Something Different

Something Different

 

(A New Leather Bracelet)

 

 

When I went to a recent Bead Show, my intent was to find the leather and findings for the Regaliz style bracelet I wanted to give to my grandson for his Bar Mitzvah. Of course, that was not all I found.

 

 

 

 

 

Clever Treasures is a favorite vendor of mine for all things leather and new designs using leather. Naturally, Deb had the leather I was looking for plus other interesting finds. She was wearing an interesting bracelet and I purchased the necessary materials to make one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The bracelet has a magnetic clasp and is easy to put on and to take off. Well, easy to take off once you understand how it works. You have to put your finger nail in the right spot and twist. I purchased the clasp at another favorite souce of all good things, pflora beads in Canton, MA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was an interesting scene when I got it on and couldn't get it off. My husband couldn't get it either. I knew one way to do it but that way took two hands. Not possible with the bracelet on one arm. With two hands, he could do it for me, of course.

 

 

 

 

At that point I didn't know about the finger nail technique. So after we got it off, I played with the clasp for awhile until I discovered the finger nail method. Oh, yes, the little thingy that looks like you should push it, is not the solution. Needless to say, it is a very good strong magnetic clasp that you don't have to worry about coming off in the refrigerator. But that is another story. (I'll tell you if you ask)

 

 

 

What do you think of this new bracelet? Would you like to have one or give as a gift in the upcoming gifting season? Let me know.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I made two Regaliz style bracelets. So, I also, have another Regaliz style bracelet for sale if anyone is interested.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Until  next week,

 

Bev

Christmas Earrings

Christmas Earrings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few weeks ago I introduced mentioned that I needed to get started on making jewelry for the coming Holidays. I will be having a table at a craft fair to benefit the Boston Children's Hospital (Pediatric Advanced Care System) on Saturday, November 10,  10 AM - 4 PM, in West Roxbury, MA. (Save the date if you are in MA) That is not that far away, either.

 

 

 

 

Here is the first piece I've been working on, Christmas earrings. A really cute "tree" made with Swarovski Margarita beads. (Now, doesn't that sound good?) The spacers are Silver Plated Pewter beaded Heishi beads and topped with a Swarovski Sunflower bicone.

 

 

 

 

 

They are really cute and fun to wear for the holiday season.

 

I have added these to my website and they are ready for purchase. For more information, pictures and to order click here or on the picture.

 

 

Until next week,

 

 

Bev

Something for me

Something for me

 

 

 

 

When I make new jewelry pieces, I am either learning a new technique or almost always thinking of selling the piece. This time the set (necklace, bracelet and earrings) are made for me. It sometimes surprises me how that difference influences how I make the piece. It usually effects the cost of what I choose to put into a piece.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now, don't misunderstand, I always use the best material. Argentium Sterling Silver rings for my Chain Maille, Swarovski crystals and the best brand of seed beads (when I use them).

It may be that I don't choose anything different at all when I'm making a piece for me. However, I do notice, I don't even look at the price of the materials when it is for me. Strange?

 

 

I showed you the necklace above last week and how it evolved. This week I made a matching bracelet and earrings.

 

 

  You can't see it in the picture but the color of the right earring is a bit different than the left. I noticed when I took the picture. No two of the beads are exactly alike on this string of beads but there is definitely more "green" in the right one. I think I'm going to make another pair with better matches. I guess it was not bright enough when I chose the beads for the earrings.

 

 

 

 

Here is the matching bracelet. I was quite lucky that the segments of Chain Maille and bead sections came out to my size bracelet. No fiddling to get the right length. Unusual.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I know I shouldn't worry about cost as much as I do. David Weiman, a noted "Psychologist/Consultant for Business Owners and Senior Executives" who has an extensive background in jewelry selling, always states that the price you charge for jewelry should never be determined by the cost of materials. If the jewelry piece "speaks" to a potential buyer, the price of the piece doesn't matter. Interesting.

