Monday, October 27, 2008

Custom turquoise work and Magpie rocks

Dear Yolanda persisted and made me string. This luscious strand of AAA grade waxed Turquoise, from the Magpie, chose Yolanda and insisted on a simple treatment - 6 inches of sterling chain for maximum adjustability, Bali sterling cones for the ends and large hole Bali beads to disguise the crimps. It looked lovely with the black shirt she wore when picking up the finished necklace. Then she chose a pretty strand of dark carnelian to make me string again... Keep watch for upcoming photos, once the muse allows me to finish playing with it...

And then.....

While I had the stringing supplies out, I made up some fun little basic bracelets. I played with lovely turquoise nuggets and some really popping 10mm red tiger eye, and a variety of copper beads and some sterling vermeil, all from the Magpie. Those toggles are my handmade bars of 14 gauge wire and really cool 3/4" twisted rings from Magpie Gemstones. So easy to put on the wrist and so yummie!

Oh yummie! Here's Yolanda's carnelian necklace, with small clear vintage Swarovski crystals and lovely sterling bead caps. Simple but oh so lovely -

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Jade Donut

A message to the unauthorized owner of my jade donut -
Do you believe in Karma? I do.
Bring it back. Or mail it. Save yourself.

Patrick's chunk of Mica

Patrick commissioned a wonderful, large piece of mica. Several hours and lots of copper later, this bold statement was born. It is 3 1/4 inches tall and 2 1/2 inches wide, with just a touch of Toodles for the bail.
Patrick believes in Bold!
And he Does find the most beautiful rocks! Check out Aztek Treasures our first collaboration.

It's almost reversible. I love it when that happens!

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Class photos finally uploaded

Yippeeee mostly, I have tentative internet connection at home, again. Although some days the flipping thing blinks on and off every few minutes for a few minutes... allllll day long.... grrrrrrrrr
Thanks to god I am a night owl by nature!


The following posts cover all planned classes for the months of Oct thru Dec. Most are on Friday, but because of holidays and and the wonderfully fun Dickens Fest in Bracken Village, a few classes will be held on Wednesdays instead.

You can find the sign up form with Paypal link and other details on the calendar pages at -
And The Bead Goes On
Scroll down the store home page to find a map.

Can't make it on the designated date? Visiting from out of the area? Perhaps we can set up a special class just for you! Email me - sherrys.jewels@ gmail.com
Sorry, no classes on the weekend, I'm committed to my booth.

See you in class!

Spiral Hearts - Earrings and Bangle Bracelet - Oct 10 - Friday - class

Spiral Hearts - Earrings and Bangle Bracelet - Oct 10 - Friday - either - 12-3 -- or -- 6-9

Whimsical Hearts for Love and Spirals for the cycles of Life –
Begin your set today with earrings and a bangle bracelet, then later in this month or in December, add the Adjustable Ring while learning the Toodles Weave.

*Techniques utilized – forge, wind, spiral and hammer wire, proper use of tools, oxidize metal, and make earwires.

*Skill Level: Beginner -- Never handled wire before? Come join the addiction!

Bunches of wHOOPs Earrings - Oct 17 - Friday - class

Bunches of wHOOPs Earrings - Oct 17 Friday - either - 12-3 -- or -- 6-9

Every well dressed jewelry box Needs a selection of Hoops. Make them Large, Small, and Everywhere In Between.
Watch with exhilaration as round wire spreads and flattens beneath your hammer taking on individual character, then perhaps add lovely texture and beads for color. The photo shows just a few of the possibilities. There are more samples at the store and even more rattling around with the muse. Come and play!

*Techniques utilized – forge, weave and hammer wire, proper use of tools, oxidize metal, and make earwires.

*Skill Level: Beginner -- Never handled wire before? Come join the addiction!

Intro to Wire - Serpentine Bracelet - Oct 24 - Friday - class


Intro to Wire - Serpentine Bracelet Oct 24 Friday - either - 12-3 -- or -- 6-9

Play with the basics of wire and learn how to handle tools by making various components to assemble a unique bracelet. No jig work, just pliers and your skill.

Learn the straight up noose, serpent link, jump rings, dangle charms, S-hook, hammering and oxidizing. There are at least 6 earring combinations resulting from the skills gleaned in these techniques. Set your creativity free!

*Skill Level: Beginner -- Never handled wire before? Come join the addiction!

Heart Toodles Ring - Oct 31- Friday - class

Heart Toodles Ring - Oct 31 Friday - Either - 12 - 3 -- Or -- 6 - 9
(repeated in Dec)

Whimsical Hearts for Love and Spirals for the Cycles of Life.
Learn the Toodles Weave with this cute Adjustable Ring, and complete your stylish set begun in the Spiral Hearts Earrings and Bangle Bracelet class.

