Eva's Year of Jewelry

Great giveaway

2011-06-02T01:04:00.000-07:00

I love Dolls and Daydreams. Sarah makes beautiful doll patterns. I especially love the animal patterns. And she is hosting a giveaway. You can find all the information here.

Eva.

Download a free tutorial!

2009-02-18T08:39:00.000-08:00

Week 10: For Clemens: The Four Elements

2008-03-07T01:05:00.001-08:00

I have a friend that has been very important to me for the last couple of months. He was Barend's best friend and we support each other in our grief. I don't think I would have made it through these past months as good as I'm doing now without him. So I wanted to make something really special for him.

His lucky number is 4. He has a tattoo on his arm that looks like a 4 one way round and if you look at it the other way round it is the Chinese word for Strength. When I started thinking about what I wanted to make for him I immediately thought of the four elements. I did some research and found that the earliest form of the Celtic cross is a circle with a + in it. The four spokes represent the four elements.

While I was thinking about how to make this into a piece of jewelry a male could wear (I always have problems designing for men) I saw one of Iza's crosses for the first time and I just knew what I wanted to make. So when I found Iza's new tutorial I bought it and went to work right away (thanks so much Iza!). I adapted the design so it would just have one bead in the middle. I also made the spokes the same size so it looks more like the symbol for the 4 elements. And I made the little ball ends with my torch. The piece is a combination of Fine Silver and SS. The bead in the middle is a faceted round Amethyst. The Amethyst also has a special meaning to Clemens. I hung it from a simple leather cord.

I worked on it without stopping yesterday and finished just in time so I could give it to Clemens last night. And he loved it. I just had time to make a quick scan of it because he didn't want to leave it with me :). Comments are of course always welcome!

Week 9: Leaf pendant

2008-03-06T11:12:00.000-08:00

I made this pendant trying to give it many different textures. Some of them using the basket making technique's I learned. I'm totally liking that and am going to make more pieces using that technique. And I learn each time I make something. I now would have done some things different making this pendant to give it an neater look. All Sterling Silver with Green Quartz (which shows you why you shouldn't dip the piece in LOS with clear stones!).

Week 8: Simple Woven Cabochon Pendant

2008-03-06T11:11:00.000-08:00

I never seem to be able to follow the themes. But at least I'm on time for this week. I'm kinda proud of this one. I made it using Robbie's new tutorial: The Simple Woven Cabochon Pendant It was my first try and I have not much experience with wrapping cabochons. I was always to intimidated to try so I made very few and none that I actually liked. I think I'm going to make more of this one using different cabs :). And I like to thank Magda for transforming my totally ordinary picture into something special. The sea and seashells are very special for me since they remind me of my dear Barend. I'm trying to honor him by expending my horizon and trying new things. I'm sure he would love this piece.

Week 7 Large pendant.

2008-03-06T11:09:00.002-08:00

This was a real learning experiment for me. I got the idea to make this from a beautiful ornament Robbie sent me. Seeing it up close and in person made me dare to try and make this pendant (with her permission of course!). I have been saving the large faceted Fluorite bead for myself and when I saw Robbie's ornament I knew what to do with it. The piece is made in SS and Fine silver (oxidized) and the beads are Fluorite. I already have some ideas how to do things differently next time so the weaving will be neater and more even.

Week 6: Swirly Pearls

2008-03-06T11:09:00.001-08:00

I made these from Robbie's first book Mastering the Basics of Wire Jewelry. I added the coiling round the base and the pearls. I'm not totally happy with these so they are going to stay in my collection. But I'm definately going to try another pair.

Week 5 Elegant earrings

2008-03-06T11:06:00.000-08:00

Well at least I hope they are elegant. I have to make some pieces to show at a local shop to see if they will sell my jewelry. They have to be inexpensive but classy too. The inspiration for these came from my little wire basket. Made with SS wire and CZ's. I think I'm going to oxidize this one. I love the yellow with the black silver.

Week 4: Late, not on theme and not even Jewelry.

2008-03-06T11:04:00.000-08:00

Some of you might have seen the thread on the forum where I was talking about searching my own style. I got some great advice and one of them was to start playing with wire. So that is what I did. I did some research into old crafts and I made a basket out of ugly green garden wire. I showed the picture to Robbie and she wanted it. Of course I made her a new one with silver colored wire. I love doing these baskets and I learn a lot from making them and they do inspire me.

Week 3 Earrings to match

2008-03-06T11:02:00.000-08:00

Simple earrings to match the pendant from week 2. I did do some netting at the top later because I thought they where a little to simple but I didn't have the time to scan them again. My friends mom loved her gifts so that made me happy too :).

