Mushroom Jasper pendant

I'm quite proud of this piece as it's one that I actually cabbed from a small slab a friend in the US sent me, and then wrapped it as well. It's looking quite cool if you ask me (yeah yeah blowing my own horn here :p )
It's a mushroom jasper (or so I've been told, but from the looks of it, the name really fits) which got quite a nice shine to it while cabbing.
As usual it comes on a sterling silver chain and with free shipping all over the world.

28 Euros

When NOT to oxidize your silver jewelry

I had an epiphany today. While oxidizing two pieces I finished this morning, I was musing on why I suddenly like the oxidized look, while I couldn't stand the sight of it (only on my pieces, of course) before.
And then it hit me. The patina brings out all the details in the jewelry, so if your piece is flawlessly executed, beautifully done, it brings out all that and more, making your jewelry sparkle and truly shine. However, if your piece has mistakes, even relatively tiny ones, the dark shadow shows it as well, much more so than if the piece is shiny and bright. If your oval frame is not even on both sides, or if your coiling is not well done, meaning it has spaces between the frame and coils, if you have all sorts of gaps in various places, which shouldn't be there, if your loops are not yet well executed, stay away from oxidizing your piece! In other words, if you're a wire wrapping newbie, leave your pieces shiny and bright, mistakes are less visible this way.

I've checked out a few older pieces which at the time I thought were great - right until I put them in liver of sulphur, which ruined the pieces and the experience. Looking back at these, I can see why I no longer liked them oxidized :)
And also I can see how far I came since the wire wrapping beginnings. I am more confident in my work, I truly like what I do, the journey as well as the result, and when I oxidize the new jewelry, it's finally something pleasing to the eyes :)

Olive Jasper Silver Pendant

This cute little silver pendant has a gorgeous olive jasper briolette that came yesterday in the post and I couldn't wait to use it in my next piece.
All sterling silver, oxidized for the antique effect, the pendant is 2x4 cm, and it comes on a sterling silver chain. If you need the chain also oxidized, you need to send me an email about it.
As usual, shipping on all my items is free all over the world.

36 Euros

It seems that I've really got the oxidizing bug, even hubby seems to like these new darkened up pieces. The liver of sulphur really brings out the greatness in the silver. No wonder those Victorian, antique pieces are so sought after.

Greek Coffee Earrings

This pair of earrings is special to me for a couple of reasons. It's the first pair that I've oxidized and hear hear, oxidizing suits them as well. Also for this pair I've made the headpins on my own using a torch, and finally wrapping briolettes is no longer an enigma to me and something to be afraid of :)

All sterling silver wrapped with two beautiful milk opal briolettes formed in a Greek style geometrical pattern. 6 cm long including the earwires. Very lightweight and fun the wear.
The color combo reminds me of the Greek coffee, hence the name of the pair.

22 Euros

New experiments - new beginnings

I'm still on holidays until end of this week, so after having spent a LOT of money buying silver wire today, I've decided to try out a few new things which I long wanted but never got a chance to.
I can now tick off the not-yet-done list the following:
- making round headpins
- soldering
- oxidizing

Ok, oxidizing I've done before but today is the first time I've actually liked the result. Will post tomorrow pictures of the earrings I've made today and oxidized as there's no longer day light to take good pics.

Making round headpins - yes, finally I took out my little handtorch, the flux and pickle and made a few headpins. Made only about 8 or so, and the results are not yet perfect, but I see from piece to piece that the blobs at the ends are getting round and centered. Now this openes a bunch of new possibilities for me in wrapping tiny beads, as I hate making loops at the end of the beads, it looks so unprofessional.

Soldering - my first stand-alone attempt (I went to a few silversmithing classes a while ago, but I didn't get much out of it, so I've left the course in the middle of it). As I had the soldering stuff out already to make the headpins, I've decided to try my hands at soldering. Cut a tiny piece of solder (which I still have from the above mentioned class) and went ahead and made this little triangle. Well ok, it's not the best piece ever, but hey, it stays in place *grins*, and I know I'll get better and better at it, now that my fear (?) of soldering is gone. I have plenty of silver wire scraps to practice on.

So all on all a good beginning of the week.

When there's no stress, there's wire wrapping

I'm on holidays from work until end of next week, so I'm enjoying the hot summer days and making wire wrapped jewelry, my first big love :)

Without much ado, here are a few things I made during the last few days.


White Romance Pendant - hand formed, hammered and wrapped sterling silver pendant with a milk opal briolette, freshwater pearls and sterling silver beads.
3x5 cm and it comes on a sterling silver chain.

38 Euros

Dream Pink Necklace - Beautiful cherry quartz briolette pendant, rondelles and many Swarovski crystals make up this stunning necklace in sterling silver. The pendant is wire wrapped with little sterling silver beads accenting it. The pendant is 3x6 cm and the whole necklace is approximately 47 cm long.

55 Euros

Victorian Heart Pendant - Completely handmade from forming the frame to a heart shape, to wrapping around it to give this beautiful Victorian style pendant. Made of sterling silver wire and beads, freshwater pearls and red jasper.
The pendant is 2x5 cm (including the bottom dangle beads) and it comes on a 45 cm long silver chain.

40 Euros

Botswana Agate Pendant

I bought this gorgeous little Botswana agate cab from Ebay a few months ago, before I even knew that I'll eventually have my own cabbing machine.
While I'm learning to make nice cabs, I use the bought cabs to wrap them. This cab is gorgeous when held up against the light, and I tried to make the bail with the thin line to match the thin bands/lines on the cab.
The pendant is ~ 1.5 x 5 cm, all carefully wrapped in sterling silver. It comes on a sterling silver chain.

29 Euros

My loving heart

It's so good to come back to freeform wire wrapping. I've been doing a lot of cabbing lately, and border wrapping, and I started to miss wire wrapping and wire sculpture.
I was browsing last night Google pictures for some ideas, and came across this art nouveau heart which became my inspiration for my new rubylite heart :)

The pendant is huge, at the widest points 5x5cm and it sits really nice on the neck. It is one of those pieces that really stand out and make a statement.

8mm rubylite semiprecious beads, small sterling silver beads and sterling silver handmade frame and wrapping make up this one of a kind piece. Because I enjoyed so much making this item, I called it My Loving Heart.

If you want a silver chain with the pendant as well, send me an email at marika.charalambous at google.com, or send me a note at the Paypal checkout. It costs only a couple of Euros more.

35 Euros

On Dawanda's front page

Wow I've just spotted two of my items on Dawanda's front page: the dichroic pendant, and the new amethyst earrings. I'm excited because it's the first time I see more than one of my own pieces at the same time on the front page. Hope you like them :)