Nancy VT's trials and tribulations

Playing

2008-02-18T16:33:00.000-08:00

The vessel I picked up from Samma's gorgeous pieces is called Drama Queen - its absolutely fabo, raku looking. I pondered it, and decided nothing should take away from the bead, so I picked out seed beads in various shapes and sizes that complemented the colors in the bead and I strung and strung and strung some more. I used the handles of the vessel to attach the beads. It was too much, the black kind of disappeared, so then I added a strand of black (in various shapes and sizes) and wrapped just above the handles in black. This was my first time using fireline, hopefully my surgeon's knots will hold! Samma's piece is a nice long one. http://www.posh-abilities.com/

In Tucson I bought lots of beads, lots of spring/summer colored stones. The following piece I actually had done the stringing of the stones (lavendar, peach and green with black accents) in Tucson, but it was just too plain. So after playing with Samma's piece I said hmm, maybe I can do something similar. I added several strands of seed beads. Still not enough, so i created a wrapped centerpiece to create a focal; it still needed something, so I went through my stash of lampworks and the rose is perfect; its actually a light lavendar, the color is changing because of whats below it. This one is on the short side.

A piece for Tucson

2008-01-17T17:44:00.000-08:00

I didn't join the year of jewelry program this session because I needed to evaluate where I'm going with my business, needed to get my inventory and website straightened out, and frankly needed a break. So what have I been doing the last few nights when I'm supposed to do doing the inventory? Working on a piece to wear in Tucson, lol!! I am mailing my tools and such down on Tuesday, so I needed to get this done. This is a pretty crappy picture unfortunately, I was having 'issues' (user errors) with the camera. I thought I was losing my mind, the pieces above the brown are light blue - until I put it around my neck or took a picture. Take it off the bust or my neck, its light blue. What I think I did was grab some tanzanite that looks different depending on the light! I may pop them out and put in the blue I intended to put in there, or I may not, haven't decided.

Week 52 - End of Year

2007-12-28T06:30:00.001-08:00

This is it! I made it. Phew, it was a long year. I was late a few times but made something every week, some weeks more than one, some weeks nothing exciting. I am going to take a break from the program for awhile, take the extra time to get my inventory sorted and update the website, etc., and generally give myself a 'break'.

This last piece is something that's been in my head for a bit. We're dressing for new years so I decided now is the time; its far from perfect, having a design on paper and measuring would be in the plan for the next time I try something like this, lololol!! 20 gauge soft sterling (my first issue, should have been 1/2 hard, I really had to work it to harden), the 1/2 round was ALSO soft (waaayyy to0 soft), and I think a smaller gauge of each would be better. Vintage swarovski crystals in various shapes and sizes and colors. I wasn't unhappy with the final results!

Happy New Years to everybody!!!

Week 51 - Caught up, woohoo!!! Another gift

2007-12-19T04:57:00.000-08:00

This is a special gift. My nephew just returned from 15 months in Iraq. His wife is also in the military going to medical school, stationed in Hawaii. While he was in Iraq, we purchased land in the Adirondack mountains. He was jealous, and asked us to find another piece for he and his wife! We did that, we found a piece a mile from ours. 20 minutes away is the Herkimer Diamond Mines. This is the one and only thing the two of them own, as they will be moving around in the military, but they will always have 'a place' in the mountains. The stone in this piece is an exquisite Herkimer Diamond I purchased earlier this year. I thought a most fitting gift for her would be a little piece of the earth, close to where their property is, as she may never actually 'see' the property itself!!

week 50 - Another swarovski

2007-12-19T04:54:00.001-08:00

Another gift, this is another one of the large swarovskis I bought in Rhode Island. The colors are amazing, this is one of those that changes depending on the light

week 49 - catching up

2007-12-17T04:48:00.000-08:00

I'm still behind but this one I could show (some of the other work I've done the last couple of weeks were gifts!). This is one last order from a show a few weeks ago. When I went to Rhode Island the first week of December for a show I went to Myrows again and bought a kabazilion swarovskis. This time I got mostly unfoiled because I still have quite a collection of foiled ones from this summer, this happens to be one that is foiled. This is a large piece, olivine in color, loved the shape; the purchaser wanted it wrapped very simply, can't get much simpler than this.. I will get pictures of the swars some time in the next couple of weeks if anybody is interested!!

week 48 - Hammered cuffs

2007-11-27T04:05:00.000-08:00

Some final pieces before a show this coming weekend. In their former life the wire in these cuffs had been beaded 14 gauge sterling silver neck wires. They weren't selling, so I took them apart (because I was out of 14 gauge wire) and created these fun, simple hammered cuffs, lol! Some I put the hammered side out, some I put the hammered side in. We'll see how they do!

week 47 - Y necklaces

2007-11-25T11:47:00.000-08:00

I did a version of these several years ago but got away from them. One of my bead club members makes them and seeing them again reminded me how much I really do like them! With her permission I am doing a similar version to hers; they are a very wearable necklace. All of these are swarovskis, either beads or pearls. Once I finish my shows I'll have my lights back again and get some halfway decent pictures!

week 46 - Playing catchup

2007-11-25T11:37:00.000-08:00

I'm behind!! Holy cats, between holidays, guests, shows, etc., its getting tough! I did a couple of these last week, a couple this week, but never got to post. I need to do a few more for a show this coming week, these have been very popular. Wrapped vintage swarovskis; you've seen them before, you'll likely see more, lol!

Week 45 - Slices

2007-11-11T17:00:00.000-08:00

I'm scrambling to get read for a show this Thursday so nothing too exciting this week; I bought these rock slices a few weeks ago, some with holes, some without. This was the only thing I could think of to do, lol! I would love to see what other people do with these!

Week 44 - Rocks!

