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YOJ - The Year of Jewelry.
Who or what, you ask, is the YOJ?
We are a group of wire artists that have accepted a challenge to complete one piece of jewelry,
every week, for a year. Theme's are suggested, and not always followed. (NEVER in my case)
However, that's part of the challenge - forcing ourselves out of our comfort
zone, to create something we might not do or try otherwise.
Year of Jewelry
is the blog where everyone posts their work.
This will be my second "YOJ", and I couldn't be happier about being associated with such a great group of artists...
Creative Wire Jewelry
is the forum we all belong to.
Week 34
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In love with Labradorite...nothing new there. Here's a picture of the swirl earrings HANGING and a close up of the EAR HOOKS on the stick earrings.
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Week 33 - It's very Perri!
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These tiny little Turquoise and Coral stones really wanted to be used together, and I thought since they were round, some sort of circle pendant was in order. The way it's wrapped just happened, but after I was done, I was struck by how similar it is to some of Perri's wonderful wire work - I'm hoping you take that as a compliment my friend!!!
Here's a picture of the EARRINGS, the other side of the PENDANT, and the full SET.
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Week 32
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It took me FOREVER to finish this. It isn't that it's hard, but oh so tedious...this is a spiral stitch rope, finished off with copper cones that I had to make because I couldn't find anything else that I liked (or long enough to cover my ragged ends).
Here's a close up of the STITCHING, the back HALF, and the CONES and CLASP.
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Week 31
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This is the "Impossible to photograph" necklace. Since it sits molded to the neck, it doesn't lay flat and I can't figure out a good way to show it...the challenge looms, eh? LOTS of sterling silver and this stone that I've seen called a several different things - maybe someone could enlighten me - Cross Stone, for the obvious reasons, Andalusite and Chiastolite. Are they all the same thing, and it just depends on the "grade" or quality/cut you're looking at?
Here's a close up of the SIDE, the center from ABOVE, and two veiws of the entire thing HERE and HERE.
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Week 30
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Made on request. Twelve 4mm Swarovski crystals in blues and purples on a Pom Pom ring finding. I recently saw a how to in a Step by Step issue for making the shanks. I've never tried doing them with more than one loop, but I do mine differently in the sense that I have all of my dangles made and thread them into the loop before finishing the shank. It can be fidigity, but works better IMO than adding the dangles after the shank is created...
Here's a veiw from TOP and on my FINGER.
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Week 29
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Both pair of these earrings were made using left over bits from Week 27's post. I'm trying to get some stock built up for fall shows and a new gallery I'll be in very soon - YAY!
These are copper (duh) hand twisted and coiled, LOS'd and tumbled. Both pair are on the bigger size - that's what happens when using leftovers, but I NEED to start making more of an effort to make smaller, more delicate stuff.
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Week 28
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This stone isn't one I've seen often and I love it! Coffee Jasper is what it was labeled when I bought it, and it has dark shiny streaks swirling thru a lighter matte brown background. It is a terrible picture, so that may be hard to see...
I also used Fresh Water Pearl and coiled sterling silver as long spacers AND bullion wire to hide the beading wire the main part is strung upon.
Here are close ups of the CLASP, the CENTER and one of the SIDE components.
Here's the full necklace from another ANGLE.
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Week 27
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While the bracelet was already made, at a show I was asked to make a matching necklace - and here it is. LOTS of 20G copper, twisted and coiled then made into links. The center focal (14G) is to match one of the dangles on the bracelet.
Here's a close up of the CLASP, the center DETAIL, the BRACELET and the EARRINGS.
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Week 26
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Well, this isn't the first one of these I've made, but what is a first is that I made one FOR me! It's the perfect layering bangle and goes with pretty much everything else I've ever made.
14G twisted Copper and 22G twisted sterling laid into the crevices of the copper twist. Very twisted indeed.
Here's a close up of the WIRE DETAIL, the hand made CLASP and from another ANGLE.
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Week 25
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While cleaning off my table (and surrounding disaster areas) I came to realize I've had this sweet little piece of glass, waiting and wanting to be something. And now here it is! This is one of LYN OWEN's pieces from earlier this year.
