CWJs...'Year of Jewelry' 2007

Week 5 - Bamboo Leaf Jasper & Silver Necklace - Lucinda/PurpleRhian

Bamboo Leaf Jasper and Silver Necklace

I've used a combination of Wrapping, Coiling, Weaving & Chain Mail with the co-ordinating Jasper pendant, coins and rondelles to create this necklace. More in my blog.

Valentine ear-threads

My next entry in the made-on-time-but-posted-weeks-later category. I assembled these little ear-threads on the hotel-room table while visiting my brother and family in Concord, back around February 1st. Also in view are the Valentines my nephew made for a pre-school party. (Yes, my brother LIVES in Lincoln, adjacent to Concord, but his house is totally torn apart to remove a horrible case of mold, and the insurance company is putting them up in a hotel. Lille-Tom is cool with it, much happier than living in the house while it got torn up around him, but his parents are seriously discommoded.)

I actually beaded these brick-stitch hearts two years ago before Valentine's Day, and then didn't get anything done with them. They had the thread they were made with extending as a double strand at the center top to be suspended by, but I was always dubious about doing this. I'm much happier putting them on 20-gauge silver rings, and I like the way they hang at a slant. They are assembled on sterling threaders, with some Czech fire-polish red beads.

Week 5

I am so sorry to be so hideously late, this piece was made on time, but stuff came up & I haven't really had the energy to post before now. This took so long to get the layout just how I wanted it, it's a lot of fun to wear & I got some much needed practice at wrapped loops.

Sarah.

Eni Oken - Week 5

Catching up with a project I wanted to try for a while: I used a clear glass pebble as a cab, with the smallest image of my son attached to the back. The bezel in sterling silver is a basket weave which completely encases the glass cab and image (see my journal to see the back). Before working the weave, I secured the image to the glass with craft foil, to protect the image better.

The pendant is smaller than a quarter coin. I did not make the chain. For more images, read the journal.

---
Eni Oken
http://www.enioken.com
Online Lessons on Jewelry Making

Snousey - Week 5 - More Maille

Still catching up...This set was a custom order for my best customer at work - the Operations Manager! I apologize for the poor pictures - I had to take these in a hurry as the pieces were due to be delivered. In case you can't tell from these horrible pictures, this Helm Chain set is made with GF and SS 18 ga rings. Prior to this I had made all my maille out of SS, so this was my first experience with GF rings - very nice to work with. As a side note -the large SS rings were coiled and cut by me with my wonderful Koil Kutter from Dave. I only had DS wire to work with, so I used these rings as the orbital rings on the inside of the bracelet. Since those rings are not "load bearing", I figured it would be ok to use them there.

I had the most fun making the necklace. I loved the weight and feel of it as I would draw it through my fingers, and was actually sorry to hand it over. He also ordered a Byzantine bracelet in 20 ga 2.75 mm id rings, which I forgot to take a picture of - DUH.

Earrings

I haven't had an internet connection for the past 2 weeks so these are obviously really late even though I did them on time.  I made these earrings to practice wire skills.

--Caren
www.BeadworkByCaren.com
www.BeadedGarden.com

Week5 - Better Late Then Never!

Wooo! Well I had the week 5 piece finished very neerly on time but real life things got in the way pf posting. Hah! I didn't get any better for week 6 but I think I am all caught up now. I will try to be on time for week 7. I haven't given up though!

This is another prototype for the chain mesh bags that I have been working on. Since I am still in the experimenting stage, the metals and findings don't match each other. But that is alright with me. I am sorry if my image is a little too large after you click the thumbnail, I am using paint and I haven;t figure out how to play with image size on it yet. Man I miss photoshop. More info in my blog. http://journeyofsilver.blogspot.com/

It is now the perfect size for Id, Driver Licence, Credit Cards, Business Cards, Room Keys, or key/credit for cruise ships.

Holding My Breath

OK, I'm turning blue, here. Yes, this and the next week are late. Life gets in the way, I won't bore you with details. Have you ever been in what I call a "fugue state" with your art? I mean that you feel as if you are in thrall to a particular piece or idea and can't move on until it gets realized? Well, this was that piece. This little beauty is totally self contained, structurally sound (no wobbling!) and utterly unsoldered. It measures .75" x .75" Totally in sterling - 28 and 26 gauge w/ silver bead accents. I distressed some of the beads for visual interest, and may LOS it ( Hi, Angie!!!!) It has a fairie quality and has refinements and siblings in the works. Quite simply, I love this bead. Hope you do to. Critiques are truly welcome as well as comments.

Perri

Week 5

These cloudy aquamarine earrings are not small!  The pendant is Kyanite, with aquamarine center.

Half Square Byzantine

This Byzantine variation is a weave by Scott Plumlee of www.davidchain.com from his book Handcrafting Chain and Bead Jewelry.

If you are at all interested in chain maille, and the Byzantine weave in particular, his book is a must!

Jacqueline