Vicky's Jewellery

Blog Action Day

2007-10-15T23:44:00.000+02:00

Environment issues are of major importance and undeniable urgency.
Global warming and pollution are relating to each and every one of us.
Even the smallest support can prove beneficial to environmental organizations.

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are making amazon.com give 1% of their profit for environmental causes.
Shopping with them is exactly the same as it would be if you were buying
directly from amazon.com. You can always go to amazon.com and check
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Handling of sensitive information such as
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The only thing you have to do to contribute to environmental organizations is to select
the book titles you want through TheGreenBookShop's interface.

So visit www.TheGreenBookStore.com and make a difference

Tutorial - Metal Butterfly

2007-09-22T12:26:00.000+02:00

Here is a tutorial on making this metal butterfly.

Materials used:
- butterfly pattern
- silver plated metal sheet 0,4 mm width (24 gauge)
- a pair of scissors for metal
- jewelers hammer and anvil
- grinding tools
- one bead ( i am using a 6 mm amethyst round bead)
- silver plated wire 0,6 mm width (22 gauge), 30 cm long
- 2 silver plated headpins

STEP 1:
Cut the butterfly pattern.

STEP 2:
Draw the outline using a pencil on the metal sheet.

STEP 3:
Cut the outline using your pair of scissors. The metal sheet i am using is quite thin so you can use a sewing pair of scissors as well!

Here is the butterfly. Now we must make it smooth and decorate it!
STEP 4:
Use your hammer to smooth the edges in case they are quite curved from the scissors.

STEP 5:
Use your grinding tools to smooth the edges. I am using the hard grinding tip here.

STEP 6:
Using your cup wire brush, grind all the surface to make it shine! In the picture i've done only half of the butterfly, just to show you the difference.
STEP 7:
Use your cup nylon bristle brush or the felt wheel, to clean the surface.

STEP 8:
If you don't like it shiny but you prefer your butterfly with a relief texture you can use the pink sanding round tip. Here is a picture where the right half of the butterfly is textured for demonstration reasons.

STEP 9:
Your butterfly is now ready. You can decorate is as you like. Here is what i've done...
Take your bead and the long piece of silver plated wire. Place the bead through the hole in the middle of the wire and wrap the wire around the bead twice, to keep it in place.
Make two small holes in the middle of the butterfly.
Place the bead and the wire on the butterfly, in the middle to make the body.
To keep the bead and wire in place, use the small piece of wire, put it through the holes and secure at the back.
You can now make the two wires of the bead curly by wrapping them around a pen.
For the antennas use two headpins and secure them at the back with glue or by soldering.

You are done!
- you can stick a safety brooch pin at the back, and make it a butterfly brooch
- you can make a hole, place a jump ring, and make it a pendant
- you can stick a hair barrette at the back, and put it on your hair
- it can be used as an embellishment for scrapbook or card making
... and many many more you can think of!

I hope you like it! Feel free to ask me any questions or leave a comment!

Tutorial - Palette Pin

2007-09-13T23:45:00.000+02:00

This is a step by step video tutorial on making a metal pin using the soldering technique.
It is my first video, so be kind :)
I hope you like it! Please leave a comment!

Summer Fun: Flip-Flops!

2007-06-24T22:44:00.001+03:00

Here is a brooch for the summer!
It is made out of metal sheet and silver plated wire, with swarovski beads.

Ring

2007-06-23T01:30:00.000+03:00

This ring is made out of silver plated wire, a glass designer's bead and a turquoise chip.

Turquoise Tree

2007-06-20T23:49:00.000+03:00

Here is another tree using silver plated wire and semi precious turquoise chips.

Blue Tree

2007-06-20T00:31:00.000+03:00

I have been away for quite a while...
but i am on vacation for more than 2 months, so new things will keep coming up :)
Here is a tree i've made today, using silver plated wire and blue chips.

Freshwater Pearls

2007-06-01T00:25:00.000+03:00

Silver bracelet, earrings and ring with freshwater pearls.

Another Butterfly

2007-05-13T22:58:00.000+03:00

So, here is another butterfly, made of metal.
I have also used an aventurine stone and citrine chips.

Yet another brooch !!!

2007-04-18T23:09:00.000+02:00

Since i am into metalworking lately ... here is another brooch!
A metal butterfly with amethyst stone.

Palette Brooch

2007-04-17T23:28:00.000+02:00

This is "palette" brooch i have made using pewter metal sheet and swarovski crystals.
Hope you like it !

Metal and Swarovski pendant

2007-04-16T23:23:00.001+02:00

Sailing Boat

2007-04-15T23:44:00.000+02:00

This is a sailing boat, made of pewter and swarovski.
It was meant to be a brooch ... but i think i am gonna use it to decorate my room :)

...more metalworking

2007-03-30T23:21:00.000+02:00

Here are two more metalworking pieces
- a pewter brooch with swarovski crystals
- a pewter pendant with freashwater pearls and amber chip.

Suede bracelets

2007-03-25T21:53:00.000+02:00

A couple of suede bracelets with semi-precious stones and silver charms attached on the knots. This kind of bracelets are really popular!!! Everybody wants one!

Hematite Necklace and Ring

2007-03-25T21:47:00.000+02:00

For the necklace i have used hematite chips and swarovski crystals.
The ring had swarovski crystals, hematite chips and freashwater pearls.
One of my favorites by the way ...

Green Set

2007-03-25T21:40:00.000+02:00

An easy to wear green set complete with necklace, bracelet and earrings.
The charms and crystals are simply attached on the suede and organza knots!

