Creating with Cabochons Challenge/Blog Hop

As if she doesn't have enough to do....our esteemed leader Sally has once again given us a challenge.  Create with Cabochons.  Ok, no big deal....unless you really don't understand how to make them.  Hmmm...Sally to the rescue again!  She posted some tutorials for us newbies so that we could understand this wonderful art.

I had a stone that used to be on top of a ring my mother always wore.  She passed this year so I wanted to make it into something I could see and wear to remember her by.  So using Sally's great instructions, I created the cabochon you see below.

I didn't put it on a fancy chain or doll it up.  I don't think I am quite ready for that step yet, so I put it on a satin cord with coordinating beads, tied knots between the beads and then attached a simple chain.  Very simple and just like I like them.  So I will wear this quite often.

I do plan on doing more as I have seen some beautiful patterns I would love to try.




For more beauties, check out the links below. And thanks for looking.

Pearls, Pearls, and More Pearls!

Michelle from MiShelDesigns has thrown down the gauntlet for those of us brave enough to accept it. The challenge...PEARLS!  We were to make jewelry (or not) using PEARLS.  We could use other beads also, but I got the feeling she wanted PEARLS, PEARLS, AND MORE PEARLS. So....I went though my stash...and man do I have some PEARLS.  I didn't realize I had so many.  Big ones, little ones, colored ones, and the list goes on.  After days of going back and forth I knew I wanted to do something out of the box and with crochet.  (I have been crocheting for oh....30+ years).  I had found some faux PEARL button covers, so I took off the backs, found a pattern to crochet and then sewed the button covers on the finished piece and then added a few accent PEARLS. I sewed a couple of PEARLS on the edge to fasten it with.  The yarn is silvery white. I also crocheted up a ring with the last button cover.  Around a size 9 - 10...

Then I decided to do a second more conventional piece using PEARLS and Swarovski crystals.It is a three tiered necklace with matching earrings. It has a PEARL chain closure set so that it can be adjusted. The earrings are just simple dangle.

Thanks for looking and for more delicious PEARLS hop over to Michelle's.

Art Bead Scene - Sept 2013

For this months challenge I really wanted to try some new techniques that had been swirling in my head. They involved clay and wire.

First I had seen some clay pendants that Erin at Treasures Found had done that I fell in love with.  She gave a link to Stroppel Cane to show how she did it.  I went and reviewed it and was hooked!  So when this months challenge came out, I was like, ok , perfect time to use this technique. Of course....I didn't do it quite the same since I was relying on my memory to do it.  But making mistakes is how you learn!

As you can see....my clay design didn't come out quite like I wanted, and I think I used to much red. Plus since my pasta machine died....I didn't the thinness required. BUT, I put my pendant on the back of washers that I had to give them some stability.  Then I put black felt over the backs after running the satin ribbon from the bottom up to use for the hanger.

I also have a Coiling Gizmo that I like to use. I coiled copper wire and used it in the design. I wanted to see how clay and wire looked together so I encased the copper wire in between the clay.  Then I drilled holes in the clay disks and ran the coil through two of them, connecting them on each side. Then I used the coils to make earring dangles...I put the clay on the ends of each coil before baking.  If you look at the bottom right picture you can see what NOT to do when baking beads and that is to lay it on a flat surface....it burns.... Anyway I then used my wire to make another coil but this time with beads on it to use to hang the pendant on. I love working with the coil and beads. Maybe I'll make some to sell.....

Any way this is my submission for this months ABS challenge.  I think I am going to hang it close by, so I can make sure NOT to make the same mistakes.

Thanks for looking.

For more info hop over to ABS Monthly Challenge

Blogger/Non Blogger Challenge

For this challenge we were given two photos to create jewelry from

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(One day I will figure out how align these pics)  Any way, being the over achiever, that I can be....here is my offering for the pictures.

 

These were done based on the Teal Goddess.  Love those colors! The collage picture of the necklace shows where I crocheted silky fabric strips from a dress my daughter was making.  That was fun and I am definitely going to do it again!

These (below) were based off the Time Fly's picture. I is a pin. As you can see the top is free form wire wrapping with seed beads. To that I wired in the watch with the charms. Some one said it almost look like a head with wild hair.  How funny.  I didn't notice that until it was mentioned. Any way,  these were my offerings.  Thanks for looking.