Triangles and Wire

Sometimes the simplest jewelry designs are the most enduring. Back in November I did a blog post about resurrecting an old style of earrings that I got tired of making. In that post I proclaimed that I would work on those earrings the very next week. HA! Three months later, I finally did it. I need to remember to NOT commit to such tight time frames any more.

Back to the earrings. They really are very simple. I start with a length of 20 ga wire and make a tight spiral. Hammer (or roll) to flatten, form in and around the triangle glass bead, make the hook part and finish. It took me a bit (2 pairs)  to remember some of the finer points of the forming. But then it went rather quickly.

There are 22 pairs in the photo above. Some are done with sterling silver wire and some are with gold filled. Some are larger triangles (12 mm) and some are small triangles (7 mm). Some are transparent, some are opaque and some have a matte finish. There are a couple of pairs with a metallic finish and a couple of pairs where the glass has graphic patterns.

Cobalt blue, transparent, large, sterling silver

In the center: red, transparent, small, gold filled

In the foreground: bronze metallic, opaque, small, gold filled

In the background: amber, transparent, large, gold filled

Cobalt blue, opaque (matte finish), large, gold filled

Teal, translucent, large, sterling silver

I'm not sure which pairs will end up in my etsy shop. It will depend on which ones photograph well and which ones I can recreate, based on how many glass triangles I have in stock in any particular color. The sterling ones will be $25 and the gold filled will be $28.

If you see a pair that you would like to have, let me know!

Earrings with Vintage Components

This is almost the last of these vintage brass twists.  At one time, they were part of an antique necklace that I purchased at one of those antique malls we so often visit on our trips Outside.

(for those of you that don't live in Alaska, the term Outside refers to the lower 48).  

I had lots of them, but sold all of the earrings I made with them.  This pair, and maybe one other, are all I have left.  They are incredibly interesting elements -- embossed, twisted and framed.

From the bottom, where there is a convenient loop, I added dangles of black vintage glass beads.  It just seemed right to use vintage beads with these vintage twists.  Click the photo to go directly to the listing.

Brand New Victorian Styled Earrings

I recently came up with a new earring design using some of the antiqued brass filigree that I have fallen in love with.  Brass is affordable and gives me the opportunity to use elaborate components without resulting in a pair of earrings that would cost  $80 or more.  These same filigree teardrops in sterling silver would be extremely expensive.  I like to offer a wide range of designs to my customers and my brass collection has opened up a whole new world.

I gently pried open the teardrop and inserted a glossy aqua glass bead.  After closing the teardrop at the top, I wrapped it with some brass colored wire.  This really gives the earrings a more finished look.

They are for sale in my etsy shop.  Click on the photo to go directly to the listing.

Brass Earrings = Success!

I introduced my brass earrings locally at the State Fair. You've seen them here and in my etsy shop, but for my local customers, it was something very new. And guess what? They were a big hit. The price point is very reasonable and people seemed to like the vintage look of the antiqued brass.

This pair is my latest listing in my etsy shop. The glass
beads are two-toned emerald green and deep purple. The beadcap has a leaf design that I love. I've topped them with a purple glass bead and a small god filled bead. The antiqued brass lever back earwires offer great security and are comfortable to wear.

Click here to see all of the brass earrings in my etsy shop.

I haven't posted a tutorial in a long time. If there is anything in particular that you would like to learn about jewelry making, let me know by leaving a comment!

Fun and Whimsical Lampwork Necklace

I recently started using some of the wonderful lampwork beads I purchased from my friend Marcy. They are incredibly lifelike and the food beads make me drool!

This necklace is on sterling silver textured chain and I made the circle from fine silver wire.

The beads are a beautiful slice of watermelon, a chocolate ice cream cone and a miniature sand dollar. Aren't they amazing?

You can click on the photo to go directly to the listing in my etsy shop. And be sure to visit Marcy's etsy shop.

Farmer's Market Necklace!

I purchased these adorable lampwork vegetable beads from Studio Marcy. She's an amazing glass artist. Be sure to visit her shop. I've been enjoying these vegetables for quite a while now, and finally decided to combine them in this simple necklace, which is perfect for the gardener in your life.



Peas and carrots happen to grow very well in Alaska, because of the relative coolness. It is said that we grow the sweetest carrots for that very reason. There really is no comparison between a supermarket carrot and Alaska grown carrots!

New Brass Earrings

I did a big photo shoot the other day and included a bunch of brass earrings. I'll be listing these, along with the other things I photographed over the next week or 2. I've been working with a lot of brass lately, as I can offer those earrings at a lower price than ones of comparable design in sterling. Plus, I like the warmth of oxidized brass. Here's the first new pair.