 

I am pleased with the results of this set.  Oh, you could twist my arm to sell you these pieces if you would like.   ;-)

 

Until  next week,

 

Bev

Designing a New Necklace Part 2

Designing a New Necklace

Part 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last week, I walked you through the steps I took to design this necklace and mentioned I had another necklace in the works. I have finished the second one made using the Chain Maille technique.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As you know, I love making Chain Maille bracelets and necklaces. I truly love the results. This piece started with a pendant as did the Kumihimo necklace I featured last week. Though, as I mentioned before, the real start was a new gray top I had recently purchased. The gray really needed some color. Silver Chain Maille does not add color to the piece. I needed to add some colorful beads to the design.

 

 

 

 

 

With pendant in hand and a Byzantine bracelet, I went off the bead store. When matching colors it is a must to have the pendant in hand. Not even across the store works, at least not for me. This trip was to Canton, MA and pflora's beads

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With the help of Phyllis and her helper, I came home with two possibilities. The plan was to make some Byzantine segments and add a colorful bead then more Byzantine segments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It took a few  minutes to decide I would use both of the possibilities in the necklace. It just looked right with both.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And here is the result:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Close up of the added beads and the

Byzantine segments. I use Argentium Sterling Silver. Argentium is tarnish resistant.

 

 

What do you think? Will it look good on my gray top?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Until next week,

 

Bev

 

PS I found my missing Bulldog clips! They were hiding in my basket of Softflex and wire.

 

 

Designing a New Necklace

Designing a New Necklace

 

 

I've been thinking about "How do I design a new necklace?" lately. I used to make most of my own clothes and had a similar dilema. Start with fabric first or a particular pattern? Well, it is much the same with a new necklace design.

 

Start with a particular technique (Chain Maille, Kumihimo or stringing) or design around some particular pendant or beads? Right now I need some new necklaces to go with a new top I recently purchased. That brings up another thought. Do I purchase clothes to go with my jewelry or make jewelry to go with new tops? (Mostly, I buy clothes to go with my jewelry)

 

The answer to all of the above questions is much the same. It all depends! And I use all of the methods and sometimes even combine the different methods. All that said, here is how I came to make my latest creation.

 

 

 

 

 

It started with a new top that required a necklace with some color to it. (The top is a neutral gray) I have about 5-8 pendants that I've collected over the last year from my trips to bead shows. One vendor in particular has great choices and it is hard to come home with only 6 - the quantity you need to purchase to get a better price per pendant.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next decision was technique. I decided on Kumihimo for this one. (No particular reason other than I liked the colors in the pendant and thought I could find some nice seed beads that would go with the pendant) So, off the my local bead store where I found these two seed bead colors. Transparent Dark Topaz and Gunmetal Iris.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I usually always have cord on hand to make Kumihimo braids but when I got home with my seed beads, I found I was all out. But I did find some  red/maroon/purple/?? C-Lon. and added that to the mix of supplies. It adds some extra color to the finished braid.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I loaded up my Kumihimo disk, mixing up the colors with 5 cords of the Gunmetal Iris and 3 of the Dark Topaz. If you make it an even number , 4 and 4, you end up with a spiral. That is very nice but I didn't feel it would look right with the design on the pendant. This is to be more "mixture".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nothing seemed to go smoothly in this project and after I started, I soon discovered that I had cut the cord too short for a necklace. So, the necklace project turned into a bracelet. No problem since it is nice to have a matching bracelet.

 

Here is the bracelet next to the pendant.  I do like the colors together. What do you think?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I admit, I still have not finished the project yet. I still need to add clasps to both pieces. (Thus the sort of "cut off" look in the pictures) I plan another trip to the bead store this week, or maybe search my stash here and finish the project. Sometimes I need to take a break in the process. ;-)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've started another necklace project to go with my new top. Very different design. Much the same process, though, as this one. I started with another one of my pendants. And yes, I'll make a matching bracelet and probably earrings. This is a chain maille design. So far I like both projects. You'll see some pictures next week.

