More chainmaille fun!

Some more fun with Chainmaille!! This is a bracelet with a copper ring in the middle joined by sterling silver rings and 14K Gold-filled. It took FOREVER for me to make (about 1 hour per "flower".) The more I worked the easier it became!

Posting on Etsy

Just posted some copper pieces on Etsy. It was really fun making them! Now, just figure out to to get more shoppers to come by..... hmmmmmm.....

My first chainmail pieces!

How exciting! I was finally able to make some pieces with the jump rings I made the other day. I really enjoyed doing this, and can't wait to start putting some more things together and seeing how people like them!

This is the bracelet I made for my Mom. It's 4mm copper jump rings and 4mm brass jump rings. Turned out better than I thought it would!!

A piece of copper with my son's name stamped on it. Yeah, stamping is another story for another day, but it is my first stab at stamping metal as well. I will have to work a little harder on it. It's very difficult to stamp evenly.

This is a copper chain I made with 4mm double copper jump rings and a "v" of jump rings that I added some tourmaline to. It turned out really good! I wish I had somewhere to wear it to!!

Foredom Flex Shaft Fun

I really want to start making chainmail. It looks so beautiful! My Mom wants a bracelet that honors my son, and plans to wear it until he returns from Afganistan. I thought chainmail would be the perfect thing to make her! So another purchase - another expensive purchase, but again, I hope to get my return someday :). When I got my pepe jump ring maker in the mail I was so excited. I got the one that came with the foredom flex shaft. The instructions said to take apart the flex shaft and re-assemble it, so I did. I set everything up and turned the drill on, but the saw wouldn't cut the rings. BUMMER! It took two days, and some wonderful people from Etsy (especially http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheSpeeceCollection). As it turns out, when I had reassembled the thing WRONG -- Well, after all was done, I had JUMP RINGS!!! WOO HOO!

This is the saw, ready to cut the jump rings.

The is the pepe jump ring maker. A coil is complete on the rod.

Some coils ready to be cut.

Copper and Brass jump rings complete and ready to use!

All in all, once I got it figured out, it only took about 10 minutes to make about 500 jump rings! Amazing, and a huge cost saver! I look forward to start the chain mail. Comments and hints/tips/suggestions are welcome!

Disc Cutter Fun!!

I finally got my Disc Cutter in!! I ordered copper sheets along with it, so I could practice using it (Sterling Silver sheets are SOOOO expensive!). The shavings on the cutter is called Bur-Lite, which is supposed to keep the punches ability to cut cleanly. Along with the disc cutter I ordered the center-positioning die set, the red pad in the picture, a hole punch (to punch a 1mm hole in the finished product so I can incorporate it into my jewelry), a pair of wire sheers (to cut the copper sheet), bur-lite and a brass 1lb hammer. I'm thinking I should have also ordered some files, but will try to use what I have. The cuts are clean and sharp. It took only a couple of hits with hammer to cut the disc! Quite easy to do, and I the ideas how I could use these are bombarding my brain!! It was a quite expensive order, so I hope it pays for itself in the long run.

Below are images of my first washers and circles (I'm sure there's another name for it). As you can see, one of the washers is WAY off center, so I will have to work on getting the hang of the positioning die. Hopefully soon, I will post some pictures of some jewelry using my awesome new tool!!

Shopping for Jewelry Supplies

Can't wait for my cutter to come in!!! I ordered it from Rio Grande, and am so excited to use it to start making more designs!! It's so fun shopping for jewelry supplies, just wish it was easy to sell the finished pieces. I know eventually I'll get the hang of it, but it is just so hard to do!! I could go for online and shop for hours and hours on supplies, beads, tools, gems, wires and more. It's so quick to buy up the stuff, then when it comes in, it takes forever to put away, and find a place for it. Then looking at everything it can be overwhelming to decide where to start. The ideas just float around in my head. Then taking the pictures of the finished piece of art.... not too bad. But then cropping pictures etc, it getting easier. Then posting online, and waiting for that person looking for the item you just posted, because when they see it, they just feel like it is them. That they have to have it. Well... that was a bit of a ramble. But good to get out.

We're all supposed to blog!

I've been reading and researching on how to bring people into my store. It is really hard out there! The online world seems even bigger than the real world!! One persons suggests to stay active on your blog. But since my blog is dedicated to my jewelry, just how much can you talk about jewelry? Wouldn't that get boring... I would think so.

So, I guess we're all supposed to blog to keep people interested, and hopefully that right person will find your site and spread the word.

No resolutions!

I didn't make any new years resolutions, because that would be just setting myself up for failure. Sure there are plenty of things I would like to change about myself, but I wouldn't even know where to start. I haven't quite gotten that special feeling that someone gets when they actually reach a turning point in their life, and know they are ready, or will soon, make a life change. Nah, I like my life for the most part. I love my kids. Love making my jewelry. Have become a Dexter addict (just what is it about that guy?). Work my regular job. I enjoy that for the most part too. So not too many complaints right this second... maybe in a few minutes I will have some complaints.