I started with a frosted glass bead of the palest gray (almost white) and topped it with a cute beadcap, a wavy spacer and another gray glass bead. Voila! A pair of earrings for everyday.

Click on the photo to go directly to the listing. Or, have a look at my entire etsy shop.

Large Serpentine Beads

I had a strand of these large (1 3/8") serpentine (olive jade) beads in my stash for several years before I discovered filigree wrapping. They are too big for earrings, at least for me, but are the perfect size for this type of necklace.

If this necklace looks familiar, it's because I've sold several variations of it in my shop since mid 2008. Sometimes I vary the dangling beads at the top, or the beads that I use at the bottom. For one of the variations, I used copper chain instead of brass. Each one has sold. I've also sold some locally. People seem to love green and brass together. I know I do.

Now, this latest version is for sale in my etsy shop. Click on the photo to go directly to the listing.

Brass on Bronze . Earrings

The color of antiqued brass is warm and earthy. The filigree I used to cover these bronze finish glass beads is just that. The tone-on-tone look is somehow very appealing to me.

The filigree was originally a teardrop shaped bead. I carefully opened it up and spread the 4 segments apart so that I could use it in this way. Clever, huh?

The brass leverback ear findings also have an antique finish. This style of earring better sell for me - I bought a gross of those earwires! I tend to buy everything in bulk to get a better price. It usually pays off.

These earrings are for sale in my etsy shop, or click on the photo to go directly to the listing.

Old, Old Earrings

Today I'm wearing a pair of earrings that I made during the very first year of my jewelry-making odyssey -- 1997! I was living in Scottsdale, Arizona, working at Revlon and preparing to move to Alaska with Rick. On a whim, I took a basic beading class at the local bead store. While I can't remember the name of the store, I do know that they were bought out a few years ago by Artgems, which is now completely out of business.

I managed to complete a very simple necklace and earring set at that first class. And then I proceeded to shop for beads at the store. I know, big surprise. I purchased these wavy coin shaped Italian glass beads in every color they had. To this day, I have never seen these beads anywhere else. And you know I've seen plenty of beads over the past 12 years!

The gold filled leverback earwires have been replaced once, but other than that, I still love these earrings.

Beautiful Brass

While most of my jewelry is made from sterling silver, I have found that antiqued brass can be very warm. It is especially well suited for use with glass beads of all colors, especially the bright ones. This is perfect for me, as I have a huge collection of vintage and contemporary glass beads . Best of all, brass is very affordable.


I've recently listed these 2 pairs of earrings featuring brass filigree, some bold glass beads and antiqued brass leverback earwires. Click on either of the photos to go directly to the listings in my etsy shop.

A Nostalgic Necklace

Ready for a little romance and nostalgia? Have a look at this necklace. It's more of an assemblage than a pendant. I love incorporating an assortment of materials into a necklace such as this one.

The rich warmth of the brass elements is nicely offset by the cool blues of the beads. That dotted bead is a treasured one from my (vast) collection of vintage glass beads. I'm not sure how I convinced myself to actually use it!

I've been collecting skeleton keys for quite some time and this necklace features a really nice one. the heart beads? Well, they just seemed to want to be part of this necklace.

It is for sale in my etsy shop. Click on the photo to go directly to the listing.

Serpentine and Brass

There's something wonderful about the combination of olive green and aged brass. In this necklace, I wrapped brass filigree around a large bead of serpentine. I then embellished it with some coordinating glass beads and suspended it from a brass chain. Voila, a beautiful necklace!
This necklace is for sale in my etsy shop.

Bold Color!

I tend to work in subdued and neutral tones in my jewelry designs. That's why these earrings should be a big surprise to anyone who knows me! The opaque chartreuse beads at the bottom of this stack are from Raven's Journey. They carry a wide selection of glass beads that you just don't see everywhere. I purchased these particular beads at a huge bead show in Tucson.

The combination of green and purple works so well. The purple I used in these earrings is more of a violet. The earwires are sterling and I used a decorative Bali silver bead at the very bottom.

As always, these earrings are for sale in my etsy shop.

Breakfast!

Yes, I have a fascination with fake food in all forms. I made this necklace from glass beads that I purchased from an amazing glass artist, Marcy Lamberson. She creates the most amusing and whimsical glass beads I have ever seen.

I guess I was extra hungry when I put this necklace together. I usually only have 2 eggs!

Marcy says a cup of coffee is on it's way!

Visit Marcy's fun blog to read all about glass beadmaking, bacon and vikings.