Got Pearls?

So...in 2006 I went to a bead and gem show when I was living in Richmond, VA.  I went on the last day of the show - you know how that goes.  Everything is marked waaaay down because those vendors don't want to pack it up and take it home.  I spent $300 that day and I'm still using up that stock.  I bought these pearls simply because they were so pretty.  I wasn't a very good beader then, and I had no clue how to use them.  So they sat.  And sat.  And moved when I moved.  They got looked at, fondled, arranged, and finally, yesterday, I decided to use them.  This is the beginning of a sterling bangle that will have the teardrop pearls wired on one side and probably 8mm jet Swarovski on the other side.  Onyx would be better, but I'm out.  The Swarovski top-drilled bicone is set off-center because the other side will have one set just off center in the other direction. 

Once finished the entire piece will be wrapped with 28 ga fine silver, and all wires that show will be brought in close with pliers and tucked in before the final wrap starts.  The clasp will be an S-hook with a closed end. 

Doesn't look like much now, but I'll photo again when finished.  It'll be an interesting contrast of black and white.  I think it'll turn out well.  We'll see.  :)

Beaded Copper Wreath

This is a wreath/suncatcher that I made for my neighbor's baby.  The frame is 12 gauge round copper wire, twisted and then hammered flat to create open links so beads can be wired to it.  The wreath is 8" in diameter.  I got lucky with this - the baby's nursery contained colors of beads that I already had.  The seeds around the outer rim of the frame are 8/0 Toho in three shades of blue and grass green.  The inner rim of the wreath has been wired with 4mm Swarovski crystals in Dark Rose AB (I think that's the color!).  I have tons of these from a bulk purchase I made years ago. The flower is also Swarovski, in 4mm using the same pink for the flower, yellow 3mm for the center, and 4mm chrysoprase (again - I think this is the color!) for the stem and leaves.  The dragonfly is a mix of Swarovski pinks and sizes.

The initial in the middle is a stylized A, made from 14 ga round copper wire, and selectively hammered. It's a heavy piece!

You can see the frame below.  The frame, by itself would be lovely, but I wanted to match colors with the little new person's nursery.  Actually, the frame is pretty versatile.  You can use it for a lot of different decorative purposes.  It's sturdy and if you don't solder, it's easy to wire the ends closed so they never come apart.  If you're using the frame without decoration on it, I suggest soldering so the wires don't show.  

Sterling Silver Woven Wire Fish Earrings

These are my latest creation:  Sterling frames wrap/woven with 28 ga dead soft fine silver, and Swarovski beads.  The earwires are handmade as well.  These take about 90 min per earring to make and while easy to make, it can get tricky keeping the weave tight, especially as you get toward the top.