Forged Heart Pendant

Following my original design of S-hook clasp, I went on to experiment with more complex versions.  One of the variations was the whimsical ducky clasp, which is a stylized ducky outline complete with a pointy tail, folded wing, and a long beak that easily catches and releases to function as a clasp.

Alternatively, when I bring the beak closer to touch the duck body, then turn the duck side way, it becomes a shapely heart!  Additional bending and forging of the wire creates the varying thickness in the final heart shape, reminiscent of calligraphy but with metal.

Since I can never stay with just one color, this newly re-purposed clasp got a rainbow dip in the anodizing pool, so to speak (hahaha, I crack myself up!)

OK, so it's pretty easy so far.  Finishing the heart clasp on a necklace is a different story.  Deciding where to add the crystals, how to hang the pendant, what kind of neck ware, and how does it clasp, etc etc...  The devil is always in the detail.

But I must say I'm pretty happy with the results.  Every little part fits together finally and nicely, making it a one of a kind necklace that's dainty in scale but bold in presence.  Icing on the cake?  This beauty went straight to a dear friend the second it's listed ;-)

To order your very own Forged Heart necklace, please visit the listing my online studio www.DaisyKreates.com.

Chainmaille Owl Pendant

After the previous post on my original chainmaille owlet design, I've been asked why that owl looks different than the ones we often see in paintings and movies...  Well, I suppose that's because they were inspired by the three baby barn owls on Cornell Lab's bird cams.

Barn owls don't have ear tufts.  That's why:-)

Now, what if I add a couple of more rings here and there, to highlight the ear tufts, and add depth to the eyes, wonder how that might change the overall impression?

Better now? :-)

Incidentally, this is also a bigger owl, about 1 1/4" across and 1 1/8" tall.  I bumped up the sizes of all rings, and switched all bright aluminum rings to stainless steel for a better weight, which took me much longer than making the whole owl pendant, oy......

Or, should it be "screechhhhh"?  LOL!!!

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My New Owlet Design

To celebrate the successful fledging of all three owlets at Cornell Lab's Bird Cam, I'm happy to announce the birth of my new chainmaille owlet design!!

It's been a long while since I first started sketching my owlet design.  It had gone from way big, to way complicated, some were too heavy, or too difficult to repeat, .... I looked at many other fellow maillers designs, and there are quite a few excellent ones ....

But it's not until I started following the three little owlets on the web cam, that I had a much better look at their body, the shape, the way they tilt their heads, move their eyes, flap their wings, preening one another, all kinds of antics, that I finally settled on this much stylized design.

Yes, this little guy's eyes, wings, and feet can all move freely, which was an important part of my "design requirement" :-)  I want it to be a "lively" creation, not so much a sculpture.

What do you think?  Maybe a pair of earrings to match?? ;-)

Update, July 16, 2014

It's been suggested to me that I should introduce you to the web cam darling owlets that inspired this chainmaille owlet design; so here they are!!

Aren't they just absolutely adorable?! ♥♥♥

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Two Genie Bottles in Classic Golden Mulberry

The smaller, more dainty one, in my original design.

Then the bigger, more showy one, in the second incarnation of my genie bottle design.

Both custom made for my friend Etsuko, in the same color scheme of golden mulberry that is most reminiscent of the "I Dream of Jeannie" bottle.

While I have created quite a few chainmaille genie bottles in lots of color combos, each time I completed one of these beauties, I still find myself falling in love with it all over again!

I wish I had one photo of these two side by side, so you may see how they are similar "and" different...  The next best thing, how about these two photos side by side?

I used the same colors and sizes of AA rings to weave the Whirlybirds, but in different number of rings.  Interesting to see the dramatic changes in the final sizes.

Over the time as I've experimented with incorporating other elements, such as beads, chains, wires, into my chainmaille pieces, one thing becomes clear:  Multimedia is much more than just the materials; it is even more about the techniques, and knowing when to use which material, what technique for their unique qualities and best contribution to the overall design.  Right, so glad that all the time I spent on bead-weaving and wire-wrapping, plus several other more :-) is now coming together nicely.  It's the quickening!!

