Clasps

Choosing a clasp for a piece of jewellery can be one of the most critical decisions an artisan can make. The right clasp will should either add to or compliment a bracelet, anklet or necklace. The wrong clasp can be a disaster.

Some clasps are two gawdy for a delicate piece while others may not match the tones quite right.

A lot of artisans make their own clasps so the final touch is as unique as the entire piece. I'm not quite there yet. I either use the stand-by lobster, toggle or hook clasps but I also like browsing for new takes on the classics.

Today I found the above clasp on etsy.

I love how unique it is yet sturdy and I imagine it would be quite easy to use. This particular artist, Rockis Supplies, has a nice selection that would be the perfect finishing touches for quite a few styles.

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There seems to be no end to the type of ladies' clasps out there. They come in every material, shape and style. I have a hard time finding interesting 'manly' clasps for, say, a stainless steel chainmaille bracelet. I think it would be neat to see 'tougher' images used to craft clasps. Motorcycles, skull and crossbones, barbwire. They certainly wouldn't work for every style but they might be a fun touch in some cases.

Jumpstart

It's been too long since I've written and both my blog and Etsy store have been sadly ignored. In my defense. I've had company. A lot of company. Loud company. Company that doesn't seem to go away. I should just lock myself up with some beads and never come out. So today I am posting on my blog and recommitting to it and my store. There's definitely more to come.

Pig tusk jewellery

When I was chosen for a Sneak Attack a few weeks ago I was also contacted by Pigatopia Studios about making some jewellery made from pig's tusks.

My first thought... interesting! ... and odd!! LOL but definitely interesting. I love the concept of using natural objects in jewellery. I have a good collection of shells and sea glass that I will be using in pieces once I have enough materials.

Of course I was up for the challenge and PS sent me pigtures of the tusks she had as well as a beautiful tusk necklace she had made by an artist who used a wire wrapping technique. Very beautiful.

My mind went in a different direction. Some of the pieces were about an inch around and I thought if I could drill holes in them I could use them as beads in hemp bracelets or necklaces.

That had me wondering how I would get fine holes in these tough pig's tusks. Thankfully my husband is home this week and he brought out his power drill and smallest bits and after a rough start he was able to get the perfect size hole in one of the tusk pieces. Eureka! I was able to easily slide a piece of hemp through the hole. Not too tight. Not too loose.

So far we just have the one piece drilled through but I will be making a plan for each piece over the next day or two and will continue to update this blog for anyone interested in my following the creation of pig tusk jewellery.

Molly is home

I wanted to keep the focus of this blog on creativity and artisans but I am so happy I have to share.

My cat Molly went missing two and a half weeks ago. She's an older, lazy cat that sits on my balcony or the complexes steps during the day. She's social and everyone knows her so we were all shocked when she just disappeared. I searched everywhere, put up notices, went to the SPCA and the city shelter. Nothing. I walked around the neighbourhood calling her. Still nothing.

I never realized how much I enjoyed having her around until she was gone. She's a gentle, easy-going cat. She's wonderfully patient with my toddler and tolerates my rambunctious dog.

In my mind I have been looking for her every moment, even dreaming about her. I knew it was possible that she had met some ill fate but I just didnt' feel like she was really gone.

The SPCA had called before saying they thought they might have found Molly but it was never her. Today I got the call again and said I'd be down to look. I didn't want to get my hopes up since it had never been her in the past.

We went there with little hope and there she was. In the bottom cage. My heart just jumped into my throat and I almost started crying. Fiona, my 21-month-old daughter, stuck her fingers in the cage and pet her and said 'molly molly molly molly.'

We filled out the paperwork and took her home as fast as possible. Fiona was ecstatic. She chased Molly up and down the halls, sobbing when Molly walked away. I'd hold Molly for her and she'd do a little tap dance and try to reach out and hold her. Poor Molly was exhausted and had lost weight so I took Fiona swimming and let Molly catch up on some rest.

When we got home Molly was sleeping peacefully under the kitchen table with her head propped up on Fiona's high chair.

