Silversmithing Class Review

Hi folks, I know it's been a while.  The holiday season is always packed- I haven't even addressed my Christmas cards yet!  But I wanted to take a quick minute to talk about a 2 day silversmithing class I took at Bead It! Kailua.  They brought in a "guest" instructor from the Mainland, which was a real treat since more or less everyone in Hawaii learns their skills and techniques from one of two primary bead stores.  So anyway, his style was totally different than what you typically find among the local artisan jewelers, and therefore, interesting enough for me to take a couple of days off of work.

I wasn't really sure what to expect.  This is the most expensive class I've taken thus far.  (Maybe that's why I was the youngest student in the class?  Might also have to do with the fact that the instructor's style is a native American style, which tends to be bigger and very ornate compared to the "local" jewelry styles.)  When I looked around and all the other students were my mother's age, I thought maybe I was in the wrong place.  But I have to tell you, now that I've completed the class, I think that it was a GREAT deal to get that much instruction and information.


Some of the students had no previous experience, others had taken several classes.  One lady used to carve stones, which I thought was really cool.  I have some experience soldering and fusing, but only on very small projects like toe rings and making my own simple charms and links.  Here are some photos of what I learned... after two days (17 hours total) of instruction:

We learned how to make a bezel, rope, silver balls, and how to solder all of that (and sterling charms) without losing definition or detail.  Then we learned how to set cabochons and also how to use a dremel to trim and polish.  (Obviously, the crystal flatback is NOT an element normally found in a Native American motif, but I couldn't resist adding a touch of bling!)

David, the instructor, had his hands full with all of us constantly asking questions, but he answered all of them while making sure we didn't burn ourselves, each other, or Bead It! down to the ground.  There is a lot of science and math behind silversmithing.  Not to mention, there are many ways to approach a project.  Everyone figures out what works for them.  Not everyone is good at teaching those techniques to others.   There were actually 3 classes scheduled, more or less back to back.  I cannot believe this guy travels as far as he does, spends 8-10 hours a day setting up, teaching, and cleaning up, and doesn't fall over from exhaustion.  I worked my butt off to make this ONE piece and I was so tired!

We all had a LOT of supervision but also the opportunity to practice different techniques multiple times.  I am confident that I can continue to do this type of work on my own!  Not bad after just 2 days, right?

Of course, that doesn't mean my first attempt was perfect by any stretch of the imagination.  I kind of mangled the back on this one with the dremel when I was supposed to be grinding down the excess silver on the back side...  This is what happens when you are in a rush- I had to wait for a tool and was rushing to catch up with everyone else, then I accidentally skipped the dremel across the back. Fortunately, the texture hides most of it.  I love that multi-face texturing hammer... One of the best things about a class like this is trying out all the other tools without having to buy them first!  The hardest part is not buying EVERYTHING.  You could easily drop a couple thousand dollars on tools, but you don't need to.  I didn't get the texturing hammer but I did get a really cool lazy susan soldering board and upgraded to a larger torch, which can also be used to make bangles.

We also had a chance to make some earrings.  I couldn't decide whether or not to make these into links or rings instead, so I set and polished the stones, and left the wires unfinished for the time being.

Let me tell you, I sure did develop an appreciation for the work that goes into these pieces, even if it's not my typical style!!!  The techniques I learned will definitely help me make things that ARE my style!  Oh, and I would definitely wear this, in case you were wondering.

And if you're interested in finding a session near you, here's the website:  http://silversmithingclass.com/

Please visit our Etsy store for all kinds of upcycled accessories and jewelry, created in Hawaii!

Beach Combing, Sea Glass, and Wire Wrapping

My mom and grandma (her mom) went beach combing for me a couple of weeks ago, and came back with almost a gallon of beach glass. I guess it helps to know where to go because there is NOWHERE on Oahu where you could pick up this kind of glass in only half an hour.  (Yes, the colors really are that bright, but they did sort the glass by color.)

Here are some of the larger pieces my son found.  Too large for jewelry but supercool for collectors.

