Handspun Newfoundland Shawl

I purchased 3 ounces of precious angora and cormo wool fiber and spun it on my russian spindles.  I got about 950yds of 2 ply yarn with a heavenly bloom.  I decided to make a crescent shawl since they sit so nicely on one's shoulders.

More Sets of Wire Earrings

It's been a while but here are a few more fun earrings.

Mixed Metal Earrings

Had fun making this earrings out of mixed metals.  Copper and brass in the top photo, and sterling and copper in the lower image.  The round disks have been textured and dapped to make them domed.

Copper Fold Formed Cuff

I have had the supplies for this cuff for a very long time, and have wanted to make it long before now, but never got around to it until today.  It was the MOST fun.   I will have to look to see if I have enough copper sheeting to make another one.    It is fabricated from 24 gauge copper and is about 1 1/2" wide.

Copper Wire Spiral Beaded Necklace

This was fabricated from 18 g pure copper wire.  Each link was hand forged to harden and texture, and was antiqued with liver of sulfur.  The beads are handmade lampwork beads by Beth Singleton on etsy.

Copper Wrapped-Links Necklace

Made this one yesterday.  I used 14g pure copper wire for the wrapped links.  The beads are some sort of rustic bead, maybe recycled glass?  (I can't remember and I no longer have the info.)  This is 24" long and can be simply slipped over one's head.  There is a hook but is not necessary to unhook to put on or take off.

Bird's Nest and Found Object Necklace

This design started in my head with the wire bird's nest.  I then rummaged through my bowl of cast offs, wire pieces, and copper objects and found the steel, rusted washer, which I had picked up in a boat yarn last year.  The stones were from a gem stone store in Charleston.

So here it is.  I did put some renaissance wax on the washer to keep any rust from coming off on the clothing of the wearer.  The 18gauge copper wire for the links was dipped in hot liver of sulfer for a nice patina.

Brass and Bead Necklace

This is inspired by Beverly Ash-Gilbert.  I took a workshop with her a couple of years ago and have made a few pieces.   The two brass pieces are riveted together with copper wire and the wire armature which secures the seed beads is hidden between the two sheets.  It's finicky but very effective.  The brass is 24g and the wire used in the chain is 18g.  The entire piece has had a layer of Renaissance Wax applied to it. 

Earring Trio

I purchased a light box earlier this week and I have been inspired by the quality of photos I am getting with it.  I am still in the viney tendril phase as you can see by the latest earrings.  I used pure copper on every bit of the pieces and the dangles are held on by balled copper head pins which I also made in the torch.

Another Version of Fold Formed Necklace

I made a similar version of this necklace last year, and regrettably sold it.  I didn't really want to let it go, but I did.  I've been thinking of it ever since so I decided to try to make another one.  There were two problems though, the first being the copper folded piece.  I had no idea how I made it but luckily I did have a picture.  So I just started in playing with it.  It has a similar feeling to it but isn't quite as nice as the original.  The bead was the second problem.  But I felt confident that I could fabricate something similar with polymer clay.  When it was baked, I added some brown acrylic paint, dabbed on with a paper towel and rubbed off.  It was a real mess, but I'm happy with the final result.  The necklace 'chain' is made from copper wire pieces balled up in the flame and then forged flat.  I connected everything together with brass jump rings and a brass swan clasp.

Here is a picture of the original piece.  I'm still thinking about the little brass tendril poking out from the bead.

Folded Copper Pendant

Just playing with the 24 gauge copper sheeting and folding it and dapping it until the little raised areas started to break away from the pendant but were still firmly attached.  Then I carefully raised them a bit for more texture.  I should call it 'The Hanging Chads' necklace!!  More beads from Beth Singleton.  I have so enjoyed working with them.

Silver and Copper Ringed Bracelet

I've been going back through my old Step by Step Wire magazines for some inspiration and found lots to interest me.  This bracelet started out by having to make fused fine silver rings which was a little bit of a challenge for me, since I haven't done any fusing or soldering in quite a while, and never got adept at it anyway.  But I managed but then ran out of the 14g fine silver.  I substituted some copper washers and just love the result.  These are all handmade lampwork beads, most of which are from the torch of Beth Singleton on etsy.  It's a fun and funky piece.

More Wire Earrings

These are similar to previous earrings I made but created with sterling silver 18g wire.  The beads are handmade lampwork beads from Beth Singleton from etsy.  I like how they turned out.