Metalworking tools

2007-03-25T21:34:00.000+02:00

The tools i am using for metalworking... tutorial soon to come after many demands!

First attempt on metalworking

2007-03-25T00:21:00.000+02:00

Here are a butterfly metal pin with carnelian and a metal circle pendant.
I've just made by using the hammering technique on metal sheet. They are my first ones using this technique so please be kind! :)

A tree made of wire

2007-01-12T22:33:00.000+02:00

So here is one of my first attempts to make a tree made of wire and beads.
Well... it's not a jewelry but it can be used for decoration...

Making a tree is very interesting and each tree you make is really unique.
And they are really popular! Everyone who visited me and show it liked it and wants one!

Happy New Year

2007-01-10T23:44:00.000+02:00

Happy new year to all of you. Vacations are over, so i decided to stop being lazy and start updating my blog regularly.
I have many finished projects to post... so here is one for start.
A necklace using wire and czech-beads.
Hope you like it!

Many of you wanted to see this necklace worn, so here it is!

I'm back

2006-12-21T00:42:00.000+02:00

Hi all!
thanks for keep reading my blog after all this time without any updates.
Just to let you know that i am back. I'll post new designs in a couple of days!
Have a great holiday!

Great news!

2006-12-11T10:45:00.000+02:00

Dear friends,

Since i found out that i am pregnant (yeah !!!) and having already an 11 months baby girl i don't know if i can update the blog as often as i used to. Hopefully in the second trimester (after Xmas) of the pregnancy things will calm down a bit and keep up with the blog.
I am really happy with the news, and I wish you all inspiration and great holidays!

Necklace "Olive Tree Leaves"

2006-11-20T22:32:00.000+02:00

These are 3 views of the necklace i just made. I have to say that i'm really pleased of the result !
It is called "Olive Tree Leaves"... from the leaves shape obviously.
It is made of sterling silver wire and the leaves are made using the solder technique i have explained in my "organic style" tutorial

Stained Glass Rings

2006-11-20T22:27:00.000+02:00

These are a couple of rings i've made using the stained glass technique. I had lots of messages about this technique and since there is so much interest i am planning to make a tutorial by the end of the week.

Stained glass pendants

2006-11-07T00:26:00.000+02:00

This is a collection of pendants i've made using the stained glass technique. I also added wire and gems in some cases.
You can actually cut any shape of glass and make tons of wire decorations... just get inspired!

Rain necklace

2006-11-07T00:22:00.000+02:00

This is a sterling silver necklace with solder balls in the end of each wire. Too many variations can be made of this necklace if you add beads...

Carnelian Flower

2006-11-07T00:15:00.000+02:00

This flower's petals and stamens are made of wire and solder!
Just add some gems (carnelian in this case) and there you have it! Pretty isn't it?

Lariat

2006-11-05T23:02:00.000+02:00

Simple lariat, using sterling silver wire, white aventurine and rose quartz.

Pendant

2006-11-05T23:00:00.000+02:00

Sterling silver wire and solder to make all those small balls and petals.

Brooches

2006-11-05T22:50:00.000+02:00

A couple of brooches. These were my first projects ever!
Not bad for the first time, dont you think?

All are glass or metal beads. In the second brooch the leaves and the small silver balls are actually made by me using solder

Circles

2006-11-05T22:48:00.000+02:00

Sterling silver pendant, with swarovski crystals and onyx.

Heart pendant

2006-11-05T22:37:00.000+02:00

Sterling silver, swarovski crystal and czech glass bead.
One of my first attempts to make a wire wrapped pendant.
I like the general idea but I have to learn to be more patient when it comes to wrapping!

Rose Quartz Necklace

2006-11-05T22:27:00.000+02:00

Sterling silver wire necklace, with rose quartz gemstones.
The leafs and balls are all made of solder (2% silver)

"how to"

2006-11-05T22:22:00.000+02:00

I'll start posting photos of my projects.

Keep in mind that i have been making jewellery only for the past two months... so i am just learning.
I am taking classes and this is a way to share with all of you what i've learned. I hope i'll be able to update the blog frequently and that i'll be of some help to some of you that dont know where and how to start.
If you like one of my pieces and you want to find out how i did it please let me know by leaving a comment! I'd love to write a tutorial about it, and post it ASAP.

Supplies

2006-11-03T22:12:00.000+02:00

The supplies you need are:
-wire 0.4mm 0.6mm 0.8mm 1mm diameter

- beads, in different shapes and sizes

You can start using glass beads and silver plated wire that are cheap.
When you feel more confident start using more expensive beads like gemstones or swarovski crystal. In addition you can use sterling silver (925) wire for best results.

Also you will need earring wires, clasps, spacers, chain, leather... and the list is endless.
If you go to a shop that sells beads and findings you'll be amazed by the variety.

Tools

2006-11-03T17:48:00.000+02:00

The tools you are gonna need to make these projects are the following:

-3 pliers (cutters, round nose and flat nose)

- reverse action tweezer (it really helps to hold the piece while soldering)

- soldering gun (45Watt)

- solder
there are many types of solder, the most common is 60% tin - 40% lead, which is very shiny but can cause health problems if you dont take precautions. There are solders in the market that are lead free and 100% safe, they just dont shine so much. Also there is a solder with 2% silver, and you can find it with or without lead.... So the choice is up to you. I use the one with no lead, cause i work at home.

- flux solder paste

The tools are quite cheap because you buy them once and if you take good care of your soldering gun it will last for years.