Aztec Treasure

A special piece for a special man.
I've been commissioned to join an Aztec calendar medallion with a beautiful multi-beveled quartz. Ancient civilization to ancient earth. I hope I've done them justice... The camera certainly won't.
The challenge - a simple, masculine piece. No glue, no solder, only wire. At first, I thought silver, but oxidized copper is so much more fitting to the ancient theme.
The back side - the beautifully clear quartz allows the reverse side of the medallion to make it's presence known. Lovely from any angle...

Four inches tall from top of bail to point. What a conversation starter!
Patrick, it's ready.

Copper Chaos Explosions with Tiger Eye

The muse grabbed me today and out popped this bracelet. I threw caution to the wind and worked on chaos. I find chaos Very Difficult! The little rocks make a very pleasing sound when moved.
I've been sitting on a whole pile of these odd shaped stones, waiting for inspiration. I think I'm kind of pleased with this version. The darkness of the oxidation makes the copper blend rather nicely with the tiger eye.

The beginnings of treasure

A small sampling, the simple beginnings, from the treasure of Szarka. A handful of earrings waiting for hooks....

Two with round rubies, one with garnet nuggets, then jade rectangles, on to slender yet plump tiger eye tubes (oh the lovely play of light!) and in the center, "purple stone"! Aaahhh, purple!!!
Scattered around the pile, sterling silver in a variety of forms.

Peridot from Szarka's treasures

A peaceful day spent with a wonderful lady and her delightful family (declared eccentric by some, downright homey to me *grin*). The beads! The color! Everywhere, something beautiful. I think I spent most of the day totally dazed and distracted by the muse, who was trying to decide which lovely temptations HAD to go home Immediately. So distracted that I never touched or even thought about the wire project which is my constant companion, abandoned on the floor...

Finally back at home, when I slowed in my drooling and fondling, this lovely faceted peridot begged to try on most of the wardrobe in my apparently meager stash of silver and finally decided to sit between two lovely Bali beads. During this search, out jumped the lovely Danish Knot, acquired during a link swap on WWJ. Hey Bonnie G.W., recognize your handiwork? I think it's perfect to suspend this lovely collection. Thank you so much for sharing!

Dangling beneath - four tiny rectangles of peridot and two luscious amethyst brios. The lovely peridot chips do dual duty, worn either long or lariat style, as in the pitiful picture. (I Must master the settings on this camera!!!)

Thank you, dearest Sz, for a lovely and most memorable day!
Edit Fri pm - This picture provides a bit different effect. Found it tonight in the raw photo file... I know, it's cattywampus, but I like the coloring better...

Pretty little difuser bottle

A cute little bottle for fragrance oils. I have a variety of little bottles awaiting inspiration from the muse. This one insisted on shades of purple, go figure! The gentle scent floating from the sticks is wonderful.
A variety of "vines" to hold the fragrance bottle. No muss, no fuss when it's time to change to a new scent. The bottles are 1/2 oz and just shy of 3" tall.
My favorite - I soooo love hanging things! But so very difficult to get a good picture. There are more beads and another "S" at the top.

Boring update

Ugggggggg, it's been a long spring! I've morphed thru several computers, (dear hunny collects them and tinkers, good exercise for a stroke addled brain) and a couple of OS's. Today, I am using XP and hopeful that all the crashing is done. *grin* Now I must learn how to use it.... uggggggg again

I have a *new* camera, an hp R725 which has some wowie kazowie features. Fingers crossed that when I plug it in the computer, all will proceed properly. Such has not been the case to date. A long and winding road. LOL

Now, hopefully, fingers, toes and eyes crossed, I will have time for jewelry making and can post something new!!!! But first I must make more copper/magnetic hemastuff cuffs. *heavy sigh*

So, happy day, everyone! Thanks for checking in and come back often. You just never know what may turn up!

Stone of the Heart - Rose Quartz Rectangle

Found this photo while browsing thru a folder of my past work and I think it would go well here. A lovely, almost transparent rose quartz nestled in half round sterling wire. Interlocking hearts for the Stone of the Heart. It just happens to be still available. Is it waiting for _You_?

