Jasper and Copper Bangle

The colors blend better, and I think it shows off the jasper beads better too. Instead of a soldered or fused bangle, I forged the ends of my copper wire and made what almost looks like a clasp, although it is not intended to open and close. I also hammer textured the wire a bit to add some sparkle while strengthening the bangle. I have the prototype shown above for sale on etsy and I’m thinking I need to make some more copper bangles since this one turned out so well.

Oh, and I am loving the pink on my new copper head pins! I read a trick for getting that color in a new jewelry book I got for Christmas, Wrap, Stitch, Fold & Rivet by Mary Hettmansberger, which I’ll be reviewing very soon.

Upcycled Bangles

A smooth polished citrine nugget, a gorgeous smoky-quartz-like round glass bead, and a rough natural aquamarine. (Did you know aquamarine is the birthstone for March? Get a head start on your birthday shopping….)

Didn’t remake the jasper and pearl bangle yet, but I have a pretty good idea of where I’m going with it so hopefully I will have some new photos to share of that one soon – as well as the vine-inspired series that is still dancing around in my head.

Of course…I’m also planning to have a baby sometime between now and about March 3rd…so hopefully I’m not being too ambitious with all these design ideas!

I paired a jasper on copper charm with a deep purple freshwater pearl one, and added them to a slim silver bangle:

Jasper and Pearl Charm Bangle

Looking at the finished piece, I like it, but I think it would be a more successful design if the bangle was made from copper – so I’m hoping to experiment with some copper bangles if my son takes a good nap this afternoon. The warm tones in the copper charms would blend a lot better with a warm copper bangle base – and maybe matching earrings? And while I’m being critical of myself, if I’d chosen a black pearl with more green/gold undertones, I think that also might have worked a bit better. But hey – aren’t my pink copper head pins gorgeous with the jasper?

Disclaimer: artbeads.com gave me the jasper beads in exchange for me blogging about them. I am not paid to say anything nice, I can say whatever I want in fact, and I get to keep the samples they send.

Argentium Silver Bangles

So far, I’ve made them using three different sizes of wire (16, 14, and 12 gauge round) in argentium sterling silver. I made several of the skinny ones (16 gauge) and tried out three finishes: smooth, plus two different hammer textures. I think the 16 gauge and the 12 gauge styles will make it into my etsy shop, and I’ll offer them both smooth and textured. 14 gauge doesn’t look all that different from 16 gauge, so I don’t know if it’s worth offering it as an option, since I love the super-skinny look of the 16 gauge. (Wire gets skinnier as the gauge number gets higher, in case you are confused….) 12 gauge is much more substantial.

The fun thing about bangle bracelets, in my opinion, is wearing a whole bunch together, so I’ll be making a bunch! Expect to see bangles with gemstone dangles [along the lines of the upcycled bangles I did a few weeks ago] along with all-metal styles, perfect to mix and match, stack, or wear one at a time – whatever works.

There are some amazing artists and designers in the JET team so be sure to poke around and look at previous artist features while you’re looking at the blog.

It was just a matter of time til I started making my own chain, and that’s when I found out just how long it takes to make a chain. Let’s just say a long time.

Inspired by the Rachel Ray “semi-homemade” cooking theory, I decided to try a semi-homemade set of chain jewelry.

I finished the set of a necklace, two bracelets, earrings, and a few stacking rings in less time than a single chain would have taken if I did it all by hand, and I love the results.

Mixed Metal Jewelry Set

It was really easy to make – if you can make large jump rings, you could make yourself a similar set. I used antique brass chain I got on sale at a craft store. It has very large links, about the size of finger rings, and they are unsoldered. I made some copper jump rings in similar sizes, using thick-gauge wire and hammering them a bit so they’d be strong enough hold up, and inserted them into the chain somewhat randomly. I ended up with two bracelets and a necklace, and enough leftover links to make matching earrings & wear a few as finger rings.

I wear this set a lot and always get compliments, so I’m considering adding some similar pieces to my shop. It looks great combined with some simple brass bangles if I want a more dramatic look, or I just wear one or two of the pieces if I want to be more toned down.

First in this lovely treasury curated by reflectionsbyds:

Front Page - January 3rd

And then this morning in this one by knitoramaa:

Front Page - January 4

Upcycled Bangles

They are for sale individually in my etsy shop, but if you buy all six you get a surprise free gift.

Fire Sculpted Pendants and Earrings

Two of my favorite techniques to use in jewelry making are fusing and sculpting abstract shapes with wire. A while back, I was experimenting with ways to combine the two, and came up with a technique I call fire sculpting. It’s a little sculpting wire, a little fusing/melting, followed by more sculpting, and I think the results are really beautiful and interesting.

The photo above shows two of my fire sculpted pendants and an earring, all made from fine silver. I’m in the process of listing these and some other similar pieces in my etsy shop (the first one is already there). One thing I love about working in this style is that each thing I make is truly one of a kind. Because part of the process is out of my control, I’m surprised and fascinated (though not always in a good way) by the results. Making pieces for this series is alternately frustrating and exciting, and makes me want to continue pushing myself as a designer.

This is a really good thing for my business – it is so important, as a designer and maker, to be excited about doing new work. Here’s another pendant, probably the most abstract piece in the series so far, but one of my favorites because it doesn’t really have a front or a back, so it’s a couple looks in one:

Fire Sculpted Fine Silver & Pearl Pendant

Carnelian and Citrine Choker

I’m really, really happy with how this new choker turned out. I’ve had the chunky carnelian and citrine beads in my stash for quite a while, and had strung the main part of the necklace several months ago but couldn’t decide how to finish it. Over the weekend, I came up with the idea for the chain, and lucky for me, it turned out great!

The beads in this piece are carnelian (both color treated and natural), quartz with yellow inclusions, and citrine. I made the chain using fused argentium silver rings along with tiny citrine and carnelian beads wire wrapped on my handmade fine silver head pins.

It’s a one of a kind necklace, since many of the beads used have unique color patterns – you can buy it for yourself or as a gift from my etsy shop.