Freeform Wire Cuff, Redux

I don't often repeat my designs, but yesterday I created one of my most popular bracelets, a freeform wire cuff I first made last year.

I have had several requests to repeat this design, but put it off because I like my pieces to be one of a kind, and also because I didn't think I would be able to collect the same assortment of beads that I used the first time.

But in the process of hunting for something else, I came upon leftover aquamarine rondelles from the initial bracelet - I had squirreled them away in a "safe place", and promptly forgot where they were, and after a few months, forgot that I had them at all. I hate that! Anyone else lose stuff to safe places, all the time?

Here is the fruit of yesterday's labors:

freeform wire cuff, 2013

This bracelet was made entirely from bead soup - no strands of beads were cut, no tubes of seed beads were breached - all of these beads were stashed away; it just took several hours to hunt through all my various hiding places!

Some of the beads I used include: freshwater pearls in various colors, shapes, and sizes - pink, champagne, white, and peacock blue; round, potato, top-drilled, button, and some really cool peacock cornflake pearls; aquamarine rondelles (some faceted, some not) and chips; Czech firepolish beads in 3 different colors; Swarovski crystals in 3 colors, and size 8/0, 11/0, and 6/0 glass seed beads in 3 colors.

The base of the bracelet is copper-plated steel, and I wrapped it with Vintaj Natural brass wire. It will fit size 6 to 7, and is very comfortable (it will actually fit up to a 7-1/4). The cuff base (being steel) is quite rigid, so it can't be further shaped to conform to the wearer's wrist.

More pics, from different angles:

I've added it to my Etsy shop - if this one appeals to you, don't delay! SOLD!

Beads on a Wire

These earrings were so much fun to make - the trick was to get the wire the right length so that the beads were counterbalanced, so the wire moves like a pendulum!

I started with about a 6 inch length of square sterling silver wire. I twisted it with my pin vise, then bent it (I actually did each step side-by-side, if you will, for each earring, so that they would match as closely as possible). I put the gorgeous, handmade, raku-inspired lampwork beads on one end, and formed a loop to hold them. A Bali-style spacer went on the other end. Initially, I had left this end a little too long, and the earrings didn't hang correctly, so I shortened it, and got lucky the second time.

I love the way they swing when worn!

Zombie Projects

Zombie Projects? Oh, yeah, they're zombies alright. I have a huge box (OK - more than one box), full of zombies, and I'm betting you have some zombies, too! Especially if you are a beadweaver....

Zombie Projects? Remember that shiny new project you couldn't wait to start? Literally, couldn't wait ... so you put away the project you were currently working on, and started the new one, and then another one, and another one - how many unfinished projects do you have lying around?

Just over a year ago, I actually went through all my unfinished projects and made a list. My iPad was brand spanking new out of the box, and I had downloaded a nifty organizational application that was going to let me list all my projects, and give them deadlines (if I wanted to).... ooh, I had a PLAN. I was getting organized! The solution to all my problems! When my list of unfinished jewelry projects grew to 20, I reorganized my list into subgroups: Wire, Chainmaille, Beadweaving, and Cold Connections - and when I passed one hundred unfinished projects, I gave up! And I still have NOT touched a single one of them. Just organizing my Zombie Projects became a Zombie Project! Ooooh ... irony.

At the very end of last year, I re-dedicated myself to blogging, and I have to admit, blogging about my work has made me much more productive. So last night, I decided to start a new feature (in addition to the wildly popular "Wednesday Worktable" ... wait while applause dies down...)

Zombie Project of the Week! My goal is to revive at least one Zombie project every week, and either finish it, or take it apart and get rid of it.

Of course, at the rate I'm going - I probably still create 2 or 3 zombies a week, and if I only revive one per week, I am still digging myself a big old Zombie hole, but we'll work on one thing at a time -

And in the spirit of Zombies and Blogging, the first Zombie I'll be fighting next week is ..... the first one I found a blog post about when I looked back through all my posts this morning:

The iolite fringe necklace.  Jeez - a 2008 Zombie. Such a pretty almost-necklace! Stay tuned for details!