Christmas is Coming.....

....Time to get busy. I have been actually. I made some earrings for a friend and myself and now my girls want some of the same. See this post
My youngest also wanted something for her earrings. We seen a lucite earring holder for 10.00 in a magazine, add shipping and it will mostly likely run me 15.00 - 20.00 dollars.

Well frugal is my middle name lately, so I made my own. I have seen these sold online for big bucks, and thought I could make one so I did. I had some 16 gauge copper electrical wire I bought a while ago. I stripped the plastic overcoat off and was left with the copper wire. 5 strands twisted and curled and...... VIOLA!


Mind you it may NOT be the prettiest of things but it is functional. I looped the "branches" so she can hang her earring and they won't slip off.

Not bad for 30 minutes of work, start to finish! And the copper wire? Pennies. I believe it was less the 50 cents a yard ( I could be wrong) I know a whole role is about 30.00 and that would last me forever.

Cherry Tree #2 in Progress

I have started assembly on the branches. As you can see there is no need for another layer of wire on the branches as opposed to the first one. But I do need to build up the trunk. 22ga. wire was used, I took a strand and doubled it, then twisted it, I repeated this 3 times then braided the three piece for each leg. So I repeated that process 3 times.
BUT IT IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO SUPPORT.
It is top heavy. I need to to what I did with the first tree. Take the 16 gauge annealed wire and double it up and twist it in the drill, to make the feet and trunk.

Holding it up.
A close up of the "Buds"
Here are the three annealed 16 ga. wires I will use for the trunk and feet. This should offer the stability needed to handle the heaviness on the tree-top.


After I finish the assembly I will take more pics.

Pics of this week.

As Promised... Breakfast was good and I feel a lil better.
Here are some pics of this weeks works.

I made some Barrel Beads this week. Was just sitting there watching tv when i picked up the scrap clay I had sitting before me ont e table and just started kneading and twisting. I love barrels, they're fun, simple, colorful, and playful, most of all they are e-z, e-z. I have been practicing with the wire, using the copper craft wire before I buy the more expensive silver wire for stringing. I wired up a few barrels to try my hand...







Here is my Bucket-'O-Beads! I have been sanding and hand rubbing beads at night while watching TV and then tossing them into the bucket until I decide what to do with them. I may just end up selling the beads I f I can't find a comfortable design for jewelry..*SIGH* Sometimes ya just gotta leave to someone better then you....*SMILE*
Ok, Here is a Petal. ( or a leaf)
Here is another shot. The beads are strung 1,2,3,4,4,4,3,2,1 ~~6 of these Puppies give me one of theses.....
A Frong. or one leaf 6 times equals a petal..... I prefer a frong, thanx.




Yes it can be tedious , but the end results are beautiful and stunning, but it makes me practice my patience, something I am short of... ( I like instant gratifications).
If you want to see pictures or learn how to make these, go to this site....BEADED FLOWERS
I don't know the site owners name. She has this site in English and (dutch or german?) Click on Patterns.

A Bag 'O Frongs....


Here is a tray of Jump Rings. Everyone knows what they are, right? They hold your charms to your bracelets, and necklaces... Well how about a Bracelet made of Jump Rings?






It is Called Chain Maille. It is an Art stemming from emulating ( my word of the week...LOL) the ancients. When knights wore the silver neck coverings, and bracelets, sleeves, etc.
By connecting jump rings, ( alot of these are homemade) in a particular fashion, over under and thru as they say you come up with some really cool designs.
One sight I found here, has some good tuts, and pics. You don't have to be a member to browse the sight.
Jewelry making has jumped the chain maille wagon and these are popping up everywhere.
I used to love wearing the silver slave bracelets when I was younger, ( yes I rode with an MC, I so miss it too).
These can be made in similar fashion.
They remind me of the jewelry and chains we used to make using the can tabs...LOL. NOW that is telling my age. They don't have the removable rings tabs anymore. ( I remember stepping on them at the beach, OUCH!)
WE used to save them and interlock them to make chains and such..... Those were the days....*sniff*
There are earrings, necklaces, body coverings.... Try doing a search and see what you find.. It is Fascinating, very tedious, you need patience and the right tools, oh and a Good set of eyes too. ( Thank Goodness I have several pairs of glasses.)

Todays Riddle....

How to make a Bezel for a Cabochon.

Well so far today the best Idea I have had seems to be Wire. The cabo is nothing more then those fancy clear oval shaped marbles you find in the dollar store and craft store, that you usually put in decorative fish bowls, or vases.
I backed them with some cane design and they look great. I have the larger ones and the small ones, but I have no way of mounting them on a chain without a Bezel or something to hold them.

I experimented with Polymer clay ( yucky), and I even thought about ribbon, but then I tried the wire wrapping and so far that appears to look good, but I need to get some good strong bond, either crazy glue, or some kind of other jewelers glue (clear) to secure the back to the wire so it won't fall out.

When I post the pics you will see what I mean.