Playing with ox and cords - Toodles series

Playing with oxidizing and cord for this smallish piece. I definitely like the darkened copper best. I found some 2mm round leather cord that will balance well with the heavier pendants. So, that led to making a coiled tube of twisted copper for the center. Needs darkening, too, if I use it with this pendant, haven't decided yet....
Yuck, rulers in the photo look so tacky, but I needed to be able to show a perspective owner it's size.
Opinions? With the coil or without?

5/30 Update - Darling Daughter Number Two received it and loves it.
*snip*
"I can't believe how much detail is in the pendent, that must take a lot of time to make."
*snip*

Yup! Happy Birthday, hunnybear! Each twist full of love (with a few grumbles thrown in for good measure and balance, don'cha know!)


I went with coil on leather and am quite happy, myownhumbleself. *grin* Now, for the other woven heavy pendants, I'm working on a simplified version of a viking knit, in the non-tarnish copper, with an oxidized coil to tie the pieces together.... Got one done, now to take photos with my new camera. (Fell into an HP 6MP and oh boyoh buddy is it sweet! Thanks, Denise!!!!!)
later, gator


The Toodles Weave tutorial in PDF form -
http://www.magpiegemstones.com/tutorials.html

It's heeeeerrrreeeeee! SbS Wire - Toodles series

Whooooopppeeeeeeeee!!!! and pout! SbS Wire Summer Preview edition is hitting mailboxes across the country, but not mine.... yet... **heavy sigh**

Perhaps tomorrow...

Questions and comments?


sherrys.jewels@gmail.com

Bliss to you!
 
***Edited update - the Summer Preview issue is sold out, no longer available.****

### edited again 12/2010 - The tut PDF has been available privately, off and on, currently sitting in limbo waiting to be revamped. If you are interested in it, drop me a note.

Here are a few photos for inspiration -

It's at the Printer's!!!! - Toodles series

The article for the woven bezel is at the printer!!!! Step by Step Wire Jewelry Magazine Summer Preview edition! Happy dance!!! *I'm just a liiiiiiittttttle bit excited...*

Get your subscription started now so you don't miss it. *giggle*
http://www.stepbystepwire.com/wire/

Then get over to Szarka's shop and snatch up a variety of cube beads with big holes, 'cause you're gonna need some. The article uses an 8mm, but Your stone of choice may need larger or smaller, and of course you'll want to do other sizes....
http://www.turquoisemagpie.com
*thank you for finding a source, mizzy Sz!!!* *smoooooochiez*

Copper hoops in graduated sizes

More playing with rings and hoops. Baby, I Love hammering wire!
The photo doesn't do justice to the wonderful texture in the hammer marks.
These earrings hang just shy of 3 inches long. The top large circle is 1 inch across, the largest bottom circle is 1 1/4 inches. Not for the timid!

Copper hoops, decending sizes

I've been noticing an earring trend toward rings and interesting hoops lately, wandering around the market, so I've been playing.

12g copper, a slight oval shape, hammered until I hurt. These hang almost 3 1/2" long, from the top of the hook. Definitely not for short necks.

Green agate and viking knit - Toodles series

The green agate pendant migrated onto my viking knit necklace for the Austin gathering. It gets more attention than it's sister, the shades of brown jasper pendant. The raw copper wire is taking on beautiful patina in various crevices and shines a lovely pinkish orangey color on all the high points

The necklace hooks in the front, has 3 black glass crystals with Bali silver spacers and bead caps, viking knit with non-tarnish copper wire.


The Toodles Weave tutorial in PDF form -
http://www.magpiegemstones.com/tutorials.html

Ojo in Blue - Toodles series

My personal mojo. The tiny detailed brush strokes in the blue eye fascinate me. I finally, spurred by the Austin gathering looming before me, got around to weaving a setting for my eye. Unfortunately, I nicked the color in a few places, but it will do until I get around to doing again, hopefully in blue wire, which my local store stopped carrying, I'm so torked! Ah well, this way it blends right into my viking knit choker.