Week 2 Simple pendant

2008-03-06T04:29:00.001-08:00

I'm trying to catch up. I have a special piece I want to post for week 1 because it does fit the theme for me in so many ways but I have to wait until it's finally at it's destination (yes the Postal system here has been screwing up badly also) . So here is my post for week 2. It's a pendant I made for the mother of a friend of mine. She requested a simple netted pendant with a mossy green color. I really hope she likes it. I think this pendant is actually Moss Agate but I'm not sure. The bezel is all done in fine silver.

Oops forgot. Of course I learned this great technique from Eni!

Week 1 I can do this!

2008-03-06T04:27:00.000-08:00

I have waited posting these earrings until they arrived at Iza's doorstep. I didn't want to ruin the surprise for her. I really wanted these to be my entry for week one because they represented the theme "I can do this!" in so many ways. I started making these earrings at the end of December as an extra SS gift for Iza. I was soooo nervous making something for her! So I can make something for Iza was what I was thinking LOL.
Then Barend passed away on the 28th of December and my whole world turned upside down. Finishing these earrings in the first week of 2008 was hard. I didn't even want to make any jewelry. But then I realized through my friends at the forum that my jewelry could be my distraction and even be a way of expressing my feelings after this loss. So I can do this! I can get through these hard times with the help of my family and friends. And can honour Barend at the same time by making jewelry and make him proud (he was my biggest fan!). The earrings where made with GF and Fine silver wire and facetted Citrine rondelles.

Week 52 Simple netted pendant

2008-01-14T12:04:00.000-08:00

I made this pendant for a aquintence of a friend who is going through a heard time. Somebody gave her this Amethyst freeform cab and she wanted to wear it but had no idea how (no holes in there). So my friend told her about me and I met her and offered to make a pendant out of it. She was so happy with it. It made me just as happy giving it and seeing her happy face and how she showed it to everybody the ere. She even made me a card all by herself and she never does anything creative and that was so moving. The Cab. has the word Wisdom carved on one side and has a engraved Coil on the other side. That is way I decided to keep the bezel simpel and used Eni's tutorial.

Week 51 Perri's earrings

2008-01-14T12:01:00.000-08:00

I made these earrings specially for Perri without even knowing she was my SS :). I'm glad she liked them. They are made with faceted Rhodolite Pink Garnet and Fine silver.

Week 50 Citrine ring

2008-01-14T12:00:00.000-08:00

I know the year is over. But it felt really bad for me not to finish the last quarter. I did make jewelry just didn't get a change to post them So I decided to wait untill the winner was announced and still post the last work of the year for me. This is a ring made with Fine Silver and Citrine that I made with Iza's tutorial that I simplified a bit.

Week 49 Another one????

2008-01-14T11:36:00.001-08:00

You might think I'm posting the same ring twice but it is actually a different one. I so loved the design and the colors of the first one I wanted one that actually fitted me. I have combined Eni's and Iza's newest ring tutorials in this one. The top is from Iza and the shank from Eni. It does fit me now but I still have some problems I need to solve to have the ring sit comfortably. Now the wrapping sort of get in the way between my fingers.

Week 48 Oxidized ring

2007-11-30T21:37:00.001-08:00

I have showed this on the forum this week. But I decided to show the finished result here too. I used Iza's Ethnic ring tutorial to make it. It's made with all fine silver wire and small Rhodolite Pink Garnet faceted rondelles. Than I oxidized it. I still need to learn more about the sanding and polishing after doing the LOS thing. But it is the first ever ring I made myself I actually like. I'm now waiting on my wire order to make me some more rings :).

Weak 47 Button earrings

2007-11-24T14:25:00.001-08:00

I had so much fun making these earrings. And I'm actually happy with the result. I tried button or post earrings before but never really liked the way they turned out. While I was making them I got a lot of ideas on how to use this technique to make more earrings. These are going to stay with me :). Made with fine silver, silver beads, a tiny pearl and even smaller round garnet beads. I would love to oxidize these but I'm afraid the pearls will turn black as happened with my first try oxidizing a piece with pearls.
With big thanks to Magdalena for writing this tutorial.

Weak 46 More earrings

2007-11-24T14:24:00.001-08:00

Simple earrings made with the Chalcedone that Robbie sent me.

Weak 45 Matching earrings

2007-11-24T14:22:00.000-08:00

I'm catching up. These are a pair of earrings I made to match the bracelet I made for week 43. Not much to tell about them. Just simple earrings with a bit of coiling and faceted smokey quartz.

