New Etsy Listings...

I just listed my "Heart In Motion" necklace and matching earrings and my "Blue Skies" necklace and matching earrings in my Etsy shop - check them out!

"Heart In Motion"

"Blue Skies"

Deryn Mentock's Jewelry Challenge Project #16: "Moving Parts Necklace"

"Heart In Motion"

Voila! I just finished Project #16: "Moving Parts Necklace" in Mary Hettmansberger's book, "Wrap, Stitch, Fold & Rivet" for Deryn Mentock's Jewelry Challenge, and loved the project so much that I ended up making three different versions of the project.

The techniques used for this project are:

• Applying heat-treated patinas
• Drawing a bead on wire

The materials I used aren't exactly what Mary recommended, but I have been holding on to a variety of brass lamp banding, and they seemed perfect for this project.

The first thing I did for "Heart In Motion" was to create the heart base by shaping the banding into the heart shape and then soldering the ends together at the bottom of the piece. I used copper wire threaded through the body of the heart and threaded various silver-toned beads onto the wire. Then, instead of drawing a bead on the other side of the heart, I decided to create loops that I could hang metal spacers from. I like the movement the spacers add to the piece.

The centerpiece hangs from a handmade chain that incorporates brass, copper and steel/silver to tie in the components of the heart.

Below are two other versions of the project, also using brass lamp banding and various beads. Take a look and let me know what you think!

Deryn Mentock's Jewelry Challenge Project #11: "Tin Lid Pin"

YEA!!! I have finally finished the next project, Project #11: "Tin Lid Pin", in Mary Hettmansperger's book, Wrap, Stitch, Fold & Rivet for Deryn Mentock's Summer Jewelry Challenge. It was so nice to have a few hours to sit still and create - life can get so busy, can't it?

The techniques shown in the example are:

• Forging wire
• Doing a sumac weave
• Making wire-wrapped loops
  

For the base, I used a lid from a Starbuck's beverage that I heat-treated and sanded. I then drilled a whole lot of holes in the lid - my lid was bigger than the example, so I had 37 of them!

I then found the objects for the center design of the piece and riveted them together:

• an aerator screen from a faucet - heat treated
• a mirror rosette, pounded flat and colored with alcohol ink, then riveted to the center of the piece and manipulated to resemble flower petals

Following the instructions, I threaded wire through each hole from the back that had been forged on one end, stopping the wire from pulling all the way through. Then I proceeded to weave 28-gauge wire around the piece until I was h appy with the depth of the weave. I secured the ends of the wire and pounded the piece flat, making sure to first secure the 37 wire ends on the underside of the piece with a piece of adhesive-backed copper sheet.

What resulted was a pendant/ornament that looks great hanging in my workroom window - on to the next project!

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Deryn Mentock's Summer Jewelry Challenge Project #10: "Riveted Chain Mail Bracelet"

Last week I worked on the 10th project in Mary Hettmansperger's book, Wrap, Stitch, Fold & Rivet for Deryn Mentock's Summer Jewelry Challenge. I am pleased with the outcome, and even went so far as to create a necklace and earrings to go with the bracelet.

The techniques shown in the example are:

• Texturing with an awl


• Drilling holes


• Applying heat-treated patinas


• Using liver of sulphur patina


• Installing rivets


• Adding jump rings


• Making chain mail

OK...at this point I feel that I must admit something to all of you: chain mail is really not a strength of mine. And it is not from lack of trying - believe me! After trying to follow the directions for this project, I have come to the conclusion that I just plain don't have the capacity or patience to connect the pieces the way the example in the book is constructed. As you can see, I made up my own version of the jump ring linkage, and this is pretty much as good as it is going to get! :-)

I did cover most of the techniques in my pieces: drilling holes (lots of drilling involved!), applying heat-treated patinas, installing rivets and adding jump rings, but I would say that the "chain mail" part of my pieces is questionable at best...

I used heat-treated etched copper as my base, and instead of using metal for small circles for the 2nd layer per the example, I used small hand-cut leather flowers. I really like the juxtaposition of the materials and the texture the leather brings to the pieces.


So there it is...my riveted set of "almost chain-mail jewelry". C'est la vie!
























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Summer Jewelry Challenge: Project #9

I have been working on Project #9 on and off for a couple of weeks now, and I finally have something to show for it! This was definitely the hardest one for me so far, as I went into it with a definite vision of how I wanted the piece to look, and I went through a lot of metal before I resigned myself to the fact that if I wanted to actually complete the piece, I was going to have to go with what I had. With that said, I did end up with two versions of the project: the first one looks more like the version in the book, and the second one concentrates more on the "cut-out" area and how to fill that negative space. All in all, I am happy with both pieces. I was really excited to use some beads that I bought from a wonderful etsy vendor, gypsywoman (her shop is great for beautiful vintage beads).

We are off to Tucson tomorrow for a gig with my son's band, Two Days Til Tomorrow. They are opening up for Fireflight and Downcast Fable, and it should be a great concert! If you are in the area, they will be playing at:

Tucson Community Church

4950 West Pima Farms Road

Tucson, Arizona 85741

Cost : $10 - (480) 812-1100 for ticket info

All in all, life is pretty darn good!

Summer Jewelry Challenge: Project #8

Between waiting for layers to dry on the mosaic project I am working on, I decided to work on the 8th project in Deryn Mentock's Summer Jewelry Challenge: "Silver Watch Bracelet". My version, however, does not include a watch, as I didn't have any on hand. Instead, I used found objects, etched copper and one of my fused glass cabochons. The result is a very eclectic bracelet with a lot of eyelets and patina.

