Why are they so Cheap? Too Good to be True

Yeah, I am referring to these silver necklaces and bracelet that I got from Bangkok recently.
I came across them at a small stall, inside a huge mall.
Everything was spread out on the table - necklaces, rings, bracelets, cuff, and each of them priced at a flat rate of 100 Thai Baht. The size and weight does not matter.
They are all 100TB/piece.
Wouldn't you go crazy? :)
I did for a while....hehe.
I just couldn't resist grabbing a few as souvenir and just out of curiosity.
Genuine or not doesn't really matter for that price right?

Assuming they are genuine, a piece of similar necklace would have cost around RM100 or more here.
That's about 1000TB.
So, 10 pieces for 1000TB is really very attractive no?

Are they genuine? Judging by the price, its too good to be true/genuine.
Well, honestly I wouldn't know and of course they are silver if you ask the vendor.
He pointed to a piece of paper at the corner that says "Chiangmai Silver".
Mmmm....so its genuine? Nevermind. I grabbed a few anyway.

Out of curiosity, I googled for Chiangmai Silver but couldn't find anything similar to that I purchased.
Most searched results referred to sites located in Chiangmai.

They are really shiny though.
They do tarnish after a while as you can see the cuff in the picture above.
No worries about tarnishing as I can clean them up easily.
Check my posting on the easiest and safest way to clean silver here.

If you have any knowledge about Chiang Mai Silver, do enlighten me and my readers here.
You can leave me a comment or contact me with the contact form at the top right of this page.

DIY Tutorial - Stringing your Own Beaded Bracelets and Necklace

As mentioned in the previous post, here is the tutorial on how to make your stringed beaded bracelet or necklace.

You may find this slightly different from what you are used to seeing as I didn't use any crimp bead. Nevertheless, the end result is still the same.

How much time needed?
Allocate about an hour to make 3.
Yeah! A quick and easy project.
Lets get started.....

Materials:
The above picture shows materials required for 2 bracelets and a necklace.
For each, you will need:

Metal string

2 Metal beads

1 Split ring or jump ring

1 Clasps

Beads/stones of your choice (number of beads depend on the length of the bracelet and necklace).

Step 1: Thread all the beads. I thread all at once as I will string each bracelet one after the other. This way also ensure no wastage of your string.

Step 2: Insert the metal bead followed by the clasp.

Step 3: Bring the string back through the metal bead.

Step 4: Move the metal bead towards the clasp to tighten and tie a knot close to the metal bead.
Yeah, a knot instead of crimp.

Step 5: Tie another round of knot if you like and cut off excess string.

Step 6: On the other end, insert the metal bead, bring the wire over the split ring and back through the metal bead. Tighten and tie a knot or two.

Step 7: Cut off excess string and your are done.

Repeat the above with the next group of beads.

If you have questions, feel free to add comment or use the contact form at the top right hand side of this page.

Happy stringing!

Ever Versatile Pearls

Sunday inspiration.
Still with stringing.
This time around for these two pearl necklaces, one multi strand and one single strand.

Since I have been making lots of stringing jewelry lately, (yeah, some I didn't even bother to take pictures of and post here), I will be posting a short DIY tutorial on how I normally string necklaces and bracelets.
So, stay tune and have a great Sunday.

Not all rounded but still beautiful nevertheless

Closeup

More uniform roundness but not that smooth, but still beautiful :)

Lobster clasp is more user friendly. Stainless steel beads and split ring too

Wire Wrap Porcelain Bead Pendant

How time flies.
Tomorrow (Sunday) is the 15th day i.e. last day of Chinese New Year.
In the last 15 days..... actually more than that, I have not touch my pliers, wires and stones.
I miss them of course.
They are just sitting there waiting for me.
Soon, soon! Coming soon.

This piece of wire wrap porcelain pendant was completed last month.
Simple coiling and wire wrapping.

Have a great weekend.

Should I or should I not?

The Valentine's Sales at my Artfire shop ended today.
Well, what can I say?
The sales is quite disappointing.
Maybe on my part I didn't do enough marketing.
Maybe people are not interested with DIY wire jewelry anymore, or maybe the market is saturated with too many projects? Or people just don't have the time.
I am contemplating shutting down my Artfire Shop.
It is not making enough to cover the monthly fee.

Do you have a store at Artfire?
How's your sales at Artfire?
If you have both Artfire and Etsy, which one is doing better?
I seems to get customers organically to my Etsy shop but not Artfire.
In fact, compared to Etsy, Artfire is easier to make purchase as it doesn't requires you to register.
Ermmm...wondering.....
Should I or should I not?

On another note, if you are still doing Valentine's shopping, and would like something different from Etsy and Artfire, you may want to check out Wholesale Jewellery. There is a section for Valentine's jewelry as well.

Before I sign off, here is a recently completed wire wrap New Zealand jade (or green stone) pendant for your inspiration.
This is done using the netted method similar to this turquoise pendant.
Love the green color.

Wire Wrap Bail - Wired Rose Motif

Something different this time around.
So far I have only designed my wired rose around rings and earrings.

