Monday, May 17, 2010

Another Wire Wrapped Fossilized Coral Pendant, Large

Although it took less than 2 hours for this piece, posted 2 days ago, this one here took me the whole Sunday!
It doesn't look that complicated but I don't know why it took so long.
But, I admit a lot of time was spent massaging the piece and the wires and thinking how to wrap the wire so it will hold the Fossilized Coral in place.
Figuring and re-figuring, bending and unbending, wrapping and unwrapping the wires couple of times actually.

Hope it doesn't show here..hehe....
Clean look at the front right.
You wouldn't want to look the back of the pendant
Wire Wrapped Fossilized Coral Pendant
side view of the Wire Wrapped Fossilized Coral Pendant
side view of the Wire Wrapped Fossilized Coral Pendant

Custom order for a special lady and I am running out of Fossilized Coral. 

Saturday, May 15, 2010

How to Wire Wrap Irregular Shape Stone

This is faster than I thought.
Got this tiger eye pendant done within two hours this afternoon.
Last week, I spent few hours wire wrapping the same piece with another method, which I abandoned when I remembered how Danagonia wrapped her giant nugget bead. Thanks Camilla for the inspiration!
holding the wire wrapped tiger eye pendant
The irregular shape of this tiger eye makes it difficult to wrap with the normal cab wrap.
That's what I did initially and I failed miserably.
Wrapped with 3 different weaving techniques
With 3 wires, I formed the frame, holding the stone in place securely.
Wrapped them with 3 different weaving techniques as you can see from the pictures here.
Wrapped with 3 different weaving techniques
Problem is (but not really a problem actually!), you will end up with a bunch of wires at the top.
A bit tricky to tuck them all in neatly, leaving two for the bail and still make it look good.
Wrapped with 3 different weaving techniques
Overall, I am quite happy with the outcome and I can see a lot of potential in this technique especially for irregularly shaped stones. If you would like to learn how to wire wrap in similar way, check out Camilla's tutorial here.
Have a wonderful and productive weekend dear readers. 

Friday, May 14, 2010

For the First Time......

......one of my creations is featured in Etsy Treasury created by Riorita.
The featured item is for the Braided Wire Cuff (tutorial). Here is snapshot of the treasury titled
Atarved Adorned (I don't believe my eyes! I meant STARVED of course!)
Check out the other beautiful featured items in the Treasury at this direct link - http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=130996
Thank you Riorita for the feature.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Airport and Donut Jade Pendant - Pipa Wrap

Here I am at the KKIA waiting for my flight home to Kuching.
Been here for the last 2 hours and I have another hour to wait.
So, here I am posting another wire wrapped piece which I have been wanting to post the last few days but interrupted by this travelling.
This is a very tiny donut jade pendant.
The donut jade itself is only about 1 cm in diameter.
A custom order by a close friend of MIL.
Had hard time figuring out how to wrap it and in the end decided that the pipa wrap would be the safest besides adding size to the tiny jade.

wire wrapped jade pendant - pipa wrap
tiny size of the wire wrapped jade pendant - pipa wrap

top view of the wire wrapped jade pendant - pipa wrap
All through the making of this pendant, I was worried that I am going to break the jade.
Its so delicate but thankfully it didn't happen.
Ok, got to go...see you in Kuching :)

Sunday, May 09, 2010

Happy Mother's Day, Wire Woven Ring - Adjustable

Happy Mother's Day to All Mothers in the whole wide world! psst...

It's been a while and now I am back to weaving this adjustable ring.
One of my favorite thanks to Louise of  jewelryspectrum.
Learned this from her almost two years ago and still loving it.
This time around, instead of 28ga, I used 26ga and change the weaving from 'S' weave to a straight one.
Still the same feeling and outcome.
Adjustable Wire Woven Ring - Black Onyx
Adjustable Wire Woven Ring - Black Onyx
Now, I better get my beauty sleep.
Sweet dreams and stay healthy.

Thursday, May 06, 2010

Dead Hard Disk and a Little Teardrop Pendant

I have been rather quite the last few days.
That was because my laptop's hard disk died last Monday.
Just got it fixed this pm and now I am halfway personalizing my FireFox, files, menu, add-ons, etc. etc.
Lots of work there and just hope it will not die on me too soon. Touch wood! touch wood!
All was not lost as our IT person managed to backup all my files, mostly work related.
Backed up my hobby related files somewhere else.
Haven't been making as much jewelry as I'd love to but here is one completed last weekend.
Similar wrapping technique as the Fossilized Coral earlier but wit more swirls.
A rather clear and small stone.....
Wire wrapped Teardrop PendantWire wrapped Teardrop Pendant