Things I learned from sex... basic loops vs. wrapped

Got your attention, didn't it?  LOL, so I made the Labradorite Love necklace last night and forgot to take it off before bed.  Being that my love and I are separating for the holidays to see our families in different regions of the globe, there is some extra love in the air.

So... bada bing!  Ba da boom!  The necklace needs redone, as it was literally in pieces.  Whoops!

Things I've learned:

1. When using the thinnest wire with heavy beads, you want to use the wrapped loop for sturdiness.
2. Use thicker wire when at all possible, because it is easier
3. Making wrapped loops takes longer, but looks great!
4. Be careful with your jewelry if you take the easy way out and use basic loops.

What is the difference between a basic loop and a wrapped loop, you ask?

• A basic loop is formed when you put wire through the hole in a bead, and use the round nose pliers to form a loop at each end.
• A wrapped loop is where you do the same thing, but leave extra wire at the end of the loop.  That extra part gets wrapped around the straight wire coming out of the hole in the bead at the base of the loop.  (Much sturdier, but you can't just connect them together as you please at any moment after making the loops.  They must be connected as you loop the beads, because the wrapping makes it final.)

No pics today, folks!  Really, the necklace looks the same.  The difference?  I can pull on this one at both ends, and it won't come apart.  3rd time IS a charm!

Amethyst wire pendant

This necklace is one I made for a dear friend of mine.  She let it slip that she likes amethyst, so it was easier to come up with stones to suit her.

The shape of the black obsidian stone in my first corkscrew necklace was what inspired this pendant.  In the center is amethyst, and Swarovski crystal beads a friend dropped off to recycle in my jewelry making extravaganza.


Properties of amethyst:

Very protective stone, converting energy into love.  Encourages emotional centering, selflessness and spiritual wisdom.  An excellent stone for mediation.  Enhances memory and improves motivation.   Basically, amethyst rocks!

My son saw this necklace tonight and said it was really cool, and I really like it so I'd say it's a winner.

Wire Wrapping - Take 1

I got a book off Amazon a few weeks ago, and used some of the techniques to make my first wire wrapped jewelry.  The book is called Beautiful wire jewelry for beaders:  Creative wirework projects for all levels by Irina Miech.

My first project is something I decided to make for my boyfriend's mother.  She is such a wonderful woman, and we wanted something special just for her.  I am told it has a Cuban flare, but he could have ben telling me that to make me feel good.  I just hope she likes it!

About the necklace:
I did all the wire work, except the clasp, which I bought.  The big yellow bead is citrine, with malachite (green) above it.  The small beads are fluorite.  It took a while to get them all wired and hooked together, but I got the hang of it and it is finished!  I hadn't decided what to make for earrings, so left those out.  Who knows, maybe I'll be inspired to make something to complete the set.

Twisty wire wrap jewelry (corkscrew bead)

Apache tear obsidian, tourmaline, and
apatite necklace and earrings

I had purchased a book on making wire wrap jewelry, and the book is very cool.  My main issue is that I don't like to follow the directions.  The second pitfall I have is that I buy the supplies first, books second, and don't want to buy new things after that.

So I come across a necklace I just LOVE, but you have to buy these twisty tubules to go between your beads.  I don't have twisty tubules, and I already spent WAAAAY too much on gemstones.

Kunzite, garnet, and rose quartz necklace

Last night, I am not sure what came over me, but I used a little dowel and wrapped my wire around it with my fingers... and wrapped, and wrapped.  Then, I pulled it apart with my pliers and had a really neat looking spiral shaped wire.  Well, the only thing left to do was to connect it to my necklace (which had nothing on it yet) and presto!  change-o!  A beautiful necklace I love.  So beautiful I made two different ones and am finding it very difficult to give either one away this Christmas.

Well, I couldn't just leave out the earrings, could I?  No.  Of course not!!!  I've been looking at more earrings people are wearing, and got some ideas.  This look incorporated a straight beaded earring with the twisty wire concept, and I like them!

They were super simple to make, and I just LOVE the look.

Note: my fingers are still sore from wrapping the wire around the dowel last night.  These were used in place of the curved silver tubes recommended in the book Beautiful wire jewelry for headers: Creative wirework projects for all levels by Irina Miech.  GREAT book, by the way!