Project 018: Ramping Up to Christmas

I like Halloween.

But I LOVE Christmas (even though I'm pagan and don't celebrate "religious Christmas", but that's a post for a different blog).

Bracelet and earring set... made from mini Christmas tree ornaments.

Headband with a bow. Because that's how I roll. I did eventually move the bow to a different headband though since this one didn't work.

A tissue paper wreath, with shiny blue poinsettias and a glittery ribbon!

Project 017: A Bunch of Random Jewelry and Such

Dump post!

I love the braided bracelets so much I made a necklace. With some fun twist dangly charms.

Rainbow mobius rings at the end of boxmail bits. So much fun to wear. People can't believe how light they are.

These beads remind me of fruity pebbles.

Of course, another braided bracelet.

The last of my elemental series. This is "Earth". The weave is called "wolf weave".

Another jangly anklet.

I found this nifty rose pendant at a street fair this spring. It just begged for this.

White suede leather bracelet with a giant glass donut? Yes please.

Not technically jewelry... watermelon buttons made into hairclips!

Neon pom-pom earrings!

Project 016: St. Patrick's Day Bracelet

Jake and I had the opportunity to see our favorite Celtic punk rock band on St. Patrick's Day this year. So I totally needed some bling for the show.

I new I wanted to do something with chainmail. I tried several different weaves, but nothing was working.

Then I decided to stop and re-think it and went back to something I had done way back when I first learned to mail and hadn't done since then.

Euro 6-in-1. It makes a lovely bracelet. Nice and flexible, but not so flexible that it falls out of shape. I did it in orange, dark green, and plain aluminum (as close as I have to white). It also mimics the Irish flag.

And check out that super cute shamrock charm I found in my collection.

Just wonderful.

2011 Projects 001: Bracelets

Since everybody knows I love bracelets, I figured I'd show off some that I made last year, without going into detail (because I really don't remember for a lot of them).

Stripes and Stretch.

Green anodized aluminum with white EPDM rubber and bright aluminum in Euro 4-in-1

Spiraled Mess -  I was trying to make Half Persian 3-in-1, but I screwed up and this happened.  

Magenta anodozied aluminum with black and white EPDM rubber in Spiral 4-in-1. 

Future that Never Was

Typewriter key pendants with green acrylic cubes on a black and sliver chain.

Earth in Cages - lovely earth toned beads in silver bead cages

Spirals in Spirals

Spiral links in hammered gold, silver, and copper plated wire.

Original Helm

Untreated copper and silver plate wire in Helm Chain.

Project 010: Ornamented Leather

I picked up on pre-punched leather bracelets and screw on ornaments from Michaels when I saw them on the clearance rack. I got more bracelets than screw ons, so I still have to figure out what to do with the rest, although I have an idea for at least one.

The Results:

This was actually harder than it looks, because the holes and the screws didn't line up...

It was actually pretty fun to do. I wish there had been more of the bracelets and a better selection of ornaments, but I guess that's what I get for waiting until it's on clearance.

Project 009: Wind

Have I mentioned how MUCH I love bracelets?

They're easy to wear. A good one will go with so many outfits. Crazy bracelets never seem to go out of style.

Have I mentioned how much I love chain maille?

Inspiration: Bastardized Byzantine Bias

New Technique Learned:

• Bastardized Byzantine Bias weave

The results:

Wind

When I first started making chain maille jewelry back in college, I made myself a red, orange, and silver cuff using a Japanese variation weave, which I called fire. My thought then was to do a set of elemental inspired bracelets. A few years later, I did another bracelet in two tones of blue and green in aura weave, which I called water.

This is wind, in yellow and blue, with silver accents, in a byzantine variation. I wish the AR was a little tighter on this; the silver rings don't hold the weave well unless stretched.

Like this.

Oh well. Either way, I'm pretty happy with it. It's lovely and shiny.

Shiny is good.

I haven't made earth yet. I'm still trying to decide on a good weave. I want something that feels heavy and chunky. <3

Project 008: Braids and Chains

I love bracelets.

The only type of jewelry that I have more of are earrings. I've actually slowed down on making earrings, because I've already got way too many.

Friendship style bracelets have been super popular this year, which is great, since I've got a huge  bag of embroidery floss left from when I was in high school and my friends and I made TONS of braided friendship bracelets.

I also discovered Pinterest, which enabled me to find a few hundred bracelet styles to try.

Here's the first.

Inspiration/Pattern: Woven Chain Bracelet

New Techniques Learned:

• Braiding on chains

The results:

Bright and sunny! 

I'm really into orange and yellow right now...

Still love green and purple though!

This one's a little small, however. I might need to add another link or two on the bar end of the toggle.

These are stupidly fun to make. Both of these were made with up-cycled chains. I'm really having trouble finding nice chains to make more of these. It might be time for another around of thrift shop hunting. I really want to make one with green and pink floss and then put watermelon charms on the other side... a future project, perhaps.

Project 007: As American as Apple Pie

More jewelry!

When I ordered the supplies to make the Blue Sparkle bracelet, I received a free gift of acrylic baseball beads. How they knew I loved baseball, I'll never know. With this awesome free gift in hand, I decided to make myself something to wear during baseball games. At first, I planned to make hair bobbles.

Then I made this instead:

Chainmaille and baseballs!

And it's stretchy!

I combined some simple European 4-in-1 in 16 gauge anodized red aluminum and white EPDM rubber with the acrylic beads for this one. 

New Techniques Learned:

• None. Euro 4-in-1 was the first weave I learned, which really spawned my love of jewelry making and over all renewed interest in crafting.

Project 006: Blue Sparkle

Finally, some jewelry!

I've made jewelry for my sister for all of her formal dances since 8th grade, so when she asked if I would make her a bracelet to go with her prom dress, how could I say no?

Inspirations:
Cats Eye and Celestial Crystal Bracelet

The dress. Sorry it's blurry; this was taken with a cell phone.

New Techniques Learned:

• Stringing pattern (Not sure if it has a name)

The Results:

Sparkly!

Matches the dress pretty well, I think.

Lin liked it, so I suppose that's all that matters!