Fused Links

I had some fun at the torch today melting some recycled wire. 

Fused Tears, 36" long, $75.00

Head Pin Bracelet $50.00

 

 

Skull n Leather Bracelet

I'm so in love with this new bracelet but it's already sold, there will be more because I need one to wear.

Skull n leather bracelet, $60.00

Not sure what to call this one! Saturn it is!

Here's a new no name bracelet :) it's a little rough and just a prototype but I'm liking it.

Kristi suggested Satrun and it's perfect!

Bunting Bracelet

Using the same technique I used yesterday I made this bunting bracelet.  The beads were made by rolling them in a compound that makes them bubble up, the end result is a very rough textured surface that looks like they were uprooted up from an archaeological dig.

Bunting Bracelet $70.00

Cumberbun Bracelet

This is another of the Aspire To Wire E-course projects.  I really love the fit of this bracelet but it would be hard to make it adjustable so it won't be making it into my regular line of jewelry.  I may make a few just because they are such a wonderful shape and would be great for folks who sit at a computer since it fits so nice next to the wrist and it won't hinder typing.

Cumberbun Bracelet $55.00

I etched some copper and it really spiced up the the back of the bracelet.

Bullet Bracelet

Bullet Bracelet Special Order,  Brass Bullet Shells with Copper Wire Accents.

I now introduce to you the Bullet Bracelet, it was a special order that I just received Friday.  I had been thinking about making a bracelet out of the shells for some time but just couldn't figure out how to make everything lay flat enough.  So today I took my hammer, beat the heck out of them and bang a bracelet was born.

Ribbon Wrap Bracelets

If you have been reading my blog from the beginning you will know that I started out in the sewing world and have had several other jobs along the way.  Every once in a while that sewing knowledge comes in handy.  A few years back I was seeing these beautifully colored silk strings in many jewelry designs and decided that I must learn how to make them and since I don't give up easily that is exactly what I did.  If you are interested in making some of your own here is a link to that tutorial.  I used all sorts of crazy things to dye them with from egg dyes to koolaid and sold a bunch of them on Etsy.

A big bundle of these have been hanging in my studio now for a few years. The other day I remembered a bracelet I had admired at Bead and Button that used the silk strings as the bracelet band. I don't like the idea of having to tie a string onto my wrist every time I want to wear a bracelet so my design uses a hook for the closure.  This way you tie it once and you are done with the fit unless you decide you would like to wear your bracelet with a different color silk string,  they are easy to change out.

It wasn't easy to find something to display these on since they simply look like a puddle of silk with some metal attached to them when they aren't on a wrist but I finally decided an antique rolling pin would be perfect.

The black ribbon is very attractive on these but just didn't photograph well.

Ribbon Wrap Bracelet $40.00

Ribbon Wrapped Bracelet $40.00

Measure Up

We all go through times when we don't think we measure up, today wasn't one of those days for me.  I got so much done it was amazing, it felt like everything was just meant to come together.

I have two new offerings today using wooden measuring stick pieces along with some antique buttons and other goodies.  My dad just found more wood rulers for me at an estate sale so I am sure you will be seeing more of these in the future.

Measure Up Necklace $65.00

Measure Up Bracelet $65.00

Enameled Penny Bracelets

This week I finished my enameling class at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts and there were many tips and tricks that made the class well worth the drive.  I have enameled in the past and it was a hit and miss sort of thing,  it always seemed like the weather had to be right or things would chip or just look nasty.  I found out this isn't so, it's all in the process and they don't tell you everything in the books on this subject.  Most of my projects from class are not worth taking a photo of but just simple learning experiences and experiments. 

I have made enameled pennies for bracelets like the ones below in the past and they turned out cute but when you torch enamel it is impossible to not cover the whole piece.  When you kiln enamel you can be selective about where you decide to place the enamel as I did on the pennies below.  I used all pennies made before 1981 because I knew that they were solid copper and the new ones made with zinc will melt in a puddle when heated.  On these I decided to leave the head side with the date showing on the back because I could and it gave it a more interesting look when wearing the bracelet.