2007-10-30T05:22:00.000-07:00

Yep, just some wrapped rocks. I found these at a local show a couple of weeks ago, the picture doesn't do the colors justice. I'm scrambling to get a few last pieces made for a show this weekend, so I'm actually early, woohoo! I took a picture of the both sides because with several of these they look quite a bit different from either side. These are fun to do!

week 43 - Modern woman

2007-10-28T18:11:00.001-07:00

A friend of mine started playing with fusing glass, so I bought a few pieces. This long spear shaped piece really has some great colors in it, the picture doesn't do it justice! I added a wrapped swarovski to the top, and the way the wire swirled (it never is planned, it just kind of happens, lol!) it looks like a modern woman :)

Week 42 - show orders

2007-10-21T07:02:00.000-07:00

Isn't this a lovely picture? Not so much... my other half went hunting with a buddy and took the camera, so I had to resort to using the scanner, lol! The piece on the left is one I had actually done awhile ago but the buyer at my open house had an omega with a huge bail, she asked if I would re-wrap it in silver and gold so it would fit on the chain. The piece on the right was a lampwork she brought with her and asked if I would wrap it as well in two tones. Sure, why not! I was rather pleased with the result, the go into the tumbler next and then off in the mail. Orders are just about done, so I can play with some new stuff, woohoo!!

Week 41 - Fall Open House

2007-10-13T04:20:00.000-07:00

Well its done and over. Last night was my open house. Absolutely no time to do much else this week other than preparing for this. The turnout wasn't what I had hoped for but the sales were decent so I'm not unhappy! Today I will be breaking down and tomorrow packing up to prepare for another show in a couple of weeks go this week I'm just going to show some pictures of my setup. Did I do some new pieces this week? I did, they are out in this mess somewhere, lol!

Week 40 - More wrapped swars

2007-10-04T16:14:00.001-07:00

I did quite a few of these the last few days, trying to fill in so I had a decent amount for my open house - 8 days and counting! I'm rather pleased with the results. Now I'm trying to decide the best way to display. The white beans are 'ok', I'm wondering if a darker bean would make them stand out more?

Week 39 - I'm late!

2007-10-01T16:57:00.000-07:00

Yep, I'm late, second time this year. This time its HIS fault, he had the camera!

11 days until my open house, yikes! I did not do any wireworking this week whatsoever. I spent part of the weekend baking for my open house (for those of you who know me, this is unheard of) , rearranging my disaster jewelry room so I can find everything for next week, and doing some lampwork pieces. I still have a huge number of lampwork sets, orphans, etc. to do something with, somehow I don't think its going to happen.

Since I didn't do any wirework, I won't take up space posting what I did do; if you are interested in seeing the lampwork pieces, go to http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=17763239&uid=596157

if that doesn't work, its www.picturetrail.com/nancyvantassell - the first album. The new pieces this weekend are the first 8.

Week 38 - An experiment, failure and recovery

2007-09-23T06:43:00.000-07:00

My time for playing right now is minimal so when I experimented on a ring and it failed, I was unhappy! I created this double prong set ring, thinking it would be a good thing; I didn't mess with the design too much, I was more experimenting with the setting, wrapping, etc. I got it done and wasn't unhappy with the results. I put it on and said OUCH! What the heck? Took it back off and released the crystal I had chosen to set had a deep point that was stabbing me when worn. Bummed, I took a picture but didn't get to post it. This morning I said oops, time to get posted! And said hey, what if... I popped out the prongs and searched through my stash, finding this flat back stone that fit the setting, yeehaw! I need to tumble it for awhile to see if it tightens up more, but the lesson learned on this one is if you aren't happy with the results of something, consider changing it :)

Week 37 - Double wrap

2007-09-10T15:38:00.000-07:00

With the success with the coating on the swarovskis last week, I was anxious to play a bit more. After getting the stuff up for my show, I played a bit. This is my first attempt at doing a double wrap, it was alot easier than I expected! Its not perfect (I put one too many wraps on one side so my bottom prong is crooked), but I'll definitely do more, this is fun! I want to try different shapes and sizes.

Week 36 - Wrapped vintage swarovskis

2007-09-08T07:27:00.001-07:00

This week I've been working like a wild woman doing classic stringing in prep for my october show, but I did take a little time and experiment with wrapping some of the swarovskis I had posted for sale in July. I'm rather pleased with how they came out! I'll be doing more of the pendants; the rings were purely an experiment, not very wearable.

When I bought the swars I wondered if the backings would come off if tumbled, and I found they do. Ann, a member of my bead club, experimented with putting a coating on the back to see if it would not come off, and it worked, woohoo! She tumbled overnight and they came out just the way they went in. This grouping I had done before doing the coating; the backing stayed on fine wherever there was wrapping, but the little tips in the back did get the coating rubbed off, proving I need to put the protection on.

Week 35 - Cha cha watch

2007-08-27T15:39:00.001-07:00

This weekend I looked at the calendar and realized OH MY GOD, I ONLY HAVE 7 WEEKS!! 7 weeks until my Fall Open House. I need to get scrambling, doing alot of my bread and butter items, which means I probably won't be doing alot of wireworking, or much in line of playing. This piece is an order from my last show in July. Every one of these I make I sell, they are just a little time consuming, but fun to wear! The extent of wirework is the 80+ headpins wrapped, lol! I find doing them very theraputic.

Week 34 - These boots are made for walking

2007-08-26T12:38:00.000-07:00

Ok, so its dorky but I couldn't think of what else to call this! This is another one of Laura's dichroic pieces. Gold filled square and 1/2 round, I felt the wrapping 'works' with the design in the glass.

Week 33 - Wrapped coins

2007-08-15T16:45:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I had delusions I would get to do something new this week but it just didn't happen; I did do one of these coins last night to show someone how to do it, so I decided that 'counts'.

When my girlfriends and I get together in Rhode Island every year we make giftees for each other. This year my giftee was their particular state's coin wrapped as a pendant (I lucked out, everybody lives in a state that already has these, phew!!!). This is remy's wrap in at its best! Simple, but personal and easy to do! I think I've done 20 of these so far, I will definitely be adding it into my inventory for selling, everyone loves it :) You'll notice the one is upside down - the coin is in the frame such that it can be turned and either side can be the front.

