Week 13-Complementary Colors

Most of you probably know that complementary colors are those that are opposite each other on the color wheel. The pair that I put up for Year of Jewelry are primarily andalusite but I sprinkled in some green vessuvianite and red garnets. I think of them as representing early spring when the first green shoots appear....something we're still waiting for in Michigan, although almost all of the snow is now gone. Then it occured to me that turquoise and sunstone could represent the complementary colors of blue and orange so I put together a couple of pairs and decided I really like that combination. I tend to get stuck in a rut of monochromatic so I'll think I'll pull out the color wheel more often.

Week 13-Rock Quartz and Fine Silver Necklace

I've had this big honking rock crystal quartz briolette for awhile, and when I say big I mean it's 1 1/8" tall by 3/4" wide. I suppose I could have just wrapped it and put it on a chain but noooo, I had to try and get fancy with it. Maybe the folks who are so good at these vining type settings can visualize them in their head but I can't. So I just grab wire and start twirling it. The fact that it was 16 gauge wire didn't make it any easier and I actually had to anneal it a couple of times while I was messing around with it. I ended up with some awkward looking spaces in the middle, hence the pearls. I'm still undecided about this one. Maybe it will grow on me.

Week 13-Sunstone Flower Earrings

My muse seems to have disappeared along with my checkbook. I'm sure they'll both reappear sooner or later after their nice vacation. So this week I borrowed someone else's muse. I wanted to make a pair of earrings for myself with these pretty sunstone drops and I was stuck on what to do with them. These are more than a little inspired by the very talented Lisa Newton of Julida Designs whose work I adore. They're made with 20 and 26 gauge sterling wire.