YOJ 2012 - week 3 Agate pendant with woven bail

This time I did not pick up an old unfinished project. Instead I picked up an old bead I had bought years back. I had this woven bail in mind for it, but the bail turned out a tad too big for my liking. However, I decided not to undo it, because first, it doesn't look too bad, and second, I am still trying to get back into the flow of jewelry designing and creating once again. It is really easy at this time for me to just give up and stop. So I am going to keep it as it is :-). The bail is made with fine silver wire, and a sterling silver Sea Horse charm hangs in front. The tiny beads on the bail are Carnelians. the main focal bead...I think is an Agate. I bought it so long ago, I don't remember what it is. If you have a clue, let me know. I am guessing Agate because of the banding.

Carnelian, Garnet, Pearls, Citrine, Sterling silver necklace

Note: To see enlarged photos, click on the pictures.

I had started this necklace long back. Months back. Then I stopped mid way. I had some health issues at first because of which I couldn't do any jewelry work. And after that followed a long "blah" period when I felt totally uninspired, and didn't want to do anything. I thought I wouldn't make jewelry ever again. But the last Emerald piece..the story...everything brought the passion back, and I completed this too.

The main stone in the pendant is a delicious Carnelian. The two small yellow beads under it are top class Citrines. And the briolette hanging underneath is a beautiful Garnet. The stones have been brought together as a pendant by means of weaving and sculpting sterling silver wires.

I have made the chain with sterling silver wire and fresh water pearls. The clasp is hand made too. There is a chain extension added to the chain, so that the necklace can be between 16" and 20".

To gauge the approximate size of the pendant and the stones, see the picture of the pendant on my hand.

Valentine's Day...romance, love, affection...sweetness: Carnelian Heart Necklace

To buy this, please go to my Etsy Store.

With Christmas and New year gone, I was thinking how there's going to be a long blah period. I totally forgot the sweetness that Valentines Day brings! What does Valentine's Day mean to you? When I was younger, it meant romance. But now as a wife, a mum, a daughter, a daughter-in-law, a sister, a friend, a sister-in-law, aunt...and so many other roles that have become important, Valentines Day means simply Love....sweetness. It is also the day I met my sweet hubby for the first time. Valentines Day is a day for me to wish anyone I love...and there are so many I love. So many that I can't count. I hope it is the same with you.

So for Valentine's Day, I made this sweet necklace. A deep orange Carnelian heart, wrapped in sterling silver wires, following Judy Feskun's tutorial. Pearls too stand for innocence, love and sweetness for me, so I hung this pendant on a simple string of pearls, finished with a hand made sterling silver clasp. The fresh water pearls chain is 17.5" with the clasp.

This got me thinking...love is a great subject. I think for a while I will focus on making pieces on themes of love...on the world's greatest romances, Divine Love, affection, love between different relations. Do you have a great love story to tell me on which I could possibly base a piece? If you do, email me at cobaltblueastrid@yahoo.com.

YOJ Week 17: Citrine earrings

These are earrings made with delicious looking Citrine briolettes, small Citrine and Carnelian beads, fine silver, and sterling silver wire.