Week 44: Favorite Colors

2007-11-17T03:10:00.000-08:00

I'm still not caught up. It's not that I'm not making any jewelry but I just don't have the time to make scans (and I'm not even talking about trying out my new camera :( ). My friend who owns a jewelry and bead shop where I also give my workshops is on a vacation to China (she is of Chinese origin) for three weeks and I'm looking after the shop all on my own. Haven't worked a full week in a long time so I'm pretty tired after the first week. And I just caught a bad cold. But I love the work. I sold my first necklace and earrings that where displayed in the shop :). And the big benefit is that I'm surrounded by beautiful beads and I can make jewelry when I have no customers.
Oh and I almost forgot to tell about the necklace. It's made with my favorite colors of the moment. Labradorite, Moonstone, Dark Pearls, Iolite, Blue Chalcedone, Quartz and Silver are all strung on a coated metal wire. I hadn't done any stringing in year but I really enjoyed picking out the beads and deciding where they would go on the necklace :).

Week 43: Smoking Bangle

2007-11-17T03:02:00.000-08:00

I'm so behind with YOJ. This bracelet is part of the reason why. It took me double or maybe triple the hours this type of bracelet normally takes me. I did the wires around the beads to tight so coiling was so hard. I had to make room for the wire with a needle for almost every coil I did :(. But now it's finished and I like it a lot. It's made with all Smokey Quartz beads and silver beads. I didn't add to many small beads to the design because I really wanted to let the beads shine. If this one doesn't sell I will be happy to put it in my private collection :). Now I have one problem. I keep making this type of bangle to large. I thought I had the right length of beads but for small wrists it's still to large if I add a "normal" clasp. So now I'm trying to figure out how to make the end loops overlap with some kind of clasp so it will fit small wrists. Any suggestions are most welcome! The bangle looks kind of crocked but that is because I had to make a scan of it which is very hard when you make a bangle with memory wire LOL.
Of course I learned how to make this type of bangle from Eni's tutorial.

Week 42 Jims rings

2007-10-29T00:52:00.000-07:00

I'm one of the people chosen to proofread the new book by Jim Mc Intosh. I decided to try out one of his designs. Here is the result. One all silver for me and one with an Onyx faceted bead for my daughter (she picked out the design she wanted herself).

Week 41 Hidden Treasure

2007-10-29T00:49:00.000-07:00

Here is the piece I created for the 3D contest. We didn't have enough entries to let the contest go through but it did inspire me a lot and make me think beyond my comfort zone. This piece is a small treasure box. It can be displayed both ways up as a decorative item and it can be worn in two ways (to match your wardrobe LOL) as a locket. I figured out how to make a hinge for it so it can actually open. It took me a long time to make and I know have lots of scrap fine silver wire LOL. I picture it keeping a hidden treasure.... a favorite item, a lock of hair from your children, an amulet. Anything you want to keep close to your heart.
It's totally made in fine silver, lots of small silver beads, onyx, rose quarts, labradorite on one side and onyx and garnet ont the other side.. I'm still not sure if I'm going to treat it with LOS.

Week 40: Inspired pendant

2007-10-29T00:48:00.001-07:00

This pendant was inspired by many talented jewelry makers. Robbie sent me the Pink Chalcedony for my birthday and her work always inspires me to test my limits. And I have to also mention the following artists: Eni, Iza and Magdalena. All of them make me dream of beautiful jewelry.
I used a lot of techniques that I learned from Magdalena Borjeko's Almond Layered Pendant tutorial.

Week 39 First ever piece treated with LOS

2007-09-26T08:04:00.001-07:00

This is the first piece I treated with LOS and I'm not to happy with the result. There is the before picture. And than a pic after I sanded it down. And another one after I tried to buff it up with silver polish. I like what it did with the silver but I hate what it did to the pearls! They are a little better in the last pic but still not good. Maybe some time in a tumbler will help (hopefully after this weekend when it's my birthday I can buy myself one :) )? Has anyone had this happen to freshwater pearls? I think I put to much LOS in the water so maybe that is why this happened to the pearls?

Week 38 First Attempt at netted bezel

2007-09-26T01:08:00.000-07:00

This is my first attempt at a netted bezel. And it failed completely. It doesn't show on the scan but net netting is very uneven. I did get better at it after the second row but my wire snapped ! After it snapped it attached a new wire and worked on only to have my wire snap again and this time the patch in the second row also snapped again :(. I have patched it up but it looks horrible. So I'm going to try again. If anybody has any suggestions on how to deal with work hardening on Fine Silver please lot me know. I tried annealing it with a lighter (don't have anything better) but that only seemed to make things worse.

Thanks Eni for a great new tutorial. I'm sure with some more practice I will improve my netting and I love the technique!

Update: I tried it again and this time it worked without breaking the wire. So I replaced the old photo with a new one of the pendant.