Here, I managed to twist the wire into a rose's motif bail. The glass bead is rather large and I think the steel rose really complement the blooms on the bead :)

If you would like to learn how to make this wire rose (not this bail though),
you can get the tutorials for 25% less starting today.
I am having a SALES at my Artfire Shop - click here right now! or the direct links down here:
Wire Wrap Rose Ring Tutorial
Wire Wrap Rose Earrings Tutorial

Netted Turquoise Pendant

What to do on a wet rainy Sunday morning?
Nothing much outside the house.
Not that I do a lot of things outside the house like...... gardening,
but I am referring to things like going to the market, coffee shop, etc. etc.
Since I am stuck in the house, I shall post this recently completed wire wrap turquoise pendant.
A large and heavy piece but attention grabbing nevertheless.

Its noon time already....yeah...i got distracted elsewhere while posting this.

Time to think what to have for lunch.

See you next time.

Of Failure, Pearls and Sparklies

Ah...I have been slacking in this posting department for a while now.

Inspiration seems to be taking a back seat for the last few months.

Few days ago I tried something "new", well not really "new" but failed miserably.
It was a request for wire names and I can't seems to get the letters right.
I thought it would be easy but I was wrong. Gave up altogether and feel very disappointed with myself.

Well, Christmas and New Year are just around the corner.
There are still few more pieces to work on and hopefully they all turn out beautiful.

At least these here turn out beautifully :)
Stringed pearl necklace with a wire wrap infinity clasp.

 Close up of the infinity clasp.

Again, I have made lots of this sparkly wire wrap rings, if you have been following my postings. Probably the most popular and you are getting bored seeing the same rings again hahaha...

However, this ring is quite quick and easy to make. As such, it will make great last minute gifts, if you are a very last minute person like me.
Hehe! can't resist doing shameless self promotion here.
I have a step by step pictorial tutorial for this ring at my Etsy shop, click the link here - Sparkly Crystal Ring Tutorial

Wire Wrap Donut Pendants

Took me few days to come up with this design.

You see, there are many ways to wrap a donut pendant. The easiest is to coil the wire several times around the donut and you are done. Simple, easy and fast.

But....but....but........
I like my donut to be able to turn freely around the wrap when done.
So, its worth the wait and I am quite happy with this design.

This blue stone is a commissioned piece.

The rutile donut belongs to yours truly.
My constant companion :)

This pendant went through several changes over the years. You can see it here (simple wrap that didn't last very long) and here (also didn't last long...I change my mind rather fast...hehe).

The third and last design lasted several years (the longest) but I can't seems to find any picture of it here.....ish! ish!

The wire wrapping is similar to this one here though (the yellow stone on top).

Enjoy your week.

Wire Weave Stud Earrings and Cross - Lapiz Lazuli

I have written about Lapiz Lazuli
previously – Lapiz as Healing Stone.
Well, it didn't get rid of my migraine
headache…yet….because I don’t put it on all the time but who knows.

However, I am still in awe with this dark blue gemstone which is regarded as a stone of truth and friendship and believe to helps the wearer to be authentic and allow self-expression/confidence.

Few months back, I purchased a teardrop and oval shaped Lapiz suitable for pendant and ring. Been meaning to wire wrap them for self but as usual, many ideas ran through my head when I first saw them but once they reached home, they’ll be sitting in the box for many moons to come…haha....bad habit.

These pair of wire weaved stud earrings and cross is commissioned by a friend. I employed the weaving technique for the cross as well as the Herringbone weave for studs.

How do you like the earrings?
Me too…I love it…hehe
Notice the tiny golden shimmer?
They are not gold, how I wish, but pyrites.

Today is my favorite day....yay its Friday!
Don't we all look forward to Friday :)

Twice Around the World (TAW) Necklace

It seems like rainy season is here.
We have been experiencing a lot of rain lately. Mostly in late afternoon.
Just nice to bring down the temperature at night including tonight :)

While you are enjoying a cool night too, here is a recently completed necklace.
A Twice Around the World (TAW) wire wrap necklace.
Stones are Tiger's Eye, red and golden.

If you'd like to learn how to make the TAW component of this necklace, check out the tutorial here.

Somehow, I am feeling very sleepy now.
Must be the weather.
Signing off here, off to zzz land.

Wire Wrap Malachite Necklace & Murano Bracelet

Look at these.

They have been sitting around in the hard drive for a while.

I totally forgotten about them....erm....blame that on "time" again and forgetfulness...hehehe.

Anyway, this wire wrap necklace is of Malachite and "yet to remember the name of the stone". Duh! 

Its pale blue in color....I think the name has something to do with "water".

I'd appreciate it very much if any of you know the name of this stone and care to let me know in the comment section. Thanks.

I ever made an almost similar bracelet before.

The same Murano Glass Bead with some handmade hammered wire charms.

Hammering wire is very therapeutic :)

3 Wire Wrap Rings and Something for Myself

WIREBLISS ARTFIRE SALE is STILL ON TILL 20th DECEMBER 2011 (Yeah! I fixed the date)
**************
Now proceed with inspirations!
Got to post this before I proceed with other things.
Yeah! Hope I am not boring you with these rings :)
Two Adjustable Wire Wrap Beaded Ring, a fruity ring and something for myself.
The tutorial for this Adjustable Ring is currently at $3.75 (Was $5.00)
Check it out at my Artfire Studio.

Here's something for myself.
Remember the Peace Pendant from NanoStyle?
Look what I've done to it. It has got lots of friends.
Attached it to a long chain and I can put on and take off anytime in a second.
Going to add some lively colors to it later on.
For now, I will enjoy the "dull" color ;)