, they are just nice people. If you ever get a chance to check out Timber Tina's Lumberjills, please do!
On Thursday, they spotted my copper and sterling "scrap" pendants and asked if I could make something with an axe on it. Why not, I thought...I'm up to a challenge!
I worked on a couple of prototypes and didn't really get what I wanted, so I changed my approach and started hammering 14g wire into "blades" to wrap around a "handle" (also in 14g). Here are the practice pieces in copper.
The girls approved of the axe shape on the far right, and I did up a couple in sterling, again using 14g wire.
Next up, I roughed up some copper plates to solder the axes to. In the meantime, I started looking at the blades on those axes and thinking about soldering them, and getting a little nervous. Better have an extra on hand, just in case I turned it into a blob of melted silver, eh? Plus, I have to admit, I had a lot of fun making those little axes.
So I created a little double bladed "executioner" style axe. Again, just 14g wire, hammered then filed. I used some 26g wire to attach the blade to the handle.
I took them home that night, said a little prayer to the Gods of Metal, and
just touched the torch to them. Miracle of all miracles, no melting...not a single one. All three attached to their respective pendants with nary a speck of stray solder, even. Tossed them in the tumbler, and took them out in the morning. Dan examined them and was amazed "Those aren't going anywhere, are they!?"
I took the pendants to the fair, and the girls LOVED them. They ended up picking out the two that look alike, so I have an extra double bladed axe, but I don't care. I had so much fun making these, I just giggled to think about them!!
Oh wait. I did take a couple of picture just to show how tiny those axes were....
All I can say is "thank God they didn't want me to make chainsaws...."
LOL, thanks for reading my little story...it was definitely the highlight of my fair week!!!!!
Labels: axes, copper, pendant, sterling silver, westfair
Sunday, July 27, 2008
WestFair Update, Treasure Chest, Custom Pendants
I am having a wonderful time at Westfair this week. Today is the last day. It's always a little sad to pack up, but life goes on!
I promised a couple photos of my set up. I capitalize on a corner spot by setting up in an "L" shape, with a large opening at the front to get in and out of. I really like the set up this year, and I'm going to request the same spot for 2009, as well as that terrific counter that I "borrowed" to set up my cash register and supplies!
A great idea from
Rena Klingenberg that I've used at the last couple of shows is to "showcase" my older stock to move it along. Here's my Treasure Chest (chest purchased from
Hobby Lobby using a 40% off coupon!).
I've really moved a lot of my older bracelets, earrings and necklaces using this little tool. I left the old price tags on the items, so customers can see what a bargain they are getting!
Finally, Michelle and Alyssa of the
LumberJills asked me if I'd make them some pendants with axes on them. I was up to the challenge, and worked yesterday on designing prototypes and finalized the pendants late last night. It was an unusual request...but I had so much fun doing it! After I get pictures of the finished pendants, I'll post the "work in progress". Hopefully you'll get as much of a kick out of them as I do.
Off to the fair!!
Labels: craft shows, fair, jewelry business, jewelry sales, lumberjills, pendant, treasure chest, westfair
Monday, May 19, 2008
Pierced and Riveted
Ever want to challenge yourself? Commit to making something and then try doing it. Oh wait, forgot to add...make sure you have to use techniques you've never tried before. And give yourself an agressive deadline while you're at it.
Last Thursday, I recieved a call from the
Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging (ENOA) asking if I would donate an item for a silent auction. The auction is held during the annual Share the Table fundraising event for Meals on Wheels...an organization I actively support by delivering meals to older and disabled folks. (I love Meals on Wheels deliveries...my friend Linda and I have had the same route for about 4 years, and we've gotten to know many of the clients over that time. It's
very rewarding!!!)
I started thinking about what I had on hand to donate, and came up with the brilliant idea of making a pendant using the ENOA logo. My idea was to fashion the logo out of silver wire, solder it to a copper backing and be done with it...easy peasy! ENOA wanted the donation to be dropped off by Monday - no problem!!
Not so much. The logo
wasn't as easy to fashion out of wire as I'd imagined. Back to the drawing board...all I had to do was make a copper and silver pendant with the ENOA logo, as I'd cleverly described.
