a wrapturous blog

YOJ09-37 Paua Shell Bangle

Paua Shell Bangle (2009)
Constructed, cold joined
Sterling silver, fine silver, paua shell
L 19 cm x W 1.5 cm

I have lots of supplies left over from my classes at Haliburton, which I’ve decided I will not be using next year.  The cabs I ordered were a huge disappointment, with widely variant thicknesses.  In particular, the green paua shell cabs were paper thin, making them virtually useless for wrapping.  Basically, they can be pressed into something else, like maybe polymer clay, glued into a pre-manufactured setting or as part of some other craft item.  Unfortunately, by the time I got them, it was too late to send them back to the supplier and order something different:  the supplier wouldn’t have been able to give me anything else in any case, because I had already cleaned out the stock she had.  The students who had to work with these cabs did admirably, but we had to change the project to make it work.  Oh well, lesson learned.  I’ll use a different supplier next year and put the remainder up for sale as a destash on Etsy to see if I can recoup any money that way.

The blue pauas were meant to be used for rings, but again, the thickness (while much better than the green) was an issue.  They are actually quite pretty, so I may try to make something out of some them.

The first go is this variation on my Art Nouveau Bangle, which uses four wires instead of eight.  It ends up being a very dainty looking piece.

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Tags: bangle, blue, cold connections, cold joining, constructed, dianne karg baron, fine silver, paua shell, silver, sterling silver, tutorial, Tutorials, wire, wire jewellery, wire jewelry, wirework, wireworking, Year of Jewelry Project

YOJ09-36 Green Sprout Pendant

Green Sprout Pendant (2009)
Constructed
Sterling silver, fine silver, prasiolite (green amethyst)
L 4.6 cm x W 2.2 cm

This week, I’ve been thinking alot about growing things, regeneration and rejuvenation.  Unfortunately, spring is a long way off, so I’m sort of out of sync with the cycle of life.  It’s the colour of prasiolite beads I bought in Bancroft (the only strand of beads I bought there).  It’s such a sweet, fresh green, and it reminds me of spring, seeds sprouting, life bursting forth anew.

So, I used the bead as a sort of seed, with “roots” growing around the peak, and a little plant “sprouting” out from the roots.

Prasiolite, commonly called “green amethyst” as a marketing ploy, does occur naturally, but is very rare.  Most prasiolite is created by heat treating amethyst or citrine.  Just to confuse things, there is another stone called praseolite, also green, which is created by heat treating iolite (cordierite).  This latter stone has a greasy luster, which may help in distinguishing the two.

My copy of Love is in the Earth by Melody (Sixth Printing 1993) doesn’t include an entry for either stone, but I found this entry just now on another website while writing this blog entry (added emphasis mine):

Prasiolite brings one appreciation, approval, and acclaim (and occasionally) fame. It further promotes the recognition of ones accomplishments and furthers the completion of same.

Prasiolite has been known as the “celestial root”, bringing the ancient knowledge of illumination, germination, and growth. …. Prasiolite further provides for sufficient tranquility of the minds to assist one in contemplating metaphors without vulnerability to the unknown.

Prasiolite has also been used to bring forth a polarizing prismatic energy, which engenders a spectrum of energy to clear and to activate all of the chakras……

Prasiloite has been used to stimulate healing on the spiritual level and to assist one in regaining the connection with the perfection of the self and the physical body….

Ha! How’s that for connecting with stone energy!?

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Tags: constructed, green, green amethyst, pendant, prasiolite, regeneration, silver, sprout, sterling silver, wire, wire jewellery, wire jewelry, wirework, wireworking, Year of Jewelry Project

YOJ09-35 Moonrise

Moonrise (2009)
Pendant, Sterling silver, fine silver, rainbow moonstone, indicolite (blue) tourmaline
Constructed, cold joined
L 6.4 cm x W 1.8 cm x D 1.2 cm (widest point)

On my annual trek to Bancroft this year, I decided to focus on buying cabachons.  I have a huge stash of beads, but I’ve been moving away from working with them.  The last time I was in Bancroft, I bought some really nice cabs from one particular vendor, and was really happy to see them again.  This year, I scored a bunch of beautiful tourmaline, prehnite, kyanite, garnet and rainbow moonstone.

As a member of the Etsy Wire Artisans Guild, I’m supposed to make a monthly “theme” piece.  Well… I’ve been a bit lax about it because of my other commitments.  So I’m playing a bit of catch up.

It’s been a couple of years since my last attempt at a multi-stone pendant.  That attempt was… adequate… but really not up to the standard I like to set for myself.  So, for the EWAG’s “Blue Moon” theme, I decided I’d take another stab at it.

Back when I was single, I lived within walking distance of Woodbine Beach in Toronto, and would regularly stroll along the water’s edge.  I always loved watching moonrise over the water.  The reflected light from Luna rippling over the waves was so peaceful.  The Moon is the ruler of my astrological sign, Cancer, so I feel a special connection with it.  With my feet in the water, I would say prayers of thanks to the Creator for all of the blessings in my life, and listen for the messages in my heart of what direction I needed to go.

For quite a long time now, I’ve been getting messages telling me I need to reconnect my spiritual side with my jewellery.  I feel really strongly that doing that is going to resonate with others.  So, in the past few months, I’ve been making and posting work that draws from my inner life.

I gave conscious thought to the stones I chose for this piece.    The calming, balancing energy of the 11.7 ct moonstone helps connect with intuitive promptings, and the loving, powerful energy of the 24.42 ct blue tourmaline helps bring awareness and communication of those messages.

The wavy line coming down from the moon was always part of the design, but I also wanted to incorporate the shimmering and rippling of the water by incorporating weaving into the bezel of the lower stone.  I’m very happy with the way it turned out, and the energy that comes off the piece is wonderful.

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Tags: cold connections, cold joining, constructed, dianne karg baron, fine silver, jewellery, jewelry, moonstone, new age, pendant, prong setting, reflections, silver, spiritualism, sterling silver, Toronto, tourmaline, waves, wire, wire jewellery, wire jewelry, wirework, wireworking, Year of Jewelry Project

YOJ09-34 Stocking up for Christmas

The week 34 project isn’t a specific piece of jewellery, per se, more like a bunch of things I made in preparation for Christmas sales on my Etsy shop.

Not really much more to say than that.  Oh, and if you’re interested in purchasing my jewellery, click this link.

Tags: bangle, bracelet, christmas, etsy, jewellery, jewelry, pendant, pod, silver, smokey quartz, sterling silver, wire, wire jewellery, wire jewelry, wirework, wireworking, Year of Jewelry Project