For complete views of these two pieces, please check them out in

here and here.

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Red Genie Bottle Pendant with Easy Change Clasp Bail

I've been asked if I make my chainmaille genie bottles for uses other than pendants; say like, key fob, zipper pull, ceiling fan switch pull, etc., etc.

Well, I'm a little protective of these babies, for their colors and shine.  The colors from anodized aluminum is sturdy but they can be scratched off against sharp objects; and the brilliant shine on the Swarovski crystals is too precious to mess with.  So, as the way this line of the genie bottles are made, key fob idea is out.

However, I see no reason why it can't be swapped out of the neck chain and be used as ceiling fan pull; or, light switch pull.  With the newly updated clasp bail, you decide how you want to carry your genie bottle!!

The stainless steel lobster clasp is very smooth, easy operation.  It will keep the unique tilt that sets it aside from others.  When used as a ceiling fan pull, the long slender tassels with blingy Swarovski crystals bring oh so much more movement and liveliness!

Want to dress up your favorite outfit, or your lamp pull??  Drop me a note via Contact Me at my online studio www.DaisyKreates.com.

And let the magic begin!!

More views of the genie bottle?  Come visit my online photo album.

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How Many Genies Bottles??

Um, not sure, I lost count after 3 ......  Here are some of them...

... from my 2013 collection.

and there were more that I didn't get to photograph before they were "adopted":-)  Let's me think, there were purple, yellow, rainbow, ....

and a few more that have been waiting for their close-ups for a while: chocolate brown, caramel, mint green, peacock feather ....

looks like the photographer (that would be me...) has been the bottle neck, pun intended.... :-)

Hum, as I write this post, one of these babies is claimed...  Hard to keep up!  To custom order your very own, please drop me a note via Contact Me at my online studio DaisyKreates.com.

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Emerald Green Genie Bottle Pendant

Green is not an easy color to photograph, this I learned from the pictures of my Emerald Green Genie Bottle Pendant.

I so hope your monitor/screen shows coloration similar to mine, as my camera and I sure tried our best to deliver the closest emerald green here as on the actual genie bottle.

And I was lucky enough to have found the vintage Swarovski Margarita 16-petal crystal also in emerald green to complete this beautiful genie bottle in a true monochromatic color scheme.

BTW, did you know that emerald also happens to be the birthstone of May?! ....  You're welcome:-)

Never the ordinary.

Be extraordinary.  Be the magic.


To custom order this necklace, please Contact Me at my online studio DaisyKreates.com.

Visit my online album for complete views of the emerald green genie bottle necklace.

Thank you for visiting!!

Japanese Dodecaheron Chainmaille Cufflinks

I've been wanting to make these cuff links for a while.... ever since I saw the beautiful cuff links by Corvus in sterling silver.  Very inspired!!

So I thought, what can I do to give my cuff links a little something extra, something to set them apart from the traditional style, like this?

Well, I didn't come up with much... it's hard to improve upon perfection, which the Japanese Dodcahedron is as far as sphere shape goes.  As you can see, and I hope you agree, the little spunky cuff link is already beyond adorable.

So, if there's not much I can add in the front, how about the back, huh?

I'm a big fan of tassels:-)  Anything that swings, moves, with some sparkles, something shiny!

I like these the best in that the tassels are optional.  You can wear the cuff links with or without the tassels.  Yes, I'm all for having options:-)

Traditional.

Or.... a little extra!!

Your choice!!

These lovely cufflinks are now available in my online studio DaisyKreates.com.  Hope you'll come by for a visit.

As for you DIYers out there, I used the fabulous square wire rings 20-C from C and T Designs for the Japanese balls, with a 6 mm Swarovski #5040 inside to plump it up.  Now you know:-)

Thank you for stopping by my blog!  Would love to hear from ya!!