I love her glass work, and once I get it, I'm afraid of not doing it the justice it deserves. I really like this though...it's simple setting really lets the colors in the glass shine thru! I'll probably try to do a better job of rounding out the wire "V" piece to match the bail that is part of the glass...was in a hurry to get it done so I could wear it to volleyball!
Here's a CLOSE UP of the pendant.
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Week 24
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In the effort to catch up, I'm going to post a recent commission, hope you don't mind! I have done a J before, but only in wire. This was made for a woman serving in the Air Force, and although I'm not sure where she's stationed, the Post Office says Iraq based on the address I had to send it to. I hope and pray it finds her well.
The frame is 20G sterling and the coiling is 26...maybe 28. Various little stones...
More examples of my wire monograms and personlized jewelry are HERE.
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Week 23
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Here we have my new favorite earrings!
While going to sleep at night, I try to figure out new twists on classic elements. I don't normally get up and write things down, but this idea actually threw me out of bed with enough force to wake up DH! He wasn't nearly as excited about it...go figure!
Pretty basic stuff here - copper and silver, spiraled and coiled, LOS'd and tumbled! Here's another ANGLE.
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Week 22
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WOW - I've REALLY let myself get behind in the YOJ project...
This is a necklace set that uses top drilled FWP's in peachy/pink, some bronze FWP's and sterling. LOS'd, not tumbled for fear of hurting the pearls. Not too much else to say about it...
Here are close ups of the CLASP, the CENTER and one of the SIDE components.
Oh, and the EARRINGS.
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Week 21
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The little "L" that did...LOS that is!!!
These were the pendants for the necklaces I made for the Jr. Brides Maids - four identical quadruplets (naturally conceived no less!).
The bride thought of the idea to help people tell them apart, and it worked VERY well! They are only about 3/4 of an inch tall (the letters), and the first L I made was a bit smaller than the rest. I figured it'd be nice to have one in my arsenal of goodies anyway, made a new one, and was thrilled to be able to LOS the keeper! I was going thru some serious oxidizing withdraw, but think I am going to pull thru now... :^)
I'm getting all of the wedding jewelry together on a page that I hope to have done soon, but in the meantime, my journal has been updated...now to catch up with YOJ - I have things made and photographed, but am now having PC to camera issues - there's always something.
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Week 20
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For the beautiful bride, Amanda! Sterling Silver and Swarovski's galore! I will have page dedicated to wedding jewelry VERY soon HERE, and it will have all 5 Brides Maids designs, the Jr. Brides Maids jewelry and the flower girl!
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Week 19
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I'm cheating as this was made about a month ago. SORRY!!! Too busy working on the wedding commssion, but I'll soon be done and have pictures to share! This is Crab Fire Agate, Garnet and fresh water pearls. I'd do things a bit differently making something similar, but overall I'm pleased, especially with the accident I had when hooking the rings between the linking components. It keeps the necklace from rolling when being worn, which is great for items that have a "front and back".
Here's a close up of the CENTER, the EARRINGS and from ABOVE.
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Week 18
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I'm getting ready to do a wedding commission, and wanted to practice the tiara and choker in copper before doing sterling and Swarovksi...So, I used 20G copper wire, some awesome Turquoise tear drops, Mookite beads and leather. It's a lot more comfortable and light weight to wear than I thought it would be, and the bride is really happy with the design, and that the most important factor.
Here's a close up of the CENTER one SIDE the other SIDE. and the EARRINGS.
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Week 17
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| You've heard the saying - when it rains, it pours? I hadn't done a monogram
pendant in about a year, and then two separate orders on one day, and then another a week later! Cool! The first was for the letter A, then an M and a C! The A was the most challenging since I hadn't done one for awhile, so I made two and let the customer choose. |
Week 16
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This is truly a group piece, in a way! I used Eni Oken's basket weave tutorial, and the cab is from Lynette Owen. Both are fellow artist's and participants in the YOJ. I don't follow directions well, did a poor job on measuring the cab and had a few other mis-steps along the way. That said, I'm still extremely pleased with the resulting pendant (and
calluses). It's strung on 5 thin strands of leather, with hand made findings of sterling silver.
