Bloom Necklace

One of my favorite pieces from my last semester of metal-smithing is this necklace- partly because I am so pleased with how it turned out, but also because it took me four semesters of metal-smithing to complete the project.  I've come so far in my ability to envision a piece of jewelry and then bring it into being. It is  fun to look back at the small steps it took to complete the entire piece.

 My "Bloom" Necklace

I hammered the fold-formed copper piece during my first semester and soldered it to the nickel back at the beginning of my second semester.  Towards the end of that semester I cut out the flowers and soldered them onto the pendant base, but I didn't know what I wanted to do with it next.  It didn't feel complete and I didn't really have a direction or idea.  So I chose to let it simmer rather than push it.

A year later I took my third semester of metal-smithing and one of the first things I did was use letters to punch in the word bloom.  Finally, towards the end of this last (and fourth) semester I added the rivet, the crystals, the leather, the liver-of-sulfur and the chain.

And I am keeping this one.  It has been kind of cool to stretch out the process and see how my abilities slowly increased and allowed me to fully develop an idea.

The "Bloom" Pendant up-close

Collage Glass Marbles Bezeled and Halfway Done!

Remember these guys?

Glass Collage Marbles: 

"Fly", "Dream", and "Once Upon A Time"

Well, I got the chance to work on them again last night, and I'm pleased with how they turned out.  I only have two of them halfway complete, the other one is still in the metals studio on campus. 

Bezeled Collage Marbles:

"Dream", and "Once Upon A Time"

 I love soldering on copper, but the other one needed a silver finish.  Which made it more complicated for me to solder, since I chose to use nickel silver instead of the real thing for the back plating.

I cut and shaped the copper, then cut and filed the silver bezel strips.  I soldered the silver bezels strips into a circle, then soldered the circles onto the copper.  Then I drilled the hole, but I think I'll need to go back and drill the hole a little bigger.  I want to put an eyelet or grommet (a rivet with a hold through it) through the hole to give it a more finished look.  I also intend to attach leather to the back of the copper so that no one has an allergic response to copper.  Besides, I just like the way the leather looks and finishes the pieces.  I have some more sanding and finishing to do, but I am so pleased with the way they turned out.

Bezeled Collage Marbles:

"Dream", and "Once Upon A Time"

After Note:  Anyone else out there hate trying to photograph glass or crystal?  I am terrible at it!  I can see the reflection of the camera in all of the marbles, and I didn't I got the collages as sharp & detailed as I wanted because of the reflective glass.  I know I can only get better with practice, but my results are always so disappointing to me that I don't want to practice...

Saturday Smiles

I found my camera today!!!
It was in the drama bag I took to camp this summer.  Pretty ridiculous!  I can't believe I didn't find it until now.
So, I took some really quick photos of the work I've been doing this semester.
All our final projects are due in a week and a half, and I'm NOT ready for the semester to be over!

These Leaf Pendants are my favorite pieces from this semester.

First I pressed some leaves into the copper to create an impression of the veins.  

Then I cut out the leaves and fold-formed them to give them the texture and curve of a leaf.

Finally, I attached a wire stem.

I had some fun creating copper bangle bracelets.  

I cut the wire, soldered it together, then hammered them all over.

They are fun to wear!  

I'm not sure yet whether I'll leave them as they are or wrap them with fabric, bead, chain or wire.

Probably I'll mix it up and do a bit of all of those.

These are some Word Pendants I created. 

 The top left one is a leaf impression like the Leaf Pendants, except I didn't cut it out.

The other three are fold formed pieces that I soldered onto nickel, 

and then attached onto a leather backing.

I desperately wanted to try my hand at enameling this semester and finally

got the got the courage to try last month.

These are some pendants I made, and I am in the process of creating necklaces from them.

My favorite one is in the top right hand corner.

It's this fabulous mix of blue and lavender, with sparkles of turquoise.

I struggled with the bottom two so much, and they both look horrible in this photo.

The bottom left one doesn't show it's amazing black and green color well in this photo.

Beth calls it my "Galaxy Piece", because it looks like deep space.

And the bottom right one is this amazing dimensional red, 

but I had to re-enamel and re-enamel and re-enamel for it to look good.

Here is one of my wave pendants.  I made three of them- One is at school in the student art show.

Here is another of my wave pendants. I'm not finished with this necklace yet.

One of the things I really like about this piece is that I made the clasp myself.  

Not the most elegant of clasps, but I am pleased with myself.

I want to make more!

Solar Flare Blog Hop

I'm delighted to participate in another Blog Hop! 

