Packed full of crystals - Wire wrapped cuff

I made this over the weekend during my down time at the market. I will admit, I am in love with the free form wire wrapped cuffs. The designs are limitless.




This one is uber random and packed. It is so busy, you can look at it for hours.



I have this love affair with copper to the point, I believe I could walk away from sliver all together and not look back. I have so many ideas in my head for more of these cuffs. Colors, themes, simple and extreme, I could just make these exclusively. Hrm...should I use the wire wrapped cuffs and pendants as my calling card? Should I market these items more and use the other pieces as filler? Would I be limiting myself as an artist to focus on one design, or would I be challenging myself to better the design?

So many questions.....

Random fun - wire wrapped cuff

Had some fun working on a new wire cuff design. Instead of 'trying' to have a bit of a theme or color scheme - I just used random beads. Another great idea of what to do with your 'left overs'


















Here is a close up
















It fits nice and snug and literally goes with everything :) Is fun to look at because I can see left over beads from various pieces I have worked on. Is like a fun memory bracelet of projects past.

More with these copper pendants!

First things first! The winner for Aprils giveaway is Destiny!!! I can't wait to put our heads together and see what we create!!! Congrats!!

Thanks everyone for playing. It was so much fun. I will do something again next month - stay tuned!!!!

I can't stop! I am so hooked!!

I wanted a real different design that would allow the black stripe in the green garnet to be showcased. I wanted it to keep the eye busy, but keep you coming back to that stripe. It is like a road map or a ride at an amusement park, I can't decide.



Materials used:
14 ga copper wire
Green garnet bead
Rhodinite
Dyed quartz
Rose quartz
Turquoise
Czech glass

More pendants

I took supplies to work yesterday to beat the boredom. It is one of those boredom's that I don't want to do anything. I can't read a book, I don't want to look at the internet anymore, have no desire to play any games, just staring into space.

I am going to be creative damnit if it is the last thing I do!!!!

I took my bowl of bead soup, 4 gauges of wire, (bought 4 spools from Rings & Things, best purchase to date!) a few crystals and my tools. Now wouldn't ya know - I was busy yesterday!!!! Towards the last of my shift things started to slow down, so I put on my headphones and some good music and set out to create.

Remember those crystals I got on vacation? I wrapped one in copper and added amazonite, agate, aventurine and crystals for this success and luck pendant.






Then I used some red brass to frame a green garnet and wrapped it with copper wire and garnets with a fire polished red Czech crystal - Garnets are all about love




Time flew and my work day was over by the time I finished the garnet pendant. Now I have a three day weekend, with beautiful weather! Have a great weekend ya'all!

Blue Note - Shell pearl pendant - Rings & Things Blogger Challenge

More blogger fun with my shell pearl mix from Rings & Things.

I need to just embrace the fact that I like to create necklaces and pendants and stop trying to carry a full line. It would be fun to partner up with a couple of others who love to make just earrings or bracelets. Could start a fun little co op of sorts :)

I really didn't know where I was going with this design. I just let it happen. It reminds me of a treble cleff on sheet music. Maybe I was directed this way because I was listening to Big Twist and the Mellow Fellows while I was working....




Here are some of the components I used:
29-555-10-905 Bead, Shell Pearl, Round, 10mm (Blue Mix) *
29-555-16-905 Bead, Shell Pearl, Round, 16mm (Blue Mix) *
28-000-007-443 Bead, Glass, Faceted Round, 10mm (Electric Blue) *
47-402-SP 14 ga copper wire
47-406-SP 22 ga copper wire
swarovski crystals
garnet
opalite
coral

What do you listen to when you work?

*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

Shell pearl pendant design - Rings & Things blogger challenge

It came about more or less like a flash in my brain. I was curled up in my recliner watching a terrible movie, rolled over and thought I would take a nap before work (having a hard time getting going this morning) As SOON as I closed my eyes this image flashed. My eyes shot open, I leapt from my chair and dashed to my work table.

I bent the 14 ga wire around the shell pearl just to get a rough 'fit' and then hammered the copper wire to strengthen it and to texture it so the 22 ga wire when wrapped would 'bite'.

I started at the top and made a few wraps and added a pearl. These little fresh water pearls are not perfect. I embraced that in the design and didn't make the wraps perfect either.

Now, there is the dilemma of the long pearl. It is not drilled. What am I going to do with it? There was a slight divot in the middle of the pearl, perfect to hold the wire for a wrap and not allow the pearl to slide thru. I went with it :)





Here is what I used:
29-555-10-901 Bead, Shell Pearl, Round, 10mm (Brown Mix) *
29-555-16-901 Bead, Shell Pearl, Round, 16mm (Brown Mix)*
Random freshwater pearls *
47-402-SP 14 ga copper wire
47-406-SP 22 ga copper wire
swarovski crystals


Slid it on a long piece of leather, threw it on with a black sweater and out the door I went. I had some fun this morning (so much fun I was late for work) making this pendant. Thanks Dave and Thanks Rings & Things!!!

What did you create today?!?!

*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

Queen of Hearts Furnace Glass earrings - ArtBeads Blogging Group

Still playing with the Queen of Hearts furnace beads* from Art Beads.

This was all done free form. I made the curl at the bottom then hammered the curl for texture and strength. Then I slid on the furnace bead, a sterling spacer and a crystal, and made my wire wrapped loop at the top. The left over tail, I bent around my finger brought it down the side, pinched it on the bottom and brought it back up the other side, bent around my finger and then used the end to wrap around the top.

I did more shaping with my fingers and tools to make it look like a heart. I wasn't going for perfection here. I wanted it to have a free flow look. Once I had it shaped the way I wanted, I hammered it to give it more strength and then added the ear wires. I was amazed at how light they were.





Then I noticed. I forgot to add the crystal to the second earring!!!! They don't match!

Now wouldn't you know it, that the ONLY time my husband has complimented me on my earrings, it is a pair that don't match!! You heard me - I wore them out anyways! I wore them out to dinner. I laft when he told me he really liked them and explained to him they don't match. He sed, That's ok, I can only see one side of your head at a time anyways!!!



These beads and more can be found at ArtBeads.com, and while you are browsing, Don't forget -

Artbeads' 10th Anniversary Sweeps

Sweepstakes Starts January 06, 2010 @ 09:00 am (PST)

Sweepstakes Ends March 04, 2010 @ 11:59 pm (PST)

Good luck and happy shopping!!


*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Art Beads were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Blogging for Beaders Program. These items are for review or design purposes. Posted by JustATish at 6:25 AM