YOJ 2012 Week 12: Picasso Jasper heart pendant, fine silver

This is a Picasso Jasper heart that I have wire wrapped with fine silver and sterling silver. I have added a small Ruby bead to it. The stone got a bit scratched while wrapping....and I read later that this stone is very delicate and soft, and can get damaged easily. Next time I'll be more careful. It took me a long time to make this, because the stone and the wires were not in any mood to cooperate with each other. However, I do think it turned out nice. After taking pictures I can see that I need to file the wire ends on the curls more...and I'll do that before listing it on my Artfire store.

YOJ 2012 - Week 4 Fine silver woven trinket box

 

 

 

I had intended this to be a long bottle shape, somewhat like the first one I did, only longer and narrower, with a pointy bottom. You can see the first one here: http://fleurviolettejewelry.blogspot.com/2010/07/message-in-bottle-necklace.html But I had forgotten how I had shaped it, or how I had woven it. So I ended up messing up the shape and the weaving. 

I knew this will not turn into a bottle...and I had to turn it into a lidded box.So I thought it was time to be brave and try the hinge and clasp shown in Mary's trinket box tutorial here: http://theangstyartist.blogspot.com/2010/08/trinket-box-101.html I was quite terrified, but this was going to be no bottle...and if I had to salvage my fine silver, I needed to get brave and try the hinge and clasp. So I did. Thank you Mary for your fantastic tutorial!! I made a lid, and when I started making the lid, I remembered how I had woven the first bottle. So the lid weaving is different from the bottom weaving. 

The hinge alignment is not perfect.The box and the lid don't fit too good.

Many mistakes, but I still love this tiny little shiny box. Just looking at it makes me happy. It has a very happy feeling about it. I will keep doing this till I do it better. Because I love vessels, doors and windows! :-D I don't know why. Maybe because each holds within or beyond it, the promise of something probably fun, exciting, beautiful?

The box is made entirely of fine silver (pure silver). The bead on the clasp is a Ruby. The chain is sterling silver. The clasp is handmade.

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.

A Mary Magdalene Ring

I don't know if Mary Magdalene really existed. And if she did, I don't know how she really was, or how her life was...etc. But I do know I am very intrigued by her! Very! I like the stories about her....things I read, things I hear about her. She is fascinating, an enigma. I was told by a very intuitive friend that Garnets and pearls together signify Mary Magdalene. And recently a lovely woman, who is very intuitive herself, and very close to Mary Magdalene spiritually, asked me to make a Garnet ring for her. I asked her if I could add a tiny pearl, and ask MM to weave her energy and blessings too into the wire weavings. She said yes. And this is the result below. Made of sterling silver, fine silver, garnet, a tiny pearl, and a tiny sterling silver bead.

"Message in a Bottle" necklace

This piece too has been inspired from Mary Tucker's work. The basket weaving here is a bit different. There were about 15 different pieces of thin copper wire going in all the directions of the oval, all together as I formed each coil and shaped the "bottle". I have pictures of work in progress because it looked interesting...but they are in my hubby's iPhone, and he and his iPhone are in India at the moment. When I get hold of those pictures, I will post those too.

I tried making a bottle...a bit like the small perfume bottles (this is a teeny bit more than an inch in height), but it looks like a jar more than a bottle. :-). However, tiny perfume bottles do look like jars. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. LOL! This bottle carries a small scroll of paper, that has a message from a wonderful man for his beautiful beloved. He is away at the moment from her, and they both miss each other a lot. So I thought she could wear a message in his own handwriting near her heart while he was away. I will soon be giving this to her. And I hope she will like it. She usually wears pretty conservative jewelry, so I am hoping this won't be waaaaaay too weird for her. LOL! Anyhow, even if she doesn't wear it, she can keep it with her.

The piece is made with copper wire, and has tiny fresh water pearls on it. It has been LOS-ed to give it a rich antique look and depth. The clasp is hand made too.

14k gold filled wire wrapped bangle bracelet

This is the first time I have made a bangle like this. I have made soldered single bangles before. And strung bracelets. But not this kind. I had actually made these for an order, but they ended up being at least 2 sizes larger than required size. So I put them together and wove them...a weaving style I have learned from Iza Malczyk from one of her earring tutorials. My friend, a gifted wire artist, Mary of The Angsty Artist, has made a silver ring like this. I have been wanting to make a similar ring too, but for now, here is a bangle of that style. The wires are 18gauge 14k gold filled, and 26gauge 14k gold filled. Each individual bangle is soldered. And then they are all woven together. Next time I make this, I will not solder them individually. Instead, I will just coil the 18 gauge wire a few times to desirable width.

My fabulous Pink Topaz, Citrine & Sterling silver pendant!! :-))

Click on the pictures to see them enlarged.

Okay, I know its not very polite to blow your own trumpet. You must let others do that. LOL! But I really really really like this pendant I finished today! :-)))))))))) Took me ages to form and weave this flower. The Citrine is just GLORIOUS! The Pink Topaz looks GREAT! And for once I like the picture I took of my jewelry! LOL!! I guess the trick is in taking it in the highest resolution possible. Ever since I did that, I started liking my pictures. I'm still not sure what kind of chain I should put on it. But for now...that thin delicate chain it is! :-)))

Wooohooooo!!! :-))) I'm happy!!!

A fine silver Viking Knit necklace

I love making these, and still have to finish a thicker fine silver chain and a gold-filled filled chain with end cones and clasps. I love how this turned out, and I love how my clasps are getting better and better! :-) Great to wear by itself or wear it with a fine silver pendant.

Woven bracelet

Oh...I forgot to add this. I had made this before I joined metalsmithing classes...when I was still beginning my work with wire. This is Brass wire and fresh water pearl. Very bad wrapping job...but so what...its a beginning :-).