Mother's Day Ideas

Mother's Day Ideas

 

Last week I encouraged you to start thinking about things you would like to have for Mother's Day.

 

Gifts for Mothers, Grandmothers, favorite Aunts or just someone who has been the "special" person in your life. (I remember a cousin of my Mother who was that "special" person in my life after my Mother died)

 

As I was looking over my inventory for special ideas I decided I'm make a short "video" to show.

I've included earrings, some of my favorite Kumihimo pieces, wire wrapped pendants and of course a chain maille piece.

 

 

Click on the above picture or here to see the video. Enjoy!

 

Always remember personalized items. Mothers and Grandmothers always like items with Birthstones of their children/grandchildren.

 

 

 

Here is one for Mothers or Grandmothers with child's name and birthstone:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As usual, I like to know what you think about what I show to you. Leave a comment below.

 

 

.

 

Until next time,

 

Bev

Lots of Earrings

The swirl earrings I showed last week inspired me to make more. I've been getting better with the swirls and tried some different looks. Plus I made some twisted earrings that I've made before.

 

 

 

Here is a pair like the one from last week.

The color is more blue than shows in the picture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then I tried some Antique Bronze swirls in two different colors. I need some earrings to go with the wire wrapped pendants I have using Antique Bronze wire.

 

 

 

 

 

Here are some red ones. This pattern could be made in many different colors. Your choice. Have a favorite color you would like? The metal could be silver or gold, also as well as the Antique Bronze..

 

 

 

 

Now when you cut the wire to make the earrings, it is a good idea to cut more than you think you will need.

 

 

But, not wanting to waste the extra, I started swirling the left over pieces. And here is the results.

 

 

 

 

 

Nice variation for those who like smaller earrings.

 

 

 

 

Here are the twisted wire earrings that I made. (Busy this week, no?)

 

The beads are blue tear drop shaped with a flower design you really can't see in the picture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And last but not least, twisted wire with pretty faceted black crystals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've added these to my web site and you can see them there with more information about them (size, price etc.)

 

 

Let me know how you like the new earrings

Bev, I think...  

 

.

 

Until next time,

I changed my mind

 

 because I can!

 

 

Remember last week when I said I would finish the Grapevine necklace using the plan I had to make it from two bracelet kits?

 

Well, I decided that it wasn't going to work as I wanted. So, I will now have two Grapevine bracelets.

 

 

Now what? I do have other unfinished projects.

:-)

 

One is using the Fiber Kumihimo necklace I made to go with the Picture Jasper pendant I made.

 

 

 

 

 

(Another change of plans project) I ended up using Antique Bronze chain instead. It really looks much better. But now what to do with the Fiber Kumihimo?

 

 

 

I, also, have a pendant that is waiting to be used. It needed a bail. I purchased some Vintage Bronze wire for that and added to the Fiber Kumihimo. Voila a new necklace.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The picture does not do the pendant justice. You can't see the lovely "sunset" for example. I like this combination.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That wasn't the only thing I've been doing. I saw a nice video with an idea for earrings. I'm always looking for new earring ideas as I get a lot of earring requests.

 

 

 

Unfortunately, the picture shows that I'm not consistent with my wire work but if they are on different ears, I don't think it will show as much as in the picture. Or, I could "treak" them a bit.

 

 

Let me know how you like the new pieces

Bev, I think...  

 

.

 

Until next time,

 

Bev

 

 

Kumihimo Necklace: How to?

Kumihimo Necklace: How to ?

 

It seems that I run into times that I just don't get much done in the "creating" line. This is one of those times. So, what happens to the subject for my weekly posts?

 

 

I'll share a little secret with you. Around 4 - 6 AM on Monday mornings, I lay in bed and think... about what I might say. (I often lay in bed thinking on other mornings, too) Most often I come up with something easily. Today (Monday) not so easily. Finally, I decided to share one of my unfinished projects that I have.

 

 

 

I love this bracelet. Those of you who see me often will recognize that because I wear it often. So, the next project for me was to make a matching necklace.

 

 

 

 

 

The bracelet is made from a kit from Sally Battis and I figured I could order two bracelet kits and make a necklace. What I didn't figure, ahead of time, was that Sally includes the length cord for a bracelet. - Not a necklace, even if you order two kits. Well, duh!

 

 

 

 

 

So, I now have a bracelet size piece. Plus another bracelet size piece. But can I still make them into a necklace?

 

 

 

 

 

I could just order more from Sally (I'm sure she would send me the proper length cords) but could I do something else?

 

 

My plan is to take the two "bracelet" pieces and put a pretty clasp on two ends, (hooking the two bracelets together) then add a chain to the other ends and voila, I'll have a necklace.

 

 

 

The pretty clasp will be in the middle as a focal and the chain around the neck.