*Techniques utilized – forge, weave, spiral and hammer wire, proper use of tools, oxidize metal.

*Skill Level: Beginner -- Never handled wire before? Come join the addiction!

Seeing Stars Earrings - Nov 7 - Friday - class

Seeing Stars Earrings - Nov 7 - Friday - either - 12-3 or 6-9

Bring the galaxy to your jewelry box. Spirals for Life and Stars to wish upon. Weave little bits of color all around the edges or just in strategic places.
Lovely and unusual gifts for the holidays.
Great ornaments, too!

*Techniques utilized – forge, weave and hammer wire, proper use of tools, oxidize metal, and make earwires.

*Skill Level: Beginner -- Never handled wire before? Come join the addiction!

Tree of Life - Nov 14 - Friday - class

Tree of Life - Nov 14 - Friday - either - 12-3 -- or -- 6-9

Metaphor, mystical, symbolic - found in every ancient culture in one form or another. The roots reaching into the earth, into the underworld, the branches reaching high above, into the heavens.
Design your own special tree. Use tiny stone bits for a leafy tree, or fill the branches with your family birthstones.

*Techniques utilized – forge and hammer wire, proper use of tools, oxidize metal.

*Skill Level: Beginner -- Never handled wire before? Come join the addiction!

Border Wrap a Stone – Square Stone - Nov 21 - Friday - class

Border Wrap a Stone – Square Stone - Nov 21 - Friday - either - 12-3 -- or -- 6-9

Learn the concept with a Square so you can easily adapt the wrap to your favorite shaped stones.

The border wrap is a classic, ancient and most versatile setting for jewelry making, with unlimited possibilities from simple to extraordinarily ornate.

*Techniques utilized – Learn to measure your stone, choose the appropriate placement for your bundle wires, bind several wires together to form a bezel to frame your stone, then set your muse free to embellish the details.

*Skill Level: Beginner -- Never handled wire before? Come join the addiction!

Scallops Bracelet - Nov 26 - Wednesday - class

Thanksgiving weekend! Soooo, wire class will be held on Wednesday!

Scallops Bracelet - Nov 26 - Wednesday - either - 12-3 -- or -- 6-9

A fun little project to kick off the holidays. Suitable for beginners, fun for pros. A quick and much loved gift for the holidays. Lovely little scallops all around your wrist. Make a whole jewelry box full in every color under the sun. Stack them or wear one at a time.

*Techniques utilized – forge and hammer wire, proper use of tools, oxidize metal.

*Skill Level: Beginner -- Never handled wire before? Come join the addiction!

Christmas Tree Earrings and Pendant - Dec 3 - Wednesday - class

The Dickens Celebration is occupying the weekend, so wire class is going to be held on Wednesday.
Christmas Tree Earrings and Pendant - Dec 3 Wednesday - either - 12-3 -- or -- 6-9

Make your own forest of trees – earrings, pendants or ornaments. A Most Excellent gift!

*Techniques utilized – forge and hammer wire, proper use of tools, oxidize metal, make a necklace from ribbon, complete with clasp and make earwires.

*Skill Level: Beginner -- Never handled wire before? Come join the addiction!

Angels Watching - Dec 10 - Wednesday - class

The Dickens Celebration is occupying the weekend, so wire class is going to be held on Wednesday.

Angels Watching - Dec 10 - Wednesday - either - 12-3 -- ONLY, the night class has been canceled, so sorry.

Make your own personal guardian angel. She can be a pendant or an ornament. Or make her smaller for earrings. She is a Most Excellent gift! Make her in birthstone colors or holiday themes.

*Techniques utilized – bundle and bind, forge and hammer wire, proper use of tools, oxidize metal, make a necklace from ribbon, complete with clasp and make earwires.

*Skill Level: Beginner -- Never handled wire before? Come join the addiction!

Doodles Earrings – Two Versions Dec 19 - class

Dec 19 - Friday – either - 12-3 or 6-9

Flirty playful swishy Doodling earrings. Oodles of spirals to frame your lovely smile. Or flashy sparkling simplicity to go with that cute little holiday dress.

*Techniques utilized – forge and hammer wire, proper use of tools, oxidize metal, and make earwires.

*Skill Level: Beginner -- Never handled wire before? Come join the addiction!

Toodles Heart Adjustable Ring - Dec 26


Dec 26 Friday- 12 noon - 3 --- OR --- 6 - 9

Whimsical Hearts for Love and Spirals for the Cycles of Life.
Learn the Toodles Weave with this cute Adjustable Ring, and complete your stylish set begun in the Spiral Hearts Earrings and Bracelet class.

*Techniques utilized – forge, weave, spiral and hammer wire, proper use of tools, oxidize metal.

*Skill Level: Beginner -- Never handled wire before? Come join the addiction!