The pictures are just awful, I kept getting reflections from the coin!

Week 32 - a few more rings

2007-08-10T16:06:00.000-07:00

One last set of pieces I had done prior to going away, I'm finally done with all my changes for the show I did (woohoo!), so now I can play with some new stuff.

The top left ring was a tutorial I bought; I did a couple of these but quite frankly don't care for the look. The other four are something I came up with. I had intended to try to do a tutorial for the contest last month, never happened! These are fairly simple, and very comfortable to wear. The top right one is very generic, I think it would be just as appropriate for a man as a woman; the other three are more girlie. Some day I might do a simple tutorial!!

Week 31 - class version

2007-07-31T04:51:00.001-07:00

A month or so ago I got the schedule for classes for Beadfest. I didn't think I was going to get to go (still not, sigh), so I went through the classes, trying to see if I could figure out some of the designs (aka, self-education). I saw a bracelet that I thought was rather attractive, so I tried it. It came out ok, but I played with it a bit more and like mine even more, lololol! I did the gold first; notice the size difference? The gold was done with half hard wire, the silver dead soft. I could NOT get the gold any smaller because of how hard it got the more I worked it. I rather like it, its bold and yet danty! This week I'm working on size changes, etc. from my show last week so there is no time for new work; I did the silver the week before last as a gift for the hostess .

Week 30 - magazine bangle

2007-07-24T17:43:00.000-07:00

I saw this on the recent wire magazine cover, I had to try it. My first version had a large bead as the focal, I didn't like it. I changed it to this Tai silver piece, I think it is more the right size, but it was the dull silver, so I tumbled it. I wore this one day to work, its actually pretty confortable! 14 gauge wire for main portion of the bracelet.

Week 29 - Wireworked watches

2007-07-15T11:03:00.000-07:00

I'm going to be away most of next week so I'm working ahead.

These two watches were done at the same time. I started with a face and found that 18 gauge wire would fit through the hole in the watch face (woohoo!). With the marcasite face I added a couple of marcasite sterling pieces, the other has a little western feel so I used textured sterling beads and then split the wires to create side designs, then brought the wires back together and added arge hole beads. I used boxed clasps on both, allowing for some flexibility for sizing. I wore one to work just see how durable, it felt good but not cumbersome on. I'll do more of these!

week 28 - Playing around

2007-07-15T10:56:00.000-07:00

I had the idea for this a bit ago (it woke me up in the middle of night!). Its a simple design but I rather like it! I did another one in a mix of metals (its somewhere in my stuff but I can't find it at the moment). I wrapped square wire around my ring mandrel, then cut the pieces in half, curled the ends and added jump rings to attach the pieces. When wearing it the pieces flip back and forth, which annoyed me at first, but then I realized it gave it a more freeform feel. I made this fairly short, because the design is rather petite.

Week 27 - Herkimer Diamonds

2007-07-08T13:25:00.000-07:00

Our property in the mountains is about 20 minutes from the Herkimer Diamond Mines, so I took a trip one day on my vacation. Oh my, I won't be able to go there very often, lol!!! I couldn't resist. They had a lot of rough, and I thought about actually going digging, I'll do that another time, but this time I bought six gorgeous cut pieces. I've done something with three so far, I'm pleased with two, one, not so much. It may get redone.

Week 26 - Patterned wire bracelets

2007-07-08T13:19:00.000-07:00

Before I went on vacation I ordered some patterned wire from Rio. A friend of mine had done some pieces with it, I was itching to try. I don't have a jeweler's saw (on the list!), so she was kind enough to come over and show me how to cut. While on vacation I did a few pieces using the two different patterns I got. This is fun stuff, I want to do more! Two bracelets, one cuff.

Week 25 - Two tone bracelets

2007-06-21T17:03:00.000-07:00

A couple more bracelets to add to the inventory. These are a little different, but I'm pleased with how they came out. I twisted some of the wires, in silver and gold, then just gathered them in the center with some of the twisted wire. Simple, but comfortable to wear.

Week 24 wire bracelets

2007-06-15T17:51:00.000-07:00

I wanted to do a couple of new bracelets for my stock - I intended to add stones to the top of these but I was pleased with how these look without the stones and the felt so comfortable on that i chose to leave them as they are. One of each metal, simple but rather sophisticated looking I think!

Week 23 - Laura's dichroics

2007-06-09T11:48:00.000-07:00

I went to Laura's last Friday to return her lights, and to get some of her dichroics. I love these, they are so different! I wrapped very simply so that the actual glass is what stands out.

Week 22 - more fun rings!

2007-06-02T09:37:00.001-07:00

I loved the rings that Ann shared with us last week, I had to order some of my own. These came from http://www.bluebuddhaboutique.com/ - they have all sizes and gauges, fun stuff! I couldn't decide on what to pick so I ordered several selections of 'everything', a mixture of the color, in different sizes and gaugess. I played around with the first set just using the rings alone, and then in the second I incorporated some lampworks. The pieces are so light because of the anondized aluminum!

week 21 - fun rings!

2007-05-21T04:48:00.000-07:00

At bead club last week one of our members shared a stash of fun rings she had gotten, anodized aluminum. The only colored rings I had ever used were niobium, which I loved, but the size limitations put me off. These she had in a bunch of sizes, and the colors!!! Fun stuff! And they are so light! I grabbed some paua shell that seemed to be the matching color and did a simple chain, adding some balls to some of the chain for interest (this is actually quite a bit longer, I have it pulled up on the bust). The pendant is a lovely polymer clay one made by another friend. I definitely will be getting more of these things, I think they would be fun with lampworks!

Week 20 - Friendship bracelet

2007-05-20T13:40:00.001-07:00

To go with the earrings for week 19, I did the coordinating friendship bracelet. I really like the look and feel of this bracelet on, I will definitely make more. More casual stones would make it a more casual bracelet, this one with the satin finished silver and black swarovskis is very dressy!

