Week 52 — Riverstones

Happy New Year’s Eve everyone!

I finally did it, and what a good feeling! This riverstone and sterling bracelet is my last post of ’07, completing the three quarters that I signed on for this year. This took me weeks and weeks to complete, and it really stretched my skills in a new direction. I love how this bracelet articulates. It’s got soldered on prongs and tubing, to connect with the 14g jump rings. I definitely learned so much making this and I can already see how I will improve next time!

By the way, notice the awesome amethyst geode my husband gave me for Christmas. I’ve wanted one of these for as long as I can remember, so I was thrilled when I opened the package. This is a particularly nice specimen with large crystals inside. It’s going to serve as a backdrop for a lot of my jewelry photography in the coming year!!

I really want to thank everyone here from the bottom of my heart for a truly fabulous experience in this year in jewelry. I certainly have grown as a direct result of your generosity in sharing ideas and techniques. This forum is truly one of the best uses of the Internet that I can think of. It’s a wonderful way to get to know members of your own creative tribe, who live all over the world!! I am looking forward to the next year of exploration. Wishing you all a prosperous, healthy, and creative New Year!!

December 31, 2007. Week 52 - Due Dec 30. 2 comments.

Renewal of life

My last post of 2007! I have actually posted something for every week in the 2 quaters I signed up for, but most of the posts have not been on time even though the jewellery was made on time. I’m going to have to speed up my photography in the New Year!

I had to make something fresh and green for the renewal of life theme, and these beautiful pale jade faceted beads fitted perfectly. I think the sterling silver coils prevent the bracelet from looking too heavy, but I need to change the clasp – it’s too small to balance the piece.

Thanks for looking, Jo x www.daisychainjewellery.co.uk

December 31, 2007. Week 52 - Due Dec 30. 1 comment.

Infinity

This necklace has no link to this week’s theme at all! Double infinity chainmaille weave (rings cut using my lovely koil kutter!) with a beautiful lampwork bead by Isabelle Anderson and Swarovski crystals. I am really enjoying chainmaille at the moment, so expect to see more of it in 2008!

Thanks for looking, Jo x www.daisychainjewellery.co.uk

December 31, 2007. Week 51 - Due Dec 23. Leave a comment.

Ocean Floor

This pendant has the same basic shape as one I did in the 3rd quarter, but I’ve used different stones and woven them onto the frame differently too. A sterling silver hammered base, lots and lots of finer sterling silver wire, aquamarine (my link to this week’s theme!) and labradorite. A friend thinks it looks a bit like a fish, so that’s another link to the theme!

Thanks for looking, Jo x www.daisychainjewellery.co.uk

December 31, 2007. Week 50 - Due Dec 16. Leave a comment.

Week 52 – Sun King::mrs beadsley

My piece symbolizes, plain and simple, the sun.  Living in Maine, I am ever aware of how short the days get as we wind down the year, and being the sun worshiper I am, I am so glad when we pass the Winter Solstice and the days start to lengthen.  This bracelet is the sun.  I wanted a piece that would shout out that fact.  So, of course it had to be gold and it had to have a LOT of gold making it up – so I created a gold bracelet with a little bit of sun in each charm.  The charms are some really nice flat square beads and some topaz Swarovski crystals that I wrapped with gold filled wire and dangled from the bracelet.  There are about a thousand of them (ok, not that many but it sure felt like I made that many)so the bracelet is nice and full and really glints like the rays of the sun when in the light.  I used a nice gold toggle clasp for the closure.  You can read more about this project on my blog .

On a personal note, I want to thank everybody that supported and encouraged me in this weekly project – it has been an unbelievable journey and a true learning experience for me and I am very grateful for the opportunity to participate.           mrs beadsley 

December 31, 2007. Week 52 - Due Dec 30. Leave a comment.

Week 52 – Soldered Pendants – Randi/Dax58

Again… this is a project I will be teaching, showing beginning soldering students how to layer hammered wire pieces to create easy, but striking pendants. The one on the right has an added iolite bead, which has been wire wrapped (no soldering) after the pendant was created. Both are LOS’d, but I think they look pretty good with a high silver shine, so I will make a few more like these before class for samples (I’m sure I’ll be posting them here in 2008!).

Congratulations to all of us for participating and contributing to such a fabulous year of projects!!

Comments are always welcome… check out My Jewelry Blog for more on my FSOJ projects, and check out My Website for more of my jewelry.  Thanks,  Randi

December 30, 2007. Week 52 - Due Dec 30. Leave a comment.

Week 52 – Melssa Muir

Wow A whole year! I made it. I have more than one piece a week, but that is a very good thing. I am so glad that I did this challenge. I have grown so much in the past year. Thank you all for the comments and support you have given me. I am really glad that I got to do all of this. I am sorry that I haven’t been as available to comment as I once did. I hope to have more time this next year to do that again.

This piece is very special to me. I actually have 5 pictures of it on my design journal so you can see all the details. Today is my Angel Kelsi’s 3rd birthday. So this piece is made in honor of her. Around the edge of the pendant is stamped with the words "Forever My Angel" On the back I have stamped her name and dates. Inside the pendant I have created a small foot and butterfly with PMC. They sit suspended in clear resin.

December 30, 2007. Week 52 - Due Dec 30. 2 comments.