A Year of Jewelry by Beth

This is the last week for the fall season of the Four Seasons of Jewelry Project. The theme is Second Thoughts. I have definately had second thoughts about posting this pair of earrings. The earrings were inspired by earlier projects by other Four Season artist. As I was working on the project the Step by Step Wire Magazine came out and a similar project was in this issue.  I looked at what I was creating and stepped back from it.  Originally I planned to add another layer of dangles but changed my mind because they were already becoming too long for my taste.  When I wore them I found that at a glimse they resembled a noose…

 I do love the square glass beads and wanted to show them off.  I think these earrings do that but the craftsmanship on them is not up to standards.  I will rework these to give them a better finish in the connections.  Because I was not proud of the workmanship on these I had almost decided not to post this picture… but after evaluating the purpose for my participation in this project I decided that my growth as an artisan was more important than my… uhhh… pride is maybe the word I’m looking for.  I think the earrings are a good design but the connection of the lower loop needs to be reworked.

(Just an added note… I reworked the connection and was more pleased with how it looked overall… however before I could take a picture of the reworked earrings, my cat took off with one and I have yet to find it.)

Photography is still the biggest challenge for me.  This piece uses 14k gold chain  with flat rectangles on every other link and purchased clip back pierce earrings.  The pink swarvski crystals add the touch of elegance that adds to the beauty of the chain.  These swing and pick up the light as one moves their head.  They would be great for a night out on the town'’  

I was on a roll so I also created this blue swarvski crystal and plain sterling silver chain earrings in a similar style.   The french earwires were created from my own headpins with the ends beaded in a butane torch.  I really love creating the headpins this way.  A little trick I learned reading the CWJ postings…. Thank you, all.   

I spent a lot of time this past week and a half working on a commission for one of my customers.  She wanted ankle bracelets for her nieces. They are to be a simple chain and then one charm specifically for each girl. The chain I chose is easily adjusted to make them smaller. The chain is sterling silver and alternates a large oval with a small figure 8 link. They can also be changed into a bracelet by simply hooking into another link farther down the chain and cutting off the access, if that is what they prefer.  I am in love with this chain and wish I had purchased more at the gem show.  It is sturdy yet with a bit of delicacy so it works for the ankle and wrist alike. I spent more time finding the charms than I did in putting them together.  I started out attaching the charms using a figure 8 connector that went through the chain and then the charm.  2 of them (the butterfly and the teddy bear were dressed up a bit using crystal beads in a light blue. The figure 8 on these became elongated to accomidate the bead. They were completed with a shapely S hook that continues the figure 8 theme

I am not following theme this week. The theme is Critters, and although I might want to create some spiders… I am working to build an inventory for people at work to look at.

Here is the piece I did for week 10…. A simple yet elegant look. Freshwater pearls in 2 shapes, coins and potato.  I know that I need to work on my wrapped connectors.  The lower coin pearl on the one earring has 1 less wrap than the the other.  This makes it look sloppy and less than I wanted it to be.  But I do love these pearls. I have mastered the ear wires and am able to be consistent in creating them over and over. 

I don’t usually work in gold.  But here you have it.  I purchased some 20G gold fill wire.  And I really feel that this piece would not have the same impact with silver, athough the focal bead, Japanese lampwork, does have some silver and some copper in it.  The square beads are blue moon, but I may change out the focal bead… Not sure that I am completely sold on how it combines with the rectangle beads and I think I’d like to use it with some black beads… and silver… The band of gold and silver is verticle and the rectangle beads lay horizontal… I don’t know… maybe it just makes it stand out more.

It is lovely and very comfortable the way it is.  I am going to be on the lookout for something that works even better.  But for now… It is what it is and is very nice.  

