More Gemstone Rings

As promised, I'm back on topic today. Here is the new ring design I debuted yesterday, in three new gemstone options - iolite, prehnite, and labradorite. Yum!




I really like how these have turned out. They are simple and modern, with nice splashes of color. I've already decided to keep a labradorite one for myself.

I've also been working on some custom orders, which I will photograph and post tomorrow in case you are interested!

Gadgety Goodness

I must be in a serious shopping mood today. Usually gadgets and gizmos don't excite me too much; I try to keep things simple and only buy what I need, but this particular product does seem very useful to me, and since I know you all love cupcakes too, I'm thinking you might also be interested.

It's a cupcake courier - it carries up to 36 cupcakes to parties, picnics, or wherever. I know whenever I make cupcakes I am always at a loss as to how to transport them. None of my serving platters or plastic containers works well and they always end up getting smooshed or having their frosting smeared.

I might just have to splurge and buy one, if I can make cupboard space for it. Okay, time to get back to jewelry making, really!!!

Today's Diversion

Oh, this is so far off from what I usually post about, it's not even funny... but I need shopping help! Thanks to the Vegan Fashion Blog, I have discovered http://www.shoes.com/, and since I recently bought a nice new pair of running shoes, which I have vowed to only wear for running, I really want some casual shoes for Fall that will go with jeans. The problem is, I've found too many options! Please help me decide...

(By the way, this website has a cool feature where you can tell it to show only vegetarian shoes, although I could only find that option in the Womens section, not the Kids, and I did find something listed as vegetarian with suede in the description... still, a nice feature!)

Above - Merrell Women's Primo Hemp, $69.99 (hemp - yay!)

Above - Simple Women's Sugar Jute, $49.99 (best price and I love the color)

Above - Earth Logan, $84.99... pretty pricey but I do love them.

Of course, while I was supposedly looking for casual shoes for me, I also found these fabulous metallic dressy shoes that remind me so much of my Nana (grandma), who was quite fashion conscious and a very spiffy dresser. I want them too!

Above - LifeStride Women's Jan #2, $42.99 - but then I'd have to buy an outfit to wear them with. :-)

And Carlos needs some new shoes too - I want to go with velcro for ease of use, but these Chuck Taylors are irresistable! He has a pair of high-tops like these that are pretty hard to get on and off, but I think these low-tops would probably be quite a bit easier.

Converse Kids' All Star Ox Toddler, $21.99

Ruby Ring & More Bali Beads

I got a lot of positive feedback on this iolite ring when I first posted about it, and while I was happy with the look of it, I was worried that the wire wasn't securely wrapped enough.

After some playing around, I came up with this alternate design, which I like even more, and which is a lot more secure.

This version is rubies with sterling silver, and I'm planning to make labradorite, iolite, and prehnite versions as well... and I might even try it with spinel. I'll post more pictures after they are done. For now, the ruby version is for sale in my jewelry shop, with more to come in a few days after I get caught up on a slew of custom orders...

It's funny how some things grow on you over time and some don't - when I made the first version of this ring (in prehnite, one of my favorite stones), it just wasn't wowing me, and I wasn't ready to offer it for sale, so I gave it to my mom. Well, she wore it all weekend while we were out of town together and somehow, seeing it on someone's finger day in and day out made me really like it more - isn't that odd?

I also got a few new styles of Bali beads in, which I'll be listing in my bead shop soon - here's a sneak peek:

More Square Cabochons!

I've been working on finding some new suppliers of different varieties of square cabochons (as mentioned in this previous post), and a shipment just arrived from a new source. I'm very happy with them!

Top to bottom: pink opal, turquoise, denim lapis, rhodochrosite, and Peruvian blue opal

Rhodochrosite - close-up

Peruvian blue opal - close-up (can't wait to wrap these, they are SO pretty!!!)

Let me know if you're interested in commissioning a custom ring from any of these cabochons.

I'm back...

We got back from our trip yesterday, exhausted and so glad to be home! Traveling with an almost-two-year-old is no picnic, let me tell you. Carlos was really pretty good, but it's just a tough age for traveling. I've decided I'm not going anywhere else for a looooooong time. We had a lot of fun hanging out with Grandma Jeri, Grandpa Joe, Uncle Shelby, and cousin Calvyn though, and Carlos especially enjoyed swimming in the hotel pool.

Carlos & Papa at Knotts Berry Farm

Carlos & Grandma at Knotts (nothing spectacular about the picture itself but I wanted to show off Carlos' 'Pigs are friends, not food' t-shirt)

Carlos & Papa in the pool

Carlos and the object of his undying affection (obsession???) - cousin Calvyn

Matt and I managed to sneak away for a half day and tour the Queen Mary in Long Beach.

Free Jewelry Making Tutorial #2: 'Rosette' Wire Wrapped Ring

Well, it's been a while since I posted my first free tutorial, and I thought now would be a good time to post another. This super-simple ring is the perfect starting point for learning to make all kinds of more elaborate wire wrapped rings. After you've perfected this one, start experimenting with variations - different metals, adding beads and stones, etc. - and show me what you come up with!

(Sorry for the somewhat blurry photos; the weather was icky this morning so I photographed inside, and they did not turn out well.)

 

You will need:

• flat-nosed pliers
• wire cutters
• 12" of 22-gauge dead-soft sterling silver wire (or more for an extra large sized ring)
• a ring mandrel, or if you don't have one, something that is round and finger-sized, like maybe a wooden dowel or a fat pen 

 

1. Cut a 12" length of wire from your spool.

2. Position the wire on your ring mandrel at about 1/2 to 3/4 of a size larger than what you would like your finished ring to be.

3. Wrap the wire around the mandrel three times, ending with roughly equal lengths of wire sticking out to either side.

4. Cross the wires, keeping tension on the wire to keep all three loops tight against the mandrel.

5. Begin to wrap the wires in a circular direction. Don't twist them; just guide them around the center of the rosette in a circular manner.

6. Continue wrapping until you are happy with the look of the rosette, or until you have 1 to 1-1/2 inches of wire left on each end.

7. Wrap each wire around the ring shank several times.

8. Trim the ends of the wire close to the ring band.

9. Using your flat-nosed pliers, gently press the ends down flat against the band.

10. Slide the finished ring back down onto the ring mandrel as far as it will go to make sure it is as round as possible, and to help even out the three wires that make up the band in case they got a little uneven during the process.

You can either leave the ring shiny, or oxidize and polish it to bring out the details. I hope you enjoyed this tutorial; please let me know if anything is unclear and I'll do my best to clarify!