Week 19 - Dressy earrings

2007-05-20T13:35:00.001-07:00

Well it finally happened, I'm late! I wouldn't let myself do anything last week until I finished my inventorying, and it took until this week, so week 19 is late. This is a pair of earrings a member of my bead club showed us how to do; its a small 'piece' of the classic 'friendship' bracelet. She used size 5 silver beads with swarovskis; I didn't have the size 5s, but I had thiese satin finished beads that are so dressy; I added black swarovski pearls, and they came out very dressy! After I had the picture loaded i realized the left one is backwards (oh well, so you see how I finished the bottom :)).

Week 18 - Open House

2007-05-05T05:10:00.000-07:00

Last night was the open house in my home, so there was no making any new jewelry this week, and I will be spending the next two days breaking everything back down. For this week's submission I took a few pictures of my set up instead :) In the last picture you can see white boxes standing up and laying down, those are Laura's beautiful lampworks and dichroics!

Week 17 - Chained up ears

2007-04-29T03:06:00.001-07:00

I'm down to the wire, my open house is this coming Friday. I spent this past week doing all kinds of earrings; lots of chandeliers with purchased components, simple drops, and this set of chainmaille earrings. Gold, silver and niobium, simple circles connected together, a free pattern a friend of mine got me from members.culturejewelry.com (a new chainmaille group) and a couple of pairs of romanov. I wish I had time to do more!

Week 16 - Ring my bell

2007-04-22T12:45:00.000-07:00

This week I was supposed to be doing earrings but I got an itch to do more rings. This is grouping of various metals, but the basic ring is all the same - small beads added into a wrapped design. After I got done I found I had made quite a few larger ones instead of the smaller ones I intended!!

Week 15 - Lampwork and chainmaille

2007-04-12T17:48:00.000-07:00

This week's pieces use a gorgeous set of lampworks I bought from Debbie (dgg112) awhile back. It was quite a large set, so I was able to do this set as well as a classic strung set. I wrapped each section and then did byzantine sections in between to show off each lovely lampwork.

Week 14 - Lampwork neckwire

2007-04-08T08:44:00.000-07:00

Another member (Jacky) made a wonderful neckwire that inspired me to try something similar. The gorgeous lampworks in this set are Laura's. I chose to do two-tone because the lampworks really work well with both. I need to form and hammer the neckwire, but I'm not unhappy with the results!

Week 13 - Freeform watch

2007-04-01T10:38:00.000-07:00

This was an experiment, I'm not sure 'wearable' the watch is, lol! I had this thing in my head that I had to get out, here it is sort of... twists and turns a few beads, intentionally not the same on each side of a very plain watch face.

Week 12 - Ringaling

2007-03-24T07:43:00.000-07:00

I've been home sick a good portion of this week so when I wasn't sleeping I was playing. A new lady joined my bead group, she showed me how to make this ring. She did one similar to the silver on the right. Woohoo, this is fun! I did the silver, and then experimented with two tone, then alternating the twisting, etc. They aren't perfect but I enjoyed doing them and they 'feel' good on. I still need to file the edges underneath and tumble (or visa versa, I'm not sure which should be done first). I'll do more of these!

Week 11 - Pin playing

2007-03-18T10:28:00.000-07:00

This week I had a chance to do a little playing. Someone had posted a tutorial that set off a light bulb. I have a bunch of unique orphan lampworks that I couldn't decide what to do with. Pins! The perfect solution!

Week 10 - Celtic

2007-03-11T15:53:00.000-07:00

I didn't have alot of free time this week, so I made this quick set from the latest Step by Step Wire magazine. These were kind of fun, they gave me lots of ideas! 20 g ds.

Week 9 - Oolalah!

2007-03-03T04:39:00.000-08:00

I'm so sad, I cannot get a good picture of this gorgeous dichroic piece. This is one of Laura's beauties that I bought back before the holidays. She was coming to visit this past week so I took the opportunity to wrap it. The wrapping complements the subtleness of the piece; the base is very dark, the image is a yummy blue, but the camera doesn't know what to do with it! If I can figure out how to get a better picture I'll take another one!

week 8 - Work In Progress

2007-02-24T15:50:00.000-08:00

This is a piece of a three piece set (the other two are small, meant for earrings) that I bought for me from me to me in Tucson. This is my third attempt at wrapping it. The first covered t00 much of the stone, the second I couldn't get the piece solidified in the wraps. This one is pretty solid, however, I'm not excited with it. A friend of mine suggested a dangle from the bottom. I'm not sure if that's the answer. Suggestions would be appreciated!!

Week 7 - Two sided pendant

2007-02-18T11:08:00.000-08:00

When I was in Tucson I bought quite a few turqouise cabochons, in both the green and blue shades, with the intent of trying an experiment. A friend of mine picked out two of the stones, and I started experimenting. She didn't want alot of silver on the stones, so I tried a few different things. This is what I came up with. I'm not unhappy with the results! This was sparked by the lovely pendant I bought from Carole that was one stone but looked quite different on each side. I put a dab of glue in between the stones to help stabilize them while i was wrapping.

Week 6 - Remy style Boulder Opal

2007-02-11T16:40:00.000-08:00

I had intended to do a new piece for this week but I've spent the day doing orders so I didn't get a chance; this is a piece I did in Tucson. The 'rock' is a chunk of Boulder Opal, the colors are wonderful. I bought quite a few of these to do. I was originally wrapping a dichroic piece but it wasn't working (I cut too much wire), so I looked at my new stash and found this chunky piece, it worked well with Remy's tutorial, with a little twist!

Week 5 - Bangle

2007-02-04T13:48:00.000-08:00

Woohoo, just under the wire!!! :)

I'm not sure of the name of this bangle, its from the double issue of WAJ December 2004/January 2005 (my magazines along with my dirty clothes are currently in the hands of UPS). I did this while in Tucson, to show my friend Nancy how to do a bangle. This was alot easier than I had anticipated! I only had dead soft wire with me, I think this really should be done in half hard for stability. Its very comfortable to wear. I had already cut my wire to do a different bracelet so I couldn't do the clasp the way the magazine shows it, but I liked it alot, I'll do it again!