Goldenrod Enameled Pennies Bracelet $85.00

Blue Enameled Pennies Bracelet $85.00

Red Enameled Pennies Bracelet $85.00

Tumble Etched Bracelets

I finally got some bracelets made out of the tumble etched beads in my past post.  The top set of beads change colors depending on the light that they are in.  If you look at the bead in front it's a very nice shade of lavender because it's in natural light but the back bead was getting more light from overhead and is a beautiful blue.  

Lavender/Blue Tumble Etched Bracelet $49.00

Cherry Red Tumble Etched Bracelet $49.00

Turquoise Tumble Etched Bracelet $49.00

Bits of the Past Bracelets

Some new bracelets have been brewing this past week and I finally got all the parts made and put them together today.  They have bits of my grandma's hankies, old lace and buttons and go nicely with the bits of the past necklaces I finished up a few weeks ago.  If you see one you need just let me know, Beadbug at usa dot com and I will put a listing up on Etsy.

Bits of the Past Bracelets $75.00

Bits of the Past Bracelet $75.00

Bracelets made with old lace and hankies with pearls, buttons and recycled copper.

Adjustable Leather Bracelets

I just finished this bunch of leather bracelets and the Pandora sized beads fit on the leather wonderfully, it's a much more relaxed way to wear your beads.  These beads don't slide around on the leather but stay put so you could space them around the bracelet if you like.  I am always looking for Manly jewelry but it's so hard to make since I love beads and they usually end up making it look to girly but simply leaving the beads off an tying a knot gave this bracelet more masculen look that I really like. The bracelet is very adjustable and I have left it long just in case you want to fill it with beads or have a bigger wrist.  If the tail ends up being to long it's simple to just trim it shorter.

Hand cut adjustable leather band with beads $20.00

Hand cut adjustable leather bracelet without beads $12.00

 If you are interested in any of these just let me know and I will put it up on Etsy.

No name bracelet

I came up with a new bracelet a few days ago but haven't shared it with you because I haven't come up with a name for it. The great thing about this design is it will be easy for me to adjust the length to fit most any wrist by just adding a few links into the design.  I love the rich texture and color, the lesson I learned while building these is if one patina doesn't work try another or three.   If you have a suggestion for a name I would really appreciate if you would share it.

No Name Bracelet  $75.00

It's so hard to hold the camera still and take a photo of the back of your own wrist.

No name bracelet, please help me give it one.

Rustic Roses

Here is a new bracelet worked up called Rustic Roses, it's lightweight copper and fits on the wrist so nicely you won't even know it's there.  It can be made to any size to fit any wrist, if you are interested please let me know what size you would like it.

Rustic Roses Bracelet $85.00

Challenge #2

Today I worked on the second challenge for my Non-Traditional Materials for Jewelers Class.  The challenge is to make a piece out of animal, mineral and vegetable, it was a whole lot harder than the first challenge where we had to use the pennies.

Animal:
Katie a friend of the family, traded me quart sized ziploc full of sharks teeth for a bracelet this spring.  I wasn't sure what I would do with them but figured like anything else if you let them sit long enough something will come up that they will be perfect for.  I am sure this is how hording starts!

When we were in Fort Laturdale I picked up shell pieces off the beach and shipped them home I have used so many of them that only the small and large ones are left.

I have never found pearls on a beach but they do live in the water so close enough for my beach theme.

Mineral:
That was easy since copper is my favorite metal and it is such a warm color I figured it would go perfect with my other earth toned parts n pieces.  I have some sand from Cancun someplace but I can't find it :(  sand would have looked great in the little jar.

Vegetable:
This one was tough since I didn't have any drift wood or other wood type of material so after thinking this one over I got my dictionary and cut out the word mermaid, rolled it up and placed it into a little jar to hang off the bracelet.  Since paper is made out of tree pulp I figured this would work for the vegetable.  I will be looking for some driftwood next time I am at the beach.  Now I need to purchase another dictionary since I seem to be destroying the only one I own. 

After stamping Life's a Beach on a washer I domed it and drilled so it could become the toggle section of the clasp.  I prefer to build all my own findings I figure anyone can go purchase a toggle from Hobby Lobby but building my own really makes the piece special.