Try it, you might like it.

Hello again,

I surprised myself this week when working on a jewellery project. It goes to show that you shouldn't say that you don't like something until you have tried it. I've seen Kumihimo braids used many times on Jewellery Maker and on images on the internet but always thought that it wasn't for me.

 

I'd been busy making some Tree of Life pendants and didn't want to suspend them on single cords like I have done in the past but also didn't want to make wire torques for them. I remembered that I had a Kumihimo disk stashed away that I had never used and decided to give it a go.

 

If you haven't heard of Kumihimo it's a traditional Japanese technique of braiding strands of silk to create coloured cords. The technique has been brought bang up to date and easy to do with the addition of the disks and boards that are now available and the various different things you can braid, such as cord, ribbon, beading thread etc. which will all give a different finished result.

 

There are many variations of patterns but a great way to learn out more about the techniques are the DVD's that are available from Jewellery Maker. An Introduction to Kumihimo, and Kumihimo Editition 2 are currently available and there are loads of videos available to watch on Jewellery Makers You Tube channel.

 

So, how did the Tree of Life pendant turn out in the end?

 

 

Rather well, I thought. It is very satisfying to look at a piece of jewellery knowing that you have not only created the feature pendant, but the braid to suspend it and the clasps that hold it all together.

I'll definitely be incorporating this technique into my designs again and hope this has inspired you to give it a try.

 

Thanks for reading.

 

Wendy.

 

 

Chain Reaction

Hello and thanks for joining me again,

When I used to hear the term Chain Maille this was the image that I used to conjure up.

 

Although Chain Maille does have its history in being used as a protective garment it also has a very long history of being used for decorative purposes in the form of  jewellery.

 

 Until I started my journey in to jewellery making I thought that Chain Maille was something that you could only buy from very high end designer jewellers. How wrong I was.

 

I regularly watch Jewellery Maker TV, one for it's fantastically priced gemstones and tools but also for inspiration from the brilliant guest designers. This is how I was introduced into creating Chain Maille jewellery for myself. The guest designer was the very talented Debbie Bulford who gave a demonstration and explained the technique very clearly. As with many aspects of crafting when I saw the demo I thought this is something I'd like to try. 

 

Chain Maille DVD

 

As well as designer inspiration on the show, Jewellery Maker produce some fantastic DVD's for the many different techniques that can be used for jewellery making at a very affordable price of £4.95.

These are brilliant for any one who isn't able to attend a class or work shop but are also a great source of reference as they show the techniques and provide projects in which to use them. Chain Maille and Chain Maille Edition 2 are currently available but as there are many different weaves to learn it would be nice to see some new additions.

 

 

 

 

Above, you can see the results of one of my first attempts at Chain Maille . I used 4.1mm ID (inner diameter - see notes at the bottom of the post) and 5mm ID silver colour anodised aluminium jump rings and Abalone flat pear shaped drops to create this necklace, which if I do say so myself, I don't think would look out of place in a boutique.

 

 

I thought it would be nice to then create the necklace with gold coloured jump rings but this time with a twist. The design, I felt, called for a chain rather than suede cord like the original design but I didn't have any in my stash so I carried on with the 2 in 2 Chain Maille weave to create my own chain.

 

Do you know how many jump rings it needs to create a design like this?

 

No, neither did I, as I ran out before completing the necklace. All was not lost though as I had the foresight to get myself a jump ring maker tool, which are also available from Jewellery Maker. These seem to fly out of stock really quickly, so if you see them on the shows or the website and you know you want one, grab one while you can. This is a valuable addition to you tool kit as you will always have jump rings of the size want, in whatever colour wire you own.

 

 

When I felt I had got to grips with a basic weave, which I think looked great in creating some quite contemporary necklace designs, I decided to try something more traditional, not to dissimilar to the high end jewellery which I thought would that someone who makes their own jewellery would never be able to achieve. Although the box weave which was used to make the bracelet above was a bit fiddly at first, once you get in to the swing of  a more complex design it becomes easy and the pattern grows quickly.

 

I'm looking forward to incorporating Chain Maille in to more of my designs, discovering, and hopefully mastering some of the numerous weaves and creating some more jewellery that I can be proud of and that the recipients love to wear.

 

Hope your feeling inspired that you'll pop back soon.

 

 

Wendy.