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Celtic Rose Sheet Bracelet in Hexagonal Tessellation

I just realized that I've not recorded my Celtic Rose Hex Sheet bracelet in my blog yet!  Guess I was too excited (and exhausted) when I finally got done with it:-)

I made this for one of the 2012 weave challenges on MWW, which I really enjoyed immensely.  Not that I made it through every one of them, but I did try my best, and I learned quite a bit.

So, this lacy little weave, Celtic Rose Sheet Hexagonal Tessellation, wasn't too difficult to make.  The key is to understand where the connection points are from one "rose unit" to the next.  I'm a bit more "free" when it comes to the ring sizes, I noticed that so long as I can fit the small ring just inside of a medium ring, the rest was more or less "negotiable".  It may also helped when I gave up on actually making a sheet which could be more daunting than a straight bracelet form, more or less:-)

btw, this is not exactly my first try at the weave.  Below is my first try:

I actually like this color contrasts better, a more distinct, tri-color look; but the large copper rings are wee bit too large, making the units a little floppy; also with copper rings at such high AR, they are kind of weak, and that is not a good thing.....

Comparing to the final ring combination here:

So much more better, right?  Hee hee:-)

And it lays nicely on the wrist with a low profile, very form-fitting, closes with a handmade toggle bar connecting to the last rose unit on the other end of the bracelet, making the whole thing almost seamless.

In case anyone is interested, here's what I used: JB 18swg 5/16", Bronze 18swg 7/32", BA 19swg 5/32".

Or, skip the DIY steps, just come over to my online studio DaisyKreates.com and pick this one up for yourself, or your loved one!  Easy, peasy:-)  In case of sold-out and you'd still like one made by me, please drop me a note for a custom made piece just for you :-)



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Ninja Star Hair Barrette

I've always like dangles in hair accessories, except there are not a whole lot of these out in the market.  So I set out to make one:-)

Borrowing the idea of my Ninja Star scale flower, I pick red and white for the color combo, then added lots of Swarovski crystals to end of the tassels.

The 1-inch French made aluminum barrette is dainty and smooth, perfect for gathering just a small section of your hair at the back or on the side.

Pretty cool, huh?!

Come check out the complete line of my Ninja Star creations at my online Picasa Web Album.

Want to take home this hair barrette?  This item is will be available soon in my online shop DaisyKreates.com.  Don't want to wait?  Send me a note to arrange for a custom listing.

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Three Genies

In classic color schemes, "I Dream of Jeannie" style.

Tracing back to my last year's design, adding pops of gold and champagne, these three genie bottles are perfect accessories for any LBD:-)

Or, how about a black, silver, and gold combination?  With a 30-inch long, stainless steel curb chain, these necklace slide on/off effortlessly, no clasp, no fuss!

Thank you for visiting!  More views available on my Google Photos album.  Hope to see you there too!

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Genie Bottles Earrings with Red Chainmaille Whirlybirds

Petite genie bottles earrings, in festive red!

Delicately woven with red anodized aluminum and stainless steel rings, these earrings are slender and very light weight.

Measuring at 2 3/4" long, 1/2" wide, the genie bottles are decorated with vintage Swarovski crystals on top, and sparkly dangles trailing below!

Pair these adorable earrings with my red Genie Bottle necklace, and let them bring fun and excitement to everywhere you go.

These beauties are available for custom order via Contact Me in my online studio DaisyKreates.com.

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Purrrrrrrple PawPrints Bracelet

Purrrrrrple and sooooo purrrrty:-)

(that sounds like a sticky keyboard, LOL!!)

What do paw prints and Borg have in common? (quick!)

It is futile to resist them!  Oh, I crack myself up!  XD!!!

Same design as its little big brother, this PawPrints bracelet is all purple and very light weight.

The anodized aluminum rings keep the bracelet light as feathers (almost), while the stainless steel connector rings provide strength.

At 1" wide, 7 1/2" long, this cutie is easy on the wrist, thanks to the subtle toggle bar latching into the last paw print units on the other end of the bracelet, making it nearly seamless and very comfortable to wear.

This lovely bracelet is now available for purchase at my online studio DaisyKreates.com.  Hope to see you there.

Visit my Picasa web album for all the Purple PawPrints:-)

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