Tuesday Tangle: One Step Ahead with a Poinsetta Ring

I know summer isn't over yet, but as a glass artist, I always need to be one step ahead in my designs. So, I've used a wire wrapping technique and the double dips to make a poinsetta ring for the holidays. 

The poinsetta ring is offered as finished jewelry. It's not offered as a tutorial. I hate to say this but because I've seen a few people copy my work and sell it as their own, please don't copy the design. Just because it's posted on my blog doesn't mean it's open to copy. Thank you for respecting that. Now back to work! 

I've got several other holiday projects on the workbench. Gotta stay one step ahead!  

Bead Table Wednesday: Putting it all together

I'm pulling together a black glass mini-dip in a ring length size with a 32mm (1 and 1/4 inch) rich red disk bead and a 12mm Vintaj fairy petals beadcap to make this bold ring.

Wednesday Wire: Flurry Flower Ring

I've put together a ring kit of the Flurry Flower with step by step directions. This is a fun ring to wear year 'round!

Wednesday Wire: Sewing with Wire

Wire is versatile and an artist can adapt numerous techniques depending on the gauge of wire she uses. I grew up sewing my own clothes and creating with fabric and thread so it's a logical extension of that to sew with wire. Mary Hettmansperger's book, Wrap, Stitch, Fold & Rivet and Susan Lenart Kazmer's Making Connections have chapters devoted to stitching in metal and are worth the read if you're interested like I was in sewing.

Over the past couple of years, I've created sewn pieces combining sentimental "found objects" first and then my own flamework glass. My very first piece was a pottery shard I found while digging in the garden at my parents' farm.

Then, it was on to using one of my glass links with a 10 loop brass ring finding from Ornamentea.

Most recently, I created the sewn ring from scratch using a beach pebble from Lake Huron, brass wire and a brass disk.

Are you exploring a fiber technique in your jewelry designs?

Wednesday Wire: Ringalicious!

Ringalicious! Yup, I've got another glass and metal ring to show off today. I've combined vintage brass with the dapped copper disk and flamework glass.

Do you like the mix of brass and copper?

Wednesday Wire: Ring Mania

Rings, rings, rings!

Don't ask me why but my creative muse has been gifting me with rings designs.  It feels as though I'm bringing together a few different ideas I've been playing with for a few years. You can see it all in this ring design:

Wirework.

Lampwork.

Metalwork.

It feels like I've been rehearsing a singing voice and it's starting to come through loud and clear.

What about you, what is your creative muse gifting you with?

Wednesday Wire: Cold Connections, Wire Wrap and a Beach Pebble

Wondering what I did with my "different bead stash" from the beach? You know I've been hammering and doming metal disks. Pair that with with wire and this is what you get....

No soldering, "cold connections" and wire wrapping make for one sweet beach pebble ring. I knew it was a cabochon when I picked it up out of the surf!

Double Dippin' - Adjustable Ring

Inspiration hit and I took advantage of it. Out came this sweet little adjustable ring made of my favorite Double Dip - Tahitian Plum and Pink. I've sealed the ring so your skin is protected. Ring can be adjust for up to size 8. I haven't had time to put it up on my Art Fire but if you like it, it's yours - just use the Buy It Now below:

Ornamentea Unveil - Sew Together

I was a blogging dud last week, Dear Readers. The flu season arrived at my house by first hitting my son, then my husband. I luckily escaped the flu but was hit with a bad case of bronchitis. So last week is a blur of illness.

Finished jewelry pieces languished on my photography table ready for their close up. Well, today the wait is over. Remember the day I posted about Ornamentea and the 10 Loop Ring in Antique Brass? If you don't, here's a picture of the ring blank...


Without realizing it, I've been developing a group of pieces where I "sew" with wire and metal to create pendants. My need to sew metal and glass comes from learning to sew at age 4, sewing my own clothes through college and reluctantly giving it up when the fabric became more expensive than buying a dress, and reading Mary Hettmansburger and Susan Lenart Kazmer. Sewing seems natural to me - stitching with wire is a natural extension of who I am and the wirework I do.

I strive to put things together in unusual ways - make the unexpected. The 10 loops cry out for a flurry of headpins and beads - which I love love love by the way - but what could I do with the loops in an unexpected way? I held up one of my Pear Frost Links - it framed the loops beautifully. Aha! I would sew the Pear Frost Link to the ring (have I mentioned how glue is not my BFF?)







The title is an obvious play on words and how I'd like to be "together." Instead of being flawless, I'm held together by these strong and even stitches that have a beauty all their own.

Do you find something like sewing appearing as a theme in your creative life?

Ornament Thursday: Bring in 2009 with Confetti!

Bring in the New Year with a confetti ring. This is easy easy easy to make.



Materials:

1 silver plated adjustable ring finding

4 feet of 28 gauge craft wire

handful size 6 glass seed beads



Wrap the wire around one of the rings on the ring finding.

String a bead at a time and thread the wire through the next ring.

String the beads on tightly so it looks like an explosion of beads - bead confetti!

Wear it to you next holiday party!



While you're in the crafting mood - check out the Ornament Thursday Projects for this week:

Holiday Sparkly Fan Pull
Lisa creates a dress up look for a ceiling fan

Linda's snowman
Some paper, beads, and fabric are transformed into an adorable snow guy.

Poinsettia Ornament
Polymer clay and glittery snow recreate a Christmas memory

Strands of Beads
Melissa has a quicker than quick snowball pendant for a perfect last minute gift.

What would you name....

....this ring? I've made this style of bead especially for the ring but can't think of what to call it! Bon-bons? What would you call it?