The Solar Flare blog hop was based on a different idea than any other hop I've participated in before now.  Our blog hop host, Sam Siegel of Ultimate Supplies, caught a cool image one night-

Then he found out his picture was taken while this was going on:

Solar Flares!

 



Pretty cool, huh?  So he had the great idea to offer a blog hop based on the solar flare images.   Each jewelry designer used these images as the inspiration for their unique jewelry creation.

I liked the idea, and I'm excited to participate.

I am sad that I haven't completed my piece...  Life kind of messed up my project time-line. Getting the part in Charlotte's Web, getting sick, & having both of my girls home sick last week...

However, I've got a pretty good start on it, and expect to have it complete by tomorrow night.  I have finished the wire-work on the focal segment and I wanted to share that today. 

(Don't worry, that's not all I have completed, it is just all that is shareable at this time.)

I am currently twisting the central section using pearls, crystals and stones.  I'll need to use chain in back and attach a clasp.  I'm looking forward to having the whole piece put together by late tomorrow night.

For some more fabulous solar flare inspiration, check out the rest of the blog hop participants.

Gloria Allen
Blog Link:http://innovativedreamsjewelry.blogspot.com

Shawn Marie Mills
Blog Link: http://shawnmariedesignsatbentwire.blogspot.com/

Karin King
Blog Link: http://maverickbeads.blogspot.com/

Alicia Marinache
Blog Link: http://www.allprettythings.ca

Pam "The Crazier Sister Blog:
http://crazycreativecorner.blogspot.com/?m=1

Kelly Hosford Patterson
Blog Link: http://travelingsideshow.blogspot.com/

Delia Marsellos-Traister
Blog Link: www.phoenixmagyk.com

Dana Lang
Blog Link: http://tumblestonehandmakery.blogspot.ca

Mischelle Fanucch
http://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com

Jessica Murray
Blog Link: http://whimsicalweavings.blogspot.com/

Cynthia Abner
Blog Link: http://createdtreasures.blogspot.com/

Charlie Jacka
Blog: http://clay-space.com/blog

Shannon Hicks
Blog Link:http://uptwnsh-fallingintothesky.blogspot.com/

Zoe Marcin
Blog Link: http://beadsteaandsweets.blogspot.com/

Rebecca Sirevaag
Blog Link: http://godsartistinresidence.blogspot.com/   YOU are HERE!

Miranda C. Ackerley
Blog Link: http://mirandack.com

Paula Winchester Hisel
Blog Link: http://simplybeadiful.weebly.com/simply-stated.html

Lynn Jobber/Lo/The Creative Klutz
Blog Link: http://thecreativeklutz.blogspot.co.uk/

Alenka Obid
Blog Link: http://pepita-handmade.blogspot.com/
Thank you, Sam!

Lori's BEAD SOUP BLOG PARTY Reveal

I love Lori's Bead Soup Blog Parties!  They are fabulous.  A party right in your own house, where you can cozy down with hot chocolate and beads. What could be better?  Maybe getting to create something with a wonderful bead soup!

I love the reveal date, too.  I get to show off what I made, and I get to see what other people have made.  And today is the day!

So, just in case you don't remember, here is the faboo soup that my partner, Rose Binoya sent me.

Now, I have to be honest with you.  I loved the soup, but I had absolutely NO idea what I was going to do with that focal.  I've never worked with key-holes, and I am not a bead stitcher.  I was worried and fretful, and really wondered what I was going to do.

I thought and thought and thought, but was completely flummoxed until 2 weeks ago.  I was laying in bed dozing off when suddenly an idea came to me.  Fully formed and with a surprising amount of detail.  Just so you know, dear reader, I do not create that way.  Mostly my creations are as much the process as the end result.  I tend to kind of discover what I'm making as I go along.  I might have a general idea, but I rarely go into projects with them complete & fully formed.  So, I lay there for a couple seconds thinking, "Will I remember this idea in the morning?", and came to the decision that even IF I did, I probably wouldn't remember every little bit.  So I scooted out of bed, came downstairs and drew it.  My drawing leaves MUCH to be desired, but I still want to share the picture.

I sometimes draw a picture of what I'm going to make, but rarely does it end up looking the same.  I am delighted at how much my necklace looks like the picture.  I had a lot of fun putting this piece together, and got to use a lot of different techniques.

I don't have access to the metal-smithing shop during the summer, so I chose to create the heart from polymer clay.  I painted it, and glued the key-hole to it.  Then I used a pre-cut metal shape and stamped the words "Set it free" into it. I went over the letters with my black Sharpie, and used alcohol inks to give it texture.

 

I backed the metal with leather, and then wire-wrapped the birds, the key and the mint crystals from Rose with some green ones I already had.  I am very pleased with this piece.  And I had so much fun making it.  Thank you, Rose!  I would never have made this piece without your soup!

