One of those days!

Please forgive my ramblings today, not enough oxygen to the brain and I can barely see the computer screen.  After posting yesterday I started looking around for my next project to post.  This Saturday there is going to be a bunch of us tatting at the Santa Maria Beverly's Craftstore.  So I thought it would be great if I got out the doily I was making and finish it for Saturday.  Well I gave up because I couldn't find it anywhere.  So then I decided to embroider some opera length black gloves with some silk ribbon roses and some stumpwork leaves.  But I couldn't find any of my huge stash of silk ribbons!  So frustrated I made another necklace.  I started with silver findings and cream crystal pearls and a large diamond shaped metal piece as the main focus.  What I ended up with was a necklace with gold findings 3mm black and red crystals and a black crystal donut!

I liked how the red and black crystals showed up between the pearls but I don't like the donut.  So the project needs some rethinking when my brain starts working again.  Later on in the evening I was looking up an obscure type of embroidery and came up with this link to a beautiful piece of wirework jewelry http://www.flickr.com/photos/gypsymoonartstudio/4853400500/in/faves-ederajewelry/

Even though it was late I got out some 16 gauge copper wire and started to make my own version.

It is not nearly as nice as the above link, but to my credit it is handworked.  I don't use a wire tool like a Whirly gig.  But after looking at the first piece I am inspired to get a wire wrapping tool and creating my own wirework designs.  My hands are still screaming at me! 

While looking for some yarn I did find the tatted doily.  Perhaps I will wok on that today!

Copper Watch

Today's project was a copper watch.  I've had the watch a couple years now and finally got around to making it.  At first I wanted to use a combination of copper and green opal beads for the band.   Here is an example of green opal.  Green opal is a kind of Chaledony and reminds me of the green patina of copper.

But in the last order the stones were very dark and I didn't like the way it was turning out so I just went with tiny copper beads.  They were so small it took some time to string them.  The band is 7 inches and has an S-clasp.

Copper beaded watch band.

Watch face

It came out very lovely.  I find stringing beads difficult so I am very happy with the results.

I also took the small beaded purse to the Beverly's craftstore in Santa Maria.  So I finished the challenge.  Now to see if they like it.  Hope everyone gets a chance to make something today.

Another Day Another Project

I've taken on a personal challenge to make something everyday!  A difficult endeavor at the best of times.  So far I've done well on the challenge.  Today I'm posting pictures of a green crystal necklace with copper beads.  The chain was already a necklace.  I just cut the chain and wired in the beads using 20 gauge copper.  The bottom piece is 16 gauge copper wire that I strung with crystal and copper beads and copper bead caps.  Then I wire wrapped the ends onto the chain.  Then curved the wire to round the bottom.  The 16 gauge keeps the shape and makes it rather fun.  The necklace is really beautiful.