 

 

 

 

The thickness of the braid, really, is too much to go comfortably around the neck anyhow. Other similar necklaces I've made all have a chain around the neck. This also, allows you to vary the length of the necklace. This is a feature I love. Not only for selling to different people, but for me to be able to adjust the length for different clothing styles.

 

I should be able to finish the necklace by next week so I'll show the finished product then. Saying that in print gives me the motivation to get it done!   ;-)

 

 

Until next time,

 

Bev

Weekend Activities

 

 FUN!

 

 

This weekend was a busy one. It started with the Science with a Mission Quilt show and Craft Fair on Saturday. It was a great day! Saw many friends and made some new ones. The other vendors near by were friendly and I made some new "connections"

 

 

I now need to make a trip to Two Guys Fossils to purchase some more gemstones. ;-)

 

 

On Sunday, I went to Auntie Zaza's Fiber Works here in North Easton. Leslie Wind, expert silversmith, was there and demonstrated how to make her shawl pins and other items such as tea stirrers, hair pins and cable necklaces (A necklace that has a decorative cable needle you can't loose while knitting).

 

 

 

 

Leslie took one person at a time and made or helped them make a piece chosen from the many examples she had there. Here is the one she made for me as I watched and asked questions.

 

 

 

 

 

It can be used as a book mark or as a scarf "pin" as shown here. It is made from copper wire, shaped, hammered then polished if you like the shiny look.

 

 

 

 

This is polished but doesn't show in the picture. I'm sure I will find other uses too. You can see more on Leslie's website.

 

 

 

A busy but fun weekend. Now to get back to the regular routine.

 

 

Until next time,

 

Bev

Wire wrapping and Kumihimo

Wire wrapping and Kumihimo

 

 Combining Techniques 

 

 

 

 

Last week I showed you some new gemstone pendants, including this one. A picture Jasper stone that I wire wrapped. However, the usual silver necklace I add to those pieces wouldn't work. I suggested leather as a possibility.

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                Several of you agreed. But, the colors/size of leather available just didn't work. I did find some chain that would work. But then, I got to thinking about fiber Kumihimo.

 

 

Then a nice thing happened, I found I already had some on hand to use in a new piece. I've made several Fiber Kumihimo necklaces in the past and had some fiber left over. So, I pulled out the left overs - eliminated the blues and greens and had a nice pile to choose from. You need eight different cords and I found eight different strands that were nice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then I loaded up my Kumihimo disk and started weaving away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is what I have finished so far.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I slid the pendant on and here is what it will look like. What do you think?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The chain will not go to waste because I have another stone to wrap. That way customers can have a choice. I really haven't made up my mind which one I like best yet. Opinions?

 

Bev, I think...

 

 

 

 

 

 

For those of you who live here in MA I'll be showing my wares on Saturday, March 23 from 9 AM - 3 PM at the annual Quilt Show for the benefit of Science with a Mission.   Come see over 100 quilts (all different from those you may have seen before) have a nice lunch, and browse over 18 different vendors that will be there.

 

The event will be held at

Covenant Congregational Church

204 Center Street

North Easton, Massachusetts

from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM

 

 

You can see most of the new pendants on my website as well as read more about the individual stones. Pendant, Various

 

 

As usual, I like to know what you think about what I show to you. Click on the link below rather than using the reply button. That way it comes directly to my email address which works better for me than the one associated with this email. Thanks.

 

Bev, I think...  

 

.

 

Until next time,

 

Bev

New Earrings

Earrings

 

I really used to enjoy the "A Team" and especially when John "Hannibal" Smith would say "I love it when a plan comes together."

 

Last week I gave you a hint what I was up to. (Making new earrings). One of you even purchased the ones I showed on Facebook.

 

 

These are really nice, aren't they?

 

Now I know many of you do not like long dangly earrings. These are 2 inches long BUT they are very light.

 

 

 

You will not know they are on.

 

So, what's this about a plan coming together? OK, I'll tell you.

 

I took a class at pflora beads awhile ago and learned how to make an earring design called "Twist and Curve" I made several pairs in that style.

 

 

 

Including this one:

 

Do you see the difference/similarity?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One more piece to the pie is another pair of earrings I made using a pattern from pflora beads. They are called "Balloon" earrings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While we were away on vacation 2 weeks ago, I took my drill and wire with me. I love twisting wire with my drill. mrooommmm....mroommmmm....  While away I twisted lots of wire and turned some into the above "balloon" shapes. Probably more accurately a "tear drop" shape.

 

After we got back home I was showing my friend what I had made so far. We played with the twisted pieces and some beads I had on hand. (This is the way new designs are made) The "what ifs" flew. And we came up with the top picture. It combines one of my Twist and Curve earrings and one of my twisted balloons aka tear drop shape. The plan came together!

 

 

While on a roll. I decided to make a different pair.

Even now, as I look at it, I'm thinking I would like the bead to be on the little longer curve. I'll have to try it.

