Bella Crafts Creative Team First Blog Post: Copper Wire Butterfly Bracelet Tutorial

Today is my first blog post for the Bella Crafts Creative Team - woo-hoo!  I wrote a tutorial for this copper wire butterfly bracelet, and you can check out the whole story on their blog here.

A Couple More For My Etsy Shop...

Just a quick post to share two new items for sale in my etsy shop:

"Just Peace"

"This beautiful copper enameled peace sign is a little rough around the edges, showing the unique effects of torch-firing with lavender enamel. It measures approximately 1.75" in diameter, and hangs on an 18" brown leather cord."

 

"Musical Heart"

"This beautiful and versatile necklace features a pendant made from a 1.5" w x 2" h patinaed and sealed copper cross that has been etched with a unique collage design, hanging from an 18" black leather cord."

 

Happy shopping!

Copper Wire Jewelers Online Magazine: Issue #3

Hi all!  If you haven't already, take a few minutes and look through this beautiful online magazine featuring some fantastic artists, as well as some great articles on the  business side of jewelry: Copper Wire Jewelers:  Issue #3.

I have a piece in the publication that I'd like to share with you called "Tide Pool":

 

The inspiration for this set comes from a visit to Key West some years ago. I remember worn and peeling paint on rows of pastel colored homes with decks overlooking the ocean. Each peeled-off paint chip was a work of art in itself, revealing years of color upon color as the cottage was reinvented by successive owners.

I pictured weathered Adirondack chairs on the back porches where they could sit and drink iced tea as they watched treasure hunters stoop to pick up shells washed up on the  beach.

With that memory as my inspiration, I wanted to create the same weathered beauty in my jewelry. I started with layers of torch-fired enamel to build up the color on the copper that I chipped off and re-fired, revealing the copper and other color layers underneath the top layer as they all melted together.

 
The center of the pendant features beautiful aqua blue enamel with a small shell encased in ICE Resin.  The result is exactly what I had hoped it would be: a weathered set that is comfortable to wear and is as casual as an afternoon in Key West.

I will have this set up in my Etsy shop soon now!

:-)