Back to Basic Wire Wrapping

In the next few hours we will be flying off to Penang.
For what? Lets just say to meet the relatives :)
We will be there over the weekend + Monday and Tuesday.
Lets see, the last time I was there was about 20 years ago when I was still a student.
Now you can guess how young I am...LOL.
That trip was an unforgettable one but I leave that story for another time...
ahhh...you know how students life was...so innocent and curious...happy and carefree...
At that time, I didn't know that one day I will have relatives in Penang...that's life...

Anyway, back to wire jewelry, its Back to Basic with this bracelet.

This involved mostly basic wire wrapped shapes. Anyone can make this.
Let loose, have fun with the wire and it will not disappoint you.

Two types of stones here - Amethyst and moonstone.

Love the hook and wire wrapped water lily attached to the clasp.
Been a while since I last made similar clasp like this one. This one is really sturdy as I wire wrapped it with 28ga wire so that it won't straighten due to wear and tear.

Simple wire swirls bent on the opposite directions to form a link. Use thicker wire for this - 19ga.

Lets see whats interesting in Penang after this.
Meantime, have a great weekend! I sure will :)

Blissfully White and Winding, Wire Wrapped Jasper Ring

There are many ways to wire wrap a ring and this is one of the methods (Winding Elegance) that got me wondering how on earth it's done?

I don't remember exactly when I purchased this tutorial (roughly more than a year ago) but I do remember being curious about the method. Very stunning indeed and original. Since then, I have seen many similar tutorials (both free and paid) but I just can't seems to find them at the moment (mental note: must bookmark these sites in future).

Here is my take on this method with a bit of modification as my bead has holes and I use all round wire. The stone is Jasper and it turned out ok :)

Szarka! Magpiegemstones - They are here, Clay Jeani, Turquoise & Pearl

The rocks are here :D Thank you Szarka! I love them all especially the Clay Jeanie pendant and Turquoise beads. If you are wondering what I am talking about, they are the free gemstone beads giveaway that I won from Magpie Gemstones, an online gemstone beads and accessories supply shop owns by Szarka, who is also a very talented and one of a kind jewelry designer.

I always drool over her gemstones........you would too if you are at her shop :) .....and today they are here.....Turquoise, Clay Jeani Pendant and Pearl.

Close up of the Clay Jeani Pendant....just awesome and fine workmanship!
I never own anything like this before. So, so, so happy ;D.
Now I got to think of how to wire wrap and assemble them into a beautiful one of a kind piece of jewelry.
Looks like it won't be easy. There are just so many ways and possibilities.
Got to find "that" wrap :)

I got to know Szarka back in 2006/07 when I just got hooked with wire jewelry. Though I've never met her in person, I know she is a very friendly, honest and nice lady...with lots of sense of humor too :)

If you would like to have the opportunity to win some free gemstones beads (monthly) or free shopping spree (worth $200, twice a year) or free jewelry making tutorials, or free information or just want to make friends with Szarka, check them out here - http://www.magpiegemstones.com/freebeads.html

Thank you again Szarka.
Will post the finished piece when I am done with it :)

To all readers, have a great weekend.

Murano Glass! Murano Glass!

When we hear about Murano Glass, what comes to mind is Venice or the Venetian island of Murano in particular. For centuries, Murano's glassmakers produced high quality glass, refining the glass making technologies including crystalline glass, enamelled glass (smalto), glass with threads of gold (aventurine), multicoloured glass (millefiori), milk glass (lattimo), and imitation gemstones made of glass. Today, the artisans of Murano are still employing these century-old techniques, crafting everything from contemporary art glass and glass figurines to Murano glass chandeliers and wine stoppers - Source: Wikipedia.

Outside of Venice, you can find 100% genuine Murano Glass hand blown in Venice at Murano Glass Gift Co, a company started in 2001 that carry a wide variety of art glass from around the world mainly Murano Glass and World Art Glass.

At Murano Glass Pendants you will find among others this Murano Calcedonia Pendant which has a Milky Way or Galaxy look to it. Calcedonia is an art form of Murano dating back hundreds of years. It refers to glass featuring veins of color running through the dark colored glass. This look is obtained by mixing various metal compounds in a certain fashion to imitate the natural stones such as agate, onyx and malachite.

Florentine Drop in brilliant colors. Something I would wear any day, anytime. Love those spirals. Very inspiring.

Besides jewelry, check out the Murano Birds. The love bird set would make an exquisite gift set. The details of the design is awesome and captivating.

In Feng Shui, a pair (of birds) is for luck. It's the symbol of love and union. Surround yourself with pairs of birds, and you wouldn't feel lonely :) That is according to feng shui.  Should we give it a try?
If you are a fan of Murano Glass or unique and beautiful glass creations, check out Murano Glass Gift Co.
They are offering free FedEx ground shipping to USA and Canada.

Sparkly and Wiggly Rings - Lapis Lazuli

Not so productive last weekend but managed two rings, only. Both are 8mm Lapis Lazuli wrapped with 20ga Sterling Silver wire.
I wish I have thicker wire for the wiggly ring.
With 20ga it doesn't feel that sturdy even after some hammering.

However, the one wrapped based on my Sparkly Crystal Ring method is just nice and strong :)

Headache been visiting for the last 24 hours and I am signing off right after this. 

Rest and sleep is the best cure for headache....so goodnight and sweet dreams my dear readers!

Sparkly Pretties, Time and Friends

How time flies when there are lots to do and learn. There are friends to keep in touch with, time for meeting, time for making new friends, time for work, time for family, time for play, time for yourself, time for blogging J, etc. etc. It is never enough.

Last weekend, I made these few pretties for a dear friend. They are mixture of colors of Swarovski crystals, wire wrapped with sterling silver wire. MH likes her jewelry to be as colorful as possible. According to her, colors make life more exciting, happy and not boring. Back in late 80’s/early 90’s, when we were still uni students….hmm….makes me feel old L, she gave me a batik printed nightgown -- with bright rainbow colors printed all over it…Can’t remember for what occasion but I still have it and it always reminds me of how colorful MH could be J

MH if you are reading this, the nightgown is still in good shape and colors, even after 20 years.

I am more of a black, gray and white color person but life is exciting and not boring at all. So, it’s not the colors is it? but more of how you view life and how you want it to be…exciting or boring regardless of colors…J what am I mumbling about?

……anyway…just enjoy the pretties and colors.

Somehow I couldn’t get nice pictures of them. Could it be the background?