Zn (Zinc) - The Metallics Collection (Part VIII)

Part 8 of the Metallics Collection is Zinc...

Zn (Zinc) Set.

 More photos are available on Etsy.

This was one of the first sets I designed for the Metallics Collection.  Actually it was just the cuff/bracelet that I designed...

Zn (zinc) bracelet cuff - original design.

 I'd bought these cool metalised acrylic columns with my £50 voucher, and they were just begging to be turned into a cuff.  In my original design, I figured coloured rondelles (flat donut-shaped beads) would look best on the top and bottom of the columns.  However when I started attaching them they wouldn't sit right, plus they felt really uncomfortable.  
Digging through my beads I found some small glass beads that I had bought ages ago and still hadn't found a use for - I have quite a few of those!  Once added, I found they crowned the top and bottom of the columns beautifully, and being half clear/AB (Aurora Borealis) and half silver they give an amazing glamorous futuristic look that I wasn't expecting when I first designed it.

Zn (zinc) bracelet cuff - finished design.

I was just going to sell the cuff on it's own, however I was persuaded to create a necklace and earrings too.

For the necklace, I attached the glass beads only to the end of the columns, and then threaded the columns onto leather cord, which when worn creates a fan effect.  I'm trying out my new barrel clasps on this necklace, if you would prefer lobster clasps just let me know.

The earrings didn't look right with the beads at either end, so I just left the columns as they were.
The bracelet is made with clear elastic, so it stretches onto your wrist.  I will still need your wrist measurement, so I know how many columns to use.

Necklace: £42.00

Earrings: £25.00

Bracelet Cuff: £42.00

or buy the set: £85.00

Cu (Copper) - Metallics Collection (Part VII)

Part 7 of the Metallics Collection is Copper...

More photos on Etsy.

I've had these geometric glass coins for quite a while, unsure of what I wanted to do with them.  The silver ones I used in the Sn (Tin) Set, these ones however, mixed with acrylic copper beads and spikes, created a contemporary steampunk look that I really like.  I resisted continuing the design all the way along the necklace and bracelet, so the spikes wouldn't become uncomfortable. 
I don't have any copper coloured nickel-free earwires or clip-ons, so I'm afraid I can't offer those options on this set.

Until I can find some similar glass coins, I won't be able to sell the pieces separately.

Buy on Etsy: £70.00

Mn (Manganese) - The Metallics Collection (Part VI)

Part 6 of the Metallics Collection is Manganese...

More photos on Etsy.

This is the first set that I actually sketched down the design that I had in my head instead of just making it straight away. 

Manganese necklace sketch

I'm not going to win any design drawing contests, but as you can see from the photo above, it turned out almost exactly as I designed.

I knew I wanted a statement focal, similar to the stunning metal necklaces that they wear on the catwalks and red carpets.  However there were two issues to be addressed.  First of all I'm not a goldsmith or a silversmith, and I don't have access to the materials or equipment needed to make something like this, and I hardly think my little hobby Dremel would be happy to cut through huge sheets of metal!  Second, metal tends to be heavy, and I prefer to make jewellery that looks like the real thing, but is actually wearable.

I discovered these beautiful rumpled rhomboids when I was looking what to spend the £50 gift voucher I won on.  I combined them with these acrylic metal twisted squares that I had left over from another project.  The silver spacer beads that I usually use didn't have the effect that I was looking for, so after raiding my accent bead box I found some acrylic metal rondelle spacers, which looked more like the lopsided circles I'd drawn in my design.

You'll notice in my design, that I only have two silver squares, which didn't hang right, so I added another with some very frustrating wire-bending techniques.  I didn't want the chain to detract from the focal, so I found the smallest chain I could.

The earrings were another problem.  There weren't any smaller versions of the squares that I'd used in the necklace, and yet just one of either the gold or silver looked wrong.  I measured both together with the earwires, and they didn't seem as long as they looked.  Only problem was, that even my longest headpin wasn't long enough.  Luckily I had left over wire from the necklace and bracelet, which I coiled into a spiral at the bottom to hold the squares in place.

As you can see, a lot of work went into this set, and I'm really pleased with how it turned out.

Necklace: £50.00

Earrings: £32.00

Bracelet: £30.00

or buy the set: £90.00

Cr (Chromium) Set - The Metallics Collection (Part V)

Sorry I've been away for so long, but a combination of myself being ill and my Mom's hospital appointments have left me little time to update the Metallics Collection.  I'm back now and ready to show you the rest of the collection!

Part 5 of the Metallics Collection is the Chromium Set:

More photos on Etsy.

This used to be the Electro-Shock Set, but I was never entirely happy with it, and it seems to fit in better with the Metallics Collection.

Chromium can be tinted many different colours, which I hoped to reflect in this piece. This set is a mixture of glass and metal bugles, crystal and seed beads.I knew what I wanted the focal to look like almost immediately.  A graduating fan using small twisted silver bugles contrasted with purple bugles and purple/teal toho seeds hanging from the bottom.
The strands took more planning.  I alternated the long iris twisted bugles with the wavy silver tubes, book-ended with black fire-polished crystals. Somehow one strand of this pretty mix didn't seem enough, so adding another made it stand out even more.

For the earrings, I knew that the graduating fan on its own wouldn't look right, so I simulated the shape of the Americana Earrings and with the chain hanging from the bottom it created this cool trapezium shape.

Buy the set on Etsy: £75.00

K (Potassium) - The Metallics Collection (Part IV)

Part 4 of the Metallics Collection.
I've used Ametrine (Amethyst and Citrine) and metallised acrylic beads in this set.  Both are faceted so they catch the light and sparkle beautifully in the sunlight.  The acrylic beads are great because they have the look of metal, without being heavy.   I've been looking to use the Ametrine for a while as it's one of my favourite semi-precious stones.  I alternated the beads, graduating in size on the necklace, to give it a fan effect.  I tried adding the Ametrine to the earrings, but it made them look unnecessarily clunky and I wanted to keep them light.

