Since I made more than a few charms, I had to make up some more necklaces. Here’s the last three I finished:
They obviously are the same design but I used different charms in them. Sure wish I could figure out what I did to my camera. All my pictures are coming out blurry. Surely, it’s not user error. LOL!!
I put together three charms I made onto a sterling silver ball chain. I added the clasp as those connector things are too hard to take apart and put back together.
I stamped the little rectangle tag with a Kanji character – Happiness and made the bead that is cored with silver tubing. The triangle charm is made with scraps of silver that I’ve accumulated. I want to use some of the bronze clay pieces in necklaces like this.
I made a few more charms to go with the square charms.
I didn’t shine up the circle and triangle one and I’m thinking I like the matte look better so I might matte the squares up too. I’m not planning on using more than one charm per necklace so it probably doesn’t matter that much though. These are all hollow sterling silver and tiny. It’s on 2mm ball chain to give an idea of size.
I didn’t want to get started with a new medium but I broke down, the temptation was too great. I’ve been wanting to play with bronze and copper clays but I already doing so much that learning a new thing wasn’t in my plans. I wanted to make some rustic looking charms to use in my jewelry and couldn’t figure out a way to do that easily with a bronze sheet metal so I bought some bronze clay and tried it out. Now I remember why I don’t like metal clays. I don’t like working quickly and don’t like doing test pieces in my kiln to make sure the temperature and time is correct. But I was on a mission. My first batch was a total failure, my second batch took all night to fire because I realized the binder probably wasn’t going to be all burnt out so I turned off the kiln and let the whole thing cool and started the firing over again. Those two pieces turned out great. So, this morning I fired the rest of the pieces I made. Here’s the results:
I used Hadar’s Smart Bronze clay which is fired differently than all the other bronze clays. It’s a nice gold color. These have been cleaned and tumbled. The sterling silver square charms are what I did last night since I couldn’t make beads. I’m still not all that confident that all is well with these pieces. I guess wearing them and time will tell. The reason for this is when I drilled the hole in the charm to the right of the little square charm, I thought the drill bit when through kind of easily and I got out black powder. Also, the second charm from the left has a hairline crack in the back and I’ve tried to break the piece but couldn’t. I did make some thin pieces that came out warped and when I bent them they broke up into pieces. They were about 2 playing cards thick which I did read after I made them that for copper and bronze clay, the pieces have to be thicker than with silver metal clay. The second one from the right, I cored with sterling silver so I did hammer on it and it held up just fine.
More bracelets. Yes, I made a lot of bracelets. I guess people like bracelets. I’ve been making a set of beads each time I torch and have several sets already made. These are the first four I made.
I still have several more to make up some more to come in all different colors. These are made out of copper wire and my lampworked beads.
Making more push pins to sell at the fall craft shows. I’m making a set every time I torch and got these made in the past few weeks.
I need to start concentrating on animal push pins. I checked out what I had left from last season and only had a few sets left. I’ll be making plenty more before I fill up a whole cigar box.
Using one of the components from the This Is All I Got post, I made a necklace.
Well, kind of. I didn’t make the two other charms except add the jump rings so I could hang them from the ball chain. I don’t like those ball chain connector thingys. They are too hard to use so I soldered on some end caps and fabricated a clasp. Much easier to wear now. I’m planning on making some little charms, just have to get started on them after I buy the supplies. As long as I’ve been making things, you’d think I have everything. Well, I do, I have everything I need for the last project I just finished. Isn’t that they way it always is?
Instead of using 10 strands of satin cording for the lariats I decided to use three strands of leather. The dangles on the ends weight the lariats a bit and they hang wonderfully.
I used bronze wire and chain on these as I thought it complimented the leather well. I like making all the different beads/glassy things for these.
I’ve been moving in slow motion or that’s what it feels like. I’ve been all over the place this weekend and needless to say, getting nothing accomplished. This is all I made this week.
I’m going to use these are charms but on what is still to be determined. They are both glass that I cored with silver. The right one is out of silver glass and it really shines more than in the picture. The pink one is made out of what’s called “veiled” glass. It’s just a mixture of two or more colors of glass together in one rod.
I went to my glass club meeting and a gal was wearing a necklace made out of satin cord with dangles on the bottom. I really liked the colorful look of the necklace and knew I had to make a similar one. Here’s my take on the necklace.
It’s long and can be knotted or tied depending on the length I want it. This is going to look great with my black dress that I’m still waiting for the pattern to be mailed out.
Mewkittie Creations 