Pearls and Crystals

Here's a necklace and earrings set that I made that will shortly go up in my Etsy store, Essential Adornment. It features large diamond shaped freshwater cultured pearls, sterling silver, and large Swarovski crystals. This is the only time I've found pearls this color blue. The color is gorgeous, plus there is enough iridescence that the pearls will go with more colors than blue. I'm really happy with the way it turned out.

My New Earrings

I've been subbing long term for a teacher since the 31st of January. The job will finish the 9th of April. During this time I haven't been able to get much jewelry done, but I did do these earrings. Above are pearls dangling from textured copper rings with sterling silver wire. The rings started their life as washers and I pounded them with a hammer to texture them. These and the opal glass ones below are inspired by Sharilyn Miller. The opal glass ones have been antiqued. The antiquing gives the copper a nice rose gold look.

These are clear sparkling CZ drops with sterling silver in a twisted bird nest wrap. I love these cubic zirconia and have them in several colors.

Lava is kind of a new bead on the market. I imagine it is hard to polish it. Here I've made a spiral for the front.




These are wrapped in sterling silver wire.

crocheting with wire

I've just started crocheting with wire and have made a few bracelets and a necklace. Here are some of the bracelets:





The three bracelets on the right were crocheted with 24 gauge Artistic Wire and freshwater pearls or seed beads. I probably wouldn't want to crochet with anything heavier than 24 gauge. Lots of people use 28 gauge, but I wanted a studier bracelet.



I have collected several jewelry crochet books. Crocheted Wire Jewelry is one of my favorites. The instructions are clear and well-written. I like it that several of the projects are unusual and very creative. I especially liked the cube pendant and the earrings made with tiny stitches. Every time I look at the book I get ideas for my own designs. The hairpin lace designs are gorgeous.

Quadrangle

It's crunch time as I try to finish up a few more things and get all my gear ready for my first fall show. Naturally it's raining, so I won't be able to waterproof the canopy as I had planned.

This weekend I'll be at the Quadrangle in Texarkana, USA. For those who aren't aware, Texarkana is on the border literally between Texas and Arkansas. Even the show will straddle the border. Here are some wire bracelets that I've been working on:

My aunt and cousin, of Tejas Trade, will also be showing with their jewelry.

Nose to the Grindstone

I don't know what's been wrong with me this summer, but I've had a real problem getting any jewelry work done. I have been learning some new techniques. I did finally get a website up, but I'm way off the mark on production. Yikes! My biggest shows are coming up in September and October. I need to make money. This is my job, or at least the main one.

Finally I've finished some pieces with wire worked donuts. These are all necklaces sets and there are matching bracelets.