Week 4 - Smokin' companion piece

2007-01-22T16:39:00.000-08:00

Before shipping my tools off to Tucson (I just checked, they are in Phoenix, woohoo!) I created this bracelet as a companion to last week's pendant. Initially I had some swirly pieces on top of the wires, but they just didn't 'go' with the twisted sides that I had done initially. I messed with it enough times that I beat the heck out of the wires and they looked awful, so I intentionally added some more to make it looked 'distressed' (wait, isn't that supposed to be furniture?). Anyway, I'm not unhappy with it, but I see what I could have done differently. This will be a piece (with the pendant) for me!

Week 3 - Smokin'

2007-01-16T04:27:00.000-08:00

I mail all my tools to Tucson tomorrow, so I got my pieces for this week and next week done early!

This is a chunk of smoky quartz I got in Rhode Island at Myrows. I was intimidated by it, but finally made myself pull one out to wrap. I was so pleased with it, I did a bracelet for next week :) This is the first time I added in twist as part of the wrapping - I think it adds a touch of elegance to the wrapped design. I need to get some other pieces like this!!

Week 2 - Kitchen Soup

2007-01-14T09:38:00.000-08:00

For the last two weeks I've been sorting, reorganizing, tossing, etc. I ended up with a bag of Czech glass beads that I just could NOT make myself sort. The options? Toss 'em (couldn't do it). Ignore them (I'm trying to clean up!) or do something with them. I decided to do something with them. I strung and strung and strung and strung, until I figured I had enough strung and then strung some more; enough for 7 17 inch strands (that's alot of beads!). This was the result. Butt ugly? Could be... and yet? I've made several 'kitchen soup' (as I call them) pieces in the past - badge holders, eye glass holders, etc., and they've always sold! So, this week's piece is my 'clean up'. Only wiring was putting together all the strands and stuffing them through an end piece. It'll have to do for this week... I also did a matching bracelet :) The earrings I attempted were too ugly for words... I did some damage to the 'bag', but there are still some left!

Year 2007 week 1 - Morning Zephyr

2007-01-04T18:41:00.000-08:00

When I asked for an explanation of the theme for this week, the response I got made me think of these lovely polymer clay cabochons my friend Nina made me for Christmas. I'm in the process of cleaning out stuff so I'm not letting myself do much work, but I'm going to Tucson at the end of the month and plan on showing a buddy of mine how to do wrapping, so I need a couple of samples to take with me. Kill two birds with one stone! (not my greatest pictures, I evidently have some setting messed up on my camera)

Week 12 - Beautiful blues

2006-12-13T18:05:00.001-08:00

No chance to do any wire working this week, unless you count wrapping a head pin, lol!! This is a beautiful set of Laura's lampworks that I had to buy when we had our show the week before last, the colors just knocked my socks off. This is a real bling piece, lots of swarovskis and chunks of sterling. The glas had two different shades in it, a lovely blue and a greeny blue, I found coordinating swarovski. The necklace is a longer piece, 26", this is one that I felt needed to be long.

Week 11 - keep on wrapping

2006-12-04T18:05:00.000-08:00

Yes, a couple more wraps; I'm finishing up orders from this weekend's show, so I don't really have time to play with anything else! Hopefully next week I will. These two pendants a pieces from Laura's collection. I think I have too much wire on the right one, I'll have to ask the person I did it for whether she wants me to redo it with less wire, sigh....

Week 10 - Wrapped up shoes

2006-11-27T17:33:00.000-08:00

At the show yesterday a friend of mine bought two of Laura's dichroic pieces, these adorable shoes, and she asked me to wrap them as pendants for christmas gifts. I haven't decided if I'm happy with them or not! I went simple, maybe too simple.

Week 9 - One more try

2006-11-22T10:49:00.000-08:00

I finally got the right wire to try Jim's ring again,WOW what a difference the dead soft makes! I could only get goldfilled, Halstead was out of sterling. I did one and was quite pleased. I started another. When I was in a class earlier in the year with Dale Cougar Armstrong, one of her helpers had on a gorgeous bangle with a lovely top section. She said it was a class she took with Dale; you created a ring, cut it and attached it to a bangle. I wondered if I could do the same thing with Jim's ring; bingo! Fun stuff!

Week 8 - Jim Ring

2006-11-13T05:53:00.000-08:00

I had a chance to try Jim's ring tutorial. This is a fabulously written tutorial, with great pictures! If one follows the instructions you can get great results. If you don't follow, you don't get... I used 21 gauge 1/2 hard wire instead of 22 gauge dead soft... major difference. I have more wire coming (it seems to be a weekly thing), I can't wait to try this with the RIGHT materials!!!

Week 7 - Pendants

2006-11-06T16:19:00.000-08:00

I could not get good pictures of these no matter what I did, very aggravating! I had grand time last week do all kinds of pendants. Some are based on a tutorial I ordered, others I was just playing, and I'm not unhappy! I need some more cabachons. Some are done with square wire, some with round, some silver, some gold. This is fun stuff!!! If I can I'll take another set of photos and replace the pictures. UPDATE 11/11 - I got new pictures, these are better!

Rings rings and more rings

2006-10-29T05:10:00.000-08:00

This week's focus was on rings; other than take two classes, I've never attempted rings, and the pile of wire I have added to my scraps will attest to it! Yikes!! I started out doing simple spirals to get the sizing concept down, using different gauges of sterling and gold filled and different tempers. After doing the twist thing I filed the edges of the ends and tumbled for quite some time to harden and shine. I wasn't unhappy with these. Then I decide hey, I can take the next step, adding in a stone! After managing to kill a bunch of wire coming up with just these few, I ordered tutorials from Remy and Jim.... more to come!!!