Week 8 has come and gone and I have nothing to show for it…. Argh!!
I didn’t get a piece completed this week.  I have a bracelet that I am working on but haven’t been home much this week.  Because it is dark when I get off work, I have been staying an hour and a half later most of this week and getting a ride home with my DH.  I leave in the morning at 8:45 and get home around 8:00.   This hasn’t left me much free time after putting together a supper and then reading emails and and and…. well you get the idea. I lost my weekend in a manner of speaking but it was jewelry related.  There was a Bead Show in Pittsburgh this past weekend and I worked for the people running the show both days…. Saturday 8-5 and Sunday 9:30-6.  Boy did my feet hurt.  I’m used to sitting most of the day.  But working the show meant I was on my feet the whole time.  Oh I sat briefly as I gulped down the sandwich that I ordered for lunch.  I really did enjoy the show and the fast pace and brisk sales kept the day from dragging.  I worked for beads.  My payment for the 2 days gave me purchasing power to buy tools, books and beads to my hearts content and I did take advantage of the $200 credit I had worked for.  Oh, it made it all worth while… but I didn’t have time then to complete a piece of jewelry for this week 8.  I will continue my work on the bracelet and finish it for my submission on Week 9.  I’ll see if I can come up with something more… but if not I am not going to beat myself up… I got a lot to show for this week by putting in my 17 hours over 2 day earning lots of jewelry

I'’m on a head on collision with Christmas.  This week my thoughts have been directed toward building my inventory to sell Christmas gifts.  I usually do jewelry but am doing up some key chains, bookmarks (book thongs) and other sundry items.  The highlight of the week was selling a necklace and earring set to a friend at work.  It was just in time to let me send in an order for wire and metal beads so that I can build that inventory.  Hard thing to do without the supplies…  I have several orders for anklets and other pieces for holiday gifts so I will be working on these first off. 

This week has been one of growth and learning. I think because I am so new at this that everything I do is a learning experience. So that would explain it. Two of my favorite gem stones, turquoise and pearls, were used to create this delicate piece.  Yet it has just a bit of a rough edge…

Each charm is unique and adds a bit of playfulness. The pearls add a touch of class while the rough turquoise nuggets keep this piece from taking itself to seriously. The size of the piece makes this feel delicate while it still has a substantial size.  I enjoyed working with the sterling silver and it was good practice to create all the links. I think I got a bit carried away with the decoration on the focal bead (recognize the beads from the inspiration piece. Scroll down) but I think it enhanced the overall look. All in all I was pleased with what I learned from this piece and will enjoy wearing it. This bracelet will be kept for me. 

I think turquoise is one of my favorite stones, next to maybe the pearl and lapis that I used in last weeks piece. 

I worked on this bracelet and earrings a while back. They feature large rectangular turquoise beads and my wire charms. Turquoise folklore suggests that spiritual attunement, cleansing, healing, protection, valor, soothing, peace of mind, guidance through the unknown, romantic spontaneity are beneficial properties of this beautiful stone. For this weeks project I want to do something similar with some turquoise chips that I purchases.  They are smaller so there will be more charms needed.  Maybe I’ll add a couple pearls to the turquoise…hmmmm  

Lapis Lazuli: Wisdom, Intuition, awareness, objectivity, clarity, creativity, expanded consciousness, dreams, purity, courage, serenity.

Pearl: Purity, faith, charity, innocence, integrity, focus, wisdom, spirituality, sincerity, fertility.

I combined lapis and freshwater pearls in a bracelet with links of sterling silver.  The lapis and pearls were purchased at the last Intergem show a few months back.  It really boggles my mind sometimes that I start with wire and beads and create from these simple elements something very beautiful.

The bracelet is delicate and just the right balance of beads and wire.  The S-hook closure is simple yet works because the simplicity.  When I finished the bracelet I decided to also do earrings to complete a set.  I am happy with the wraps on the links, but there were a couple that I couuld have done better.  Practice, practice, practice….

The photograph is not as well done as I would like.  the light above the jewelry is reflected in the lapis ovals and is distracting to me.  But the color and detail in the laps stones does show, so for that I am pleased.