 

 

 

How would you change it?   The choices are endless. There are blue stones, green ones, black ones, round ones, bigger ones and so on and so forth.

 

Do you have a favorite color or shape???

 

Would you like them a bit shorter, longer? What would your choice be?

 

I'm thinking I could make some square wire shapes too.

 

 

I've made some round wires and even a single tear drop that is only an inch and has no beads, just the tear drop shape. I like it.

 

 

 

OK, I've shown you some new designs. What do you think of them? Do you have a favorite? Would you like something different?

 

 

Check out the earrings on the Ring by Ring Designs website.Then:

 

 

Let me know what you would like and I'll do my best to make what you want.

 

 

Wire Wrapped Pendant

 Finally!  

I've been sharing my "struggles" with learning to wire wrap a gemstone for a Pendant. I realize it is hard to tell from pictures just what it is I don't like.

Well, I finally made one that I'm (relatively) satisfied with. I like both the design and the way the wire looks. 

The picture could be better but here it is:

Here is one of the things I've improved. 

The wire I use is "half round". Just like the name says, half of the wire is round. The other half is flat. Now, when I was working before, I was not always able to get the rounded side where it should be, round on top.

I realize that is a hard thing to see (even if the piece is in your hand)  but if you are going to use nice half round wire, it should show it is nice half round wire! Standing on edge, as in the others, really doesn't cut it. 

Here is a picture of wire on its edge. See the top middle wire is on edge? The bottom middle wire is round as in the good one.

The other thing I like about this one is the three coils on the top. (Reminds me of the three rings in my Ring by Ring Designs' logo)

I expect that I will have more improved pendants to show you in the future. See it on the website.

You can help me, if you would, by letting me know if you like this type of jewelry. I won't feel hurt if you don't like it because, I do not really love it myself but it is growing on me. Click here:  Bev, I think...  

I discovered another thing I'm going to work on this week. Dangly earrings.

I know many of you prefer smaller earrings, but not all of you, I've found out. So, I'll have something new for next week in the earring line. Stay tuned.

Let me know if you like dangly earrings or not.

Click here: Bev, I like .... earrings.

Thanks for taking time to let me know what you are thinking, what you like or don't like. I really appreciate it.

Until next time,

Bev

Blizzard 2013

http://www.ringbyringdesigns.com/shop.html#!/~/product/category=3110416&id=19447019

Blizzard 2013

February

 

Many of you are also in the northeast and probably had as much snow or more than we did. It has been awhile around here, in south eastern MA, since we have had this much snow.

 

 

This is the view from our door on the driveway. Fortunately, our cars are in the garage. My daughter and son-in-law's cars were out. The official snow fall in our town was 23 inches but many around us got more. We are just down the street from the DPW and get our street plowed regularly. In fact, on Friday when it started snowing, I counted 15 plows going by our house before I stopped counting. We were, also, very fortunate to not loose electricity. Many are still without. They are cold and some have no water. Though there are warming places,  they still are hoping for lights soon!

 

 

 

 

 

Pathway started from our house to the  cars in the driveway.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With it snowing hard on Friday, I decided it would be a good time to practice my wire wrapping. Boy, I'm still learning. Here is one piece I'll even show you.

  ;-)

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm not a fan of swirls and curly cues in wire wrapping but I did some anyway. While my wire wrapping skills are getting better, I need to work on my design skills for wrapping. At least to make me happy with the results

 

 

I have one Amethyst button left, the darker colored one. Of course, I can always take a short trip to my buddy at Two Guys Fossils for more.

 

Amethyst,

Malachite, or

Lapis Lazuli. 

Bev

Two Guys Fossils

Part 2

 

Friday, one of my beading buddies and I went to visit Al at Two Guys Fossils again.

 

 

The pieces I showed in last week's post have been quite popular. The Amethyst button sold as a gift for a person with a February birthday. That of course gave me the excuse to purchase some more.

 

 

 

I also, tried to wire wrap several of the stones I had purchased before. Well, as with most new techniques, the results were not great but with each try I learned something new. I won't bore you with the details (plus it is too hard to explain) but I needed to get more stones to try again. I did learn what kind of stone to look for in shape and probably more important, had a better idea what not to purchase.

 

 

 

Here are some pieces I found. They are fairly flat and have some interesting shapes with out being extremely odd shaped.

 

 

 

I've been thinking about something to add to the cross but it is still percolating. So when I find some time, my next project will be to wire wrap one of these stones. Haven't decided which one to start with. It seems I really like hematite ... One lonely lapis lazuli sits there too.

 

 

 

 

Since the Amethyst was sold, here are some replacements. Each one is a little different in shape and in depth of color. The one on the right is the one sold but the other two are available if anyone is interested.

 

You can check the pieces available here:

 

Amethyst,

Malachite, or

Lapis Lazuli.