Naturally, I had to make SOMETHING out of the beach glass... (you seem shocked!)  Rather than mess with drilling holes in the glass (many of these pieces are VERY thick and old), I decided to make some simple pendants... some are wire-wrapped, and others have a glued on bail.  Each is truly one of a kind and quite beautiful, don't you think?  Just goes to show you that one man's trash is a crafty woman's treasure!

Please visit our Etsy store for all kinds of upcycled accessories and jewelry, created in Hawaii!

Some Cute Christmas Tree Earrings...

Ok, now that the turkey is put away, it's time to get your Christmas on!!!

Here's a classic little design that makes a great stocking stuffer or co-worker gift.

Make it easy on yourself- don't you have enough to do already?

 

Please visit our Etsy store for all kinds of upcycled accessories and jewelry, created in Hawaii!

Nice Girl Notes Cute Stuff Sale: PREVIEW

So, what all is up for sale on today's Nice Girl Notes Cute Stuff Sale?  You'll have like her on Facebook to get the special prices, though.  Trust me, it'll be worth your time- there are all sorts of cool things from hair clippies to sweets, scarves, gloves, kid's organizers, and all sorts of handmade goodness up for grabs!

Gray double wrap bracelet by Simply Leilani.  Original price, $20.25.

"Love" Resin Necklace by Simply Leilani.  Original price, $18.  

"Blue Starfish" Resin Necklace by Simply Leilani.  Original price, $18.25. 

"Koi" Resin Necklace by Simply Leilani.  Original price, $18.

Purple triple wrap bracelet by Simply Leilani.  Original price, $25.25

Lilac Kumihimo & Bali Silver bracelet by Simply Leilani.  Original price, $78.  

TWO PAIRS Snowman Earrings by Simply Leilani.  Original price, $21.

TWO PAIRS Angel Earrings by Simply Leilani.  Original price, $21.

Large Puffy Heart Wine Stem Charms by Simply Leilani.  Original price, $18.

Medium Heart Wine Stem Charms by Simply Leilani.  Original price, $18.

 

Please visit our Etsy store for all kinds of upcycled accessories and jewelry, created in Hawaii!

Cool Etsy App: Etsync

You might have noticed the nifty little signature block on the bottom of my blog posts... The code is generated by a nifty little website called Etsync.com and it is so easy to use!  You can pick a couple different layouts that will either display your profile pic, shop banner, or a listing from your shop.  Plug in your shop name, click the size you want, and Voila!

How cool is that???


Please visit our Etsy store for all kinds of upcycled accessories and jewelry, created in Hawaii!

Precious Metal Pricing and Keeping Jewelry Costs Down

The price of precious metals is just crazy these days.  When I look through my stash of supplies it amazes me to see prices have nearly doubled in the handful of years that I've been beading.  Unfortunately that means the price of the finished pieces has to go up as well.  So how do you deal with that as a microbusiness?

One thing I've noticed is that a lot of other shops on Etsy love base metals- copper, brass, etc... there is a lot you can do with them because they are softer and very economical.  Not to mention, the mixed metal look is really cool.  But personally, I am not too into the clunky look.  I like dainty and understated- stuff I can wear to work without looking like a gypsy or a Twilight-fanatic.  Still, these are fun to make and they sure do take well to metal stamping.

Another thing I did was experiment with using natural and upcycled or recycled components.   Finding glass, shells and sand on the beach is free and in Hawaii, you can take small amounts considered "personal" use amounts.  I never take a living creature from the ocean and limit the rest of what I take to a handful or so.  That works well for casual pieces, but shells are particularly challenging to work with because the tiny ones are so delicate.  The larger ones are hard to find in good shape.  So I would be able to offer fewer items and increase the markup.   No bueno- well, not in and of itself, anyway.

