Karen Landis » Necklaces

Thank you, JewelryLessons.com Judges!

Karen — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 01:52:10 +0000

I entered the Bride’s Pleasure MOJO contest at Jewelry Lessons. My For the Non-traditional Bride won the “E” (for experienced) category. What a pleasant and unexpected surprise! This was my second MOJO. The first time I jumped in was back in March.

The contest involved making a piece for a bride and her bridesmaid using at least one tutorial available on the site. I chose flowers as my theme. I decided I wanted to work in copper and do some metalsmithing. I would have loved to use silver but I wanted to make a statement piece. The bride I was designing for may not be demure but she is thrifty.

I searched the site and found the following tutorials:
Lucy Fun’s http://www.jewelrylessons.com/tutorial/soldered-copper-blossom-earrings
Doxallo’s http://www.jewelrylessons.com/tutorial/flower-power
Chloe_s_Mom’s http://www.jewelrylessons.com/tutorial/calla-lily-pendant-tutorial
Annemade’s http://www.jewelrylessons.com/tutorial/flower-bud-earrings

I sketched an asymmetrical design and made 32 flowers to use between the bride and bridesmaid. As you can see, the bride ended up with the bulk of those.

This is the largest piece of jewelry I have attempted to make. To be honest, I was not sure I could finish it in time.

Deadlines are a wonderful motivator though. I pushed through and got it done. The necklace and earrings are done in copper with freshwater pearl accents. I oxidized the pieces using liver of sulfur and hand polished them with fine steel wool.

If you like making jewelry, why not try entering a MOJO? This month, the challenge is to design a piece of jewelry for a man. I’ll admit it, I had a hard time coming up with an idea for this one. But the best thing about the MOJOs are the mental (and technical) stretches you are asked to do. As I posted earlier, I entered my 30 Days of Creativity – Day 22 piece in the latest challenge. I can’t wait to see what everyone else made!

30 Days of Creativity – Day 24

Karen — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 02:23:19 +0000

Tonight I finally used some of the leather I was trying to weave on Day 22. I wire wrapped a large Swarovski crystal and a blue kyanite stick with sterling silver wire. Both are suspended from a leather cord with a sterling silver clasp.

30 Days of Creativity – Day 19

Karen — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 05:05:12 +0000

It’s the weekend so I decided to try something a bit more complicated. For today’s 30 Days of Creativity piece, I made a dapped dome and soldered it to a sterling silver disc. It needed something so I suspended an oval link forged from a piece of sterling silver wire.

Still not happy. I soldered a ring to a piece of sterling tube to hang the pieces from. The dichro glass is the repurposed half of a pair of old earrings.

All the parts were attached with jump rings I cut using my new Koil Kutter purchased direct from Dave Arens. What a fabulous tool!

The other earring was incorporated in to the pendant in this post.

I added a diamond cut curb chain with a spring ring clasp. As usual, the piece was oxidized and buffed to bring up some highlights.

I think I may do a series of these pendants. My Pinterest board for this 30 days is filling up. 10 more days to go!

30 Days of Creativity – Day 16

Karen — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 15:10:34 +0000

Here’s then necklace I promised on day 15.

I started it a couple of days ago but it wasn’t working. I added some forged oval links and a jasper pendant I bezel set. I wire wrapped different shapes of chalcedony and smoky quartz to frame the pendant. Added a lobster clasp and chain to make it a bit adjustable.

30 Days of Creativity – Day 12

Karen — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 16:10:31 +0000

I think this stone is a jasper but I’m not sure. I bezel set it in copper and suspended it from wire wrapped smoky quartz cubes with a few amazonite accents. This necklace was made this out of materials that have been sitting around for a long, long time. I think I bought the cabochon more than 10 years ago at a rock show! I’m glad it finally has a home.

30 Days of Creativity – Day 8

Karen — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 05:02:08 +0000

Today’s 30 Days of Creativity project started with yesterday’s earrings. I had a couple of the hammered rings I made leftover. I originally planned to make this really nifty bracelet. It didn’t work. I couldn’t figure out how to make that big crackle agate coin bead lay attractively on a wrist.

Decided to turn it in to a necklace. The Australian opal and crackle agate compliment each other nicely. Finished it off with a sterling clasp on a leather cord.

Took my poor limping dog, Jackson, to the vet this afternoon. He somehow severely jammed his nail. It’s now thoroughly treated and wrapped. And he’s enjoying his pain pills.

He’s dozing now. I wonder if dog pain pills affect their dreams?

30 Days of Creativity – Day 6

Karen — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 04:31:19 +0000

Wow! Just realized this means I’m 1/5 of the way through. Tonight I used up my last (at least I think it’s the last one) of my golden stawberry quartz briolettes. I wire wrapped it and suspended it from a small circle link.

I added a diamond cut chain with two carnelian round beads on either side of a spring ring clasp. I oxidized the piece and buffed it to a satin finish with steel wool. I’m happy with this necklace.

It’s simple but such a pretty piece of quartz. The clean design brings the focus on the briolette which is where it should be.

I didn’t have a lot of time today to make something. My dog hurt his foot yesterday and has been limping today. I cleaned it out and have been keeping an eye on him. If he’s still limping tomorrow, we may be making a trip to the vet. I just want to make sure he didn’t break a bone or has an infection.

Poor Jackson!