YOJ Weeks 13 And 14 - Learning To Solder

Here are two pieces in sterling silver as a result of my attempts to solder. For week 13 the theme was Talisman, so I made this piece as a small talisman - for me it looked like peace on earth, however somebody told me they can see a rose within the pendant.

For week 14 the theme was egg-citing, however I didn't do anything related to Easter eggs or the celebration itself. For once I was off topic and I made one of the pieces from Melissa's course. Argh why do the pictures always show the mistakes so clearly...

Wrapped Donut Pendant

Something new I made a few days ago is based on something I wanted to do for a few years now. I always wanted to wrap a donut without having to fiddle with making a wire wrapped bail, it's just a pain to do it right.

I got some tutorials from Eni Oken several years ago when she was still selling her tutes, and one of them is a wrapped donut. So I've decided to do something similar, but not quite the same. So I ended up with this piece which has seemingly random wraps around the donut and a silver frame - frame which I soldered. I then soldered the jump ring as the bail to the frame, and did a bit more soldering work - basically all jump rings are soldered, including at the end of the cord, right between the endings - now that was fun to do without burning any other nearby piece.

It's a simple piece, but I'm happy about how I slowly develop my soldering skills. Anyway, here are a few photos of it. The donut is quite heavy actually, it's made of hematite and measures 4.5 cm (a bit over 1.5").

More New Toys To Play With!

I'm a tool junkie and I admit it. Is there an AA style group for it? The more I learn, the more tools I need, afterll how can I make those cool designs without it? (at least that's my reasoning behind it).

So here are my latest tools, all came yesterday through the post (shown from left to right).

I got a round sandbag, because hammering around here is quite tricky with me living in a flat. I hope I can dampen a bit of the sounds and also make it easier on my table. I was using a thicker cloth and a mouse pad, but I think it was still not enough.

Next I got the heavy Euro Power Punch which can punch out various size rounds from a sheet of copper or sterling silver. It's heavy, just like the sandbag (the shipping cost me quite a lot as well, as it was sent via UPS due to the weight). I can't wait to start using this tool, I have so many ideas already!

Then I got myself a texture hammer with two different texturing styles (dimples and narrow lines) - you can see it here. Having recently bought a huge copper sheet of 0.7mm, I can't wait to start hammering on it and making some fun textures.

Finally I got the smaller Euro Punch plier which makes one type of hole only, of 1.8mm. Perfect for adding a jump ring to a pendant through the hole. It's this one that I got, with the round hole. There are 2 more styles (with square and oval holes) which are on my wishlist, will get them eventually. For now I really needed this as I was struggling to drill a hole with a Dremel, I just couldn't keep the tool steady for it. I guess I do need a flex shaft, or I don't know how to use the drilling part of the Dremel (or I don't have the right drill bits), but anyway, I've already tried this small tool and it's perfect for my needs. It also comes with a replaceable tip, which is a great thought by the developers.

Can't wait this weekend to start using my new fun metalsmithing tools!

YOJ 2013 Week 11 - Rescued from the Scrap Bin

Here is my entry in the week 11 for the Year of Jewelry Project of this year. It's my second project from Melissa Muir's soldering course. I am proud of it because I could never solder before, but now I made two separate projects already, including the previously shown first ever soldered chain.

It also fit well the week's theme because all the wire pieces and jump rings are literally taken from the scrap bin, from older projects that didn't go anywhere and had to be dismantled.

I love soldering and I know I'll get good at it once I practice enough.

First Ever Soldered Chain

I'm learning to solder using two beginner metalsmithing courses - one by Melissa Muir (workshop here), and one at Craftsy (Metalsmithing at home - link here) and Melissa's first project is a soldered chain. She uses 3 different jump ring sizes, and I used only two because I already had these cut, but overall I like it for a first piece. I stretched the larger rings into ovals a bit with the round nose pliers, and the rings didn't come apart, so the solder seems to hold.