More photos on Etsy.

Necklace: £40.00
Earrings: £25.00
Bracelet: £35.00

or buy the set on Etsy for £80.00!

Al (Aluminium) Set - The Metallics Collection (Part III)

Part 3 of the Metallics Collection.
I found these beautiful aluminium beads from one of my suppliers, and I thought they would go with some aluminium wire I've had lying around.  So I wrapped it around one of the beads to make a ring and the Aluminium Set was born.  I tried also making bead cages for the necklace and earrings, however it didn't look right, so I left them as they are.

More photos on Etsy.

The necklace is various sized aluminium beads (13mm/16mm/20mm) threaded onto black leather cord and a silver plated toggle clasp.  It's 50cm/19.7" long.

The earrings are 23mm in length with the bead caps.  You can choose which earring style you would prefer.  If you have an allergy to nickel or are not sure, I recommend choosing the Nickel Free option.

Finally, the ring will be custom made, so please include your ring size when you order. (U.K. or U.S. sizings are fine)

Necklace: £35.00
Earrings: £30.00
Ring: £40.00

or buy the set for: £85.00

Mg (Magnesium) Set - The Metallics Collection (Part II)

The Second set in the Metallics Collection.
I love wire coiling, but this is only my second or third time using it in one of my pieces. I got the design from my favourite jewellery making magazine (Make Jewellery), however I tweaked it a bit more to my liking. I got the inspiration from the magnesium coils we used to burn in school chemistry lessons, where we would often add dyes to make it burn pretty colours. Also from sparklers at Halloween - remember trying to write your name in the air as fast as you could.

More photos on Etsy.

  
The set is just the necklace and the earrings, but together they make real statement. I've used "Vivid Green" and "Dark Purple" in the set pictured, but you can choose which two colours of copper wire you would like.

Colours available...

The necklace is multiple enamel coated copper wire coils (try saying that three times fast!) and faceted glass beads, which catch the light beautifully. They hang from a silver plated cable chain with a silver plated toggle clasp. It measures about 64cm/25.2in, but I can adjust it if you would like it longer or shorter - just let me know.

The earrings are wire coils spiralled around a silver wire coil, with another faceted glass bead at the bottom.
Please let me know whether you would prefer...

Low Nickel Earwires
Nickel Free Earwires
OR
Clip-on

If you are unsure whether you have a nickel allergy, I recommend choosing the Nickel Free, just to be on the safe side. 

Necklace: £70.00
Earrings: £35.00

or buy the set for £88.00!

Li (Lithium) Set - The Metallics Collection (Part I)

This is the first set in my new collection - The Metallics Collection.
As Lithium is one of the lightest metals I didn't want to make this set heavy, so I used seed beads and small glass beads in some of my favourite beadwork patterns to make this stunning set. I use a random selection of delica seed beads, so every set will vary in appearance slightly. The glass beads used are half silver half AB, so they reflect many different colours in the light.

More photos on Etsy.

The choker features a gunmetal glass dagger focal hanging from loops on a right-angle weave "chain". Although the choker will be made to measure, I will add a small extender chain for comfort.

The earrings are 26mm in diameter, and as usual you may choose which earring style you would prefer. If you have an allergy to nickel or you're not sure, I recommend choosing the Nickel Free Earwires.

The bracelet will also be made to measure. Please include your wrist size in centimeters when you order and allow 2cm for the clasp.

The ring is made with elastic so it stretches slightly, please still include your ring size when ordering (U.K. or U.S. sizings are fine)

Necklace: £70.00
Earrings: £38.00
Bracelet: £60.00
Ring: £45.00

or buy the set for £170.00!

On A Sunny Day In England Set

So it's a well known fact that it's always dark and grey in England, with only the occasional rays of sunshine. I made this set to reflect that. It's comprised of silvery acrylic connectors, grey seed beads and milky glass beads to represent the clouds and clear yellow glass beads for the few rays we get.

The necklace is very long, so it has no clasp.
Length: 41cm/just over 16" - from end to end it would be 82cm/just over 32" 

More photos on Etsy.

 £70.00 (ex. shipping)
Buy now on Etsy!

To The Point Necklace

This was originally going to be part of my new collection, however I like it better as a stand alone item. It's a modern tribal/punk style necklace with acrylic coloured pepper daggers and silver acrylic spikes on black leather thong. You may choose which colour pepper daggers you would like from the colours listed on Etsy.
It's a long necklace (14 1/2 in or 37cm), so there is no clasp. It should fit over your head. 

More photos on Etsy.

£40.00 (ex. shipping)
Buy now on Etsy! 

Pearl Button Ring

Another from the recycled bag. I think this used to be a button but I'm not entirely sure. Whatever it is, I'm sure you'll agree it makes a beautiful ring. It's a white acrylic pearl button, and has a flaw which you can see at the bottom in the second photo. It's adjustable at the bottom so it should fit most fingers.

 

£45.00 (ex. shipping)

Buy now on Etsy!

Waste Knot Ring

Before I post the Metallics Collection, I have a few odds and sods that I'd like to show you first.  I made these just before I moved house, so I wasn't able to post them right away.

I've been making a few button and earring rings lately, first is this exquisite ring, made from a pair of vintage clip-on earrings.

 

It measures about 28mm across. The ring unadjusted is about a size L 1/2 (U.K.) or size 6 (U.S.)
Presented in a magnetic closure box. 

There are only two so get them while you can.

£18.00 (ex. shipping)
Buy now on Etsy!