Multi stone, multi layer copper necklace

I love the multi layer necklaces!

These are fun to do, especially when you have scraps of chain, or just a few beads.

Don't let the metals/colors of the chains scare you either! Mix and match your silvers, coppers, brasses and golds! Start your own trend!

I used jump rings to connect the wire wrapped links to the closed big copper rings. Gave the design more flow and the wire wrapped layer didn't seem to 'kink' up as much.

Now to snuggle into a nice sweater and display this right on top!

Jo's Got Game

While Leigh was home for a visit - we had fun sitting around the table crafting. She has some mad skills at putting a design together. She pushed the beads around the table for a bit, til she got it just the way she wanted it, then told me - "Make this for me Mom"

So I did :)




In return, she made me these earrings :)


I think she has a future :)

Free form free for all - wire wrap bracelet

I am so excited about this, I nearly wet my pants!

Heather at Beadin Path posted a link on twitter a while back about some fun classes they are going to be doing. One of them was for this awesome wire wrapped cuff. I wanted to go sooooo bad....ROAD TRIP!


I covet this bracelet and the mad skills to be able to create it and the wondrous vision that inspired this piece.

I had previously purchased some wire from Rings & Things, and didn't know exactly what I was going to make with it. Some great 14 ga red brass wire, and several spools of copper wire, varying in gauge. Now I knew :) I wasn't for sure how to begin this project. I don't have a bracelet mandrel, wasn't sure how to shape it, but I dove in anyway. I dug thru my beads and picked a color scheme and laid out a pattern on the table. I wanted to work with the blues but I wanted to add a bit of something, something that would 'pop'. I still had one of the criss cross lampwork hearts* from Rings & Things' blogger challenge and it fit perfectly!

Made a simple curl on the ends of the wire and wrapped the two pieces together with 22 ga copper wire. Ran the wrap up the wire and began to incorporate beads. The brass wire is easy to coax around beads to give it a more free form, oh lets say "organic" look.


Wrapping the copper wire around brass wire gives stability to the cuff, a contrast in color, and allows you to weave several different shapes and sizes of beads into the design. The copper wire almost had a mind of it's own while I was wrapping it. I let the wire go where it wanted to, and added beads accordingly.



I am really happy with this wire. It is stout enuff to hold a design, and malleable enuff where it doesn't hurt my hands to work with it. I eye balled the lengths of wire to make the cuff, based on my own wrist size. Not good in hind sight, there has to be a way to measure it better. Will work on it.



It's not perfect yet, it is a bit short and doesn't sit on my wrist like I want it to, but it was so much fun to make, I can't wait to start another one!


*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

Everything but the kitchen sink - multistone necklace

You know that cliche, "everything but the kitchen sink" meaning everything that you can think of, but with no rhyme or reason. That was the study in this piece.

I have a box of bead odds and ends. They are left overs from a project that were not put back into the proper baggie or separated out after being swept into a pile during a whirlwind attempt at cleaning.

I love this look, and it is a great activity to jump start your creativity. Grab a handful of beads and arrange them either on the table or by stringing them. You will be amazed at how fast those wheels start to turn and the ideas start to roll out. It may be just the ticket you need if you are looking to expand your jewelry lines. If you always use the same pattern, if you always are symmetrical, if you are afraid to try new looks because you are in a comfort zone. Try it, see where it takes you. I would love to see your designs.

This is truly a random design that is brought together by the repetition of three seed beads between each bead.








I love the random