The third thing I tried to do was focus on making simpler, more classic pieces that will last more than one season.  This is pretty easy for me since I like delicate, dainty, understated jewelry.  If there are multiple colors, there is a pattern.  Maybe it's my inner nerd.  Kumihimo bracelets are especially satisfying in that way- you have to string ALL the beads first, then weave them, so it's a challenge to figure out which colors should go on which cord to get the desired effect.  While I guess one could argue that a bracelet made of 300 Swarovski crystals is not understated or subtle, I sure do get a lot of compliments on them.

Finally, every crafter has that bag of unfinished projects.  I went in and started sorting them out- pieces to finish, pieces to "frog" (cut apart), pieces to give away, pieces to throw away.  I was able to salvage probably a couple hundred dollars worth of supplies and merchandise by taking one rainy Sunday afternoon to do nothing but deconstruct and organize.  Not to mention, upon organizing my supplies, I now have a much better idea of what to buy and what not to reorder.  For example, I found three times as many 1" sterling headpins as I thought I had.  The following weekend, I organized supplies by types of projects so I can sit and crank them out without rummaging through the rest of the stuff I just put away neatly and wrecking all that hard work.

So if you're like me and trying to do more with less, here it is in a nutshell:

• Look for alternative materials to work with that are cheaper to purchase
• Use found or recycled items 
• Create simple, clean designs that will last more than one season
• Use what you already have

Hope that helps!  

Please visit our Etsy store for all kinds of upcycled accessories and jewelry, created in Hawaii!

Don't forget- Homefront Team Sale today!

Don't forget to bop on over to the Homefront Team page on Facebook today from 2-5pm Hawaii time, 7-10pm Eastern Time for the Homefront Team sale!  I hear there are over 80 different items to be listed at some spectacular discounts!!!   The page admins will be posting photos to the team page so you have to "like" the page in order to see the items.  It's a whole bunch of fun, so don't miss out!

Changing the subject, here's the bracelet I made at Bead It! Kailua yesterday... took their intro to soldering class... the instructor was FABULOUS!  Very knowledgeable and clearly someone who enjoys what they do- create jewelry and teach others how to do the same...

Please visit our Etsy store for all kinds of upcycled accessories and jewelry, created in Hawaii!

New Earrings - Charoite and Fire Agate

Some time ago, I picked up a couple of strands of stones I hadn't heard of before...  I love the vibrant colors and natural variations the stones.

The first is Russian charoite.


Charoite is a rare and beautiful stone with dark and light striations, found only the Chary River in Siberia... Charoite is actually quite hard to come by because it is only found in that one location, and also due to Russian export laws, so when I had the chance to purchase an entire strand, I snapped it right up.  Russian Charoite has a hardness rating of 5-6 on the Mohs' scale, and will actually glow slightly under black lighting.

No two stones are ever alike, due to the swirling patterns and natural inclusions (which can be black, green, or orange). It is said to open the crown chakra, amplifying the connection between the head and the heart, allowing us to accept logically the things we need to let go of and the things we need to bring into our lives, making the transition easier on every level.

The other stone I've been playing with is fire agate.

Fire Agate is most frequently found in the Southwestern US and Mexico. (I was told these were mined in Arizona.) It has a hardness rating of 7 on the Mohs' scale, and is quite hard. No two stones are ever alike, some with crackling patterns, some with a bubbly look, many with both.

Fire Agate can vary in color from clear to dark brown, with layers of the iron oxide minerals limonite or goethite that create iridescence. This strand doesn't have a lot of iridescence, but it does have a beautiful, rich color, and lots of the characteristic bubbly/crackle that makes these stones so desirable.

Please visit our Etsy store for all kinds of upcycled accessories and jewelry, created in Hawaii!

Gemstone setting - Garnet Earrings

One of the things I've wanted to learn is how to set gemstones. It's a little tricky, but not too terribly difficult as long as you match the proper sized setting to the stone. Here's a pair of garnet earrings on sterling posts... the stones are 8mm rounds and a bit larger than I expected, but I think they'll make a great staple piece. I didn't care much for post earrings when I was younger, but these days, I'm leaning back toward simpler shapes and designs.