 

Next, I LOVED the beautiful button toggle Rose sent me, and I needed to use it.  I wanted to create a fun bracelet.  My sister had found an explanation of how to create button toggles, but I hadn't yet jumped into making them.  Now that I've seen how cool they are, I want to make some myself.  I used the purple crystals from the soup and paired them with green crystals, stones and a few wood beads.

 

 

I loved this little garden bracelet so much I ended up with another picture of it from a different angle.

 





Then I used those fantastic Lucite flowers and created a pair of wire-work earrings.  These look like some earrings I made over the winter, but I think this new pair is more fun.  I used glass pearls in the ones I made before, but Rose sent me some little tiny Lucite flowers, too.  I layered them with the pearls, and I really like the end result.

 

 

Finally, I only had two of Rose's lovely purple crystals left, and I wanted to make a pair of earrings with them.  I still had the lock and key image running around in my mind, and these reflect Rose's key-hole focal.

 

 

I enjoyed playing with this wonderful soup, and am delighted with how many pieces I was able to create.

 

Thank you, Rose!  You sent me a wonderful soup.

Thank you, Lori!  You throw the best parties.

 

Also, for you, dear reader, I have a give-away!  Yup, freebies!!!

Leave a comment, and next week on Saturday, the 1st of September, my girls will help me select one lucky beader to receive a pair of my hand-painted polymer butterfly charms!

 

 

 

And off you go, to the next reveal!

 

Hostess, Lori Anderson, Pretty Things

Agi Kiss, Moonsafari Beads
Alice Peterson, Alice Dreaming

Alison Sachs, Beads by Earthtones

Amanda Dittloff, Passion Smashin'

Andra Marasteanu, Bijoux de Monanage

Angie Szlovak, SweetBeads

Anitra Gordy, Leelu Creations

Ann Sherwood, Ann's Blog

Arlene Dean, A Glass Bash

Audrey Belanger, Dreams of an Absolution

Barb Solem, Vivi Magoo Presents

Barbara Blaszczyk, laboratorim Flory

Becky Pancake, Becky Pancake Bead Designs
Beth Emery, Stories by Indigo Heart *My sister*

Bianca Odenthal, Zydies Glasperlen

Birgit Klughardt, GitesBeads
Bobbie Rafferty, Beadsong Jewelry
Bonnie Coursolle, Jasper Gems
Cece Cormier, The Beading Yogini
Charlene Jacka, Clay Space
Cherrie Fick, En La Lumie're
Cheryl Foiles, Get Your Bead On
Christie Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry

Christina Miles, Wings n Scales
Christina Stofmeel, Feng Beads
Christine Stonefield, Sweet Girl Design
Cindy Cima Edwards, Live to Design
CJ Bauschka, 4 His Glory Creations
Claire Smith, Embergrass Jewelry
Cynthia Riggs, Cynth's Blog
Dana Fowler, Trunk Full of Treasure
Dawn Pierro, Turtle Moon Designs
Dee Elgie, Cherry Obsidia
Donetta Farrington, Simply Gorgeous

Dot Lewallwn, Speedie Beadie
Eileen Snyder, Dorset Hill Beads
Elizabeth Bunn, Elizabeth Beads
Eva Kovacs, Ewa gyongyos vilaga!
Evelyn Duberry, Sheba Makeda
Fay Wolfenden, Torch Fairy
Fen Li, Bead Flora Jewels
Gail Zwang, Angel Moose Enterprises
Geneva Collins, Torque Story
Grace Dorsey, Fan of the Flame
Gretchen Nation, Art Food Lodging

Hannah Annear, Squintessential
Hajer Waheed, My Beaded World
Heather Goldsmith, As I Bead It
Heather Otto, The Craft Hopper
Heidi Kingman, My Bead Therapy
Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope
Isolina Perez, Isolina Perez
Jacqueline Keller, CreARTelier
Jane Haag, Did You Make Something Today?
Janeen Sorensen, Wild Vanilla Designs
Jean Peter, Jean P. Designs

Jennifer Judd, Jen Judd Rocks
Jennifer L Justman, Soul's Fire Designs
Joanna Matuszczyk, Bizuteria z filcu
Joanne Brown, Jo's Jewels
Joanne Lockwood, Jo Bunkum
Joyce Becker, Joyce's Joyful Gems
Judy Riley, Three Red Beads
Karen Mitchell, Over the Moon Design
Karen Williams, Baublicious
Karin von Hoeren, Creative Ideen

Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams
Kashmira Patel, Sadafule .. always in bloom!
Kate Richbourg, We Can Make That at Home