The Toodles Weave tutorial in PDF form is being re-written. Please leave a comment if you are interested. Comment button just below this bit --->>>

S-link bracelet with a Butterfly center

Here's my personal version of a 16g sterling S-link chain. For the center, I used a version of the Twin Spiral, which reminds me of a butterfly, also dubbed Flutterbye. I added a silver Grace charm in the center, and some danglies at the clasp, amethyst, Bali beads and feather/leaf, and my name-sake feather in copper.
It rarely comes off my wrist, I love it so.

Mood bead bracelets or anklets

Playing with mood beads and cotton cord. Simple knock 'em out easy for the fun crowd. Three mood beads in each, with a variety of glass bead accents. Tie one on your wrist or ankle!

What are mood beads, you ask? Oooooooo, lovely little works of art continually changing and rearranging!
"Thermo-sensitive liquid crystal beads that change color as you wear them." Rings were all the rage in the 60's. Everything comes back if you wait long enough. My artist soul gets lost in the changing color...

Turquoise disks and balls

Turquoise disks suspended beneath turquoise balls, all hanging from sterling silver wire, attached to a leather thong. The focal section is about 3 1/2 inches wide. The total length is 14 to 16 inches long, with the sterling chain ending in a cute little dangling disc.

Austin copper earrings

Here ya go, Bonnie dearest! The earrings I wore to the gathering. Copper wire, 12g, gently curved, then hammered at strategic points. Swarovski crystals and turquoise discs, bound with 22g. Remove the ball and coil from a pair of surgical steel hooks, then wind a bit of 24g around the base. It looks like I used 18g to make a coil to hang the circles on the bottom. Notice, they are Not identical, but no one notices when they are swinging happily from my ears. They aren't Quite as different as the photo makes them appear, but definitely different when side by side. Promote that *Made by a funky artist's hand* thang! LOL
Enjoy!

Wine Charms

When she visited for Christmas, my darling daughter asked for wine charms for a friend, then helped design them. One end has a cute little wire design - flowers, swirlies, and triangles. The other end has a hanging bead, each different, so guests can find their own glass. The reds and greens, with just a touch of black, are so Juicy. They are so cute climbing the stem of the glass! I think perhaps I'll make a similar set as napkin rings....

Red Jasper woven pendant and necklace

Ta da! Completed! I rarely make necklaces but this pendant said I needed to rectify that deficiency. So, out came the tarnish free copper and the red jasper beads. The rectangles are just a bit over 1/2" long and the faceted buttons are 4x6mm. How's that for mixing my measurements? The necklace is just under 22" long, with the clasp hooking in the front. I am not satisfied with the clasp, pondering something different....

Update - I did change the front clasp and magically, a new home came along and this beauty left my care and keeping for a new jewelry box. Enjoy, my dear!

Red Jasper Pendant

Just a little weaving, as I practice and test designs for a wonderful rutile quartz piece which is waiting for the muse to speak. This one is a nice little tumbled red jasper, wrapped in copper, of course. A 16g wire goes once around the stone and forms the base of the bale, which is woven with 24g. Two 18g wires snuggle on either side of the 16g and perform the entertainment. 1-5/8 inches tall and 1 inch at the widest point.

Pale Turquoise Cab in Copper - Model for the SBSWJ tut - Toodles series

Still playing with weaving! An old turquoise cab, very pale, and 24g copper carefully woven over and around 18g. The pendant measures 1 3/4 inches tall and 7/8 inch wide. Much smaller than Princess Leia!

Feb 07 - Update! This is the picture that led to the tutorial article for Step by Step Wire Jewelry, to be published, hopefully, in the Summer edition. Hang onto your shorts, cool your jets, subscribe now to make sure you get it... http://www.stepbystepwire.com/wire/
Meanwhile, there are some cool tutorials there, for other projects, to occupy your waiting time. *grin*


The Toodles Weave tutorial in PDF form is available online -

My little store, I'll email the PDF to you as soon as Paypal sends notice of payment -
http://Sherrys-Jewels.com