Wire Wrapped Gemstones

Hello to those who have come across my jewellery blog! I know they are not the longest of blogs; but even though they are relatively short I still hope they are fun to read :) 

I don't tend to make lots of wire wrapped jewellery, simply because wire wrapped jewellery is one of those items that women will either wear or just to look at.  

But now I've learned a new wire wrapping technique! Yay me! The technique was based on a wire frame cabochon, which I tweaked to create a bead cage. Wire can be fiddly to work with especially when your hand and eye coordination isn't very good, like mine. I'm always dropping beads or twisting/bending the wrong part of the wire I'm trying to weave. Oh the joys!

 Back to the point. I had a few gemstones rolling around my work top, but no idea with what to do with them. But while reading through a jewellery magazine, I noticed there was a technique on how to make a cabochon from wire. So I gave it a go and it was a simple enough design even for someone like me who has bad hand eye  coordination and a arthritic hand. As I said I had a few semi precious gemstones on my work top - a lovely green labradorite and some rose quartz gemstones. 

It took about a half hour to make the cabochon frame, and to insert the gemstone. Once I got the frame around the gemstone I then decided to add some decoration to the front of the cabochon as you can see in the photograph. I used the frame of the cabochon to make the bead cage. I weaved some wire through the loops of the frame to make the cage. I will say the rose quartz was harder to negotiate as the gemstone had an uneven surface.  I got it in the end you'll be pleased to know, and here is the finished results :)

Labradorite Wire Wrapped Gemstone

Back of the pendant 

Front of the pendant

Here is the gemstone from front, back and side.

Side of the pendant
with swirl detail

Rose Quartz Wire Wrapped Gemstone.

Here is the lovely rose quartz gemstone. As you can see the same frame but turned in to a bead cage.

As always I hope you enjoyed reading my blog! As I enjoy sharing my jewellery with you.   

Keep It Spooky Children Of The Night! 

Questions I Usually Get Asked.

Hello there :) Hope your all enjoying the lovely spring weather, it's actually been rather warm here in Scotland. Now I decided to write this in a blog, because people tend to ask me these questions a lot when I tell them I make jewellery. So I decided since people ask me these questions I'm going to put them in to a blog. So lets get started.

Question 1. When did you first get interested in jewellery making?  

I get asked this one a lot. Well it was my mother in law who got me interested in it. She knows a lady who had a hobby making necklaces. Mind you when she first asked me I wasn't really interested, but she kept asking and finally I decided to give it a go. As I've said in other blogs I wasn't exactly impressed the first time I tried stringing some beads on a necklace. After a few times of going to this womans house to make some simple necklaces, my mother in law handed me a jewellery magazine. I saw the beautiful designs and different techniques these jewellery artists used and it was from that point I was hooked. 

Question 2. What influences your jewellery designs? 

A variety of things really. Science fiction and fantasy but nature and our universe would be my main source of inspiration. My swirl pendants are based on the colours of the universe. Also the swirly vines I use in my jewellery are inspired by creeping vine plants. Skulls, bats, spiders, flowers ect all inspired by nature.

Question 3. How long have you been making jewellery?

I started somewhere in October 2012, so not that long really. Just about three years. Mind you I have learnt a lot in three years, but I'm not yet a master. Some day I plan to be even better at making jewellery :)

Question 4. Who taught you how to make jewellery?

No one I taught myself most of what I know through books and magazines. However I did and still am being taught how to make silver jewellery using pmc (precious metal clay) I'm studying with the mid Cornwall School of jewellery.

Question 5. Do you teach jewellery classes?

No. Not yet anyway. I only teach people I know really well at the moment. 

Question 6. What do you have difficulty making or working with?

Seed beads, I don't have the patience for fiddly little beads and super intricate complicated necklaces. Probably because my eye sight isn't that great. Saying that I do have the patience for sculpting with polymer clay and working with wire.

Question 7. Do you wear any of your own jewellery?

This answer may seem vain but yes I do wear/make jewellery for myself. Its always nice to make something for yourself, it's even nicer to make something for someone else. :)

Question 8. What was the first thing you made?

That would have been a necklace made from purple seed beads, that's probably why I hate seed beads!. I don't have a picture of that necklace but I do have a photograph of the first pair of earrings I made.

Question 9. Have you made any custom jewellery?

Yes I have made custom jewellery for some family and friends. I have made my sister a few custom pieces and a two or three silver pendants for a friend. I don't tend to make custom jewellery that often though. 

Question 10. What is your favourite thing to work with when making jewellery? 

Oooh that is a tough one because I like working with polymer clay, pmc clay, different kinds of beads (except seed beads) wire work. I would say my favourite is working with the polymer clay just now. It's very versatile and the colours always make lovely colourful jewellery. 

Question 11. What is you favourite bit of jewellery you have made?

That would be a chainmail necklace I made. I had a lot of fun making it because I've always loved chainmail jewellery. It is durable and has a heavy feel to it, without being overly heavy.  

Bonus question . Do you make puppy pendants?

No..., Just no 

Thanks for taking the time to read this and keep it spooky children of the night :)

A Place To Sell My Jewellery

Hello dear readers :) I have found a place in the Inverness town centre to sell my jewellery! This shop is called Inspirations, located on Baron Taylor street. I have booked a space for my jewellery, and it will be available from the 15th of April. 

I'm very excited about this opportunity. If you are in the Highland area please take a pop in :) Shameless advertising I know! But you don't get noticed unless you put it out there ;) 

These are some of the items I shall be putting into Inspirations, it wont be everything I've ever made, because I have a lot of jewellery. So much jewellery in fact that I'm drowning in it! 

I'm not complaining, it's just an observation hehe. 

Each time I rent out space (which will be as often as I can) I will put newer items of jewellery in. I may even personalise some jewellery if asked, so long as it's Gothic jewellery though. 

So if you do pop along to Inspirations keep an eye out for these in about two weeks time or just go in and have a nosey.

As always thanks for reading my blog and remember!!

Keep It Spooky Children Of The Night!