I took a bit of a break from jewelry making. It’s good to be back at it.

Brass and Fire Agate Necklace

Today’s material of choice is brass. I’ll admit, I have a soft spot for antiqued brass. This finish is very versatile, complements a variety of stones and affordable.

Antiquing brass is easy, if a bit smelly. Wash your brass

to remove any oils and let dry. You really want to make sure it is dry, as leftover water can cause spots during the antiquing process. In a large plastic container, place a small container of ammonia and your brass. Seal the lid tightly – the vapors from the ammonia will provide the lovely dark patina you’re looking for. Once the desired darkness is reached, remove the brass and rinse again.

Using wire I antiqued and chain from my stash, I made the necklace shown at right. The wrap around the fire agate is a herringbone weave. Click here for a great tutorial.

I took a bit of a break from jewelry making. It’s good to be back at it.

Brass and Fire Agate Necklace

Today’s material of choice is brass. I’ll admit, I have a soft spot for antiqued brass. This finish is very versatile, complements a variety of stones and affordable.

Antiquing brass is easy, if a bit smelly. Wash your brass

to remove any oils and let dry. You really want to make sure it is dry, as leftover water can cause spots during the antiquing process. In a large plastic container, place a small container of ammonia and your brass. Seal the lid tightly – the vapors from the ammonia will provide the lovely dark patina you’re looking for. Once the desired darkness is reached, remove the brass and rinse again.

Using wire I antiqued and chain from my stash, I made the necklace shown at right. The wrap around the fire agate is a herringbone weave. Click here for a great tutorial.

Today I finished a necklace with an infinity symbol pendant (fused in fine silver, hand shaped and forged, tumble polished). I found myself wondering about whether anyone, anywhere, would want to wear a mathematical symbol. (I know there are other, loftier connotations to infinity.)

This brings me back to something I often ponder while making – am I designing to sell or just designing. I find that if I worry about broad appeal, the piece feels a little flat. If I keep it technical, focusing on stretching my skills, the piece is soul-less. IF I can find a balance, that happy place in the middle, things sparkle. But that balance is hard when you’re trying to prepare for the busy season.

Two more infinities to finish.

This weekend leather cord was the answer to a frustrating creative block. I’ll create a great component, like a resin pendant or fine silver chain, and be totally stumped on how to work it into a finished piece. I have little boxes of abandoned pendants, dangles and other lovely little bits just waiting to be unified into a necklace or earrings.

Having finally cleaned off my work desk, I found an array of metallic leather cord (silver, copper and pearlescent white) that I had picked up at Dava Bead. A little knotting, a few end caps, and a bit of wire wrapping and I had four completed necklaces. The leather cord is fun, and the pieces are different from my past work. Look for them on Etsy soon!