MY FIRST HAND CRAFTED STERLING SILVER LINK CHAIN

I crafted this about a year ago.  I got brave enough to attempt silver.  I thin it came out well.

I really enjoyed making this.  This is a bigger linked chain.  It really easy to make.  Just make a bunch of jump rings and put them together any way you like.  The sterling silver was such a joy to work with compared to that nickel silver.

I found this big lock and key and thought it would go well with my link chain.

Well, that's it for tonight blog update.  I have loads more pics to share with you.  Please be patient.  So till the next time...Many Blessings.

Sincerely,
Mary Helen

Here's where I began adding the links to my desired length.

This necklace has over an ounce of silver in it.
Looks and feels really nice. Well, I'm a happy camper.

Hand Crafted Fluorite Heart pendent

I thought I'd share this pretty fluorite heart shaped pendent I made a while back.  I wish I had a good camera so you can see the greens in the fluorite.  So pretty.  Again it's a link necklace I made using either 14 or 16 gage nickel silver wire. not quite sure, with this picture.  I also used my cultured pearls.  

So I think I am ready to work on sterling silver:)

Be right back:)

My first few hand made link chains

Same tecnique but here I added a wire twisted
amethyst pendant.  

Practice makes perfect.  I used copper and nickel silver to make these links.  Again I used some cultured pearls to spoof it up.  I guess I had a lot of those colored pearls at that time. Remind me to not try to twist 16 gauge nickel silver again.. It's hard on the hands but at least now I know right?

More pictures coming up.  Till then, Many Blessings:)
Sincerely,

Mary Helen

Copper wire link necklace and cultured pearls

Lol This is the Nickel Silver I ws talking about.  Design is not so detailed.  It was hard for me

My first hand crafted link necklace with cultured pearls

Links are made using round nose pliers.  Like algebra, if you do it to one side...
you do it to the other side.

Here is one of the first necklaces I made with links last year. I thought it would be wise to first practice on cheap wire. So I did. I used a brass made for jewelry wire.  I believe it was 18 gauge.  I purchased this wire at Fire Mountain Gems online pretty cheap.  But I'm sure you can find it at your local craft store or Walmart.  I've seen it there.  If you can get the gold.  Go for it!

I made some earrings to match using the same pearls
and wire.  You will see that this pair matches other
 necklaces I made.  Pictures coming up soon.

Once again I did not know where twisting this wire was going to get me as I had no plan.   But I had made enough of these links to make this necklace. I used round nose pliers to do most of the work.  I added cultured pearls.   I ended it with a simple snake like finding. It was pretty easy and it still came out nice.  You like?

I've made some other jewelry made with the same pearls but on brass and copper wires. So these earring match other necklaces as well.

Just thought I would add another post to this blog as it only had one post.  I did get brave enough to work on silver wire and gold filled.  By the way, I used to silversmith about 30 years ago.  I haven't done that in years!  Hmm.  No, I'm not ready for that:)

Well that's it for the moment, so I will not say good night.  However, I will leave you with "Many Blessings".

Sincerely,

Maria Vasquez