Katrin Lembke, AllesPerle
Kathy Combs, Torched in Texas
Kathy Lindemer, Bay Moon Design
Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreationz
Kelley Fogle, My Life, One Bead at at Time
Kelly Hosford Patterson, Traveling Side Show

Klaudette Koon, Only Road
Lara Lutrick, Lampwork Beads by Lara
Laura Guenther, Blue Antiquities

Laurie Lalonde, Simply Mod Jewelry
Lilik Kristiani, Soul of My Embodiment
Linda Younkman, Lindy's Designs
Lisa Chapman, Beach Cat Beads
Lisa Lodge, Pine Ridge Treasures
Loretta Carstensen, Designs by Loretta
Lori Bergmann, Lori Bergmann Design
Lori Dorrington, Lori's Adventures in Etsy Land
Lupe Meter, Gem's PC Corner
Lynn Davis, LLYYNN

Malin de Koning, Beading by Malin
Mandi Effron, Craft-o-licious
Mandy Williamson, Mimi's Beading
Margot Potter, The Impatient Crafter
Maria Rosa Sharrow, Willow Street Shops
Marianne Baxter, Simply Seablime Jewelry
Marina Dobrynina, Savon Feutre
Marjolein Trewavas, Room for Change
Marelene Cupo, Amazing Designs
Marsha Neal, Marsha Neal Studio

Marta Kaczerowska, uhuhu
Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs
Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes
Menka Gupta, Menka's Jewelry Blog
Michelle Burnett, Reverie and Revival
Michelle Escano-Caballero, The Cabby Crafter
Miko Wiropati, Uniquely Yunikua
Milla Hope, LB Creative Arts and Crafts
Mimi Gardner, Other Curiosities
Miranda Ackerley, MirandackArts
Natalie McKenna, grubbi

Noemi Baena, fuego, metal, y color
Pam Ferrari, Ferrari Originals
Pam Sears, Crazy Creative Corner
Penny Neville, Copper Penny
Rachel Baron, R. Baron Designs
Rachel Myers, Rockabead Jewelry
Rana Wilson, Definitive Designs by R. Wilson
Rebecca Anderson, Song Beads
Rebecca Sirevaag, Becca's Place *YOU are HERE*
Riki Schumacher, Riki Jewelry

Rose Binoya, Ahtee's Blog *My Bead Swap Partner*
Rossana De Gaspari, Rdegas Blog

Sandi James, Do Be Do Bead Do
Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe
Sandra Wollberg, City of Brass Stories
Sarah Goode, Pookledo

Sarah Small, blog by salla
Shai Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings
Shawn Mills, Shawn Marie Designs with Bent Wire
Sheila Davis, Stone Designs by Sheila
Sheryl Stephens, Babble Bead
Shiraz Biggie, Secret Song Designs


Solange Collin, Ahowin Handcrafted Jewelry
Sonya Stille, Dreamin' of Beads
Stephanie Dixon, The Dixon Chick
Susan Kennedy, Sue Beads
Susan Sheehan, Strands of Thought
Suzann Sladcik Wilson, Beadphoria
Sweet Freedom, Sweet Freedom Designs
Tabatha Dinger, Modernly Created
Tania Hagen, Pelima Jewellery Design

Tanya Boden, Fusion Muse
Terri Gauthier, Blooming Ideas
Terry Carter, Tapping Flamingo
Tracy Stillman, Tracy Stillman Designs

 



Friday is My Fun Day!- Leafy Bronze Bracelets

I am delighted to show these bracelets off!
They were fun to make...

First and most importantly, I chose metal that had already been worked with and aged. Each of these pieces had been worked with and then discarded. I loved the texture and images already embedded in the metal.





Then I heated the copper to make it malleable. I chose leaves and ran the metal and the leaves through the rolling mill.
(A rolling mill is the tool I covet the most from our shop. Yes, I want a torch, but I WANT a rolling mill in a really bad way. The cheapest good one I've found was around $500. It's gonna be a while before I have one...)



Next, I soaked the pieces in liver of sulphur to age and darken the leaf impressions.
After the liver of sulphur bath, I sanded the surface to lighten the raised metal.






Then I drilled holes on the sides. After speaking to an artist on Etsy I used clear finger-nail polish to coat the backs of the bracelets. Copper has a tendency to turn skin green when worn repeatedly, but the clear nail polish will prevent the copper from touching skin.






Finally, I took them home and beaded them, which was a blast! I wanted a heavy, rich appearance so I mixed chain in with vibrant glass beads and luscious stones.








I created the green bracelet specifically for me, but the red and blue one are both for sale!


Take a peak down at Farmer's Market on College Rd. in Fairbanks or on Etsy.