The most surprising thing is that the people who turned her in lived only five blocks away and said she had been wandering around the area for over a week. It boggles my mind that she couldn't find her way home. I guess her internal compass is a little weak.

Mobius flowers - chainmaille

Last year my sister got married and I offered to make the jewellery for her wedding party. One of her best friends was a guy that ended up being a 'bridesmaid' I made pink pearl bracelets for the rest of the bridesmaids but for him I was at a loss.

I searched the net for ideas and finally decided to do a boxchain chainmaille bracelet. It was so much fun and came so naturally. It was almost therapeutic as I wove these little metal links together. No one was nearly as impressed with my work as I was!

From there it started to spiral and I made more and more chainmaille adding a few different patterns here and there. I still consider myself to be an amateur but I really love it and I'm proud of how my work turns out.

A couple days ago I added the "Mobius Flower" pattern to my repetoire. First a pair of earrings and then a bracelet. I think they are just beautiful. It's hard to describe how they look and feel without seeing them in person.

Marilyn Gardiner has some excellent beginner chainmaille projects. She gives a thorough description of each project including pictures.

Chainmaille is so flexible and versatile. You can make a fine, delicate, pure gold necklace for a lady or a stainless steel bracelet for a man. You can use coloured links, and many metal choices. Some people even add rubber rings to give their pieces a bit of strech so no clasp is needed.

I think that many people don't know what chainmaille is all about imagine the armour that was used in the past. There are still people who still enjoy armour... but most of the chainmaille I see is jewellery or fun creations like baskets and candle holders.

You are really only limited by your imagination.

Kanzashi - Japanese hair ornaments

Traditional, beautiful, elaborate hair ornaments from Japan are called Kanzashi. They have been worn since the Edo period and are still seen today during Japanese wedding ceremonies, on traditional Kimono wearers and they are gaining popularity in modern culture.

There are many types of Kanzashi and the style and placement on a Geisha could tell the audience their position in society.

Kanzashi comes in all forms, colours and shapes. They can be long and dangly, short and neat, have fabric, shells, pearls, etc. Imagination is the only limit.

The majority of the Kanzashi I see when I browse Etsy and other sites are made with from fabrics. Usually silk. The creations are folded and glued onto a hair comb or fork. The art is almost like fabric origami.

Hanatsukuri is an Etsy artisan that has a variety of Kanzashi up on her site. Her Kanzashi comes in muted pastels and bold, vibrant colours.

These pieces are definitely eye catching and worth looking into if you want to spice up your hair style or are getting ready for a formal occasion.

The Kanzashi piece that first caught my eye was particularly astounding, both in the colours and form but also the photography.

It was featured in Make Magazine and is a visual delight. I believe, but have not confirmed, it is made by Etsian artist KurokamiKanzashi.


Check out this web page for learning more on Kanzashi.

Inspiration: Alaskan Crafty

Everyone gets inspired in different ways. I love to browse through other people's work. I never copy anyone's creations. I don't think I could if I tried! But I love to get ideas, that merge with other ideas and take a life of their own.

I have a folder in my bookmarks called "Inspiration" with links to works that really impress me. Now and then I'd like to draw attention to some of these pieces as they are very deserving.

Today, I want to show off AlaskanCrafty's Red Satin and Pearls.

This piece made me pause in my continuous browsing and do a double-take. There is something so glamorously bold about the beads she chose. I love the satin, almost velvety, look of those big red beads and then classy pearls strung along next to it. It's just enough colour to really catch your eye but not overwhelm you.

I've shown this piece to three friends since I found it earlier today and they all gushed over it.

I want see more. Maybe in some dusty blue beads ... or black...

Check out more of AlaskanCrafty's creations. You won't be disappointed.

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5641813

Close to my goals!

I made 11 pairs of earrings yesterday which put me very close to my goal of having 50 items in my store by the end of the month.

Exciting!

Tomorrow I will be making some more hemp pieces including at least one necklace.

FREE hemp bracelet

I've decided to give away a free, custom-made hemp bracelet with every purchase over $10 from my etsy store.