Copper Spiral Necklace

This was intended to be a bracelet, but the scale came out wrong, even though I slavishly followed the directions.   I liked where it was going though, and just continued on until it was done.   The beads are from the daughter-in-law of a spinner friend and were bought from her etsy shop  http://www.etsy.com/shop/bethsingleton.  They are oh, so, lovely and are beautifully made.

I used 16 and 18 gauge raw copper to make this lovely piece.  The directions are in the latest copy of Step by Step Wire Jewelry magazine.

Scale Matters

I've completed my last chain maille project for a while.  The last piece was this very small scale teal and sterling romanov bracelet, nestled next to the larger carnelian stone bracelet.  The teal version, uses really tiny rings of 21g silver.  They were so small that I had to use a large magnifiying glass to see to open and close the rings.  If I had seen the rings in person, rather than ordering them online, I would not have chosen to purchase them, but it did make a very beautiful piece.  I thought that I would never finish it however.  But I love it, of course.

Romanov Weave

I made a similar bracelet a few years ago, with some bright pink crystals in the center, and my older daughter took if for her own.  So I thought I'd make another one for myself, but with carnelian 6mm beads in the center.  The rings are 18g sterling with 16g for the larger connecting rings.  It's a weighty and beautiful piece.

More Earrings

I've been having lots of fun making earrings today.  The copper ones are inspired by Sally Stevens, one of my favorite wire artists. I used 18 g copper wire throughout, even for the ear wires.  In my opinion, 20 g does not hold up well enough for hard use.

Matching Earrings

I had a few components left over from yesterday's necklace, so I made matching earrings.

Christmas Acorn Necklace

My daughter gave me this gorgeous handmade lampwork acorn bead for Christmas and today I fabricated this necklace.  I already had the gemstone beads and from the price I paid which was still on the string, they are some pretty special beads.  They also match perfectly, which is why I chose them from my stash.  The links are made from 18g copper which was balled up on the ends in the flame and loosely wrapped around itself.  I used 14g for the acorn head pin and 12g for the ring upon which it sits.  My idea was for viney tendril types of things.  I'm thinking that I'm not 100% happy with the ring which supports the acorn.  It doesn't quite look viney enough but for now, I'm happy with it.  I'm choosing not to patina it with liver of sulfer.

Chain Maille Bracelet

This is for my mother.  She specifically requested magnetic closures and a bracelet which wasn't too heavy on her wrist.   I purchased the rings from Jewelry By Sue and it is made entirely from 18g sterling rings.  The pattern is called European 4-in-1 and is found in her first book.

Two Projects Here

There are actually TWO new projects here in these pictures.  The topmost pretty pink on the spindle is my supported spindle project on a Texas Jeans russian walnut spindle.  The spindle is magnificent to spin as the flicking tip is very fine and spins incredibly fast and easily.  The fiber is a blend of merino and tencel in pink, peach, and silky white and is gorgeous.  The spindle is resting on my handspun raglan cardigan, in progress.  It will be a top-down cardigan with a shawl collar.  The yarn is 3-ply handspun polwarth and silk wool and is about a sport weight.  The pictures were taken last night in the fading sunlight on my boat as we travel up the Chesapeake Bay on our way to St. Michaels.

Handspun Percy Shawl

This was my first supported spindle handspun yarn.  I took a class in February with Ms. fleegle, and made this with one of her batts.  It is merino with a little glitz in it, and I got 810 yards of 2-ply from 2.3 oz.  It is perhaps the best and finest yarn I have spun to date.
The pattern is Percy Shawl and may be downloaded for free.  Some of the pattern is actually real knitted lace, with a pattern on both sides, instead of simple purling back.  Keeps you on your toes!  I used about 610 yards of the ball. 

Copper Scrolls and Green Bead Necklace

My new workbench is lovely and I have moved it into a different room in the basement.  I'm much happier now with its location, and to celebrate my new space, I created this necklace from 16, 20, and 24 gauge raw copper with some green beads.  It has been antiqued with liver of sulfer.

First Diantha Shawl

This was the first Diantha shawl I knit, and was set up as a mystery knit-along.  The yarn was handspun from a beloved natural gray fleece given to me by my friend Tammy.  The sheep lived in Colonial Beach VA on a small farm.  I spun the yarn and then knit it into this wonderful shawl, with a few pretty beads.  I sent it back to Tammy a couple of weeks ago,  as a surprise gift to her.

Pink Handspun Diantha Shawl

I spun this yarn almost a year ago from a mixed batt made by Beth, from Whorling Tides, and knew that this design was a perfect match for it.  I also was worried about running out of yarn and this design, Diantha, from Susanna from ArtQualia Designs was easy to change if necessary to conserve yarn.  It is the second one I made this year.