LadyGypsy.net – the blog of Kimberly Dowd of New Jersey

aka “Stupid beading tricks with no beads.”

I’ve been in a long dry streak, creativity-wise. I have drawers full of jewelry making components and no idea what to do with them. I get caught up looking at other jewelry for hours, then completely choke and not make any of my own. I don’t know if I think I can’t create anything stylish or attractive or what, but it was really getting me down. I’d put beads and findings together and hate what I came up with

So I decided to put the beads away and stick with wire.

This is a 2×2 chain maille bracelet.

Gold and silver tone 18 gauge rings

I really like how it turned out. I worked on it off and on all day yesterday while I was playing World of Warcraft. And since it’s coated copper, it’s pretty light.

Have I mentioned I bought a ring mandrel? Well, I did. And today I figuredd it was high time I made a ring. So with the help of this rosette ring tutorial I did!

22 gauge antique copper finished wire

It’s pretty, and the sharp bits of wire don’t hurt too much. (Kidding)

Yesterday afternoon I was sitting at my desk, WM and the dogs were passed out in a pile on the sofa, and it was really, really quiet. I was torturing myself with a work-related decision and needed a distraction.

So I pulled out a beading magazine and my stash’o'beads. I altered a pair of earrings for a friend and, inspired by a coil of copper wire and a ceramic focal bead (bought from Michael’s clearance rack), got to work.

Unfortunately the green pearls' holes were too small for my wire to fit through.

And here’s what I ended up with. It matches Ollie, so we’ll call it the Spaniel.

Ceramic focal bead, Swarovski crystals, brown shell beads and cream colored beads salvaged from an old garage sale necklace. With copper wire.

Dig the thoroughly unimpressed canine model.

For every finished piece (see how artsy I am? I’m calling them PIECES now) I show you, there’s one that sits in a plastic baggie of limbo, unfinished. Here’s a few of them.

I love green and pink together, but this one need something to make it not look so … Golden Girls, y’know? Until I figure that out…it stays unfinished. It might end up a chunky bracelet instead.

I bought Wire & Bead Celtic Jewelry and loved this pendant in it. I did the wire wrapping, but I’m afraid to finish it off with the beads. And you’re saying, “I have no idea where those beads’ll go, but certainly the wire work was the hardest part!” I know! It sounds weird, but I’m more content with the promise of now cool this could look than I’m ready to actually see how I finish it.

I need therapy.

This is a double strand bracelet made with spare beads and my handy-dandy silver plate wire. I need to figure out how to make a clasp that’ll connect the two strands. And find a bead / beads that’ll make the two strands the same length.

I also have the makings of a Disney charm necklace made from old solo earrings, some Swarovski crystals and a charm I bought from the airport Disney store when I went to visit Dad in February. All the materials are tucked away in a baggie. But I can’t locate the baggie.