A new technique and a new material...

Though I love working with metal, I also love the idea of working with much more fragile materials too, like paper.

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After a little trial and error, I made a Star Pendant. I am quite happy with the results.

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If you are curious, it is created from 8 tiny 1" squares of scrapbooking paper and sealed with a medium-gloss finish. A fine silver bail was embedded in the Star.

Yellow Challenge - Number Two (officially)

Here is the finished bracelet:

Yellow Challenge - Number One and a Half

I must be on a bracelet kick this week! I don't usually make too many bracelets, so this week's color challenge is a double challenge for me!

1. I rarely use yellow in my creations


2. I only create a small number of bracelets a year

Note I also labeled today's entry as "number one and a half" because the bracelet is not finished. I still need to create a few more links and make a clasp. However, I wanted to show it in its unfinished state.

Currently the bracelet measures 6 1/2" (16.5cm) but due to the chunkiness (is that a word?) of the vintage Czech glass beads, it will need to have about two more bead sections added to fit an average sized wrist. I'm also using copper wire. Another rarity for me! Go figure! :)

Yellow Challenge - Number One

YELLOW!

14kt. Goldfill flexible bangle-style bracelet with large faceted citrine and crystal quartz gemstones. Yummy!

Color Challenge - YELLOW

Just a reminder that this week I will be posting items created using the color YELLOW as a focal color! I have already created a wonderfully sparkly bracelet with sunny yellow citrine coupled with 14kt. goldfill. I'm also digging in my box of cool vintage beads to see what I might find.

I rarely use yellow in my designs, so this is a wonderful challenge for me. It has made me venture a little out of my comfort zone.

Keep posted! Oh, and be sure to comment on your favorite(s)!

Visit the other Color Challenge participants too:
fedeDesigns
HotFudge
Sparkly Treasures
Glady andCloudy
RachelsAprons
TreasureField
DaisychainDesigns
AlwaysAmy
yarnPlay
BeadingInTheDark

Step Three - Weaving the Links

Step Three - Weaving the Links:

For this step you will need:

Patience, pliers (optional), clasp of your choice (I like toggle), and 4 sterling silver jumprings to attach the clasp, tumbler (optional).

Start with two links. With your fingers, open one end of one of the links so it resembles an alligator mouth or pac-man. This is where a little imagination and patients is helpful!

Slide the open alligator mouth into the other link. Pinch the mouth closed. If you so choose, you may also use your pliers to pinch it closed.

Do this with all the links until you have made your desired length.

Attach a clasp using two jumprings on each end.

Tumble with stainless steel shot and burnishing solution for two hours.

Rinse bracelet/necklace in clean water, dry with a lint-free cloth. ENJOY!

Step Three - Making the Links

Step Three - Making the Links:

For this step you will need:

Sharpie, ruler, round-nose pliers, and fused rings

Depending on the size of your pliers, make a mark on the pliers at about 3.5mm - 4mm diameter with the Sharpie. This will help make all your links the same size.

Slip your fused ring over the jaws of the pliers (lining it up with your mark)and pull the jaws apart, creating an oval link. If your link snaps, most likely it was not fused properly.

Measure the oval link and make another mark at the half way point. Hold the link at one end and with the round-nose pliers gently squeeze the link to form a bow-tie shape or peanut shape.

Grasp the bow-tie in the center and with your fingers, gently bend the bow-tie so both ends are touching.

You have just made your first link!

Step Two - Fusing the Rings

Step Two - Fusing the Rings
For this step you will need:
Torch, fire brick, heat resistant surface, cup or bowl of water, tweezers, closed fine silver rings.

After the rings have been inspected and made sure the butt-ends are truly flush, it is time to fuse.

TIP - Please, if you have never used a torch (or if you'd like a friendly reminder)...make sure all flammable materials are away from your work surface. Make sure your fire brick is on a heat resistant surface, and tweezers and water bowl are within reach. Make sure long hair is secured and sleeves are rolled-up (preferable above the elbow). Use ample ventilation.

Close the rings and make sure the ends are touching. TIP - Hold the ring up to the light to be sure the ring is closed properly. If you see light peeking through, try to close the gap.