What are your favorite earrings? Post, dangle? Simple hoops? Chandelier?

Please visit our Etsy store for all kinds of upcycled accessories and jewelry, created in Hawaii!

Pantone Fall 2011 Colors

Artbeads recently posted the Pantone Fall 2011 Colors.

Here is Artbeads recommended Swarovski tones based on the Pantone forecast:

Bamboo -warm yellow with green undertone — Try Swarovski’s Light Topaz

Emberglow -emanates a warm, glowing fire –Try Swarovski’s Padparadscha

Honeysuckle -Continuity from Spring — Try Swarovski’s Indian Pink

Phlox -deep purple color — Try Swarovski’s Amethyst

Cedar -mid-tone neutral green — Try Swarovski’s Olivine

Deep Teal -blue-toned green — Try Swarovski’s Blue Zircon

Coffee Liqueùr-rich brown/alternative to black — Try Swarovski’s Mocca

Nougat -camel tan — Try Swarovski’s Smoky Quartz

Orchid Hush -gray with purple undertones — Try Swarovski’s Violet Opal

Quarry -medium gray, almost slate blue — Try Swarovski’s Indian Sapphire

Incidentally, padparascha is also one of this year's more popular gemstones, according to the Gemworld International report on the 2011 Tucson Gem Show. Some other popular choices are traditional blue sapphires, as well as tsavorite and demantoid garnets, so deeper blues and greens should remain fairly popular as well.

Please visit our Etsy store for all kinds of upcycled accessories and jewelry, created in Hawaii!

More Kumihimo Projects

A trio of bracelets I finally got to finish up.

These two look almost identical- they are composed of the same quantities/colors, but I played around with the pattern a little. It's a subtle difference.

And one made out of some "leftover" pinks and reds, with pearls for contrast. Love the look on this one. There is actually a pattern here, it just looks a little random.

Please visit our Etsy store for all kinds of upcycled accessories and jewelry, created in Hawaii!

Chan Luu style Triple Wrap Bracelet

These wrap bracelets are popping up everywhere this summer!  But even if you can't afford a genuine Chan Luu, you can still get the same look.  Here's the first of several wrap bracelets that are rolling out in my Etsy shop.

Please visit our Etsy store for all kinds of upcycled accessories and jewelry, created in Hawaii!

Pink and chocolate Kumihimo Bracelet

I really love these Kumihimo Swarovski bracelets...

Here's the latest addition to the shop:

Be sure to grab it before someone else does!

This technique really reminds me of "lei hulu" or feather leis. But the bracelet is much less expensive! The lei hulu was the most valuable possession of the women of the ali'i class. These leis were worn proudly to denote her rank.


Please visit our Etsy store for all kinds of upcycled accessories and jewelry, created in Hawaii!

Bubbly Toes

Here's a relatively recent addition to the shop on Etsy.  The technique used here is called a flat spiral, which most folks like to make entirely of Swarovski crystals due to the highly geometric pattern.  I like to mix and match a bit... this would make a terrific beach anklet!!!

The beaded length is 8 inches long and there is a two inch sterling silver extender chain with a pressed Czech glass fish dangle. (This also fits around most ankles.) The sterling silver lobster clasp is proportionately sized and easy to use. Finished with sterling silver thread guide loops on each end of the clasp to protect against wear and tear at the clasp. This bracelet is very well reinforced and will hold up to daily wear!


Please visit our Etsy store for all kinds of upcycled accessories and jewelry, created in Hawaii!

Kumihimo & Crystal Bracelets

Kumihimo is an ancient Japanese braiding technique, originated by Buddhist monks (hence the 8 strands, representative of the 8 Fold Path) and used for many purposes, including lashings for samurai armor.   This is a modern interpretation of the technique, using a foam board as a loom instead of the old school wooden loom, and incorporating almost two hundred genuine Swarovski crystals and sterling silver Bali cones.

Please visit our Etsy store for all kinds of upcycled accessories and jewelry, created in Hawaii!