 

 

Fall Panton Colors

Fall Pantone Colors

Ring by Ring  Designs Silver Jewelry - Plus www.ringbyringdesigns.com September 4,  2012

Fall Pantone Colors       In the past I've featured the current Pantone colors for the current season. Well, Fall is almost here and school has started. So, here are the latest Fall Pantone Colors.   They feature some versatile neutrals and add some bold hues that they hope gives something for everyone.       One of the nice neutrals is called French Roast. They suggest it as an alternative to black and classic fall colors of charcoal grays. They refer to it as "rich and robust".   I love the words used in talking about fashion.             Rose Smoke in another neutral refered to as a "veiled rose tone"     and Titanium the "quintessential cool gray"         Now to spice up things a bit, how about "Bright Chartrese"?             Or "Pink Flambe, a delicious vibrant pink with a bit of heat to it"       Now getting in to one of my favorite colors "Olympian Blue"                     Tango Tangerine, the color of the year (You may remember from my spring post.) is front and center.       Then another favorite color of mine, "Ultramarine Green"     You can see all the colors and read more about them in the "Magic of Color 2012" on the Pantone website.   I hope you enjoy hearing about the new Fall Colors. Until  next week,   Bev   website:http://ringbyringdesigns.com

Summer

 

(almost gone)

 

 

 

 

It seems as if I've almost taken the summer off - in jewelry designing/making anyhow.

 

You've heard about our camping, weekend ballooning and our family reunion. New jewelry pieces - not so much.

(Do notice the moon in the picture)

 

 

 

 

 

 

This summer, I was able to find a new place to sell my wares in New Hampshire. And that even was put on the shelf for about a week. I need to get busy. Yesterday, I spent some time deciding what pieces to send. Decisions! Price points? Something "different"? Can I make another one if someone should order what I'm sending? Oh, the decisions!

 

I need to write some good descriptions to go with the pieces since the people selling them really need to know that. Not my favorite thing to do - that and accounting. Not that I don't know what materials I use or how it is made but it always sounds weird when I start writing. I, as Nike says, need to "Just Do It"

 

 

Here is a sample. Please, let me know what you think.

 

 

Segments of Chain Maille in the Byzantine pattern are made with 16 gauge Argentium Sterling Silver wire and separated by four Twisted Hematite beads. The bracelet is 7 1/2 inches long and closed with a Sterling Silver toggle clasp.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When you are shopping in a store and looking at jewelry, what kind of information do you want to know? Do you want to know the materials, the method used to make the piece? eg.hematite beads and Chain Maille or Kumihimo? Would you want to know something about the designer? Something else?

 

Please, let me know what you think.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also, think I'll send some of the Glass Dome Pendants. (Good price point) I would appreciate some suggestions of the choices that you think would sell well. Check out the available designs and let me know what you think I should send.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

I really would like to know what you think. Thanks for any input you can provide.

 

Please, let me know what you think.

 

 

 

Until  next week,

 

Bev

Byzantine

Byzantine

 

(Chain Maille)

 

 

 

 

 

As you probably know, silver Chain Maille is my favorite jewelry technique. I haven't made many new pieces lately. The current price of silver has sky rocketed and makes it hard to make too many new pieces.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have a Chain Maille class coming up this Friday. The class will be Half Persian. See the above picture of Half Persian. Remember the post awhile ago where I complained about not being able to find things? Specifically a clip. Since then I remembered they are called "Bulldog" clips. I still have not found the ones I have and even bought some from Staples. (They didn't have any the last time I was in the market for some) They do have them on line and now that I know the official name, they were easy to find. I figured that would make mine immediately occur. Wrong. Still MIA.

 

 

 

 

When I have a class, I need to practice before hand. Yes, I do. So after I refreshed my Half Persian skills, I saw some Byzantine segments in my ring stash. I also found some nice beads that would work up into a bracelet.

 

Click on picture or here for more information

 

 

 

 

This is made with 5 Byzantine segements and 4 twisted Hematite beads. I really like the combination of black and silver.

 

 

 

 

One of the reasons I like the Byzantine weave so much is that it is very versatile. I have about 10 different Byzantine bracelets in my inventory and all very different.

I now have 12 Byzantine bracelets.

 

Click on picture or here for more information

 

 

 

 

This is just plain Byzantine with 2 pink Lampworked hearts as an accent.

 

It is hard to tell in these pictures but one of the variations you can make with the Byzantine weave (well, actually any weave) is to change the size of the wire that makes the rings. The Hematite bracelet is made with 16 gauge wire and the bracelet with the hearts is made with 18 gauge or thinner wire. (An added piece of information for you is that the larger the number in gauge, the smaller the wire)

 

This simple change satisfies people who like dainty bracelets and those who prefer a more chunky or heavy version.

 

Until  next week,

 

Bev