The bracelet (or anklet) will be made in natural hemp and you can choose the length, a bead or knot closure and a spiral or square weave. Just send me a note with your purchase!

Personal style

When I was fresh out of high school I spent my days, and as many nights as possible, working at a horse stables. Horse crazy was an understatement.

Most days I would dress in lace-up "Ropers," Wrangles and a tank top. lol I wasn't too concerned about style. But one day some of my friends and I decided we would dye our hair. I chose the boldest red they had. Being a blonde my hair sucked up all the dye and within hours my locks were a cartoon, cherry red. Amused, I decided to paint each of my fingernails a different colour and see how my colleagues and clients reacted at work the next day.

They were surprised of course but no one was as surprised as my Gramma who came out to visit me at work that day and asked my mom "Who's the new girl!?" For years after she'd laugh and tell the story of how she didn't even recognize her own granddaughter.

I've always considered myself to be very flexible with my 'style.' So flexible that I couldn't define it from one day to the next. Some days I'd be in my 'cowgirl' clothes. Other days I'd clean up, put foam rollers in my hair and wear a silk scarf around my neck. (Not to work at the stables of course.) Sometimes I'd be in bold colours, other days neutrals and classics.

It wasn't until I started to make jewellery that I really began to evaluate what my 'style' is. I found that my pieces were always 'clean' looking with a little special something. Some of my favourite pieces are single strand necklaces and even, smooth, high-quality beads.

That doesn't mean I won't make a 10-strand necklace with fuchsia and lime green at some point. Or possibly taking relics I find at the thrift store and creating something new and amazing. It just means that my style leans towards simple and elegant.

This was all reaffirmed to me when I was browsing a high-end jewellery store in the mall and the sales clerk looked me up and down, and studied the rings I was asking to look at. "Your style is 'classy elegance'" she said. Ahhh. That hit home. Sure there are many days that I don't get out of my pjs but in my heart 'classy elegance' defintely suits me. It can be reflected in many of the jewellery pieces I make as well as my own sense of style - even if that's only visible in my head!

FREE hemp bracelet + free shipping

Tonight on Etsy I'm giving away a hemp bracelet with every purchase as well as offering free shipping on all items.

If you take advantage of this sale please specify what length you want your bracelet to be. 7" in average for women and 8" for men. I will also make them with or without beads. I'm not able to offer special colour choices for this sale. Both the beads and hemp will be in neutral colours.

I am able to do custom colours for both beads and hemp if you want to make a separate purchase of a hemp bracelet, necklace or anklet.



Check out my etsy store for more info and products that are for sale. http://jewelsoftheisle.etsy.com

This sale starts at 5:00 pm eastern time (2 p.m. pacific). Please put SNS (saturday night sale) in the details box.

Goals

My mind is buzzing. I'm motivated. Especially after the Sneak Attack.

What I need it goals and I'm laying it all out here.

It's March 13 and I currently have 20 items for sale in my store.

I'd like to have 50, yes 50, items in my store by the end of the month. :o

Those items will include new gemstone, chainmail and hemp creations.

I'd also like to get ONE follower to my blog. That could be YOU.

AND I'd like five more 'hearts' for my etsy store. Currently I have eight hearts so I need a total of 13 by the end of March.

We're on our way... :D

Sneak attack

The last couple of days have been a whirlwind of activity for me and my store.

We just got up and running less then two weeks ago and things were slow... ok. Dead. I hadn't been on my store much as I was working on new items to add so I was very surprised when I logged on last night to find I had sold 10 items in a matter of hours.

Thoroughly shocked I messaged a fellow Etsy user ( http://hannahshands.etsy.com ) to tell her the news and she quickly figured out that I had been cchosen for a "Sneak Attack."

I'm new to the etsy forums and chat and didn't even realize what a Sneak Attack was. Three times a week a store is chosen and members 'attack' it by buying items and boosting their sales. I was one of those lucky ones and I'm so honoured that the powers that be felt that I was worthy.

Now, I'm busy packaging and labelling items, getting ready for the post office tomorrow.

Thanks everyone who participated! Especially www.blockheadradio.com for sponsoring the Sneak Attack.