There are tons of possibilities opened with soldering, imagine soldered frames without having to fiddle with wire wrapped bails, or soldering silver wire to a silver sheet cut to a particular design...I'm really excited about it. I know there are still flaws with this piece, have to remove some extra solder from the joints, some rings need a bit of adjusting (the ovals are not quite the same size everywhere), but I'm getting there with practice.

Here are a few pics taken of this first piece, one that I will keep, afterall it's my first :)

Jewelry Tools On My Wishlist

The more things I'm learning on making jewelry, the more tools I need. Wire wrapping, chain maille, and now metalsmithing too (albeit only a beginner at it), these all need high quality tools to not only save time, but also make great quality jewelry - working only with the hands goes only so far... And with the limited amount of extra money most of us have, it's quite challenging to fulfill our wishes all the time. So I've started to add most coveted jewelry tools to a wishlist that I will keep in this post, transferring them from the notepad I was keeping them in. As I manage to *gulp* buy a new tool, will cross it off the list.

If you do have any of these tools, let me know in the comments section if they're worth getting, or better to go for something else instead. Also I'm curious what are some of the tools that you want to get and are on your wishlist?

So here goes my list.

• A new jeweler's saw - bought (although I secretly dream about a Knew Concept Saw)
• V-Slot Bench Pin and Clamp - bought through Ebay, just came in the mail
• A Foredom Flex Shaft
• A nice big anvil (like this one)
• And speaking of Fretz tools, a couple of cool texture hammers for metal forming and shaping wouldn't hurt either
• Tronex cutters and pliers
• A leather sandbag (shown here)
• A Pepe (or Swanstrom) disk cutter
• A dapping tool
• The new Pepe Jumpringer (supposed to be available soonish) for chain maille
• Alternatively the Ringinator would be a great choice (actually my first choice before I saw the new Jumpringer pictures on Facebook)
• A larger bench block than my small square that I currently have
• Chasing tools (like these ones)

Simplicity - Week 9 YOJ Project 2013

I haven't made jewelry in a week, been down a bit (having hypothyroidism has its ups and downs), but today I made a very simple pair of copper earrings for the latest week in the Year Of Jewelry Project 2013 with the theme: Simplicity. I guess simpler than that it doesn't really get.

All wire is copper and the briolettes are simple glass beads which go perfectly well with the copper color. Earrings measure a bit under 6cm including the ear wires (which are also copper).

I'm still behind with the Weeek 8 of the YOJ project with the theme 'Multiples', but I was really not feeling well enough to do one piece, forget about multiples...Will try to catch up with that project soon.

Copper Wire Haul From The Scrap Yard

Woohoo looksie what I got from the local scrap yard - 6 kg (13 lb) of copper wire of different gauges, from very thin to up to  1.5 mm I think. I had to check online whether there is a scrap yard here in Nicosia, and sure thing there is. So I dragged hubby with me (he knows the places better) and when I got there the guy asked me how much I want - tons?  LOL

So I told him just some wire for myself for 'crafts'. And he showed me a container full of copper wire. I was in wire heaven! I wanted to move to that container for a second!

Sadly they didn't have copper sheet or bronze wire, which I also wanted, so those will still be ordered online from abroad, but at least what copper wire is concerned, even with this haul I have enough for several months. Now just to take the caliper and figure out what gauge wires I've accumulated! Wohoo!

YOJ Week 7 - Off The Cuff

The project for the 7th week in the Year of Wire Jewelry 2013 is called Off the Cuff. Now I'm not good with cuffs and bangles at all, and I've made quite a few chain maille bracelets so far, so I've decided my theme for the week to be 'off the cuff and on the neck' - a necklace.

Earlier this week I made my first JPL necklace (Jens Pind Linkage chain maille weave), and I've been thinking for a few days what pendant to make for it. Finally I've decided that a simple wire wrapped pendant with a few chain maille elements should mattch quite well with it.  The necklace is made of a mixture of bronze and copper wire - bronze for the chain maille part and the pendant frame and copper for the wrapping part.

