Week 46: Stones, Bare Trees… Misty Forest Bangle Style Copper Bracelet
I’m very behind and late posting this, but I wanted to add it in on the blog and try to complete my weeks for the last quarter. I made this one last night – Misty Forest. Made with all pure copper wire and beads, I hammered the clasp myself and added in some pretty etched boro lampwork beads. I oxidized the whole thing to give it a more rustic and ethnic look.
Nathalie Girard – Wire & Beads Creations / Canadian Rockies Art
Gypsy Ring, take 1 & take 2
A customer brought me a beautiful stone with a diamond cut last year (forgot to ask her what it is, might be Swarovski, CZ or a gem). She wanted me to make a ring with it, which I did. I used Pat Johnson’s Gypsy Ring tutorial in the Nov. 04 issue of the WAJ, and modified it to add a small crocheted pillow inside the setting to stabilize the pointed
base of the stone. I was also afraid that the "prongs" might open and release the stone if they got caught in something, so I wove thin wire around the stem of each prong to bind them together.
The customer had tried one of my own rings for sizing, and ordered the same size. I tried the ring on when finished, the size was perfect, so I delivered it, and the customer was really happy with it.
She came back at the beginning of November, asking me to make her another ring (she would pay), because her arthritis got worse, and she can’t slip it on anymore. I decided to keep the ring for myself and to set another stone on it. The Montreal Gem Show was scheduled for a few weeks later, and it was a good time to find something special for myself. However, I was so sick in November, that I really didn’t feel like going, but I went anyway, and bought the first thing that was correct in size, shape and price. I only wanted to go back home and get into my pajamas! I think that I bought a Mexican fire opal (at least that’s what was written on the tray), but the guy wrote "moonstone" on my little baggie, which I doubt very much
.
Anyway, this is what it looks like now with the new stone on. It’s a shame that I couldn’t manage to catch
the red sparkles from within the stone, they’re so pretty, especially when it’s backlit.
Johanne from Quebec
My web site http://www.bijoudecameleon.com
My blog http://4saisons.canalblog.com/
Jade Squares
The ONLY reason I got kicked back into making things this fall after a very do-less and depressing summer, is because I joined the local artists’ league, and signed up for “artist’s day out,” a monthly get-together for a morning in the visual art center classroom, where each person brings a project and works on it, and then we go to lunch. Everybody else does watercolor . . .
So, though I missed October through being in Boston, I made the Nov. 15 meeting, and managed to produce these sterling and jade earrings, with which I am quite pleased. I now have them in my new Etsy shop, where they have garnered 49 views but no cash, oh well.
I really do like the combination of jade and simple lines in sterling. As simple as these are, they probably have more design thought in them than any of the other things I have made the last month, that I will get up here shortly.
Stones abides
The fact that I’ve used gemstones is probably the only link to this week’s topics! Smokey quartz and rose quartz hanging from a hammered sterling silver oval in turn hanging from leather cord.
Thanks for looking!
Week 46 – Stones abide – Ellen/rubystar
I chose these earrings for this theme, because of the stones — fossil coral. Certainly these stones abide through time. I wonder how long it took for the little creatures to be embedded into stone. How cool!
Ellen
week 46 – Playing catchup
I’m behind!! Holy cats, between holidays, guests, shows, etc., its getting tough! I did a couple of these last week, a couple this week, but never got to post. I need to do a few more for a show this coming week, these have been very popular. Wrapped vintage swarovskis; you’ve seen them before, you’ll likely see more, lol!
Advent Ornament – Shaktipaj
Every year, Talisman Beads in Eureka, CA hosts an Advent Calendar showcasing the work of 24 local artists in their window, along with a raffle to benefit a local charity. In 2007, the owner Merry Coor decided to make her seasonal partnership with CASA of Humboldt permanent. The volunteers of this organization act as advocates and support for children involved in legal proceedings. I’m proud to support this effort with my offering of this ornament. Lots of sterling beads and wire, along with some very fiery Labradorite. The main sphere is approx. 2 1/2 in.tall. I encourage all of you to get involved with your local support organizations-creating with a purpose is gratifying and they generally welcome the support as much as you welcome the exposure- a win/win if I ever saw it. As usual, comments are very welcome. Perri
Denim Freestyle Bangle
This bangle was commissioned by one of the most adorable clients of mine – Margaret -who lives in Paris but managed to meet me in Warsaw this summer, when she came to visit her family. We were sitting in a sushibar and she was telling me about a planned exotic trip to Syria and Jordan she and her husband were going for in a few weeks. She sent me some inspiring pictures from this journey – Thank You Margaret 🙂
I’ve used some very interesting and rare materials in this bangle – dumortierite, sodalite, numerous sapphires in various shades, iolite, natural white coral and some ancient glass found in Burma. You will also find some nice sterling beads and filigree – I’ve placed a shell round inside on of them. The whole piece was made in sterling and fine silver and oxidised.
More pictures in my gallery. Thank you 🙂
MOMMAKAT: copper scrolls
I don’t have a name for this one, I made it a couple of weeks ago out of copper. One of the mags recently had a scrolled project in it, this is my take. I’ve done it in 16 ga copper, I slightly flattened with a hammer before wrapping the coils, and then lightly afterwards. I added a vintage crystal from a chandelier. The finish on the crystal has turned slightly yellow with age, which in this piece I think really adds to it! I really like how it turned out, really need to play with this style of wirework more! For more wirework items check out my blog entry :
http://mkpbeadart.blogspot.com/2007/11/week-46-ok-so-im-not-on-topic-and-odds.html
Mines of Moria
Tears Of Citrine
For this weeks project I decided to try my hand at a little filigree work by following the instructions in the book Silver Threads. And yes like the book says…you melt a lot of wire. =)
After I fashioned the bezel cups the design was sketched on paper in order to make the components. Once done the process of soldering the pieces together 
starts. It was a bit tedious and resulted in some of the curls being cut off before continuing…but the end results didn’t turn out to badly. Yes there are some spots where there is way too much solder…hopefully I’ll improve with that as I practice. =)
The stones of choice are amethyst and citrine for the focal. To complete the length of the necklace I used faceted ametrine coins, citrine and green garnet…with single sections of byzantine.
Thank you,
Deborah aka Sneekbead
Cwj's Year of Jewelry Blog 
