Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much

I have been very uninspired lately. I don't really want to work. I don't have a clue why this is, but I did force myself to work a little last night and this morning.

I made the copper bangle first, just to work out the kinks of the design. I actually like it best, but it's crooked. So it's mine! It's made it in separate pieces, then riveted them together. What a pain trying to line up the rivet holes! That's why it's crooked!

The second one is a solid band of copper with the sterling silver riveted on top of that. It was sooo much easier that way! I used E6000 glue and placed them like I wanted. I let that dry over night, then drilled the holes this morning. It worked out great! The copper band is 8&1/8" long on the second one, because the first one was a little small. I can get it on, but it's harder to get off. The silver tags are 1&3/4" each, and it's 3/8" wide.

Maybe I'll be inspired again, and get out of this slump. I hope so! I hope all of you are inspired each and every day! See y'all later~

"Charm"ing Necklace

Well, I finally have something to blog about! I've been kinda lazy with the blogging this week. I did make another scrolled ring, and it turned out better, but it looks just like the last one, only smaller, so no need to post it!

Yesterday I made this necklace. I had a small square of silver left over from making rings, so I made the little heart for this charm necklace. I added a silver tube rivet and soldered the big jumprings closed. It looks like a lariat, but it doesn't slide. It's a faux lariat! The smaller heart charm and the big metal bead were some I had just hanging around. I think it turned out okay. If it doesn't sell, I'll turn it into a charm bracelet!

My hubby thinks I should have 14 pieces of new jewelry when he comes home, because he's gone for 14 days! When I tell him I worked on jewelry, he expects it to be finished that day. It's not always the case. Oh well! I'm not even working today! I hope you are all having a more productive day than I am. Later~

Soldering Fiasco

Well, this would have been a great ring. Now it is MY not so great ring. It was going to be just the silver band with the scrolls, but I contaminated my workspace with the steel nut this weekend, and I didn't know it would cause problems. Boy, did it cause a problem! If you look closely at the second pic, you can see the divots. One just on the top scroll line and one just inside the top swirl. That is where the solder was! It burned the silver before it melted! I had no idea this could even happen, so imagine my surprise. I added the bead wire on the edges to cover up most of the damage, and it turned out okay, but not for sale. I have worked on it with a burnisher and that has helped. Right now it's back in the tumbler.

Oh well, live and learn. It's still pretty enough to wear. No one will know about the divots unless they are VERY close. People don't usually get that close to my fingers, so i should be okay! LOL

I hope everybody else's day was better than mine! Have a great Wednesday!~

Tyler's Bracelet

Well, I did it! I finally finished Tyler's cuff bracelet. It was a lot harder than I expected it to be! I made the center from textured brass, added a silver tube rivet, and a part from an old watch. That is surrounded by the nut I cut in two, held in plce with copper rivets. One side is copper sheet, with a brass and nickle patch riveted on. It also has a smaller nut and another old watch piece. The othe side is flattened nickle wire that is wrapped with flattened copper wire. It has 2 smaller nut tube riveted on and a tiny brass screw head soldered on.

It was a challenge, but I like it!

Now I'm going back to my silver!! YAY!

I hope everybody had a great weekend and that you all have a splendid week! Later~

Spring Challenge Pendant

I guess I can show this now cause anybody that reads the description of it at J.A.N will know it's mine!

It's a nickle silver base with a copper and brass flower wire riveted on. The copper wire stem and fold-formed leaves are sweat soldered. The little ball in the center of the flower is sterling. The bail is a copper "spring" I made. It's 2&1/2" long and 1&1/4" wide. I wore it today and a girl at Wal Mart loved it and wanted to know where I got it!

I did not vote for it at J.A.N.! I don't believe in voting for yourself! LOL

I hope everybody is having a fun weekend! Talk to you later~

New Tools

I don't know how I ever got along without a divider! It's awesome! You just open it to the width you want (that's what the little steel ruler is for) then just follow the straight edge of your metal with one leg and the other leg scribers a line. It makes measuring and cutting so much easier. It also does circles like a compass. I got both of these at the hardware store. They had a pin vise, too, but I don't really need that. The coffee cup is mine, and it's the only one I use!! LOL Home IS where my tools are!

Today I have been working on the bracelet. The second pic is the nut I cut in two. That took about 2 hours of sawing. I thought my arm would fall off! It has turned out to be more complicated than I thought! You can't solder a steel nut! I had to rethink and use wire rivets on that part. It's looking good though. Just a challenge.

Tyler took the ACT last month, and he made a 30! I'm very proud of him, but not surprised at all. He is super smart and has always made As and Bs. He wants to take it again because he says he can do better!

Have a great Saturday! See ya~

Not A Ring!

LOL I didn't make one today! I spent a long time sawing a piece off of huge nut for this bracelet that my son designed. I needed a thin but large nut for the front piece and could not find one. Seems the larger they are, the thicker they are! I sliced off about a 1/4" piece with a hacksaw. I thought it wouldn't work, but it did! I think it will be an awesome bracelet, if I can make it right. I'll show you all what I come up with!

I hope your day was wonderful and bright! Bless you all, my blogger friends.