Saint Salvage

I pinned this very interesting looking wire wrapped sea glass caged pendant on Pinterest a little while ago, but I was asked recently how "I made it". I didn't make it, and never said I did. But, I'm curious, and I do want to make it. Since I'm living out of a hotel right now, with a minimal amount of supplies, I couldn't whip one up.... I decided to do a little research.  I found this  tutorial for a wire wrapped Prong Setting , and I generated this two part sketch on how to do the pendant above. I'll just have to tackle it when I get back home to my supplies. Yes.... I drew this, and then scanned it.

Giveaway: WireLuxe is the latest product in the world of wire jewelry. Supple yet sturdy, this luxury knit wire holds its shape while remaining soft and light. If wire jewelry makes you think of rigid, structured pieces that lack movement and softness, then you have yet to experience the beauty and brilliance that is WireLuxe. The latest product from Alacarte Clasps & WireLace, WireLuxe is a luxury, metallic knit wire product designed with a striated, open weave center and two tightly knit edges on either side. This innovative combination of tight knit and loose, open weave wire provides a controlled pliancy as yet perhaps unseen in the world of knit wire jewelry products. To enter the giveaway, click: HERE

I have been trolling through the different Michaels store, because they've been having lots of clearance specials. I found a big box of beach glass:       I also found these five copper tear drop shaped copper cages that were wrapped with copper wire:  I decided to fill the wire-wrapped drops with the beach glass. I got my trusty pliers, and moved the wire aside to insert the tiny pieces of the glass.   Here's a close up in outdoor light. The colors look really cool in the light.     Another close-up:   I attached the chain of the sea glass cages to a broken necklace with the black beads and the brass elongated pumpkin beads.   From the front. What do you think?    

I bought an issue of  Wirework Magazine  at the local  Books a Million Bookstore , and I found it to be loaded with lots of ideas. Oh, what to make???? I settled upon making my version of the Helios pendant, which was designed by Deborah L. Gray-Wurz . Her project is on pages 36 - 39 of the issue, is you want to follow this step by step. I decided to use 20 gauge brown wire and 26 gauge non-tarnish wrapping wire. The chain was a bulk oval link chain I bought at the local Michaels Craft Store . The accent "donut" shaped stone was also from Michaels, from the Bead Landing Collection, and on sale for $2.99 for a strung set of 4. The dangles.... the crystals were from an orphaned clip on earring. The tiny turquoise clusters above the yellow drops were from broken earrings. The center dangle and the yellow drops were from broken earrings, too. It took me about 2 hours to do this project.... Not too bad. Oh, yes.... the extender chai...

The starting point for this upcycle makeover is an oatmeal colored triple strand necklace. It was from the "Mad Men" area, but blah....         So, I took a pair of scissors to it. Snip, snip, snip!   The beads have now been freed from their oh-so-blah beige environment.   I had plenty of beads left from my first Crochet Wire and Bead Necklace , so these are going into the mix... a box of beads that were a mix of yellows, oranges and metallics.   I also had this elastic beaded bracelet to chop up.   I had plenty of copper wire (26 gauge) left over from that other crochet project, so I didn't have any extra cost for this project. I used the same single crochet technique that Rose taught me in the class I took at Mays Landing, NJ Michaels store. I made a total of five strands, but I left them loose, for a lot of movement. The five wires got attached in the back, and I left the original faux pearl c...

I took a wire crochet necklace making class last night (Oct 08), for two hours, at the Michaels Store in Mays Landing, NJ . My instructor was  Rose. It was great! She had a lot of patience! I highly recommend taking a class every now and then to get inspired and learn new skills. I bought copper wire; 26 gauge, a box of beads that were a mix of yellows, oranges and metallics, and a toggle closure kit. Then, I learned wire crochet for the very first time. The first strand took the longest. It has about 35 beads on it. Then, I made 2 more strands, single crochet. I twisted the first two strands together and then the third one around the others. Lastly, last night, I wrapped the toggle ends to the end of each end of the rope. We took a photo on a display bust. My instructor, Rose took a photo of me last night. I am proud of my new creation! Today, I finished it by making a charm on the loop end of the toggle. I had a an orphan...