Rings & Things Blogger Challenge -

I finally got some time to myself and sat down to play :)

I had this fun elastic bracelet of onyx and quartz with a honkin' jasper focal. The bracelet is too tight and I thought I would re string it so I would wear it more. After I had popped it, the thought process began. I began to build a new bracelet using the filigree I had received from Rings & Things. The bracelet turned into a necklace. I couldn't stop adding things!

From the items I received from Rings & Things, here is what I used.

*44-165-9 - Fancy space - gunmetal - filigree

*44-150-9 - Filigree harvest - gunmetal

I was concerned about the gunmetal coating on the filigree that it may flake off. I was very impressed in the production of these items. They held up very well and I didn't nick the finish at all.

*28-000-002-021 - 8mm faceted roundelle - black

*28-000-001-021 - 10mm faceted puffed coin -black

I like these little beads. They have some heft to them, it gives them a bit of a crystal feel. I don't feel like I will break or chip them when working with them.

I used symmetry for a change in this piece. I wanted the design to balance out the pattern of the focal. The pattern on the focal, looks like someone playing the piano, can you see it? They are bent over concentrating on the piece, playing away. In my head it is a loud crashing song, music that would portray a summer thunder storm.


Here is a close up of the filigree




I love the three strands of sterling that close out the design. You can see the music flowing thru the piece. The filigree is the swell of the music, the thunder and the lightening, softening back down to the faceted chinese glass, the rain. It swells one last time on the second filigree, the last clap of thunder and then lightly travels out the shiney strands of sterling chain. The clouds break, the sun shines thru and the rain slowly stops.


My designs are so much more to me than beads on a string, what do yours mean to you?



*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Rings & Things were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Blog Partner Program. These items are for review or design purposes. Find out more about the Rings & Things Blog Partner Program

Rings & Things Blogger Packet

I got my December blogger packet from Rings & Things. Was some fun stuff!!




*20-565 -White bamboo coral - short branch, valued at: $2.00, 16" strand
*44-940-52-AG - Antiqued gold plated TierraCast swallow, valued at: $9.75/10
*49-940-05-4 - Gold plated TierraCast connector frame, valued at: $16.30/10

*44-165-9 - Fancy space - gunmetal - filigree, valued at: $5.25/12
*44-150-9 - Filigree harvest - gunmetal, valued at: $3.65/12

A mix of -
*28-399-06-232 - 5) 6mm faceted round - ruby, valued at: $2.00, 16" strand
*28-000-001-252 - 4) 10mm faceted puffed coin - red, valued at: $8.00, 16" strand
*28-000-003-252 - 6) 8mm faceted helix -siam, valued at: $8.00, 16" strand
*28-000-002-252 - 5) 8mm facted roundelle - siam, valued at: $8.00, 16" strand
*28-000-002-021 - 11) 8mm facted roundelle - black, valued at: $8.00, 16" strand

*28-000-003-021 - 3) 8mm facted helix - black, valued at: $8.00, 16" strand
*28-000-001-021 - 3) 10mm faceted puffed coin -black, valued at: $8.00, 16" strand

Fun hearts - pre order exclusive!!!
*28-335-13 - 16x20mm 'love' heart, red/white, valued at: $13.50, 16" strand
*28-335-12-02 - 2) 16x20mm 'dotted' heart, pink/white/blue, valued at: $13.50, 16" strand
*28-335-11-02 - 2) 16x20mm 'crisscross' heart, pink/white/blue, valued at $13.50, 16" strand

Not listed on the site but similar to the pre order exclusives: (you saw them here first!!!)
* 1 white/red 'hot' heart, similar to this one

The items in this packet were not labeled. I had a blast searching Rings & Things site and looking for all the information to pass along to you. Rings & Things is defiantly on track for the upcoming celebration holiday of valentines day with these beauties. So cute and so many ideas going thru my head.

I will combine some for sure, but I may use some individually with my existing inventory. The heart beads would be great on leather for that tween look, classic earrings with the filigree and glass, coral and heart beads for a multi strand bracelet and that is just a start!

What would you make with all these great goodies?!!?!


*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Rings & Things were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Blog Partner Program. These items are for review or design purposes. Find out more about the Rings & Things Blog Partner Program

Filigree Earring How To

This is a quick and easy fun little earring how to. These have an almost victorian look to them.

What you will need.

