What's New?

In my last post, I showed pics of a new handmade chain I made in copper. I must stress that this is only new to me!  I have since made the chain in silver, too.  It starts with "links" that look just like cotter pins....

You can see my measurement markings on these cotter pins....

The pins are then shaped into links like these...

I really love this look!

This chain technique was taxing!  I used 16 gauge wire again and trying to wrap the two loops together in one fell swoop to create a "perfect loop" was not as easy as I thought it would be!  But it is fun!

The chain above was used in a completed project for an upcoming blog hop (the Black and White Hop hosted by Sally Russick...I love her!)  Anyway, I can't show you the entire project just yet.  

But, I have also mentioned that I felt I was in a rut, so I have been playing around with sheet metal and different wiring techniques (only different to me of course!)  I came up with these earrings.

First off are the gorgeous lampwork beads by LazyCatBeads - so pretty!  It is not just the colors she used - but the hand faceting into a nugget shapes creates so much dimension! What I like about these earrings is that there are no unfinished "ends" to the wire.  I really like these and must make more!

I made the copper toggle clasp above from copper sheet and played around with my tools, too!  I finally used my dapping punch to create this really cool texture on the clasp!

These beautiful beads are also from LazyCatBeads.

I really love how this turned out!  I have made a few other toggle clasps and bracelets, but they are patiently awaiting their oxidation bath, buff and tumble.

I had some really pretty square lampwork disc beads - which I lucky enough to win from Alice a while back (thank you Alice!).  I was stumped on how to use them - other than my usual just "simply wire them and dangle from an ear wire".  So, I did this instead...

I was not exactly smitten with this design at first - no particular reason.  But then I oxidized, buffed, and tumbled and I do like them now!  They are so lightweight!

I have so much stock in my Etsy store - I was prepping for Spring shows and went way overboard.  So, I listed, and listed, and listed - and there is still more to list!  So, I am having a 20% off sale for a week or two to hopefully move some items out to make room for more.

This weekend I am attending the baby shower for my niece (I still cannot believe she is having TWINS!)  These are the first "Grand Nieces" to enter the Vanderbloemen family - we are excited to say the least!  

Hope you all enjoy your weekend - thanks so much for stopping by!

Patti

Java Bead

Java Bead - Two of my favorite things combined into one name! :) Russ Powers - husband to fabulous jewelry designer Dhea Powers - combines some of the most beautiful colors and makes fabulous lampwork beads - FABULOUS!  I have made quite a few bracelets from their beads and over the course of the past two days ( half an hour here, an hour there...) I made necklace from their beads.  I posted a few "in process" photos to Face Book.

Russ' beads are made from borosilicate glass rods and the detail is simply amazing!  See the "webbing" in those beads?!  I love this!

I wanted so very much to do something different.  I oftentimes feel like my jewelry "all looks the same" except for the fabulous beads, of course!  So I was on a mission to find a new chain or link to create.  I saw a picture of some Vintaj ladder chain and thought, there has to be a tutorial out there for this chain!  I could not find one so I just played around a bit with some copper wire until I arrived at the best length and gauge to work with.  18 gauge proved too thin for me, so I used 16 gauge wire.

What I like most about the chain is that it is truly sturdy - each link is connected to the next link - not just attached via a jump ring.  And the 16 gauge wire really makes it feel substantial, too.

I added two hand rolled cocoon beads for a little more interest.  Quite frankly, the liver of sulfur bath and the subsequent buffing -- plus a couple of hours in the tumbler -- is what really made this necklace shine for me!

I have already started a second chain in silver and feel like I actually accomplished something new (new to me, that is)!

Hope everyone is hunkered down away from the nasty weather that appears to be plaguing most of the Country these days (fires, tornadoes, excessive rainfall)...ugh.. Please stay safe!

Thanks for stopping by!

Look What I Won!

So last week - late at night sitting on the couch with my ever-present IPad - I was scrolling through Facebook and someone commented on someone else's feed "Comment with the word Hoot and enter to win"...  I thought what the heck?!  So I commented!  I was comment number 345.  It was a 30 minute contest and in the end, there were well over 540 entries.

But I won!  And boy did I ever win!

Isn't this little hoot-owl just gorgeous!!  It is a handmade pendant by the ultra talented Nicole Hanna!!  I was so excited to receive this!  Even the back of the pendant is beautiful!

I will be placing this gorgeous pendant on a nice oxidized silver chain and I will relish wearing it!

I went to Nicole's website upon receiving notification of winning, and was reminded of how beautiful her jewelry really is.  You can find her website by clicking here.

Winning this beauty reminded me of how much I admire "true" wire wrapping.  One of my favorite wire wrapping books is Weave, Wrap, Coil: Creating Artisan Jewelry, by Jodi Bombardier.

Source: Amazon.com

In the Fall of 2011, I was asked by one of my nieces to create the wedding jewelry for her bridal party. Each attendant's jewelry was different  and included a necklace, earrings, and a bracelet.  I perused many designs from this book - as well as Wire Style 2 - to inspire me.    However, as I look back on the pictures from over a year and a half ago, I realize I am not that good at weaving, wrapping, and coiling! LOL!  My jewelry picture-taking ability - as well as choice for backgrounds - has also improved a little bit (thank goodness!)

My feeble attempt at weaving, wrapping, and coiling:  Circa Fall 2011

I will revisit this technique though - using COPPER - with the hopes of improving...'cause this is a technique that in my eyes is just stunning!

As I write this post on Friday evening, Tropical Storm Andrea is finally showing signs of boredom with Northern Virginia - I sure hope it dries up tomorrow! 'Cause this little guy likes to go outside rain or shine - and I prefer shine!

Thanks for stopping by - enjoy your weekend!

Giveaway!!!

Julie - the most awesome lampwork glass bead artist of Outwest fame - claims to have too many beads?  Too many beads?  Is that really possible?

Anyhow, her cup overflows...so she is giving away some spacer beads....like these...

Oooh...what I could do with those beads!

These are just a few example of what I have done with her beads lately....

If you want to put your name in the hat, just go to her blog here and leave a comment!

Have a great day!

An Anniversary

June 5, 1954.  That is the date of my parents wedding anniversary.

Dad was so handsome and my mom was real looker - and, in my humble opinion, she still is!

The last picture is from our "final" family vacation in 2004.  The four of us, my brothers and sister, rented two adjoining townhouses on Sanibel Island, Florida for our respective families to celebrate my parents 50th wedding anniversary.  

My father was a proud man.  Though you cannot tell from the picture, he was in pain, and was undergoing treatment (if you want to call what he went through "treatment") for cancer.  He died 8 months later.

I can honestly say that not a day goes by that I do not think fondly of my father, and grieve that he passed away too soon at age 75.  I grieve for him, and I grieve for my Mother.  She was only 69 when he passed.  Cancer sucks at any age. Period.

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!  I love you both!