Saturday, December 10, 2011

Here's What I Made...

 I've been busily making things in the background.  I try to squeeze in a few projects everyday.  The other day I made some bronze pieces for my own jewelry.  I've also been wire-wrapping like crazy.  There's something calming about the repetitive motions and I'm a smitten-kitten with the end results.

Above is a new owl pendant that I created.  It's really simple and almost a "primitive caricature".  It has a nice weight and shape to it... kind of like a worry stone.  I put it on a long chain in this necklace and paired it with some Czech glass, Swarovski crystals and pearls.

These earrings are really simple as well, but I love the way the little bronze pendants twinkle in the light as they are being worn.  It almost looks like the birds are ruffling their feathers in their floral perches.  The pendants are matched with some Czech glass and some copper earwires.

 This necklace didn't start out like this.  Originally, I had this huge cascade of rough amber with these dangle-embellished bits of chain hanging off of it.  But I wasn't quite sure about it.  It looked too busy and too disparate.  So, I took the necklace apart and this piece resulted.  I used the chunky amber components in another piece.  In this one, I decided to highlight the fringe-like embellished chain and use a ceramic focal bead by Keith O'Connor.  It matches the orangey coral bits perfectly.
 
 I added little bits of blue to this bracelet.  In the picture, it's hard to see them, but they're there.  And I think the provide a nice contrast to the metallic cranberry color.  The link is of a bird with a heart on its chest.  I'm considering filling the heart in with a bit of colored resin or enamel. We'll see.  I sort of like it without the extra dot of color.

 I was inspired by an ancient Roman pattern when I made the bronze pendants for these earrings.  It's like a stylized wheel or flower or sunburst.  I quite like it!   I used purple crystals in these earrings to add a little pop and contrast to the bronze components.

The last piece that I'm going to share in this post has a tree pendant that I made out of bronze.  It's layered on copper filigree and paired with what I was told was fossilized dinosaur bone cylindrical tube beads.  I created a long wire-wrapped chain out of the beads.  I'm quite pleased with the result and have been digging out all my cylinder beads to make more necklaces like this.

11 comments:

Courtney Breul said...

I love your owl! And those earrings, wonderful!

SueBeads said...

Beautiful pieces Andrew! Hope all is well and everything is going well with the shop!

Brenda Salzano said...

Love the bronze owls!! I just have to do some metal work this coming new year!

Cynthia Thornton said...

Love all the new bronze coins! They look very ancient. Nice wire work. Dang, you've been productive. I need to get to work!

adlinah said...

Coming out of lurkdom just to say how beautiful each item is. The bronze pendants and charms are stunning.

Lori Bowring Michaud said...

Beautiful Andrew! I especially love the last necklace, the tree is very special!

Beetique said...

I love them all but the last necklace is the one I like the most.

Marie Cramp said...

Andrew! These are all Outstanding!! I think my favorite is that stunning tree! The filigree piece in the background struck me! Absolutely incredible!!

Rhonda said...

All absolutely gorgeous! My faves are the bracelet and tree/cylinder necklace (you guys do lovely trees!). Keep up that creative flow!

Gaea said...

These are all spectacular! The warm bronze is just so earthy and lovely!

horimarika said...

So great pieces! Love them all. But this last tree is my favourite...