work in progress

A few weeks ago at Artful Bead with Mary, I couldn't resist this 2" disc of scenic jasper. Since then I have been contemplating it and trying to figure out how to put it together with maille, without it seeming altogether too solid and heavy.






Then a couple of days ago one of the Chainmaillers Guild on Etsy asked my advice about what rings to use to do a necklace like this. I gave my opinion, and also thought "that's it!" about the jasper disc. I have some 1/4" brown aluminum rings that I have used very few of, because, well, they're brown. So not "ooh, shiny!" But this is their project.

So now to make a couple hundred 1/8" 20-gauge bronze rings, and heat-treat them to iridescent dark colors. Then I'll assemble it, and see how well the result matches my sudden inspiration.

inspired to earring

Three weeks again since I posted. Yipes! Well, I have been keeping pretty busy. Was inspired by some big FW pearls and some astonishing amethyst drusy geode beads from Bead Renaissance to make earrings.

bronze

I've been sporadically busy, but no posting for months. Especially when I am spending most of my time at the Ridge. Good for working on the green, breezy upstairs porch, but no internet except on the not-quite-stupid phone inhibits online documentation.

I made several things in the February blizzard. Then when the snow all melted and spring came bounding in, I pretty well stopped in favor of outdoor pursuits. Another spurt of activity came juts before the May show I did in Prosper, and then this past week, preparing goodies for my next offering to Oxide Gallery.


Got some true bronze (copper/tin alloy) wire from Nancy Wickman a few weeks ago. I put together a pair of earrings with graduated paisley (sort of) motifs, and then worked up a 4-metal box-chain necklace, bronze, copper, silver-surfaced and gold-surfaced German wire. It's about a quarter inch thick, out of 20-gauge 5/32" rings.

This picture in the sun shows the four sides of the box chain; from the top they are bronze, copper, gold, silver. In the lowest section, with the silver links showing full face, the edgewise rings at the top are bronze, and those below are the gold.





Having turned all the rest of the 20-gauge wire into jump-rings, I was unable to fix the situation when one of the earrings made its escape at the exceedingly windy, and also muddy, Prosper Founders' Fest. Evidently, the table cover flipped in the wind and tossed it into the hay-covered mud underfoot, where I could never find it. I just yesterday received more wire, so I will try to manage a matching one.





Then with the 18-gauge I made a bunch of 1/8" links for the pendant heading this post, with a crystal eye and small crystal dangles. The silver pendant like this, with a blue crystal, sold at DHS in December (with no photo taken, bah!) So I hope the right customer comes to Oxide for this one, always assuming that Warren takes it.