Contrasting Elements April 4, 2012

Steel is hard, rustic, and durable.  Silk is soft, rich, and fragile.  These two materials go together well in this necklace, I think.  I’m still getting to know the annealed steel as a jewelry material. As hard as it is to work with physically, it certainly makes strong, sturdy components that one doesn’t need to worry about coming apart.  The red crystal links will be earrings with another crystal dangle or necklace components.

      

Love the deep, saturated colors with the dark gray steel, don’t you?

“It’s a Wrap” Give Away! March 5, 2012

It’s time to post this month’s give away…I’m happy to offer a choice this time. Your choice of one pair of these sari silk ribbon wrapped earrings.  The omega style is made with copper and dyed pink jade. The pendant style is with gold craft wire and some cool fuchsia glass beads.  As a fun bonus, the winner will also receive 10 feet of this gorgeous ribbon to play with.  And I do hope, if they are inclined, they will sent me photos of their lovely creations.  I’d love to see them and share them with you all.

What would you do with this bundle of delicious colors?

For a chance to win this month’s give away, follow these few simple guidelines.

1.  To be eligible, you must reside in the U.S. or Canada.

2.  To enter, just leave a comment on this post. Please let me know which pair of earrings you’d choose… Omega or Pendant

Scroll to the bottom of this post and click “add comment”.  Be sure you add your email where prompted. Your email address is seen only by me. One entry per person please.

3.  Entries must be posted by Monday, March 19th,  12:00 noon Pacific Standard Time.  That’s two weeks from today.

4.  The randomly selected winner will be chosen using a list randomizer.  They will be contacted by the email listed in the comment and have one week from that date to respond.  Arrangements will be made to securely package and mail the winner’s prize.  If I don’t hear from them, then another winner will be selected and contacted under the same procedure.

Good Luck!

Back to the Sari Silk March 3, 2012

Still looking for ways to use this beautiful ribbon in jewelry.  Here’s some wrapped bead links I’m experimenting with using Tacky glue to start and finish the ends. I started by making bar links out of 18 gauge copper and brass wire, a little over an inch in length. Wrap, wrap, wrap, wrap with the ribbon. The four beads on the left have a coat of Mod Podge, as I was concerned about the durability of the bead. It definitely darkened the colors and gave it a hard coat, which might be okay…don’t know yet.              The three on the right side have no other finishing. I think I like this look better, as you can really tell that they are made from some sort of fabric/ribbon and have a much softer appearance.  The beads in the middle are possible go-withs (after I settle on how to make the sari silk links to my liking).  I’ll post a finished piece(s) very soon.

Two notes…  First, a teaser…this month’s give away will involve the sari silk in some fashion. Come back next week and see what’s up.

Secondly, if you don’t know about Lori Anderson’s Bead Soup Blog Hop party, today was the big reveal on the participants’ designs…all 200 of them!          Lori partnered up 200 designers into pairs. Each pair exchanged a package of a focal bead, clasp, and any other goodies they wanted. The challenge was to create something delicious with the Bead Soup mix they received in the mail. I haven’t visited everyone yet, but what fun to see the wonderful variety of jewelry designs. If you have time in the next few days, start at Lori’s blog and take a peek at a few or all.