the Akamai Knitter

I made a deal with Cookie because she’s such a good friend. She sends me beads and I make her jewelry. In return, I get paid in beads. Cookie likes the simple stuff, so this works even more to my advantage.

As I was making her jewelry, I was inspired to keep on going with the simple.

Sterling Silver Crimson Red Glass Earrings

Sterling Silver Carved Cherry Red Glass Earrings

Black and Silver Lampworked Glass Earrings

Thank you, Cookie for the inspiration!

Sometimes less is really more. Not to mention there’s a certain restfulness in such simplicity. :)

Speaking of rest.

Since I once again woke up at 6:30am, which is waaaay too early for me considering how late I go to bed,  I do believe Quincy has the right idea.

Happy Tuesday, folks!

Once a year Janice Berkebile travels to Hawaii to teach a class or two at The Bead Gallery . Last year I took two classes from her. This year I took one class from her and it was called the “Steampunk Bracelet”.

Even though it was a 6 hour class, I wasn’t able to finish my bracelet. But I finished it last night!

As you can see, I didn’t work with my usual sterling silver. Instead I experimented with oxidized copper, bronze, and regular copper wire.

That bracelet took a lot of hard work. Each disc was textured with different hammers. Then they were hammered again to give it a slight domed look.

You can see the texture and the slight poof in this disc the best.

Each disc has a different decorative technique used. I think this one is my favorite.

Of all the things we learned in the class, the hardest part of it was the invisible clasp. I think the clasp took about 4 hours to make. Mostly because this was where we were taught the rudiments of how the bracelet was made and this was when we hammered all of our discs.

The  wire manipulation was no treat either. Even though copper is much softer then sterling silver, at the gauge we were using it was still hard on my hands. Having said that, I’m hoping to make another bracelet in silver anyway.

You can see the clasp here and here.

I think these techniques would also be great in simpler bracelets and as pendants. The only problem is that I don’t have all the equipment to make them. Hopefully everything will be back in stock at the shop soon. I’m just itching to experiment on my own.

Not that I need more projects to do. After all, I still have a shawl to knit.

Sammy says, “Oh no! Not that evil camera again!”

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

After much deliberation, I came up with a design that used my little wire flowers.

See it morph into a necklace!

I chose a Green Girl Studios bead as my focal piece because there’s a bead show rolling into town this weekend. If you wear one of their beads to the show you get a free bead! That’s motivation for me. ;-)

Not that I needed that extra incentive. Her work is quite inspirational.

Detail shot.

All in all, I’m pleased with the design. I like the balance and it hangs nicely.

The hardest part was blackening it. I always hover over the piece as it sits in the baggie with the crushed egg. I’m such a worry wart.

On the home front, there was one boy who never stopped loving me. It might have to do with the fact that I wasn’t shoving my camera in his face as much as I was with the other boys.  I think it has more to do with his sweet disposition.  So I think he deserves some face time on the blog.

I hope you all had a great weekend! Hopefuly tomorrow I’ll have something to show for what I learned over mine. :)

After a night of nearly 11 hours of sleep, I’m feeling particularly lazy today.  So all I’ve got is this photo of my Bicycle Bracelet that I took for the artfire shop.

If it makes Naomi happy, maybe it’ll make you happy too.

One more thing.

Continuing on with how pleased my boys are with me,  here’s Scheyer looking ever so happy to see me.

Sometimes I think that the boys will either kill me in my sleep or destroy the camera.

Hrm.

Happy Friday, everyone! Have a great weekend! I promise to come back with some real content next week. :D

Even though I’ve been busy with the spinning, I’ve still managed to get some wirework done.

Here we have a pair of earrings that were a custom order.

The briolettes are Peridot quartz and the wire is all sterling silver.

The next piece is a pendant.

It’s called the Garden Candy Pendant and I learned how to do it in a custom class taught my Michelle at The Bead Gallery.  I took the class with KnottyNaomi while she was here visiting from California.

Naomi and I met through Ravelry. She’s truly a spinner extradonaire as well as a fantastic jewelry maker! Check out her lovely yarns if you get a chance!

Here she is on the left with the short hair gettin’ busy. Michelle is on the right doin’ the teachin’.

I had a wonderful time and we both decided that whenever she visits, we’re going to take a class together. Yay!

I think I’ve finally recovered from a hectic weekend. There was much shopping. I bought a new pair of sandals. I saw the new Harry Potter movie. It was good,but it was long. Two and a half hours. Definitely worth it, IMHO. :)

I wanted to see a vampire movie with a friend today, but I’m just not up to it. There’s been some medical drama over my acid reflux medication and I’m busy trying to survive without it while trying to get my hands on more of it.

That’s okay though. I expect to see her on Friday where we plan to have a True Blood marathon. :)

Sammy wants to know why he can’t get in on the fun.

Happy Wednesday people! Be true to yourself!

Or something like that…..