[Jewelry] Carousel Necklace

Do you have fond memories of carousels?  

I remember the first time I saw how brightly lit and colorful it was... and then, i recall how tightly I held on the handle bar - scared to my guts of falling.  Oh, how they looked so huge  back then.  It was just dreamy or rather hypnotic with the music going on and on while the carousel goes round and round.

Carousel pendant

Flash forward a couple of decades later... My most recent memory is when my husband and I went to The House on the Rock - have you been there?  Oh my... the carousel was amazing, jaw dropping and spooky with all the dolls and mannequins staring at you.

Mother or pearl discs, semi precious stones and rondelle crystals

This necklace is definitely a conversation piece!  It combines the playful carousel and the elegance of mother-of-pearl discs, semi-precious stones and crystals.

Carousel Necklace

Do you have fond memories of your childhood?  Do share...

Blessings!

♥  Michelle  ♥

[Jewelry] Twisted Pearl and Crystal Bracelet

Welcome back!

Two years ago, I wrote a tutorial using these curved metal spacers, pearls, and crystal bicones. 

 Here is a new "twist" to that tutorial.

Materials to make one 7.5 inch bracelet:

1.  Flexible beading wire - you may need 12 to 15 inches depending on how much extra wire you can spare for the project ☺.

2.  Fifteen (15) curved metal spacers.  You can find it HERE.

3.   Fifteen (15) 8mm Swarowski pearls

4.  Thirty (30) 4x3 mm Red rondelle crystals

5.  Two (2) crimp beads

6.  Clasp

Procedure:

1.  Insert the flexible beading wire to one end of a crimp tube, clasp and back to the crimp tube.  Crimp.

2.  With the curved spacer bead in the "C" position, insert wire to the top part from the back.  Add a rondelle, pearl and rondelle and insert to the bottom.  Please refer to the photo below.  Make sure it is snug but not too tight.

3.  Repeat the same order 15 times.  If the flexible wire twists on itself, you can hold the piece lengthwise in order for it to untwist (such as in the large photo below).  I figured that it eases any tension on the wire brought about by excessive pulling and makes the bracelet flow smooth.

4.To finish the bracelet, insert wire to a crimp tube, clasp and back to the crimp tube. 

5.  Trim the excess flexible beading wire.

Try combining pearls with other beads or use a different clasp.

 Now, it's time to iron my white or maybe red dress.

See you again soon!

Blessings!

Michelle 

[Vintaj] "The Beaming Raven" Sept. 2012

Welcome back to Making Jewelry!

I wanted to share with you this necklace that I made for the September 2012 Vintaj Challenge:  "Radiant Raven."   Head over to the VINTAJ BLOG and  cast your vote.  I'm Number 8. 

This necklace is:  "The Beaming Raven."  

I started with a Vintaj circle blank and used the Deco Emboss folder    .  This was followed by the fun stuff!  I added patina and sealed it with the Vintaj sealer.  It was my first time to use the products and they were really nice - but you have to work fast because it dries up pretty quick.

The necklace is 24 inches in length and has a toggle clasp closure.  I made a tree branch to hang the focal embossed blank using 20g wire with wrapped coral beads.  I wanted the piece to be organic, so I added pearls and ceramic beads that match the color palette.  I love it!

Head over to the Vintaj blog and see what others have made.  While you're there, why don't you cast your vote (wink! wink!)

Have fun!

♥  Michelle  ♥

Monday Jewel [Naomi Fujimoto's Pearls]

Happy Monday! 

It was my first time to buy Bead Style magazine and I'm so thrilled that I did.  The cover page sold it to me.  Look at that gorgeous pearl necklace!

A couple of Mondays ago, I wrote a tutorial on an MOP brooch and a blog on how I love pearls so I am uber excited to come across this wonderful project.

This necklace was designed by Naomi Fujimoto where she "mixed metals and irregularly shaped pearls in an elegant statement necklace."

I think she used Mauve colored pearls and combined it with brass and copper shades of metal beads.  I love how bold, beautiful and chunky the necklace is.  The bracelet and earrings are lovely as well.

All I have to do now is find me pearl strands and metal beads.

Happy beading!

Mother of Pearl Brooch [Jewelry Monday]

I have always loved wearing pearls, it makes me feel classic and elegant. Today, I will share with you how to make a brooch using mother of pearl chips.

A pearl is defined as "A hard object produced within the soft tissue (specifically the mantle) of a living shelled mollusk. Just like the shell of a mollusk, a pearl is made up of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers. The finest quality natural pearls have been highly valued as gemstones and objects of beauty for many centuries, and because of this, the word pearl has become a metaphor for something very rare, fine, admirable, and valuable." More about pearls HERE. 

On the otherhand, Nacre pronounced "NAY-kər", also known as mother of pearl (MOP), is an organic-inorganic composite material produced by some mollusks as an inner shell layer; it is also what makes up pearls. It is very strong, resilient, and iridescent.  More about nacre HERE.  There are many jewelry accessories that make use of MOP.  In my recent visit to some jewelry shops in the city, I saw a lot of brooches made of MOP so i decided to give it a try.
     Materials needed to make 1 brooch:
          5 mother of pearl
          1 round pearl
          small beads / rice pearls / crystals
          gauge 22 or 24 gold or silver wire
          pin back
Tools:
wire cutter, flat and round nose pliers, nylon pliers (optional)



Mother of Pearl Brooch

 Directions:
1.  You may either use the flat or embossed part of the MOP chip.  Insert the wire on 1 MOP chip and twist 2 or 3 times around the base.  Be careful not to twist too much as it will break the wire.  Repeat until the 5th chip is attached. 
2.  Make sure that the flower pattern is snug by looping the wire around the chips in a "star" pattern.
3.  To make the center accent, you may use crystals, freshwater pearls or seed beads.  For the example above, I used a pearl and glass beads.  Insert the pearl on the wire and secure by looping the wire a couple of times around the flower pattern.
4.  Insert the glass beads to form a base for the pearl to sit on.  Secure beads.  Make sure that the wires end on the back part of the brooch.
5.  Attach the pinback by looping the wire around it.  Make sure it is snug.
Tadaaaaa!   Your brooch is now ready.  
Let your imagination run wild and be creative.  Have fun! 
Oh, if you're not in the mood to make one yourself, I would be more than happy to make one for you.