Copper Leaf Pendant

This leaf pendant is made of copper and it's loosely based on a Nicole Hanna tutorial using wire wrapping technique. I bought recently a couple of her newer tutorials and my fingers were itching to make something. The pendant is quite small, with the bail is just about 4 cm (2.5") and it's fun and casual to wear with a chain or a black cord. It has a green seadbead as adornment.

YOJ Project 2013 Week 23 - Twin Hearts

I've skipped the last week's YOJ project, which was about twins, so I made now this pendant to catch up. It's about twin hearts. It's in my series of 'going back to basics' where I'm practicing symmetrical scrolls and wraps. When learning to make jewelry I've kind of skipped this step and I know that I'm lacking in this department, so with these simpler pieces I'm focusing more on 'getting it right'.

Here are a few pictures that I took from this piece. It's so amazing how different it looks under various lighting conditions.

Inspiration for this piece was Jodi Bombardier's set of earrings from her latest book (also mentioned in my previous post).

Week 3 YOJ 2013 - White Pearl Sterling Silver Earrings

When the new theme for the week 3 in the Year of Jewelry Project came up: "music", I knew just what I wanted to do. I've recently seen a simple  but very cute pair of earrings that were last year auctioned off at the Julien Auction House. The earrings auctioned off used to belong to the late diva Whitney Houston, which she wore while filming the Bodyguard.

I have a few freshwater pearls that I got not long ago, so my fingers were it itching to do something with them. And this is the result. A simple design that goes well pretty much everywhere: a wedding, a party or worn with a little white dress or jeans.

Materials are freshwater pearls, all metal is sterling silver including the ear wire. Length of earrings with earwires is close to 5 cm (almost 2 inches).

Been Away For A While

I'm sorry everyone for the rather long absence. A lot has happened here, and sadly not much in terms of jewelry. I've been away in the hospital and then to doctors for quite a while (lung problems) - I'm much better now. Also I've just come back from a holiday abroad, where I spent time with my family in Hungary.

What else is new? I've got the 'perfume bug' and I'm currently adding new gorgeous perfumes to my collection as we speak. Yeah, it's expensive, but I love it! Just got myself a second bottle of Innocent by Thierry Mugler (a toned down version of Angel), and I can't get enough of it.

In terms of jewelry, the price of silver has increased quite a lot, so I have to stock up on it again before I make more pieces - why oh why does it have to be so expensive and why can't it for once decrease in price? *sigh*

Oh btw, just checked Jewelry Lessons site to check out new goodies, and what's with the new Premium membership option - is it worth upgrading?

Marcasite used in jewelry

I've been talking with somebody about marcasite jewelry, and I had to admit that I didn't know what that is. It seems I've never heard of marcasite before. So I looked it up on Google (I have to say, Google search is one of my best friends, it doesn't hide anything from me and it gives me everything I want!) and here are some interesting tidbits on marcasite.

So what is marcasite?
Marcasite, as a mineral is called irons sulfide, however most of the called marcasite used in jewelry is actually iron pyrite, as real marcasite often crumbles into dust and is thus too delicate and soft to be used in jewelry.
Marcasite was especially fashionable in Victorian times (one of my favourite period times). Jewelers usually describe marcasite as a bronze color, and you can usually see marcasite jewelry shining with a vintage estate look.
In jewellery, marcasite combines very well with sterling silver and other white metals, however it's not used with gold, as marcasite and gold do not blend well together.

It seems that when used in jewelry, it tends to be mostly cut in triangle or oval shape. One of the other stones that combines well with marcasite is the black onyx. Also mother of pearl, pearl and opal are stones that go well with marcasite.

As to what type of jewelry one can make with marcasite? Well, you can make the most common types, like earrings, necklaces, bracelets, pendants, rings and even broches. The example in the picture is a gorgeous oval shaped pendant used as a locket, with a man-made amethyst in the middle.

Marcasite is one type of mineral that is glued mostly with jeweler's cement (I have hypocement at home, that should work well), rather than being prong set. Because of this, water should not really touch the jewelry as the stones will fall out quite fast from their setting. So make sure that you never go swimming, or take a bath or go sauna with your marcasite pendant. Or wash dishes (yes, some of us still wash the dishes by hand) with your marcasite ring on.

Now although I've mentioned sonic cleaner for cleaning sterling silver jewelry, for marcasite this is a no-no. To remove the tarnish, all you need to do with your marcasite jewelry is wipe it gently with a soft cloth, which can be dry or slightly damp. The silver polishing pads that I give for free with my jewelry (sadly no marcasite jewelry in sight yet) should do the job.

Which brings me to one other tip for cleaning your jewelry that I forgot to mention in my previous post. Wear your silver jewelry regularly. Yep, that will keep the tarnish away from your silver jewelry for a much longer time than if it's simply put in a safe place.

As a final note, for those interested in the healing properties of marcasite, here they are:
Marcasite is believed to fend of negative energies, improve one’s communications abilities, and protect those working in dangerous occupations.

My Dawanda vs my Esy shop - jewelry vs supplies and books

I've been playing with the idea for a while now, and I think I will implement it afteral. I've noticed that on my Etsy shop mostly my beading and jewelry supplies are bought, while on Dawanda, the jewelry flies off 'the shelves' so to speak. So I will split my shops into a jewelry supplies on Etsy and handmade finished pieces on Dawanda.

I received a lot of brand new (not only new as in not used, but also new as in brand new on the market) Russian beading books. I will start listing them on Etsy. For all the beaders out there, you know how sought after are the Russian books :) Well, now is your chance to grab some. I am combining shipping on multiple books.
I have created a new section in my Etsy shop, Craft books, keep checking it, as I am adding books quite often until I sold off all the batch I received in February directly from Russia. I might then order more if I see that they are really wanted :)