Wrist jewelry

2006-10-23T16:44:00.000-07:00

I went back to the first class I took at Beadfest for this week's work. I started out doing simple bangles, wanting to get the bundling down properly, then I started doing some twisting (this is fun stuff!), and did a couple of cuffs as well, then I added in some stones to the top of the bracelets, then did a watch with the technique (it was a productive week!). Fun stuff!

Week 4 - wire ring

2006-10-17T16:51:00.001-07:00

After I took the pictures of this I almost didn't post it, but I decided I had to; its a 'learning' experience. I learned the concepts on how to make this ring, even if I didn't execute it very well, lol! A good portion of the issue was that I couldn't see all that well (eye surgery the end of August); that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Anyway, 'conceptually' in the class we created a double prong ended piece (see week 2's post for my prepping for the class). We then formed the ring using a ring mandel, attached the pronged piece and then wrapped it. Sounds like cake, right? 'Conceptually' not too hard, execution? Needs some serious work, lol!!!

Week 3 - Beaded bangle

2006-10-10T16:05:00.000-07:00

This week's piece is one of my classes from Beadfest. It is so far from being perfect, but it was a great class with a wonderful teacher - Dale Cougar Armstrong. I learned a tremendous amount and can't wait to repeat the process! We used silver and gold wire for this, twisted some of each and then assembled the piece. This is a precision type of process, if done correctly can be beautiful (this is an example of what happens when its not done completely correctly, lol!!).

Week 2 - Double end prong setting

2006-09-30T09:22:00.000-07:00

Continuing with Robbie's book, after doing a few more of the single prong setting, I tackled the double end. This is too much fun! Again, my wire size is larger than recommended so my baskets keep coming out bigger than expected. I have some nice stones but for learning I decided I needed to find an alternative so I don't use them up; the next closest thing to gemstones that I found in my stash are swarovskis. The margaritas and top drilled rounds are poifect for playing with! So I made my basket, put in the crystal and started twisting. I was not going for what I ended up with, but when I got done I just smiled; doesn't it look like a woman with an attitude? :) I stuck a headpin in the hole for a 'nose', she makes me happy! I can see I need to do a little something better for the back, the 'nose' swirl is pretty ugly.

I will be doing more of these, until I get some more gemstones!

New Year of Jewelry 2006-2007

2006-09-25T17:16:00.000-07:00

I've joined the program again. I had to skip the last session of the 2005-2006 year of jewelry because of summer vacation schedules, but its a new year! and new challenges.

I had to bite the bullet; in a week and 1/2 I'm taking two different classes at Beadfest with Robbie:

http://www.lapidaryjournal.com/beadfest/classes/index.cfm?action=class&classid=4167 and
http://www.lapidaryjournal.com/beadfest/classes/index.cfm?action=class&classid=4267

The first one says 'Prior knowledge of setting faceted stones with prongs is helpful' so I bought her book (Obsessions in Wire) and now can say I did one, lol! I'll make sure I do a it a few more times before the class, don't worry Robbie!

This is the first set of instructions in her book 'single end prong basket'. Of course the instructions say to use 24 gauge square and 21 gauge 1/2 round; I had 22 guage square and 20 gauge 1/2 round, sigh... 98,000 kinds of wire, I never seem to have the right stuff! But for my first attempt I'm not totally upset. The stone is 6x8 amethyst (the only thing I actually had the right size of!). I can see this is one of the 'practice practice practice' type of things.... The pictures make this look huge, but its actually only 5/16s by 10/16s (i.e., a little more than 1/4 x 3/4 of an inch).

Super chick bracelet

2006-05-24T04:39:00.000-07:00

Sue Ripsch is the teacher who taught the celtic bracelet class at Jewelry Art Expo that I posted a few weeks ago. She also taught the class for this bracelet. I didn't take the class but it looked fun so I bought the kit (I can see others in my future!). This was fairly easy to do, once you 'got' it. 18 gauge ss in two sizes, once you made the 'flower' you added a swarovski crystal to the center. Fun stuff!

Ice breaker bling

2006-05-14T17:22:00.000-07:00

All I could think of for this week's theme was diamonds; short of that, there are swarovski crystals, so my piece this week has a tad bit of bling. I used three strands of 26 gauge fine sterling silver wire as my base, braiding in varying sizes of crystals. Wedding anyone?

Week 33 - In Celebration of Life

2006-05-08T17:22:00.000-07:00

The theme this week (yes, I'm back on theme!! woohoo!!) is "In Celebration of Life". This could be interpretted many way, but I chose to go in the direction of nature. I created the frame from 16 gauge sterling silver wire, then added the 'bones' of the tree from 20 gauge, and stems from 26 gauge. I took the first picture because in the past when I 'added' to this sort of design I've killed it. In this case I'm actually pleased with the results; I added little peridot chips for leaves, just a touch of color. This is fairly large, 2" x 3", I would probably wear it on a neckwire.

Week 32 - celtic knot chainmaille

2006-04-30T16:41:00.000-07:00

This is the second class I took at Jewelry Art Expo. This one was quite easy and I can't wait to do some more of them when my wire comes in! Sterling silver and gold filled; it could be done with all sterling or all gold, but doing the two tone makes it alot easier to do. I also made a pair of earrings to match (which currently are hiding somewhere). I'll definitely do this again. It lies flat on the arm, a very easywear piece.

Week 31 - The final week

2006-04-23T12:33:00.000-07:00

One week until my open house! This past week's focus was on pricing and some ankle bracelets.

This weekend I went to Jewelry Art Expo and took two different chainmaille classes. Thoroughly enjoyed them! This is the first of the two results, I'm saving the second for next week because there will be no time to make anything. This one is called "Turkish Round'. Its a bold bracelet; I chose the 18 gauge ss rings, we had a choice of 18 or 16, the 16 was just so large, I couldn't see me wearing it! This is very wearable, I'll enjoy it.

