I love this pattern!!!

Finished Necklace

Ta da!!! This is the finished necklace!!! I am very pleased with it!

I am now thinking about making a shorter version...after I take a little break. The necklace is beautiful but the beads are too tiny for my tired eyes.

Melanie Potter's Swinging Starlets Necklace

I wanted to share my work in progress on this beautiful necklace. This necklace was designed by Melanie Potter and the instructions can be found in the July 2010 issue of Beadwork magazine but you can also purchase the kit and instructions from School of Beadwork.

The necklace is not finished yet. I ran out of the drop beads so I am impatiently waiting for my new order so I can make the tassel and bezel a few more crystals. I will post the finished piece when I am done. Luckily my order shipped today so it should arrive next week!!!

Right Angle Bracelet

I haven't posted in a while...so here is a right angle weave bracelet that I will demo how to make. It's made of glass pearls, seed beads and crystals.

I am thinking of making the matching necklace and earring set too but that won't be part of the demo...I will share if I get to make them on time for Saturday!

Hinges on the box

I am so glad I have the hinges on now!  There is only one class left so I wanted to make sure I can finish the box.

 

On the previous session, I filed  one edge of the lid and box in a 45 degree angle leaving just a small piece flat.  This is where the hinge will rest.   I also created the hinge components by cutting brass tubing and filing the edges in a slight angle.  The hinge I made had 5 pieces.

 

Last night, I started by soldering the hinge to the bottom part of the box.   First, I wrapped the box with bailing wire to keep the box together and  placed it on top of a kiln brick.   Then, I placed the 5 hinge components into a steel wire between the lid and box where I had made the 45 degree angle.  I placed flux on the box next to the tubing I wanted to solder (first, third and fifth) and added a tiny piece of easy solder.   I warmed up the box first by pointing the flame away from the box and slowly brought it to a vertical position when the flux was clear.  When the solder melted I used a pick to  spread  it beneath the hinge.

 

Once that side was completed, I cooled the box and cleaned the lid with a knife.  I only cleaned the portion that I wanted to solder (sections 2 and 4).  I replaced the hinges that were not soldered to the bottom with clean ones and assembled the box again (wrapped the box with bailing wire and put the hinge back together with the new pieces).  I applied flux and easy solder to the lid next to hinge sections 2 and 4 and proceeded to soldered the pieces.  This time I pointed the flame to the  part of the lid that was resting on the brick and got it closer to the top of the box.  One the flux was clear, I directed the flame to the solder and spread it with  a pick.

 

After cooling the box, I took the pieces apart and put it in the pickle pot.  I am so relieved that it worked! 

 

The final step is to attach the clasp but that will have to wait until next week.

 

 

Jewelry class- hinge installed!

Jewelry class - part 5

Tonight I filed the excess brass sheet from the top, polished the sides and cut the box in half.. I only broke one blade so this is progress! I learned how to use a flex shaft to clean the inside of the box.