I'd never pierced and sawed out any kind of design, nor had I riveted before, but I decided those were the best methods of making my pendant. Off to do some research....
I shrunk down a picture of the ENOA logo, and using techniques from
Step By Step Jewelry Workshop, I pierced and sawed it out of a piece of 24g copper sheet. I then cut a piece of sterling silver sheet (28g) that would fit across the back of the copper, stamped my business name and the year on the back, and riveted the two pieces together. My good friend
Nancy's tutorial on riveting was, well,
riveting and served as my guide for learning that technique.
After completing the riveting and some additional filing, I soldered a bail on the back...I've done plenty of soldering, but nothing quite like that...another new technique learned!
I was very pleased with the end result - there are a couple of boo-boos on the piece, but hopefully they are apparent only to my eye. ;-) I'm dropping it off at the ENOA office this afternoon, and I hope they like it as well.
Piercing and riveting was fun...I think I'll try it again, but not with the pressure of a deadline!
Labels: charity, copper, ENOA, Meals on Wheels, new techniques, pendant, pierced, rivet, saw, solder
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
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Wire Coiled Earrings and Pendant
One of the things I like best about learning a lot of jewelry-making techniques is that I can switch between working with
PMC one day, wire work the next, and make a quick stringing project the next day. I also find that I start almost craving working with certain techniques if I haven't done them in some time.
Earlier this week, I really wanted to do some wire work, specifically coiling, and tried something new when making this pendant and earring set.
Usually, when I coil, I create the base form first, then coil my thinner wire around the form, adding beads to the coil as I go. While this technique works well for larger pieces, smaller forms (like my earrings, which are less than the size of a US dime) get tight, and the coils aren't as consistent as I'd like.
With this project, instead of coiling directly on the form, I used a section of straight wire in the same gauge as my forms. I coiled 26g wire, adding beads every 5 coils, making sure that the beads were all on the same side of the coil. I had measured the forms to find out how long the coil needed to be, and when the coil was long enough, I slipped it off the straight piece of wire and onto the curved form.
You do have to be very careful not to crush or distort the coil when removing it or putting it on the form. Using a slight twisting motion will help, as will holding on to one end of the form with a pliers after the entire coil has been slipped on the form.
After completing the coiling and finishing up the wire work, these pieces were
oxidized, using
Liver of Sulfur.
Labels: coiling, earrings, jewelry making, Liver of Sulfur, oxidizing, pendant, wire working
Thursday, January 03, 2008
First Pieces in 2008
I set myself a goal for 2008 to make at least one piece of jewelry a week. This week, I have a pair of earrings, a pendant and a pendant/earring set to share.
First up, one of my first pieces of PMC (Precious Metal Clay) that I made on my own. I learned a lot making this piece, namely that PMC isn't quite as easy as I remember it being!
I started out with three PMC pieces - a heart charm with my hubby's thumb print on it, a coated leaf, and this pendant. While filing down some rough edges on the charm, I got too aggressive with the files and cracked the piece...I'm hesitant to fire it because I don't want to waste the clay (I should be able to reconstitute it prior to firing, even if I just use it for slip) if it cracks again after firing.
The leaf ended up not having enough coats of PMC on it, and after firing, it sort of fell apart. Lesson learned - build up LOTS of coats of PMC on the leaf before firing!
The pendant turned out nicely. It doesn't have as much texture as I'd like, but I like the shape and the bail is sturdy and will support the pendant. I cut the shape using a large metal washer as a template, and used a bit of wire screen for texturing. I would like to put something in the center - some domed and stamped copper pieces I have would fit nicely, but I need to get to soldering to attach them at this point.
Tomorrow, I'll share the earrings and the set, along with some tips on wire wrapping!
Labels: 2008 goals, jewelry making, pendant, PMC
Here's an idea for a cute earring and pendant set that I hope goes over well. I made these in several colors using Swarovski crystals. The earrings use 6mm bicones on a simple dangle, and the matching pendant uses a 4mm bicone. I used a 14g fine silver ring that I fused for the ring in the pendant, but you could use a jump ring - just make sure the join is closed well!