Week 37 Purple Necklace

2007-09-16T13:28:00.001-07:00

This necklace I made as an example for my Beginners Workshop. The wrapped loop isn't well know here so that is where I decided to start with my Wire Workshops. I used freshwaterpearls, Amethyst and a Fluorite pendant.

Week 36: My first 14 K Gold pieces

2007-09-16T13:22:00.000-07:00

My stephmom just turned 50 and this saterday she is giving a big party so I wanted to make something special for her. I know she likes gold so I made my first 14 K Gold earrings. Boy was I nervous when I had to cut that LOL. I kept them simple because I didn't have much wire to work with. So here they are: one pair with faceted Amethyst drops and one pair with faceted Opalite. Hey I might even be on theme with the Opalite once. They do remind me of White Hot and Sparks. Oh and took pictures with my new camera. At night with not much light so that needs improval. Not the best background but I was in a hurry (it was after midnight here).

Week 35 Jade and Carnelian bracelet

2007-09-02T23:05:00.000-07:00

Since I have started giving workshops at a local beadstore I have had the oppertunity to work with some great beads. I love the carved Jade beads in this bracelet. I have combined them with lots of Jade and Carnelian. With thanks to Eni for her great coiled bangle tutorial.

Week 34 Onyx earrings

2007-08-26T01:03:00.000-07:00

I made these earrings with Eni's netted cap tutorial. Just didn't do the netting LOL. I'm not satisfied with the wires going across. Could be much straighter. But I like the effect so I will try again and hopefully improve :).

Week 33 Smokey Earrings

2007-08-19T21:20:00.001-07:00

I've been very busy this week with all the preparations for my first workshop on monday. So I haven't been playing with wire that much. I did manage to make a pair of earrings as a gift for my aunt. Made with Smokey Quarts and Freshwater pearls. Because it's a scan the small beads look kinda silly spreading around.

Week 32 For Robbie

2007-08-07T05:50:00.000-07:00

This pendant was made using various techniques but I think the part that makes it special are the leaves I learned from Robbie's "Blooms in Wire" books. I was making the circle and was looking for a special bead to make it more interesting and than I remembered I had a mother of pearl flower. Flowers always remember me of my best friend Robbie. And than it came to me I should make it more interesting with some small leafs. So this is the result. The other beads are onyx and moonstone.

Week 31 Full Persian bracelet

2007-08-06T07:31:00.000-07:00

This is my first chain maille project in years. Still had these ring so I figured I'd better use them. Don't mind the ugly clasp. Didn't have anything better.

Week 30 Pink Brooch

2007-07-30T02:14:00.000-07:00

My mother has been asking me to make her a brooch. One of her favorite blouses has a stain on it and she wanted something to cover it :). I don't have any experiences with pins or brooches but this is what I came up with. A pink (my mothers favorite color) round brooch losely inspired on an old style of Dutch jewelry called a Zweeuwse Knop (knop means knot). I wanted it to look kinda classical. It is made with lots of wire, Freshwater Pearls, tiny faceted and round Rose Quarts and tiny silver beads. While I was making it it gave me lots more ideas how to use this technique for pendants and other jewelry so I'll be trying out more of it.

Week 29 Iza's pendant

2007-07-30T02:10:00.000-07:00

Again not on theme this week. But Micky sent me a copy of Step By Step Wire Jewelry (thanks Micky!) and I really wanted to try Iza's tutorial. It was the hardest thing I ever did. I had to start over twice and it took me lots of hours but I'm really happy with the result. Iza thanks so much for that great tutorial! I'm sure I'm going to use this technique again.

Week 28 Waterfall

2007-07-30T02:04:00.000-07:00

I don't know why but I got in my head that this weeks theme was Waterfall. I just found out it was 3 weeks ago LOL. I think it's because I saw the movie "Dragon"fly this week that has a waterfall in it and I thought about the theme and than started wondering how I would make a waterfall. Shows you how my mind works. Very strange why didn't it go with the dragon bit? :). So here's my waterfall. It's made with 30 gauge wire to represent the water. Tiny silver beads and faceted moonstone represent the foam you see at the botom of the fall. It is slightly curved which is hard to see on the scan.

First YOJ entry week 27 Sea Bracelet

2007-07-30T01:26:00.000-07:00

Well here it is my first piece for the YOJ project. This is a practise bracelet made
with Eni's Coiled Bangle
tutorial. The wire and silver beads are all fake. But the stones are real. I used shells, moss agate, jade and some more. It took me about 10 hours to make this piece. Initially I wanted to cut it up and do over in real silver wire but my mother saw it and immidiately put it on her arm and I never got it back!