In addition to the bracelet, I wanted to share some pictures of the progress I am making on the mosaic. The piece is 18" in diameter, and features what will be a very colorful butterfly. Surrounding the butterfly will be clear broken and grouted glass covering decoupaged definitions of the word "hope". I have decoupaged the definitions down, sealed the paper and then antiqued those areas to add some visual interest. Right now, I am letting the decoupage medium and sealant cure for a couple of days to ensure it has a tight seal before I start gluing on the glass.

So...back to work - I'm going to start with the colored glass this evening!

Summer Jewelry Challenge Project #7

Here is my version of project #7: "Woven Windows Pin" from Deryn Mentocks Summer Jewelry Challenge. I decided to do a pendant instead of the pin, and I think at some point I might do some matching earrings. I ended up sealing the actual woven part of the pendant with a triple-thick glossy glaze, as the paper I wove in between the copper strips needed to have a little more support and structure so it didn't come apart. I think the gloss adds another dimension to the layers, and makes it a little more interesting.

I'm going to have to slow down a bit as I was commissioned to design and construct a mosaic piece for our local Breast Cancer awareness organization's auction to raise money for the upcoming 3-day/60-mile walk. I am going to design a piece centered around the word "hope", as I believe that hope combined with faith is what helps women become survivors of this disease.

Summer Jewelry Challenge Project #6

I've now finished project #6: "Mixed Metal Earrings" from Deryn Mentocks Summer Jewelry Challenge. This one was a little challenging for me, as I have a difficult time getting the earrings to come out to be the same length. The process, however, is really enjoyable - I love the look of layers on layers as well as incorporating found objects into these projects.

On to #7...

Summer Jewelry Challenge Project #5

Here it is - project #5: "Wrapped Beads Necklace" from Deryn Mentocks Summer Jewelry Challenge. For the base of the pendant, I used an old leafy copper brooch I found while "junking" in a thrift store a couple of years ago. I took off the pin backing, and flattened and heat-treated it and then formed it into the pod shape. I added natural looking red, yellow, turquoise, silver and copper beads for color, and wrapped it all up with copper wire.

I'm having fun learning these new techniques! This challenge is motivating me to figure out how to make each of these pieces my own while still completing the processes described for each piece.

On to the next piece!

Summer Jewelry Challenge - Project #4

I just finished the 4th project for Deryn Mentock's Summer Jewelry Challenge last night. It took me a long time to find just the right materials to use, but I am very happy with the result.

My goal with these projects has been to use what I've got on hand and not have to buy anything new (except maybe eventually wire). In doing this, it has forced me to dig around in all the corners and drawers of my workshop to find all the treasures I have hidden there.

Last year I started putting together assemblage jewelry pieces, and I bought a large lot of old sewing machine metal tags and parts on ebay (really, people will sell just about anything online - lucky for me!). I know this sounds odd, but the tags are really unique and colorful. OK - so I've had these tags for about 9 months and haven't used them in any of my projects up until now.

I was a little blocked as to what materials I was going to use for this particular piece, and after trying various sheet metal arrangements, I started digging. I pulled out some of the old machine plates and tags and the pendant just fell into place.

In the pictures you can see that I used a plate for the main part of the piece, and then used a tag folded over the top of the plate to make the bail. I turned the plate to the back side and filed off the grime and then stamped a design on it with an ink pad specifically made for stamping on metal (honestly, after using this ink pad, I still like Staz-On the best). I then added an old beat up watch face that I stamped on as well, copper wire and a key charm. The charm at the bottom is (yet again) made up of vintage jewelry parts.

I wasn't sure what to hang the pendant on, so last night I decided to make the chain myself using high-temp steel wire that comes with its own aged patina for the s-hooks. Generally I use this wire when I am fusing wire bails into my fused glass pieces, but the wire is really strong and I like working with it a lot. The jump rings are sterling wire that I fused closed, and, when torch fused, they took on the same aged patina.

So there you go...on to the next project!

Summer Jewelry Challenge Project #3

Here it is: my 3rd project from Deryn Mentock's Summer Jewelry Challenge: "Shelf Necklace". I decided to go back to the vintage-y look with this one, and used an old belt link as the base, which I heat colored and then textured. For the beads I took apart a couple of old vintage necklaces and combined those beads with some others I had lying around here and an antique button. The result is a very "girly" piece that makes me smile. :-)

Onward to the next one while I still have a couple of free days before it is mosaic time again!

Summer Jewelry Challenge Project #2

So here we go - my second project from Deryn Mentock's Summer Jewelry Challenge: "Folded Earrings". These look deceivingly simple, but I had a difficult time getting all the pieces and parts working together. When I finally finished, though, I am really pleased with how they turned out.

I used copper sheeting, copper wire, sterling wire, vintage necklace pieces and parts, and sterling again for the earwires.

I have so enjoyed sharing in this challenge with these amazingly talented artists: Beth Bricker, Diane Cook and Deborah Truesdell, and of course, Deryn Mentock herself.

OK...off to project #3!

Deryn Mentock's Summer Jewelry Challenge: Project #1

One of my favorite jewelry artists, Deryn Mentock, has issued a jewelry challenge for this summer. We will be working, project by project, through Mary Hettmansperger's book, Wrap, fold, Stitch & Rivet (see picture). I have decided to take the challenge! This will give me some jewelry projects to work on between a couple of big mosaic projects coming up.

So here it is: My first project! This is the "Stacked Spinner Necklace". I really enjoyed the process with this piece, and am learning more and more about working with metals. I used brass for the base, copper, aluminum mesh and copper mesh for the raw materials, and I am really happy with how it turned out.

On to the next project!