This is a UFO I completed last night … I present Twisted Sister! It is made out of Swarovski crystals and pearls (Jet and Ruby) and Argentium sterling silver. It is kinda funky and quirky! This necklace is number 3 in a series of 3. Some of you may recognise the basic structure: Flourish YOJ and my Swaro finalist piece. I made three foundation structures like this in one go.
On a bit of a roll at the moment …
First, I made a handsawn fine silver skull and crossbones pendant on placed it on a black velvet ribbon with sterling silver findings. Then I made a rather organic looking fine silver setting for a genuine, undrilled South Sea pearl from the Cygnet Bay pearl farm in Western Australia. This is on an 18 inch long, 2mm thick sterling silver chain. Both items are available in my online artisan jewellery shop at www.chantelmccabe.artfire.com.
My latest creation …
Available for purchase at www.chantelmccabe.artfire.com
I created these earrings to make you feel like a goddess! Unashamedly decadent yet deliciously demure, featuring quartz, topaz, freshwater pearls and sterling silver.
Light and airy in colour, with the faintest touch of blue in the topaz rondelles together with the tiny seed freshwater pearls, these earrings would also suit a bride.
Details:
Large focal bead and large briolette – quartz
Rondelles – faintly blue topaz
Tiny briolettes – AAA microfaceted topaz briolettes
Seed freshwater pearls
Sterling silver
Crystals:
Topaz releases physical tension, stabilises emotions, increases motivation and confidence and harmonises all layers of subtle energy.
Quartz amplifies the energies of other crystals, amplifies and strengthens the aura, cleanses and shifts energies, releases blocked energies, encourages calm, increases clarity of thoughts, brings spiritual peace.
(Source: The Essential Crystal Book by Simon and Sue Lilly)
I am lagging behind somewhat in my challenge. Roughly calculated, Day 90 is coming up in the next week and I am only at Item 24. Oh well … it has been a busy and interesting year so far.
First up, an amazing tetra bead/pendant. I can safely call it amazing without blowing my own trumpet as it was designed by bead engineer, Dianne Fitzgerald, and I used her pattern in “Shaped Beading”. I’ve included a shot of the making of the amazing tetra bead too. I used 10/0 Delicas instead of 11/0. I’m trying to make a teeny one out of 15/0 TOHOs now.
Next is my first ever attempt at fabric painting: an apron for the lovely Miss Kiely aged 3. I have to confess, I bought the apron readymade with the picture printed on it already. All I had to do was paint between (and often over) the lines. I used fabulous, sparkly Polished Pigments by LuminArte.
(This blog draft managed to get lost somehow and not get published. For a moment, I thought I couldn’t count!)
I’m into making handcrafted silver settings for gems at the moment.
I set a piece of hematite in silver this week but had a fight with some solder paste. Now I prefer pallions! Anyway, end result this pendant is a second and for my private collection. It is pretty and sweet despite its defects.
Next is the ruby and silver July birthstone pendant I made today. The challenge here was to make a handcrafted pedestal prong setting for the faceted ruby. The leaf dangle is Hill Tribe. This piece still needs to be shined up in the tumbler. I intend making genuine birthstone jewellery for all the months.
I made this pendant yesterday using a cold connection method of setting the hematite cabochon between the two layers of sterling silver. Was rather fun to do!
I arrived back home a few days ago after a long 6 week trip to South Africa. I am now lagging behind in my creative challenge but here are some of my new offerings.
First, the amazonite cab I set in fine silver at my goldsmithing lessons in Cape Town.
Next, a glass cab by Anne Dundas of Sydney with a butterfly decal set in silver.
Next, my first experiment with another Anne Dundas cab, this time with a copper backplate and fine silver bezel.
Finally, two of the three identical stretchy bracelets I made at a fun beading class I ran on Monday.