Line up your closed rings on the fire brick. I find it helpful to have all the seams or joins facing the same direction.

Light the torch and begin heating the rings in a circle pattern. The hottest part of the flame is about 1/8" to 1/4" in front of the blue cone. Focus this part of the flame on the ring. I have found between 8 and 12 passes around the ring will fuse it. If it's taking longer, your flame might not be hot enough (turn up the flame) or you could be circling the ring too slowly and allowing the ring to cool as you circle. The ring will turn from silver to a dull pink to a bright orange. Once you see it turn bright orange....get ready! The ring will 'flash' just as the silver becomes molten (to me it reminds me of liquid mercury). Remove the flame as soon as you see the ring fuse (or you will end up with a molten blob of silver!). TIP - Be patient. If you are new to torch-work, it may take a little practice. However, once you 'get it' you'll be addicted!

Once the ring is fused, use your tweezers to pick up the ring and dip it in your bowl of water to cool it off (quench it). Caution...just because the ring appears to be cool, it retains heat for a few minutes (as does the fire brick).

Yea! You've fused your first ring. Repeat the steps above until you have made about a dozen rings.

Simple Chain Tutorial - Step One

I'm a minimalist at heart...and I believe in simplicity...understated elegance! This chain is fairly simple to construct and the materials and tools needed are also minimal. Most novice jewelers and metalsmiths should have these tools on hand. Perfect!

This chain is commonly referred to as the Foxtail or a Loop-in-Loop chain.

Tools:
Mandrel, 1/2" in diameter
Flush cutters or jeweler's saw
Round-nose pliers
Ruler
Tweezers
Micro-torch
Fire brick
Tumbler

Materials:
Fine silver, 20 gauge

Other Supplies:
Sharpie
Small bowl or cup (for water)

Techniques Used:
Fusing
Wireworking
Cutting or sawing

Step One - Making the Rings:
Gather a mandrel, fine silver wire, flush cutter (or saw).

Coil about three feet of 20 gauge fine silver wire around the mandrel. Be sure to make the coil fairly tight and straight. This will ensure your rings will be the same size.

Remove the coil and stretch the coil until it resembles a loose spring (if you are using a saw, skip this step). Using the flush cutters, snip off individual rings (if using a saw, saw the coil to make individual rings). Inspect the ring-ends to make sure they are truly flush. This may require additional trimming with the cutters. TIP- the ring ends must be flush or they may not fuse properly. This is where prep work is especially important!!

The Color Challenge is on its Way!

OK, I'll be working on some YELLOW projects this week and have them ready to post early next week. Remember to 'vote' or leave comments!

Visit all the participants too!
fedeDesigns
HotFudge
Sparkly Treasures
Glady and Cloudy
RachelsAprons
TreasureField
DaisychainDesigns
AlwaysAmy
yarnPlay
BeadingInTheDark

Bead and Button Show - Milwaukee

Today I will be attending the Bead and Button Show in Milwaukee, WI. Yeah!

In light of the Color Challenge, I will be hunting (yes, hunting) for yellow, red and pink beads to incorporate into the Challenge pieces. :) Wish me luck!

Color Challenge!!

Fiona of fede designs proposed a weekly color challenge on her blog and in the Etsy forums. The Challenge goes something like this:

"So I've got this idea. To make my sewing world even more fun & challenging over the next 6 weeks (alright...honestly...maybe it's also an attempt to minimise my terrible procrastination) I'm going to do this.........
This week (starting Mon 9/6) I will be only sewing in BLUE. All creations will be posted (the good, the bad & the ugly) for your perusal and comment, and the winning designs will hit my Etsy store. Each subsequent week will have a colour assigned in this order.
BLUE YELLOW BROWN RED GREEN PINK
As much as I have a soft spot for black, I have excluded it from this challenge."

Knowing what a s-l-o-w designer and perfectionist I am, I decided to accept the challenge with this exception...I will participate every other week. This way I am positive I will have more than one submission for each color thus allowing readers to vote! I will create using the colors yellow, red and pink.

Disappeared??

Yes and no.

Busy. Very busy!