New Listings ~~~ Finally

Yes I have finally got to listing some jewellery into my ChatElaine Creations Etsy store.  My intentions are always good but get very sidetracked when I'm online (plus I have to admit I don't really enjoy listing it just takes such a long time!!!)

 

Tempest Seas in copper

So I will be trying to pop in a few things I made for Bead Magazine and maybe if I feel like making some earrings I will list those too.  I have been very off jewellery making lately, as I have been doing other things around the house instead! Like tidying up my work area and getting my beads storage more streamlined so I can actually find what I want, when I want it!

So Tempest Seas Pendant Necklace is now in my store, with copper wire and my own lampwork focal bead in it. I have one or two others to list still but I will get them up this week.



Cant believe how quickly Christmas is looming up, time to sort out my list to Santa, I think there will be tools on there somewhere! Ha ha!  80))


Till next time

E x

More Tutorials

Well here is the latest issue of Bead Magazine which is the Winter Special Edition which has a theme of 'Through the Decades', issue 42. 

 

 

 

I chose the decade of 1910 which is Art Nouveau style so for my design I came up with a wirework brooch called Nouveau Vines Brooch. 

Wire is copper in 1.25mm with green wrapping wire in between copper leaves with vine type tendrils and a pin with a 3 petal flower at the top. The green wire I chose to emanate the colour of enamels used in the jewellery of this period. I always think copper and green look great together and I am particularly pleased with the final piece.  

 

 

 

This will hold an open/loose weave scarf or shawl maybe you could also use it as a hair barrette, the pin has a slight curve to it to allow for fabric or hair!! I think I need to come up with other designs to add to my wirework collection.

I so love copper and have decided that it will be one of the main metals of wire I will use, along with brass and bronze too. I do use the colour coated wires as well this has a copper base but as for silver, which is expensive now, I won't be using that very often ~ its mainly due to the hallmarking which we have in this country for silver with the weight exceeding 7.78grams. The extra costs this entails is not feasible for me at this current time.

I have now been trying to come up with some future designs for the magazine and bangles were ideas I have come up with.  That one won't be in the magazine until next year now and I also have a linked necklace on the agenda too.



I have a sample bangle I can show you and this was made using a basketweave around the back.

Bit funky but fun!!

Very enjoyable but it took longer than some of the other weaves to do but very effective.

Love the turquoise wire,  weaving is much easier to do in the coloured wires as they are softer to work with, not so demanding on the fingers but they do start to get a little sore about a few hours!!    I love this weave.

No lets see if I can actually publish this post now???  Internet not playing ball, very frustrating taken be ages to get it to work!!

Ta ta for now

E x

Rings R Us

Yep ~ the old ring mandrel has been out AGAIN!!  I am enjoying experiementing with different types of rings.   

arent my hands wrinkly!!!

I am sure its a little unbalanced but I do think I like the idea of this one. I am not sure about the bead as it is a white quartz with a mystic coating on, (you can see it more in the top photo)  ~ its the hole, it is very transparent and very obvious you can see the wire showing through which I don't think I like!!

This one I used the basket weave, this is a bit harder to do as you work with 3 main wires but I got the hang of it in the end.  The main wires I used 1.25mm (18ga) copper wire and wrapping/weaving wires were 0.4mm (26ga). Its quite difficult to finish using the 1.25mm as it doesn't lie so flat as the thinner wires.  I might try 1mm wire next time to see if it is just a strong and stable as the 1.25mm.  I love trying the different weaves I especially loved this one.  

I have made a few other rings since this one but I haven't taken pics of those yet.  And I am still working on a framework for a cabochon, cant let you see that one as it could be a tutorial for magazine.  I am working on other tuts right now as well have been given a theme to work on, so off now to do more research!

Catch up with you all soon.



E x   

Anthea ~ Thumb Ring

I started out just trying to practice the weave technique and it has ended up as my first ring!!

I cant believe I designed it as I went along completely off the cuff!!! There are a few errors and I would probably do it a different way next time but all in all I am quite happy with it!!

Anthea 

Copper wire with an 6mm Faceted Amethyst bead in the centre (which happens to be February's birthstone). Weaving on the sides and some hand coiling and a few curls to finish.

I am hoping this may have enough Texture for the Inspiration Avenue Challenge for this week!!

I am now working on a basket weave one, I just received some  multi coloured Tourmaline beads today so they could find there way into it.

I will try and use my own beads in one soon!

I really must fire up my torch first though!! Dust those cobwebs off it!!  I havent made any beads yet this year, time to change that I think!!

This was the last bead I made a cabochon called Washed Ashore!!

Catch you all again soon.

E x

Little more interesting

Yes its starting to look a little more interesting now that I've added a bit here and there!!

Still having a little trouble with some things and I think that is down to the fact that this blog is on a brand new email address as well.  Facebook is not attached to it so I reckon there lies the problem!!!  I still find many things difficult to sort out on here, I know what I want to do but just don't know how too!!  Gets very frustrating!!


As its a New Year I decided to start a new blog ~~ well to start again really!!

My other blog seemed to get locked up  and I couldnt leave comments when I wanted to and so I thought lets give a new one a try!  I have gone back to a basic black background and in the templates I found the flames which I like but I'm not sure if they are a bit too much!!  I'll see how it goes and your welcome to leave any opinions you have too.

Last weekend was my birthday and as its so close to christmas I often join the two together and get a joint present, that way I can sometimes have a larger item or as I've done this year got a new piece of equipment. 

Oh yes siree ....  I have my new barrel tumbler.  Oh joy!!

Good old Ebay!!  No more cleaning, polishing and even it will cut down on some of the work hardening processes needed to strengthen the wire. I say only some because I do love to hit things with hammers on occasion or if necessary!! Ha ha!!  Does get rid of some of your frustrations at times!

I also got some new books ~~  I am working towards some new style jewellery, well for me that is. I'll still be using wire but with some metalwork thrown into the mix too!  It will also incorporate my own beads as well as the odd gemstone.  I need to learn some new techniques for riveting and other assemblage ideas as well.

This one has some great inspirational pieces all based around "Steampunk" and "Hardwear Chic" mainly assemblage

This a fab book with many helpful techniques from etching, patinas and enamels and riveting, soldering and even fold forming too. Fabulous!

These are all from Amazon

This one has some great weaving techniques which I really want to try, especially coiled rings too (as you can see).  I really do need to master ring making as that is one sort of jewellery I very rarely do!

I will show you my endeavours over the coming days and weeks.


Toodleoo for now

E x