Bling and more Bling

2006-04-16T09:00:00.000-07:00

This week's focus for the open house was all things with bling, swarovskis. I love these little shiny crystals, I can't get enough! This is just a small sampling of what I created in this batch, lots of spring colors, in both silver and gold, strung and on beading chain. I did one wired piece so I kept up with the year of jewelry :) this was a quicky, Large swarovskis that fit on the 18 gauge wire, which was then wrapped with 20 gauge.

Week 29 - Lampworks and more lampworks

2006-04-09T06:53:00.000-07:00

This week's focus for my open house was lampworks. I have a couple few thousand (ok, slight exaggeration, but not much). I did a variety of sets, some wireworked, some classic stringing, some gold, some silver, my focus wireworked piece this week is in copper, something new for me. This is a lovely set of lampworks was created by my friend Debbie Givens (ebay seller dgg112). She does great work, and I love the new square press she got! This set of beads is black and ivory and turqouise with goldstone, the goldstone was close enough to copper for me to use copper with it. I played with doing some squiggles on a couple of the pieces, I didn't want to take away from the beauty of the glass. The other is picture is a sample (yes, I was very busy this week) of the classic strung lampworks.

Under the sea

2006-04-02T05:23:00.000-07:00

This week's focus for my open house was all things under the ocean... sponge coral, mother of pearl and pearls, of course. I did a variety of classic strung items, using various colors and focals. For my wireworked piece, I used 26 gauge wire, creamy pearls in various shapes and created groupings of pearl sections that were wired together. Its a delicate piece and yet I think it stands out well! I'll do more of this, it was fun!

week 27 - Watches

2006-03-25T08:05:00.000-08:00

This week's focus on preparing for my open house was on watches. I sell them fairly well, so I
like to have quite a variety. This selection includes double drilled stones and swarovski crystals. I spent one evening working on a wire bracelet, and was quite pleased with my results! I was walking around patting myself on the back until lunch time the next day... when someone posted about ANOTHER wire watch that someone had done... and didn't allow for battery changing... as that was said I look down at my lovely new watch and realized, I DID THE SAME THING, ACH!!!

Week 26 - Sterling silver earrings

2006-03-19T08:29:00.000-08:00

This week's concentration was on sterling silver earrings. Some will look familiar, I used similar designs for some from last week's gold earrings for silver. This week I added in some simple chainmaille earrings, 'shaggy loops' and 'flowers'.

Week 25 - Gold filled earrings

2006-03-11T07:58:00.000-08:00

I've scheduled my spring open house for april 29th, so everything I do between now and then is geared towards filling in my inventory. This week I worked on gold filled earrings. These are a few examples of what I created using 18 and 20 gauge wire with stones and swarovski crystals. Simple, wearable, everyday earrings. First picture from left to right vasuvinite, kyanite, swarovskis, second picture amethyst, citrine, swarovskis. for the smaller hoops I used 20 gauge wire, and formed it around a fat pen, for the larger hoops I used 18 gauge wire, forming it around my hammer head. I used a variety of items to finish the hoops, in some I use chain, some jump rings. For the citrine set I wirewrapped the 18 gauge with 26 gauage. I love the look but it takes forever!! I try to vary the designs so they aren't all the same.

Week 24 - Atlantis sunrise

2006-03-05T11:11:00.000-08:00

This week I wanted to try a wrapped pendant. The frame is 16 gauge sterling silver, the focal bead is a chunk of amazonite. The rest of the beads are swarovskis; I should have added some other natural stones. The wirewrapping was done with 26 gauge ss wire, the challenge was to use one continuous piece of wire for the wrapping. It was kind of fun, I'll do this again! Top is the back, bottom is the front. I need to see some other examples to understand how the filling is is really done, lol!!

Week 23 - Paradise

2006-03-02T05:08:00.000-08:00

When I think of paradize, I think of the ocean, beautiful blues, etc. This week's theme made me think of this lovely polymer clay piece an artist friend of mine (Nina Owens) created last year. I decided to play with it for this week's piece. I was attempting to give her 'hair' and earrings with the wireworked pieces, it didn't quite come out has I envisioned, but she still makes me smile!

Week 22 - Venetian gold

2006-02-21T18:41:00.000-08:00

I gave up torturing myself with this week's theme, it was 'A home for jewelry when not being worn'. I couldn't come up with a thing, so I went with a comfort zone piece (I'm in the guts of working on my taxes, not enough hours to play!). This piece has six beautiful venetian glass beads from Bella Venetian Glass; the focal and two top pieces are twists, the middle pieces look like waves. I've added in vintage swarovskis, simple jump ring 'chain'. Coordinating earrings with gold filled charms. This is a dressy piece.

Braided cuff - week 21

2006-02-15T16:34:00.000-08:00

Week 21s theme was 'I love star wars', but I didn't really have time to work on something for the theme; I made this piece a couple of weeks ago anticipating I wasn't going to have time after coming back from Tucson. This is my first attempt at a braided cuff. It was actually easier than I thought; 1/2 round and twisted sterling wire were braided together. The challenge was the ends, I wasn't realy sure what to do with them, lol! I made an oval and tucked the ends in, but it isn't very clean. I need to find another way before I do another; an option is to solder, but a torch and I are not friends. I wasn't unhappy with this other than the ends, and its a little big!

Week 20 This heart's for you

2006-02-05T14:28:00.000-08:00

Valentine's is coming, evidently it influenced this week's suggested theme. I'm preparing for Tucson so this one was a quicky. 18 gauge ss bent into heart shapes, hammered, then attached with jump rings to cherry quartz pieces. Quick and easy.

Ooolala - week 19

2006-01-28T07:00:00.000-08:00

Week 19's theme is 'Something French'. When I heard this, I thought of oolala, something sexy, etc. I did some research and found French designs were so much more, but I had this in my head so that's the way I went. This piece is made with an 18 gauge gold filled wire base, bent into a 'v' shape and little dips on the side for adding the 'flowers'. Purchased chain completes the neck. I created the 'flowers' from 26 gauge gold filled wire with ruby colored swarovski crystals in various shapes; I see I should have reshaped the smaller ones, they've rather lost their petal shapes, but you get the idea. I hung a multistrand gold filled connector below the large flower to hang additional pieces from, and then added another piece of purchased chain to complete the sexy look (in my eyes anyway), with the addition of ruby swars hanging from the chain. I wasn't unhappy with this based on the theme, not sure how wearable it is!

