Self indulgence – Natalie Cotgrove
My title is self indulgence as these pieces are for me, no question. I have been unable to wear any of my jewellery as it is a tad fragile in the hands of my 1 year old and frankly my wrist and neck have been feeling a little bare. I figured that a chain maille piece would be the strongest to withstand the pulling and yanking of little hands.
A couple of my friends are lucky enough to have Tiffany necklaces and the thing I love most about them ( apart from that they are ‘Tiffanys’) is the weight of them. I decided to use the maille roses I’d used in my week 27 piece but as I didn’t have enough jump rings to make a complete piece I linked them using some coveted square jump rings I’ve been saving (they were not cheap). The resulting look is not amazingly original but great for everyday wear and has the desired weight. Its lovely on! The necklace ties with a toggle clasp for ease of use and I used a nina designs moonstone box clasp on the bracelet. I’m pleased to report that since finishing it I have worn it everyday and it is surviving well under strain and several people have complimented me on it (possibly because it is quite plain for me and has no crystals!!)
Sorry about the photos though, I haven’t downloaded photoshop onto this computer yet and am using a programme I don’t really know to edit the pictures. Also looking at other posts I think I need a revamp in the background too….will work on that!
Week 31 – class version
A month or so ago I got the schedule for classes for Beadfest. I didn’t think I was going to get to go (still not, sigh), so I went through the classes, trying to see if I could figure out some of the designs (aka, self-education). I saw a bracelet that I thought was rather attractive, so I tried it. It came out ok, but I played with it a bit more and like mine even more, lololol! I did the gold first; notice the size difference? The gold was done with half hard wire, the silver dead soft. I could NOT get the gold any smaller because of how hard it got the more I worked it. I rather like it, its bold and yet danty! This week I’m working on size changes, etc. from my show last week so there is no time for new work; I did the silver the week before last as a gift for the hostess who has an itsy bitsy wrist.
OOOPS!!! I forgot to pick a category – this was posted on July 31st, darn it, way early…. then when I returned from my trip I couldn’t find the post, to find I forgot to put a category, sigh…
Simple Ring
Only something basic this week. Arm still hurting 😦
I’ve twisted two 1.0mm wires together to for the band, and soldered them either side to a 6mm setting. The stone is a rhodolite garnet.
Salsa, by chance
Lots of green (serpentine or aventurine, I’ll check and get back, had them for forever), with carnelian and honey jade. Wire work is a minimum this week, the bangle being wrapped, and all the clasps handmade. So much going on, its by chance that these things are stretchable to salsa. The pics are pretty good this week though, thanks to slightly overcast weather.
Week 30 – Erin J – Salsa
I think I’ve finally managed to get one on theme. My salsa ingredients are silver beads, silver lined red delicas, black onyx and wired together in a variation of Eni’s tute.
Erin
Week 30 – Swinging Pendants – Randi/Dax58
Three different pieces from me this week, all with the same basic design. I wanted to make a few more samples for my "Swinging Pendant"
class which I am teaching next week… I tried to make them with
different beads, and different wire wraps and bales, so that the students have
examples in different looks. The 1st one has garnets surrounding a handmade stamped silver charm, and the pendant is LOS treated. The middle one is a lovely lampwork focal with glass beads wrapped around the frame, and a woven bale. And the last one I think I might be keeping! It’s got tiny 2mm silver beards wrapped on the frame, with a silver and enamel focal bead. I want to do a few more of these with a more "earthy" look…
Comments are always welcome… check out My Jewelry Blog for more on my FSOJ projects, and check out My Website to see more of my jewelry. Thanks, Randi
WEEK 30 – Lynette/ lowen56
Salsa/ spicy – well I finally managed to hit one of the themes…lol. AND, it’s not dichro!
A combination of hyacinth, light siam & siam swaros.
These are left over bits and pieces from when I was working on my recent competition piece.
A simple little bracelet, that feels lovely on and actually sits right – bonus!!
The front section is a 3 strand braid using 4mm crystals, the chain
bits also using 4mm and the big clunkers on the back are 8mm.
There is a closer picture of the braided section on my blog if you’d like to have a look.
Thanks for looking – any and all comments are most appreciated………….Lynette.
Pink Brooch
My mother has been asking me to make her a brooch. One of her favorite blouses has a stain on it and she wanted something to cover it :). I don’t have any experiences with pins or brooches but this is what I came up with. A pink (my mothers favorite color) round brooch losely inspired on an old style of Dutch jewelry called a Zweeuwse Knop (knop means knot). I wanted it to look kinda classical. It is made with lots of wire, Freshwater Pearls, tiny faceted and round Rose Quarts and tiny silver beads. While I was making it it gave me lots more ideas how to use this technique for pendants and other jewelry so I’ll be trying out more of it.
I managed to post this one in the wrong week (29). I changed it to the right week (30) but I can’t seem to delete the wrong one so now it’s on there twice. Sorry! 
Salsa, or…I’m seeing red.
Thank heaven for scanners…time savers. The downside is the loss of detail, such as the veining on the leafy dangles. Once I apply LOS the detail should pop.
Red corals, red peals, white pearls, black onyx, black-rutile quartz.
Cwj's Year of Jewelry Blog 
