New Tutorial-Enhanced Prong Set Gem Pendant

I finally finished a new tutorial. I've figured out that I wait so long between tutorials because MS Word gives me such a headache. This lesson teaches how to make consistently perfect prongs to set an 18x13mm oval faceted stone. You then create a beaded frame around the stone that is not only beautiful but solves the problem of faceted stones rolling from side to side when worn on the neck. Once mastered, the techniques can be used to set any size stone. The bail allows this to worn with even your largest omega chains. The finished size of the pendant is approximately 1 ½” tall by 1” wide. I now have it listed in my Artfire shop.

Week 3-The Color Turquoise

The theme for this week was men's jewelry. But that didn't inspire me this week. Instead I went with a color which, according to Pantone is supposed to be the hot shade for spring 2010. I was happy about that as it already is a favorite color of mine. This necklace uses a large aqua hydro quartz drop topped with two different colors of apatite, purple amethyst, silvery blue keishi pearls, a filigree bead and a hand woven bail.

This one is a hand forged and soldered copper flower shape. I filled the center with the same blue keishi pearls and two colors of apatite. Very summery.

Week 2-Some Copper Bracelets

I love using Kazuri beads in my jewelry. Kazuri beads are fair trade beads from Kenya. The factory is on part of the old Karen Blixen coffee plantation (remember the movie Out of Africa) and provides employment opportunities for 350 disadvantaged women who would otherwise be living in extreme poverty. I connected these beads with some coiled copper links to make a chunky and bold bracelet.

This bracelet was made by raiding my spare parts box. I connected the parts with some beautiful 12mm sea green glass beads to make kind of a fun bracelet.

Week 1-Happy New Year!

Year of Jewelry 2010 is officially underway. I was bionic Saturday and spent the day making four pairs of earrings while watching a horror movie marathon on the SyFy Channel. But none of these earrings were inspired by the movies fortunately. On the contrary, some of them are downright romantic which is unusual for someone who has been accused of not having a romatic bone in her body. :D

These are tanzanite, pink amethyst, and golden mystic quartz over a rose hydro quartz drop. The silver roses were connectors that I soldered a post to after removing one of the loops.

Smoky quartz and multi-colored spinel.

Iolite briolettes suspended from a sterling silver beaded quatrefoil.

And finally, coin pearls framed with sterling silver and beads with a pink amethyst accent.

Week 52-Woven and Braided Silver Necklace

I can finally post this. This was made as part of a Christmas exchange between two of my Creative Wire Jewlery forum friends and myself so I had to sit on it until after the 25th. It's two 18 gauge wires woven together and then woven again into a braided centerpiece. Whew! I can't believe I made it through a whole year and, although not usually on time, I managed to post something every week. I've really enjoyed participating in the Year of Jewelry and seeing everyone's creations, and I'm looking forward to 2010.

Week 51-Malachite Pendant

This is something I was playing around with while trying to come up with ideas for class projects. It was inspired somewhat by the work of Huan Pham, an amazing artist who uses a lot of loopy elements in his designs. There are still a lot of details to be worked out before I'm ready to teach this but I think it has possibilities.

Merry Christmas Videos

This is the home of a gentleman who lives few miles from me. He starts his Christmas decorations right after he takes down his Halloween display and I look forward to driving by his house every year. One video shows the view from the road and the other is taken a little closer to the house. But there's really no way to take it all in without being there.