What do you think, do they go together?

Got Myself Some New Cool Jewelry Toys

I was browsing Zoraida's blog, specifically the post about bracelet mandrels, when it dawn on me that I want one too! I haven't done many bangle style bracelets, or those that actually need a mandrel, but for the few I've done, I've always shaped them by hand, with not the best results, especially if you want to sell those pieces.

So off I went to the local jewelry store (my usual store for buying sterling silver wire), and I came home with not one, but ...several goodies that emptied my wallet for the moment. Oh well, it's for a good cause.

(click the picture for the large view)

So I came home with the bracelet mandrel- I actually wanted a stepped one, but they only had this, and when I saw it, I quite liked it, so it got sold.

I bought a jeweler saw, as my old one is getting undone and it doesn't hold the blades as well as it should. Then got myself the actual blades, as I didn't have this size - 1. I have 2/0 and 3/0, but those are for sterling, and I found that they don't work as well for cutting bronze rings, which is much harder then silver or copper. So I'll give these a try. At the shop they assured me it will work.

Then bought a small table vice with clamps made specially for jewelry work. I have a huge old one that is kind of awkward to work with, so it was time to upgrade.

Then bought some leather-like cord for any copper pendants I might do, and finally 3 finger protectors since I need them for when cutting wire for jump rings with the jeweler's saw. I have 3 but they're already worn out and I wanted some shiny new ones.

Oh and the small black thingie in the middle, it's some bracelet display made of hard plastic. It was very cheap on Ebay and it happened to arrive today, so I added it to my 'cool toys to play with' stash.

So there, my haul for today thanks to Zoraida, lol. And I only wanted a bracelet mandrel...

Bronze Byzantine Chain Maille Bracelet - For Men

In the previous post I showed all my bronze and copper goodies that I got in the mail from the UK. So here is the first thing I did from it - a simple, but elegant chain maille bracelet in bronze. It's actually perfect for guys (for gals too, if they love chunky bracelets). I love the Byzantine weave, the bracelet it's so sleek on the wrist, and while it's a bit on the heavier side, it doesn't feel like it at all.

For the bracelet I cut the rings myself, and then put it together from rings of these stats: 1.25 mm WD, 11/64" ID (4.37mm), with an AR of 3.5, which is perfect for the Byzantine.

The size is customizable, can adjust easily for a woman or a man's size as well, totally free.

Here are a few photos that I took from the bracelet, which is already up in my shop under this link: Byzantine bracelet

Got Goodies In The Mail

Since sterling silver is so prohibitively expensive these days, I've started dabbing in other materials, and right now my favorite now is bronze. It is similar in color to copper, but the wire is harder, and for chain maille, harder jump rings are better than softer ones.

About a week ago I put in an order at wires.co.uk for some bronze wire and some samples of other materials, including square copper wire. My order just arrived, and it's awesome! I'll definitely use this UK seller in the future for wire, unless I get a good supplier of it right here in Cyprus - which I doubt I'll find.

Silver Heart Pendant

This tiny sterling silver heart pendant in byzantine weave was made for two challenges: the February challenge in the Chain Maille Facebook group (heart or armour) and the 6th week of YOJ project with the title "Embrace".

It is really tiny, it measures 2.5cm (about 1") in length including the bail and 2cm (less than 1") at its widest point. It's very cute and I can imagine it on a thin chain or a short leather as a choker. Perfect when you want something cute, discrete that enhances, rather than takes away from the beauty of the dress or neckline.

My Jewelry In A Dawanda Adsense Ad

Looks like Dawanda started to heavily advertise in PPC (pay per click) through Google Adsense. I was just browsing one of my favorite book sites Goodreads to write a review for a book that I've just finished reading, when my eyes caught an ad on the right side of the screen for Dawanda. The screen changed a few times with new products and then I saw one of my chain maille bracelet, yay!

