If you heat copper wire on the gas burner on the stove until it's glowing red, it makes it nice and soft and malleable.
Why did it take me so long to try this?
This one started when I reworked an older piece that I was tired of wearing. By the time I was done, there wasn't one single element of the original necklace that I had kept. Things take on a life of their own.
Garnets and some great brass rings and beads. My little kiln is having temperature issues so I haven't been making any components. Also, it's been too hot to test fire it.
Labradorite eye with copper beads and charms.
Lapis lazuli.
Carnelian.
A chunk of citrine was the inspiration for this one. Faceted horn beads, Beautiful handmade vintage African brass beads, borosilcate, jade, ammonite, ancient quartz, Tibetan mala beads. I really love this one. Hence the number of photos.
Tuareg earrings with no mates are reincarnated.
A request for a copper wire evil eye amulet inspired all kinds of variations. This one with Chinese jade cicadas and citrine nuggets.
This one with amethyst and bronze clay charms.
A bunch of evil eyes with different gemstones - this one green jade.
Red jasper for strength and courage. Little body positive pink ceramic goddesses. Serene Buddhas. Buddha hands and Tibetan copper skulls to invoke the wisdom of the ancestors.
Leather bracelet with Czech glass beads, bronze clay discs, copper and brass.
Jasper and petrified wood. Chinese symbols for longevity.
Artisan lampwork bead. Gorgeous colors. I may need to keep this one.
Years ago when I had some leftover Ice Resin from a pour, I coated a few Lunaria pods. They have tiny bits of Chinese herbal burn medicine instructions collaged onto them and little faceted citrines.
I've had the African hand cast spirals for ages but hadn't known what to do with them.
More simple evil eyes. Labradorite on this one. It's called "The Shaman's Stone" or the stone that "Heals the Healer". I was not attracted to Labradorite when my daughter was first working with it. I took me awhile to appreciate the subtle flashes of blue and purple, but it has become one of my favorite stones. I think it works well with bronze, silver and copper.
Carnelian and horn.
Green Tibetan turquoise.
Time to take a breather and see what to try next. If you haven't visited my Etsy shop, Maggiezees, please check out all the new listings. Shipping is FREE right now to US customers. I'm sorry that I can't extend that offer to Canadian and EU buyers.
5 comments:
I absolutely love all your work it’s so inspirational for me! I hope you don’t mind me asking you, but what type of wires are you using and size!?? I would love to try some wiring but not sure where to start! Your beads and such are fabulous! I do have some lovely African beads and silver I’d love to use! Thank you so much for any help you can offer! Hugs Linda
Thank you for your kind words, Linda.
I use salvaged copper electrical wire for the heavy gauge, but mostly 16 and 18 gauge raw copper from Creating Unkamen on Etsy. It is the best quality I have found, although I'll use the packaged wire from Ace Hardware in a pinch. I use Patina Gel from Cool Tools to get the aged look I like. Bronze wire in 14, 16, 18, and 20 gauge, also from Unkamen and German silver because sterling is so expensive.
Copper is cheap enough that I can allow myself to make all the missteps I need to.
Thanks for asking!
Beautiful! The cord looks like copper colored leather, is that what it is, leather? The Central piece looks like it would be satisfying to fidget with and pretty at the same time. Really pretty.
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Where do you sell you necklaces? Lovely! Thank you
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