Persephone

About this design:

I was sorting through my stock, organizing and throwing away trash and wrappings, when I got the idea for this piece. The left side started out as a piece of 18 Gauge Solid Sterling wire that I couldn't quite get all the kinks out of, so I curled the ends and hammered it flat, then wove 26 Gauge Solid Sterling wire and tiny Garnet Rounds around it, because they reminded me of pomegranate seeds. It turned out very branchlike-the pictures can't quite capture the red of the garnets, unfortunately.

The right side is two strands of Solid Sterling Round Chain repurposed from bracelets, and one strand of links made using Solid Sterling Eyepins and alternating between Bali Sterling Spacers with Faceted Garnet Rounds and Swarovski Crystal pearls in Burgundy with a Bali Sterling spacer between the pearls. They attach to the back pieces of Solid Sterling chain with a Twisted Pattern Closed Solid Sterling Ring.


The focal is a Vintage Button made of MoonGlow glass that featured a woman in profile, which I turned into a pendant using 20 Gauge Solid Sterling wire.

The clasp is a two- Strand Solid Sterling clasp from SAKI Silver that I purchased on Etsy.

Components:

Solid Sterling Silver Wire in 18, 20, and 26 Gauge; Various types of Solid Sterling Silver Chain; SAKI Sterling Silver Toggle; Solid Sterling Silver Eyepins and JumpRings; Tiny Garnet Rounds; Small faceted Garnet Rounds; Bali Sterling Spacers; Swarovski Crystal Pearls in Burgundy; Vintage MoonGlow Glass Button

Bluebird of Happiness

The necklace I made using the little polymer birdie I created and showed on here earlier. =^__^=

I handforged the circles using 12 Gauge Copper Wire, ran the Artisan Copper blank through the BigKick and punched three holes, then sanded the back of the holes to make them smooth and Patinated the piece using Vintaj Patinas in a mix of Verdigris, Marble, and Jade. I then dapped it on the dapping block for a curved appearance. I also made the oval JumpRings holding the connector and the Headpin using 16 Gauge Artisan Copper Wire. I am really pleased with how this one came out.

Components:

Blue/Teal Sari Silk, SAKI Bronze Cones, Rough faceted Aquamarine Nuggets, Amazonite Rounds, Toho or Miyuki Seedbeeds in Blackberry, Swarovski Crystals, 12 Gauge Copper Wire, 16, 20, and 24 Gauge Vintaj Artisan Copper Parawire, Vintaj Artisan Copper Blank, Acorn Bead Caps, and Teensy Leaf Charm, Solid Copper Oval Chain, Vintaj Patina, Blue Chalcedony Lightly Faceted Briolette, Handmade (by me)Polymer Birdie

Polymer Pendants: Phase Three-Complete!

Yay, they're finished! The front sides have approximately 3 coats of Gloss Glaze, and the back sides have 1 or 2 coats. There's also a third pendant I worked on using the Pearl Kato clay and Lisa Pavelka craft foil, then fixed three cut out flowers covered in Blue-Green-Purple PearlEx to that, and three tiny flower centers coated with Aztec Gold PearlEx to those, using Liquid Polyclay. I like the way they turned out, especially the birdie! =^__^=

Polymer Pendants: Phase Two

The pendants again, fresh out of the oven! The colors have blended and tempered down a little, and once they have cooled, I will be applying a glaze and they will be done! Huzzah! =^__^=

Polymer Pendants: Phase One

Two little polymer clay pendants I made using Pearl colored Kato Polyclay. The birdie has PearlEx in Aztec Gold, Blue-Green-Purple, and Micropearl applied strategically all over, while the heart has Lisa Pavelka Craft foil applied, then was topped with a finish of Green-Blue-Purple PearlEx. These just went in the oven! I'll be taking pictures and posting as each stage is complete. =^__^=

Awash: An Exercise in Wire and Glass

I purchased these gorgeous Lampwork beads on eBay from a Self Representing Artist named 5436hollie, and was so delighted with them, I just had to make a necklace right away! I got to work making the components to showcase such pretty beads, and am relatively pleased with the bohemian nature of the result.

 Wow, this piece took a lot of work! I handmade the links and connector piece using Vintaj Artisan Copper wire in 16 Gauge,hammered and textured them, then wrapped them with 24 Gauge of the same. I used the garden gate clasp from my Practice Clasps, and the rest just unfolded! Pardon my pictures, I'm tired and just got off of work. =^__^=

Components:

Amazonite Rounds, Aventurine Shard Beads, Green/Blue Faceted Crystal Pendant, Swarovski Crystals from the Seabreeze Mix, Vintaj Artisan Copper Leaf Charm and Parawire in 16 and 24 Gauge, Lots of Solid Copper mother-and-child chain, Solid Copper UFO beads, Solid Copper Etched BeadCaps, Solid Copper oval JumpRings, Headpins and Eyepins, Artisan Lampwork beads

Two Hearts Clasp

A clasp I made using Vintaj Round Parawire in Artisan Copper. I formed the loops and heart shapes; then hammered where necessary and textured with my texturing hammer, wrapped the ends of he "Eye" part, and looped up the end for the hook on the other component. Turned out fairly well for an idea I had right as I was falling asleep last night!

Practice Clasps

Working on making some handmade clasps. I'm going to try making these a few more times, but I think they turned out interesting enough to share. The wrapped one was easy, I had done toggle rings like that before, but I got the idea for the bar from http://atelierworkroom.blogspot.com/2010/09/make-your-own-toggle-clasp-part-ii.html

It really helped with how to make a toggle bar! I used Round Vintaj Parawire in Artisan Copper in 20 Gauge for both parts.

The second one is an adapted form of http://artbeadscene.blogspot.com/2011/04/garden-gate-clasp-tutorial.html

I used square Vintaj Parawire in Artisan Copper for it, and hammered it with a texture hammer for a more rustic look. The gauges were 18 for the main components and 21 for the wrapping.


I apologize for the poor photographs, it was late, I was tired and sore, and my fiancé was sick all day.

Embossed and Dapped

Aaaaand... Here they are! Dapped, Colored, Punched and made into Earrings!

Vintaj BigKick Fun!

I just got a Vintaj BigKick, and it is amazing! So far, I've only made these two Artisan Copper blanks into something interesting with it, and tomorrow the plan is to make them into earrings, which I will share on here! Here they are, presented before all the finishing they will receive tomorrow with Patinas, punches and dangles.

Erecura

Erecura is the Gaelic goddess of the earth, so I felt it was an appropriate title for this earthy inspired piece. I used Ceramic Organic Beads and a matching Moon Focal, all in Greenish Brown, Mother of Pearl Rounds and Yellow Turquoise Stone from Michael's, Small Round Medium Brown Leather Cord, Vintaj Parawire in Artisan Copper-I made the Headpin for the focal using 16 Gauge Round, and used Lighter Gauge (24 I believe) square for wrapping the ends of the leather. I also forged the clasp from the 16 Gauge. The chain is solid copper Mother-and-Son ( also called Long-and-Short) chain from Etsy, and the Celtic knots are carved stone- I believe it is a type of Jasper. The links holding the chain to the clasp and the one between the focal and the Celtic knot are actually large Vintaj Brass Jump Rings that I forged and textured to make into connectors. Hope you like it! It will be available for sale on Etsy soon-

Www.etsy.com/shop/EternalHeartCreation