Here's another ANGLE, and CLOSE UP another CLOSE UP and here's the BACK.
You can NEVER have enough pictures of a Dichroic cab... |
Week 15
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For some reason, when I see briolette's, I see flowers. An d little briolette's want to be rings! I made this for a friend half a world away. It is
faceted Amethyst, Rose Quartz and sterling silver, LOS's and tumbled.
Here is the BACK and another ANGLE.
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Week 14
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I LOVE Ocean Jasper, the colors and patterns are magical to me. (Plus, the center stone on this has some awesome green Druzy in it!) I used little round Hessonite stones to mimic the "bubbles" in the Jasper, and wrapped it all in sterling. The earrings were going to be part of the chain, but I didn't like where it was going so earrings they became!
I did get to wear it once...
Here's a close up of ONE SIDE, the OTHER SIDE, the CENTER STONE, the CHAIN and finally, the EARRINGS.
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Week 13
Week 12
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This little ring has been VERY good to me.
I started a silver smithing class in the beginning of March, and all the ladies in class have ordered them, along with some of their friends. It's paid for the class, and there's still 4 weeks to go! So, while I'd like to post something a bit newer, these are really all of been working on.
There's a TUTORIAL HERE for a single wire one (this ring uses 16G sterling and copper) if you'd like...and of course, it has been LOS'd and
tumbled.
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Week 11
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This is PMC3, from a class I took in February. What FUN stuff - so many possibilities...our last project of the day was the only one we got to be very creative with. In hind sight, I shouldn't have been such a conformist - it really is SO not like me to do that. However, time was short, and I didn't want to piss the teacher off as it was possible she'd be my teach for the silver smithing classes I'm now taking (she isn't).
I do LOVE this. It's heavy metal baby! Probably comparable to 2 gauge wire, and it has a bit of texture from drying out, even though I slipped the heck out of it. It's all good - it gave the LOS something to crawl into! The coil findings that I made to hold the leather, and chain hasn't be LOS'd yet because I'll do a batch, and will look around for things that aren't in the correct pile, but I'm always wearing and don't see it. I'm babbling now, so I'll end this post!
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Week 10
Here's a picture of the FRONT and a close up of the BACK.
Here's the PROFILE and from the TOP. |
What a difference a year can make...some of you may remember this ring from FSOJ last year, week 11. I had a gentleman contact me about recreating this for a birthday gift - with one catch - he needed it by Monday in Brooklyn. He paid the price for me to get this out this morning overnight mail, and he's very excited for the reaction he's expecting when she opens it. What I'm excited about though, is the obvious improvement in technique.
I gave him the choice between these teardrop beads and these petal beads. I recommended the teardrops, but he chose the petals. I used 18G this time, wrapped the shank wire around my ring mandrel 1.5 times at a 9 and then wired the flower onto that (where it was 2 wires thick). From there, I put it back onto the mandrel and got it to the 9 again, wrapped behind the flower and then locked it with the final wraps around the shank. He wanted an 8, and after wrapping the shank, he's getting an 8 (probably the hardest part of the whole process). I LOS'd and tumbled for a few minutes and here we are!
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Week 9
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Copper Bangle, inspired by the wonderful Lynne Merchant. It was supposed to be a bit thicker but I was watching TV and not paying attention when it was assembled. I won't make that mistake when I make it in sterling.
I used 16G...maybe 14G, but I'm pretty sure it's 16G. Of course, I oxidized and then tumbled, and if you look closely, you can see I missed some sweater fuzz that was caught in the coil when I photographed it. It fits great, and is comfortable enough to wear when typing.
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Week 8
Here's a picture of the CLASP and a close up of the STONES.
Here's the FULL SET |
New WARM indoor photo set up, now in use! Hooray - and just in time for spring!
This necklace is part of a set (I haven't finished the earrings and the picture of the bracelet will be taken soon, along with a close up photo of the pendant). I used Blue Amazonite, Orange Garnet and Black Obsidian. The pendant stone is called Blue Amazonite with Black Gold Pyrite, I believe. I love the mixture of blues, browns and blacks, and thought a frame would be the best way to show off the stone. The clasp works well becuase of the weight of the necklace, but you have to be careful taking it off, since it isn't permanetly attached. I may redo that part...