From all the many thousands of products listed there (Dawanda is the European version of Etsy, a bit smaller, but evergrowing), mine was spotlighted. I had to capture a screenshot to keep it and frame it (lol).

Click on the image to see the full view.

Square Knot Bracelet In Bronze

Sterling silver is quite expensive, so I've decided to experiment in other materials that are not only cheaper, but also quite cool actually. This piece was made in bronze and it's called Square knot based on the B2 weave. It's quite fun to do and awesome to wear. I love how is rather loose on the wrist and kind of fluffy. Now try to do this heavy one in sterling silver!

The clasp is an antiqued bronze square clasp. Not sure yet if I'll keep it. The color is a bit off compared to the bracelet, but it does make a nice contrast. Bracelet measures 19.5cm (almost 8") and it's made of 4.4 AR various size bronze rings (bought from TheRingLord).

Byzantine Wrapped Earrings

A quick pair of sterling silver earrings done in the chain maille Byzantine weave. The beads are amethyst with a very lovely color. Earrings length including the ear wire is 6.5 cm (2.5"). All metal, including the ear wire is sterling silver.

For wrapping the bead in the semi-herringbone weave I used a free tutorial by Heidi K. (link to her tutorial is in my Best free 4 herringbone weave tutorials post, reachable from the sidebar of this blog.)

Gothic Silver Chain Maille Pendant - YOJ Week 5

This silver pendant is made for the YOJ Week 5 challenge with the theme 'deja-vu', aka before and after. About 4 years ago when I dabbed a bit in chain maille, I made a Rondo a la Byzantine pendant with a goldstone bead wrapped at the bottom. I never really did anything with it afterwards, and I left it forgotten for 4 years.

Now looking at some of my older pieces to work up for the challenge, I found it tucked in a ziplock bag.

So here is the before and after. Bad picture quality for the before as I only snapped quickly a shot of it in the evening so I have something to show for the challenge.

The new piece has a smaller black onyx wrapped bead. All metal is sterling silver that I cut in jumprings.

Byzantine Knot Silver Bracelet

Here is a bracelet I finished last night. Tumble polished it and took pictures of it today. It's a weave that I learned, I saw a bracelet just like it and was curious as to how they did it. Found the weave at Mailleartisans, and here is the result.

I quite like it, however personally I like daintier chains than this. However when worn is quite beautiful indeed.

The rings I cut have these stats: 0.9mm 4.27 ID, with an AR of 4.74 (this is just for me really, if I want to do another one, to use this as reference). The bracelet measures 19.5cm (7.5") including the lovely silver heart clasp which I bought from Etsy from a wonderful seller a while ago.

Note: the Byzantine Knots weave was invented by Christian Dietrich) and if anyone wants to learn this weave, there is a also nice tutorial by Zili on Mailleartisans.

My First Full Persian Cross

I was always jealous of folks who could do the Full Persian cross, and I couldn't because the full persian weave always eluded me. Well, not anymore. I've learned the weave from Spider's DVD and then went off and learn the cross from a tutorial from Mailleartisans, I think. Now that I know the weave, making the cross is extremely easy, I might add.

Used some practice jump rings from The Ring Lord, so the closures are not the best. The next one is in silver.

Butterfly Earrings - YOJ Week 4 Project

Here is my 4th week Year of Jewelry 2013 project, with the them "Not from the Mall". When I started this pair of earrings I only knew I wanted to do the butterfly weave, but I had no idea how they will turn out. I used at least 3 different ring sizes, and finally decided on the turquoise briolette.

Speaking of the briolette, this is also a good example how to cheat when you can't wrap a briolette worth beawns (that is me). After all these years, wrapping a briolette the right way eludes me. I've watched countless Youtube videos, looked at various tutorials, nothing helped. So I've settled on a bit of cheating. And to be honest, I kind of like the result.

Still have to tumble the earrings as the silver jumping are not quite shiny yet. I hope I won't destroy the turquoise in the process.