Week 39-Bowline Knot Pendant

This is something that I was playing around with this weekend while I was at a show. I have seen this knot tied with a single wire before but I wanted to try it with two wires woven together. I'm always impressed at how Corra can manipulate wire into knots and I wanted to see if this was doable. My problem was I had a picture of a bowline knot but didn't really know how to tie it. Fortunately the wire forgave me and I'm pretty happy with the way this turned out. The wire is 20 gauge and 26 gauge and I used a 6mm snapset on the end. The total length is 1 5/8".

Week 38-Bead Crochet Bangle

I have to start by saying that I am not a beader. I truly am in awe of what some folks are able to create with seed beads but I never thought I had the patience. But I bought a tutorial from Studio Dax thinking I might be able to do it, and I sat down the other night to tackle it. The jig is genius. I had no trouble starting it or following the directions. I admit I did rip out more than a few rows when I ended up with a wonky bead or two sticking out. That was in no way the fault of Randi's instructions. That was me not insuring that the new bead was on top of the previous row. Once I figured that out, it went smoothly. I chose to make a bracelet with a clasp which is one of the variations that Randi gives in the tutorial and I love the result.

Week 37-Wigjig Earrings

The earrings weren't exactly made on a wigjig but I did make the loopy trim around these on a Wigjig Delphi. Bigger holes so much easier to attach than chain. The frames are 16 gauge wire that was soldered, then shaped and hammered. The earwires on the labradorite pair were inspired by Sheridan of Joslin Jewels. The posts on the apatite and amethyst pair were connectors. I cut off one of the rings and soldered a post on the back. I liked the way they echoed the loopy pattern of earrings.

Week 36-A Tale of Two Pendants

When I started to wrap this 20x30mm black CZ, I messed up on the first attempt and got the prongs too far apart. That afternoon this neat 32x15mm pyrite included quartz came in the mail from Greatcabochons.com. I pulled the first piece out of my scrap and used it to do sort of a combo wrap on the quartz. I think it turned out kind of cool. I love it when I can salvage pieces out of my scrap box.

Ruby, my spring loaded dog

This is Ruby, one of my five Boston Terriers, and she is a jumping fool. Check out how she alternates between front paws with every jump. She was doing the same thing three hours after having had a Caesarian section. You can see why I had to special order a new storm door that doesn't have the screen on the bottom.

Week 35-Copper Viking Knit with Kazuri Pendant

When I'm at shows I often work on a piece of Viking knit to keep my hands busy. I ended up with this long piece of copper so I pulled it and pulled it until it bacame a neck chain. I made the end cones with 18 gauge wire wrapped around my round nose pliers. I added a slide made with a Kazuri bead and a large smoky quartz drop. Then I lightly oxidized everything. If you're not familiar with Kazuri beads, they are fair trade beads from Kenya. The company was started in 1975 by Lady Susan Wood, the daughter of two British missionaries. Today they have a factory that offers employment opportunities to single mothers, widows, and people with special needs. They offer good wages, favorable working conditions, child care and health care. Some women are supporting extended families of up to 20 people on what they are able to earn there.

I am now officially caught up!

Week 34-Netted Pendant

I had some requests to teach a class on this pendant but I had to modify it because the original was soldered. I did a fancier version of it with garnets but decided that it couldn't be done in a three hour class. So I went back to the original and this is the sample that I made with mystic quartz beads-not a really good choice because they don't show up. I also had to make it again because I totally forgot how I did it. :D This measures just a tad over an inch in diameter.