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Week 7
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I've had this idea floating around for a while, and finally got them made. The "flower" is composed of 16G rings wrapped on my #8 knitting needle - that's about as specific as I can get there...I have several more ideas to run with in what may become a series of pieces similar to this - famous last words!
Of course, they're LOS'd and tumbled.
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Week 6
Here are detailed pictures of the BOTTOM
the TOP
and the MIDDLE.
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This only took 3 years, yes, years, to
finish. I started shortly after beginning to play with wire
(inspired by the book, "Designs in Wire", by Barbara McGuire
and her article on Lynne Merchant). I messed up on the weaving
part (several times really) and then got stuck, and it sat for a year
before I picked it up again. Then I finished the coils around
the bottom, and REALLY got stuck. Every time I tried to pick it
up, it screamed, "For the love of wire, put me down!!!".
So after some recent conversations with a friend, I was ready to pick
it up again. I tried several different things to connect the caged
beads without success, and thought I was going to have to put it down
again, but I refused! Not to say I'm totally happy (I wanted it
to be fuller looking under the coils of the body) but, after adding
everything, LOS'ing and tumbling, I'm ready to hang it from my rear
view mirror!
The beads are Moss Agate and some faceted copper lined glass beads.
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Week 5
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Love the copper & silver together, what
can I say?
This is a length of twisted wire that was left and calling to me.
I have it strung on silk cord right now, but I do think I'll make a
mixed metal chain to hang it from. I'm pretty sure I don't need to
mention that it has been LOS'd... :o)
I am trying out a new photo set up here. Of course, I always
feel like I need to reinvent the wheel, so I used a fluorescent light
cover piece of plastic, and cut it into pieces, and put cheapo lights
behind it. (this is after trying a couple of different box scenario's)
It sure is warmer in my basement taking pictures, than on the back
porch. (Actually, the wind chill right now-and for the next 5 days-is
below 0. Balmy Nebraska!!!)
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Week 4
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My Mom picked this furnace glass bead out on
a trip to MI a couple of years ago (OK, several) and wanted me to do
something with it...what is it they say about "the cobbler's
children go barefoot?"...anyway, I came across it after our
basement flooded (again, I haven't learned to keep my stuff off the
floor) and decided that by finishing it, I would make her happy and
something good would come of the mess.
So, it's pretty basic, and she likes that it "has balls",
just like her.
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Week 3
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bbbbrrrrrrrrrr....I really need to figure out a way to photograph items indoors. I had to almost chisel them out of the snow because they froze while being photographed.
The stone used is Orange Garnet, and is simply lovely. The wire is 24G sterling and copper, twisted together in a slightly different and wasteful way. I took two long lengths, folded them in half, and then twisted. About half of the resulting twisted wire wasn't usable because of lumpy areas, and in some parts, the wires doubled up rather than laying as they do in the earrings. A learning experience no doubt. So, the twisted wire was then coiled onto 14G copper, LOS'd and tumbled.
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Week 2
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This was made for a customer that liked my
mixed metal bracelets, but needed something smaller than what I had
made already.
The core is 14g copper with 20g copper and sterling twisted then
coiled over it. Of course I didn't make the coiled piece long
enough for the full bracelet, so I had to find a way to space it out,
and that's where the copper faceted beads and silver balls come in.
I REALLY like this, and will make one for me and my MIL who also wants
one.
Here are more pictures: THE CLASP,
and DETAIL OF THE
WIRE.
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Week 1
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I had some twisted mixed metal wire left
from a bracelet, and used it to frame this fossilized coral stone. I
then coiled what was left after that and used them for spacers.
It's hard to tell, but there is a bit of blue in the focal...I am
going to use some crimp covers on this when I get some. The rest
of the stones are Hessonite, yellow Aventurine and blue Chalcedony.
I think the clasp may be a bit too big, but I'm low on wire and wanted
to wear it. Here are more pictures: Here's a close up of the STONES, and the pendant from both sides HERE and HERE.
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