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

Twisted Wire Necklace

I made this twisted wire necklace having nothing better to do than twist some copper wire that day.
 I'm glad I did because then I went on to make the gold necklace below using a thinner wire.

Here is a pic of the gold colored brass wire.  I used an 18 gauge here.  See the difference in links.  A lot more work involved here, but so worth it.

Here is an easy wire necklace I made that I thought i'd share with you via pictures.  I had ordered copper wire online from one of my favorite jewelry store to do some wirewrapping.  However, I realized the size was wrong, and thee wire was aluminum bathed in copper.  My bad.  However being aluminum, Is was able to twist it without much effort.  Anyway, here goes the tutorial.  The pictures say it all.

I used a 14 gauge aluminum bathed copper wire.  I must warn you it scratches easily.  My tools were  wire
cutters and round nose pliers. I cut several strips into 7 inch pieces.

1.  I twisted each end equal leaving a 2 1/2 inch straight wire.  2.  I then bent the wire  in half  as in bottom left picture.
3.  Bend the wire again like bottom right picture                    

 After you make enough you can start linking them together like the pictures below.  

Notice I didn't tell you how many links to make.  Reason one, is you can also use an eighteen gauge wire and it would take many more of these links to create your necklace.  Secondly, your neck size is different and you might like it a little shorter or longer.  I made some really nice earrings using three links.  I also made a matching ring that came out really nice.  I was about to make the bracelet when someone admired it so much, I just gave it to her.  Oh, it also makes a wonderfully attractive head band.  Really, I got to use it for three days before I gave it away.  I got tons of compliments.

You just add each link into each loop like so.  Add as many links as you like.  You can make a complete circle and pull it over your head, like the copper, or you can add any type of closure finding.  I made my own findings.

Well, that's it for now.  So haha, I bet you all thought all I did was cook because that's all I ever blogged.  Surprise!  Yes, I do like to stay busy and there is a creative side in me screaming for more time.  I think I should oblige.  So till the next time, Many blessings:)

Sincerely,

Mary Helen