Nancy

Week 18 - Oriental Express

2006-01-18T17:38:00.000-08:00

This week's theme is 'oriental express'. I'm not if this has an oriental flair to everyone but it sort of does for me :) I made a similar pair of earrings for my friend Irene, her daughter wore them for her brother's wedding (I was pleased)! I liked the design then, I decided to do something similar, hanging black swarovski pearls. I got these done early, and decided to try a similarly designed necklace. Two different sized 'flower' pieces (I'm not sure what else to call the four circle twists), in 18 gauge sterling silver, with a handmade chain.

I'm early with this piece but I'm having my lasik surgery tomorrow and I'm not sure when I can get back on the 'puter!

'Leaves' - week 17

2006-01-15T14:53:00.000-08:00

This week's theme was one that called to me, I said cooel, I've been wanting to try to create a frame to fill in, similar to a goddess pin I had made last year. I took a rubber stamped image and used it to create a frame dead soft 20 gauge wire, then created the veins from 24 gauge wire. I was pleased with how that part came out (picture 1). That's where it started to go downhill; my first plan was to fill the frame with semi-precious stones. I got it partially filled in and hated it (picture 2). So I took the stones back out. When I had done the goddess it was filled in with seed beads, I didn't really want to do that but i couldn't think of what else to do. So, I started filling it in with two colors of green, a solid darker for the interior, a metallic exterior. I had such high hopes... you know how you go through your design process and envision how something is going to come out? This ain't it, sigh... but I spent so damned much time on it its this week's piece, a 'learning' experience.... I had intended to hang this on a neckwire that I was going to make and add additional pieces to it, but its gotten all the time its going to get. Fortunately when I started to do the seedbeads I knew I wasn't going to have enough 26 gauge sterling silver so I used some base metal gold wire - I didn't waste anymore sterling!

Week 16 - Asymmetrical design

2006-01-05T04:57:00.000-08:00

This week's theme is an 'asymmetrical design'. I thought, no problem! I did some quick research and found the following definition:

Definition: Asymmetrical design is typically off-center or created with an odd or mismatched number of disparate elements. When the left and right sides of the design are unequal it is said to have asymmetrical balance.

I had decided to try a pendant design several people on the creative wire jewelry group have been experimenting with, based on a tutorial one of our members had published in Step by Step Wire Magazine - http://www.stepbystepwire.com/wire/fwpendant.cfm

The pendant defined the rest of my design, using a Thai fish as my focal, and going with colors of the ocean stones. I'm still not sure if this is 'done'. I solicited input from Laura, who suggested it needed more balance on the right side, so I added the strands of seed beads, but I'm still not sure if it was 'enough'. This piece contains a myriad of materials, including amazonite, aquamarine, blue topaz, opalite, crystal quartz, czech glass, sterling silver, Thai silver, and more!

Nancy

Week 15 - Chunky cha cha bracelet

2006-01-02T06:05:00.000-08:00

The 'theme' for week 15 was art nouveau. I researched but really couldn't come up with anything that would fit the suggested theme; fortunately the theme is just a suggestion!

Recently I won several orphan lots of lampworks on ebay, these square beads were in one of those lots. I thought they were rather interesting! The base is a smoky gray, with white and a touch of brown, very wintery looking. I found some coordinating rounds in light and dark gray in my stash, and added swarovskis in black diamond, topaz, crystal ab and white opal. Between the wirewrapped lampworks I made S hooks for hanging the various wirewrapped pieces. A simple S hook closure completes it. Its a fun piece to wear!

Week 14 - Eni style bracelet for an elephant

2005-12-31T07:46:00.000-08:00

The first piece I did for the YOJ is an Eni style bracelet (http://www.enioken.com/). I purchased her CD earlier this year through a buy on one of the groups I belong to. I had reviewed it at the time and set it aside for another day. Two days before christmas I found myself without any orders to work on, no christmas presents to make, so I decided I could play! I pulled out the CD and reviewed it again. The coiled bangle really attracted me; it's the more advanced piece on the CD but I decided I could do it. Reading through the instructions, it states you need 26 and 28 gauge wire for wrapping; I didn't have those gauges, but I do have 22 and 24. No big deal, eh? Ok, big deal, but I didn't realize it until I was just about done. I followed the instructions pretty much to the letter, except when I started to do my wrapping I said why the heck would she only use a couple of feet? After wrapping for a few minutes I realized why, I had a tangled mess of wire, argh!!! So I cut it and continued on with the smaller length, that made a world of difference. The process was rather therapuetic. Unfortunately, when I got it done, my size 7 1/4 bracelet was a size 8. Evidently the thicker wire prohibited me from scrunching up the design to the correct length. Oh well, it was a learning experience, and I rather enjoyed it! I now have other wire on order, I'll do it again when I have the proper materials. This is made with sodalite and sterling silver. This piece took about 12 hours to complete. I had someone contact me, wanting to trade for it (I took that as quite a complement), however, I declined, because I see quite a few booboos that don't show up in the crappy picture I took (really have to get better at this!).

Testing adding a picture

2005-12-29T09:27:00.000-08:00

I will need to be able to add pictures of my work to this blog as I create them for the 'Year of Jewelry' (aka YOJ), so this is a test of that piece of the puzzle.

My first blog post

2005-12-29T08:56:00.000-08:00

Yes, I've joined the ranks of bloggers. Why? It's part of the process. I'm participating in a jewelry group 'challenge' for a better word, with a goal of learning more about designing jewelry with wire as the focal medium. As part of the process the group suggests is keeping blog, or diary, of the experience as I learn. So here it is, my first blog post!

Nancy VT
www.drapedinjewelry.com