2 - Filigree, Angel Wings (Antiqued Copper Plated) - Rings & Things
24 - Head Pin, 1.5", Thin (Antiqued Brass Plated) - Rings & Things
2 - Eye Pin, 1.5", Thin (Antiqued Brass) - Rings & Things
6 - Jump Ring, Round, 5mm (Antiqued Brass Plated) - Rings & Things
24 - 3x5 faceted citrine roundells - Sedona Stones
2- Antique Brass-Plated Plain Earwire - ArtBeads



Put 22 of the citrine roundells on the head pins and make a basic loop at the top of each bead. Trim the tails.



Slightly open the loop and add the 'charms' to the filigree - I have made a chart to show you where they go.



Now turn the filigree over and attach a jump ring to each of the points.



Connect the two jump rings with one more jump ring



Slide one of the remaining roundells onto the eye pin and create a wire wrapped loop at the top of the bead.



Trim the tail. Pry the eye pin loop apart slightly and attach it to the topmost jump ring on the filligree.



Add your earring wire and there you have it kids!!

Simple Treasures

Bookmark - Fail! - Rethink, Redo, Redeemed!

Some more fun with filigree - use it as a focal on a bookmark. Bookmarks are a great expansion to any line. They are a unisex gift, that way you are not limiting your customer base. :)

This is a quick project, great for last minute ideas. It took about 30 minutes to finish - including failure, rethink and redo.....

Here's what I used -



Black cording (mebbe from JoAnn's, mebbe from Michales)
Copper wire 46-702-11 (Rings & Things)
Copper jump rings -37-136-7 (Rings & Things)
Filigree Lantern - 44-149-7 (Rings & Things)
Filigree spacer beads -24-104-6 (Rings & Things)
Carnelian, black banded agate, tiger eye, lampwork (Sedona Stones)
10/1 seed beads (Michaels)




Cut the cord to about 10 inches and 2 pieces of the copper wire at about 2 1/4"



Create a wire coil with the 2 pieces of copper wire. This is what you will use to connect the adornments to the cord.




here are your coils. These coils are very ver-sah-tile. They can be used in so many different jewelry projects. They are great for adding a clasp to a necklace or bracelet made from leather. Even if you are using sterling for your coil, you can't beat the price when making them yourself, as opposed to buying them.




Now you want to thread the coil onto the cord. Like putting nut onto a bolt - that same action. Ok, you need to thread the coil.....*fray* .....Hrm.......*think* *think* *snap*

Wet the end of the cord and thread the coil......*fray*....Hrm.......*think* *think* *snap*

Use a lighter (Thus the tweet for a lighter, it was a frantic search.....FRANTIC) and heat the ends to melt them to prevent a fray -

Ok, you need to th.......*fray* UGH!!!!!!! .....Hrm......*think* * think* *snap*

Place the cord along the tine of your chain nose pliers. Now wrap the wire around the tine and the cord to creat...............*fray* SERIOUSLY!!!! AREYOU KIDDING ME!!!!........Hrm.......*snap****

RETHINK!!!!



I have some waxed linen cord - approx 1.5mm. I have had it for years and use it for braided chokers and bracelets. I cut three 12 inch pieces because I am going to braid them to make it thicker and more stout. The braiding process will shorten the finished lenghts, and I want to keep it close to 10".




Now I have the braided cord for the body of the bookmark.


REDO!!!!


Thread the copper coil onto (SUCCESS!!!) the end of the braided cord and pinch the end onto the cord to hold it firm.





Pull the last loop out to a right angle. That last loop will be the connector for the copper coil - Neat!



Use a jump ring to connect the filigree to the book mark. The jump ring is not required, you can connect it directly to the coil, but using the jump ring will allow it to swing free, and gives it more movment.







Cut a 2 inch piece of copper wire and create a head pin. Bend the end of the wire back onto itself and crimp it with your pliers to create the base of the head pin to secure the bead to the pin.







Here I slid the bead onto the headpin and then the filigree, so the loop of the wrap would connect the bead and the filigree. This end of the book mark is done!




This same technique will be used to create the dangle for the other side of the book mark. I started from the bottom up. Created a head pin as before, and added the tiger eye and made a wrapped loop. I continued the wire wrapped chain adding different beads to each link for a total of 5 links.




Again, bend the last coil of the copper spiral used to on the other end to create a connector. Attach the wire wraped adornment via jump ring to the coil and you have......

REDEMTION!!!!

Finished product.

Mix and match fun

I used my gift cert from Bead Trends at Firemountain Gems last week. I am all about the random packages now.

Bulk buys - sellers choice. It is so much fun, and it pushes me outside of my comfort zone to create from these.

While going thru the bulk section I found these -




random bag of filigree and findings - I CAN'T WAIT TO PLAY!