 

 

[ NOTES: THE INNER  AND OUTER DIAMETER ARE SOME CONSIDERATIONS YOU HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHEN CREATING CHAIN MAILLE, THIS IS EXPLAINED CLEARLY ON THE JEWELLERY MAKER DVD AND INFORMATION ABOUT THIS CAN ALSO BE FOUND ON THE INTERNET.]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crystal Meanings of Agate

 

Hello again,

 

One of the many reasons I love to make jewellery is because of the vast array of gemstones that are available to incorporate in my jewellery designs. Gemstones are Mother Natures gift and come with a lot of history which I find fascinating to explore. So if you want to come along for the ride I'll share some of the history, myth and legend with you.



 

 

 

Keywords: Protection, Strength, Harmony

Agate's most noticeable properties overall are balancing yin/yang energy, courage, protection, healing, and calming. Historically it was placed in water for cooking or drinking to dispel sickness. The Metaphysical and Healing Properties Lore of any specific type of agate depend to some extent on the colour of the agate, but all agates have certain things in common.

Agate is a stone of strength. It was used by the Ancients on the breastplates of armour to give warriors strength and make them victorious in battle. Energetically, it is considered to give strength in both battle and physically.

Agate enhances creativity and strengthens the intellect, making it a beneficial stone for both students and artists. It is also known as a good luck stone. As a stone of harmony, one of the things agate does is balance yin/yang energy. Agate increases energy. However, because it is a grounding stone, it does not increase energy at all times, but rather enables bursts of energy as needed. In this way, agate is a conservation stone, and enhances longevity.

Agate is a very protective stone. It is especially protective for children, and makes an excellent stone for children's amulets, medicine bags, jewellery, or just to carry around in a pocket. Agates are said to be especially useful for protecting children from falling.

Emotionally, agate gives courage, emotional strength, self-confidence, and dispels fears. It can also lessen feelings of envy by grounding the emotions. In the same way, it assists with acceptance of all things. It can be very beneficial for self-examination as well as examination of the circumstances one finds oneself in. These qualities make agate superior for easing anxiety and stress. Plume agates are especially helpful for anxiety and stress relief. Particularly when placed on the Solar Plexus (3rd) Chakra it can help one to accept one's emotions, thereby helping overcome those emotions that one wants to remove.

Because of the harmonizing qualities of agate, and its emotional energies of removing and releasing resentments and bitterness, it is also considered by many to be an excellent stone for helping to heal and improve relationships.

Agate can cleanse and stabilize the aura by removing and/or transforming negative energy.

As far as relationships go, agate is a stone of marital and romantic fidelity.

Agate is said to strengthen the body and the body's connection to the earth. It also increases energy. Agate is used in crystal healing for healing of all kinds by bringing the elements of the healee into harmony. Physically, agate is said to be particularly helpful with tooth and gum issues, stomach problems, physical endurance, insomnia. Note that healing crystal meanings are spiritual supports to healing and are not prescriptions or healthcare information.

White agate is especially considered a stone of hope.

Chakras: All agates can remove blockages from any chakra. Agate also relates to specific chakras according to the stone colour.

Pink Agate brings about calm and wellbeing as well as being known to bring about good luck and prosperity. It is thought to be a good choice of stone for decision making and self confidence as well as all issues related to the heart chakra. It is also considered to be a good choice for situations which cause you to feel stressed and anxious due to its calming influence and helps relax us before going to bed. It is also felt to protect us during sleep. It is thought to be a good stone for those who have to use their analytical ability so would be a good choice to have in a work environment.

Chakra: Heart

Element: Air

Crystal System: Trigonal

Hardness: 6

Colours: Pink

 

Zodiac Sign: Libra

 

Rock Lore & Tidbits: Agate is a variety of chalcedony which is a microcrystalline quartz. Agate is a more translucent microcrystalline quartz and technically is striped, though many stones named agates are not striped. There are many, many different types of agates in many different color combinations, and they are found all over the world.

Agate is so popular and so widespread that it is the state gemstone (or stone) of a number of US states: fortification agate (red, black, yellow bands), Kentucky; agate, Louisiana and Montana, Tennessee (state stone); Lake Superior agate, Minnesota; blue agate, Nebraska; Fairburn agate, South Dakota; prairie agate, Nebraska (state stone); fire agate, Arizona

 

Thanks for reading,

 

Wendy.