Wrap It Up

I have been having tons of fun creating with the beads generously donated to me by Maryse of Glass Bead Art - all proceeds from the jewelry made with her beads are donated to Miracle Horse Rescue.

First up is the this bracelet, which features an awesome lampwork focal in blue and white - with silvered ivory webbing swirled throughout the glass.

I may have mentioned that Santa brought me an oval disc cutter for Christmas - and I have been putting it to use! I cut two ovals and hammered them with the flat edge of my riveting hammer - love this texture...it reminds me of tree bark for some reason.  Anyway, after annealing and softening the copper, I folded them over for bead caps.

The colors in this bead remind me of ancient Chinese porcelain - so pretty!  I added a few swirled links with coils.

I dressed up the hook clasp with two coiled layers as well.

I am very happy to report that this bracelet has sold - thank you! (The equine residents say "thank you", too)!

Maryse sent me quite a few focal beads in her batch of lovelies.  I don't want to sound like a broken record, but I wanted to continue on my quest to make every link in Cindy Wimmer's new book, The Missing Link.  One of the links uses square wire, which I have never used before.  I bought the wrong gauge - I needed 16 gauge and bought 18, so I told myself, "that will be one link you will never make, Patti".  I mean, I have a pound of 18 gauge wire here! I have made a few clasps with the 18 gauge wire so far, and I must come up with other ways to use it up!

But then, I read Mary Harding's recent post, Inspired by Reading.  Mary made an absolute work of art inspired by a book - and she made those same links.  Her necklace is drop dead amazing!  I immediately logged on to Rio Grande and ordered the 16 gauge square wire! (Thanks for this inspiration Mary!) :)

Mary stated in her blog that it took "countless hours" to make this chain - and I can attest to this first hand!  Mary called it "The Magnificent Chain"...and it is! :)  Square wire takes getting used to- at least for me!  The hardest part was winding the wire around a mandrel for the jump rings - that wire just wants to twist and turn and "unsquare" itself! :)  

This link is fabulous - even though it did take a full day to create enough links and jump rings for the chain! 

Note:  I am experimenting with backgrounds for my photos.  The photo above was taken on a sheet of 18% Gray photo paper - you can truly see the actual colors of the jewelry using this background!

I have self titled this focal Root Beer - it has a lovely caramel colored, translucent glass, with a froth of foam on the top - Yum!  Thank you again, Maryse!!

Image above also using the photo paper.  I am in a quandary, as I like both images.  But, the photo paper, in my eyes, makes my jewelry feel cold and naked - yet 100% true to color.  I dunno...I am at an impasse!  I swear, I took about 60 photos of this necklace - 30 on the photo paper and the other 30 on my natural granite slab.  

I also  keep forgetting to put clothes on Lolita before I take pictures!  But Lolita stands in my basement and her clothes are two floors up.  'Nuff said!

It is a glorious day in Northern Virginia - the sun is shining so bright and it is cold! Yeah for me - my favorite kind of day!  I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Thank you so much for stopping by!

xo
Patti

Orphans and Glass Bead Art

I have many, many orphans...beads that is.  Sometimes I only use 5 of 6 beads in a set and I am left with that one lonely bead.  What to do?  

I combine them to make one really cool piece of jewelry!

I have purchased MANY sets of these gorgeous beads from Maryse Fritzch-Thillens of GlassBeadArt on Etsy.  Many.  I first found her shop through one of Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party Hops (thank Lori!), and she lives in Luxembourg.

Photo Source: GlassBeadArt on Etsy

These beads are absolutely fascinating!  Now I am not a lampwork artist.  So, my description of how the beads are made is cryptic at best.  But, they start out with a rustic base - like something in my mind's eye that comes from Middle Earth.  Then she wraps this layer of rock crystal color on top and BAM - instant gemstone!  Well, that's how I describe them!

I had more than a handful of orphans from pretty much most of the colors that she offers.  So I made one heck of a long necklace....37" long to be exact.

Yes - a link from Cindy Wimmer's book, the Missing Link!  In the book, Kerry Bogert used this link to make fabulous earrings (I have already done that!). This time, I used them as alternating links between the wrapped beads for the necklace. 

I oxidized the sterling silver, and I swear, it took almost as much time to hand buff this piece as it did to make it! :)

But the beauty in its length is that it can be worn long...

Or doubled up for a short, two strand look.

I am so grateful to the bead artists whose blood sweat and tears allow me to create!  Thank you Maryse!

Maryse's shop can be found by clicking here. 

On another note, it is frigid in Northern Virginia today - blustery and cold and I am happy!  :)

Thanks for stopping by!!

xo

Patti