Recent completions

Some new additions to the "done" shelf.

This cabochon is actually a worry stone.  It has a depression in the back that makes this a comforting pendant to wear and it doesn't look bad, either.  Purple with green leaf accents, done in antiqued copper.





This little pendant is antiqued silver with an onyx heart and beaded with aqua marine and black Swarovski crystals.
  

 

 I enjoy swirls.  Can you tell?  They're very satisfying to play with.  This pendant has more aqua marine crystals but also with a purple, copper and onyx beading.  Done in copper and antiqued.

 I had to try my hand at Celtic weaving.  The design  is a bit awkward but it didn't turn out too badly.  The green stone is an emerald and the beads are copper tone and purple crystal.   Copper and antiqued.

This set is spoken for, silver pendant and earrings with onyx hearts, beads and aqua Swarovski crystals.

  

Featured Artist: Nicole Hanna

Featured Artist of this week is someone who I will make mention of many times in the posts to come, as I have done in nearly every post so far on this page.  
Nicole Hanna is an exceptional artist, a designer of jewelry in a cornucopia of mediums that not only include wire wrapping, but also beading, plate metal work and macrame.  Her style ranges from the elegantly simple to layered and complex.
Her examples in jewelry craft is not the only thing I learn from with this artist but also her photography skills, organizational aptitude and the ability to invent new ways that generate an interest in her, not only as an artist but as a business person marketing her wares.  
I tend to be a follower... not much of an innovator... but I am learning.  Here are some photos of her work from the tutorials I have acquired over the last few days.

 

                                                




                                             The Owl Pendant 

 The Swirling Drop

                                   The Symmetrical Swirl       

The Twisted Pendant

                                       The Wild Winds Pendant

Sunset Clouds Pendant

                           The Swimming Fish Pendant

The Crystal Key Pendant

                                    Moon Goddess Earrings
                                        

The Infinity Cross

This piece was from one of Nicole Hanna's tutorials she so graciously provides for her adoring fans.  It's not only a beautiful cross, but the work that went into the design is the beauty of the piece.  So lovingly thought out.

It was a scary project to complete.  With so many elements per bar-- each one was a recipe for disaster--there were a few times when I thought I would have to start completely over.  
For one thing, the base wires are a very petite 22 gauge that bend out of straight if you breathe on it too hard. So weaving it with the 28 gauge was a lesson in delicacy and control.
 
I am very proud to have this in my inventory at last.  The most satisfying part of the whole completion, though, is the design was labelled "advanced" at the top of the tutorial.  I didn't see that particular note when I started and now that it's done, I admit to being a little full of myself because of it.

Fiddley

Fiddley.  I learn from tutorials a lot of the time and some of my favorite work comes from a couple of people Down Undah in Australia.  When something gets difficult to hold onto because of too many wire components or the contortion of the piece has to lay just so while you weave it into place, they call it "fiddley".    I love the term.  
And this, my beautiful friends, is the definition of fiddley. After starting over 4 times because of one mishap after another, I find this a pretty attractive little start to a completed cross.   I can't tell you how frustrating it was to have to start over AGAIN when the wire defeated me in one way or another.  This, so far, is the most difficult project yet.

When working with small gauge wire, in this case we're talkin' 22 gauge, the weaving wire has a higher chance of pulling the base wire out of whack.  So, to try to prevent that, you tend to grip the piece tighter.  This does not help, but ends up contorting the whole thing out of line, or tends to create inconsistencies in the weave.

What I've learned:  is patience.  Just be patient.  If you have to pull some of it apart and start back a ways, then so be it.  No big deal, really.  It really hurts to lose the time you spent building up to that point, but it is definitely a learning experience.  And relax the damn grip, girl.  Loosen up!  It's not going to jump out of my hands... not of it's own volition, anyway. 

I was horrified/tickled/disgusted with myself to realize, after starting the cross (after promising to make it for a friend) that the tutorial says at the top "Advanced".   I am nothing near advanced level.  But guess what?  The most difficult part of the whole piece is done!  

One more thing... while it's the most fiddley piece to date, it's the most fun.  Difficult, temperamental, time consuming, frustrating and very very satisfying. 

Photographing the work.

Choosing display options for the best photos is an art in itself. Starting out, I didn't worry about it much, but just wanted a record of what I had done. 

That hasn't changed much. I still take photos of my work because I want a record of completed projects. At least now, I'm getting a better idea of what's good and what's terrible.
After I invest in some items to help with lighting and mood, my photos will improve, I hope.
 
At least they don't still look like this:

 While Dutch Brothers has stylish coffee mugs, they might not be the best choice for art display.  

And when you need to lay a piece out to show off it's design, best not to use the towel you have laying around as the background texture.

 Kleenex.  The clean surface of the tissue is uniform but WHITE WHITE WHITE.

 Let's focus on the problem here.   Or not.  Oh and lighting.  Better lighting please.

 This is me trying to find my happy photo shooting place and, nearly there, but not quite.  I may be working on the ideal spot for some time to come.

Oh and conflicting patterns.  The material should be matte and plain, contrasting the jewelry piece, but also should disappear under it.  Patterns are disruptive of design.  This material swallows the design in this bracelet. 




I've invested in a photography tent, some layout material and hope to soon find something to add a bit of texture for a support.  Some people use display hands, busts and other human-looking parts, but I probably won't go that way.
I've seen river rocks, foliage and all sorts of other backgrounds artistically arranged behind a piece, but so far, I haven't found my voice.

Adventures in crafting jewelry with wire.

This is basically a progress report on my adventures in creating wearable art.

A novice wire weaver of sparkly bits, I mostly craft earrings, pendants, necklaces and bracelets.  There will be the occasional sun catcher or bright bobble mirror hanger among my works, but all pieces showcased here will be me learning the craft.

You will find highlighted here the artists who so generously post their tutorials on You Tube as often as possible and, if you too are just learning how to craft jewelry with copper and silver and shiny bits of gems, I hope you learn right along with me.

All questions, comments and SHOUTS including disparagements, boos and hisses, kisses and hugs, cheers and encouragements are welcome here.  If you need anything else from me in the way of help, therapy, spleen venting outlets of frustration, just YELL.  If I don't have an answer, I'll look it up.

The only thing I ask is that you be good to each other.  As an ex-bar tender, cab driver and trucker, I have a thick hide, an iron skin, an impenetrable outer layer that repels all verbal assault. If you don't like what someone has to say, tell your sister, husband, dog or cat, otherwise please keep it to yourself...if there are enough viewers of my humble submissions to gather an audience to commit such atrocities,  that is.

Anyway.... 
 
I learned something new today.  There is more to life than just Swarovsky crystals. ( I LOVE Swarovsky gems.)  I love cabochons, top-drilled gems, side-drilled, briolettes, teardrops, ovals, pearls and facets... and crystals!  Give me crystals.  What I did not know I loved were rivolis.  Didn't even know what they were.  Did I mention I liked crystals?

This work is by my favorite artist, Nicole Hanna.   I love her whimsy.   Here's a link to her blog:  http://www.nicolehannajewelry.com/blog
The kinds of gems and stones and cuts out there is staggering.
So here is a nice little article about some of them.
http://antiques.about.com/od/vintagecostumejewelry/tp/Stones-in-Vintage-Costume-Jewelry.htm


What a rivoli looks like in a perfect setting.