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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JPL3 Wallet Chain

JPL3, in my book, is the quintessential of rope-like chainmaille chain!

At actual AR about 3.0 up to 3.05, the chain is so flexible that you just want to spin each and everyone of these little rings!

28 inches long, about 1/4 inch in thickness, weighs at 2.8 oz.

Use this chain to hold your wallet, or your pocket watch!  Your choice.  Either way, it'll be stylish, and you'll be the coolest!!!  :-)

Available for purchase at my ArtFire online store.

For more views of the chain, please visit my Picasa web album.

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Blue Daisies Earrings with Color Coordinated Niobium Ear Wires

These blue daisies are not only bright and cheery, they are on a pair of handcrafted niobium ear wires of matching colors!

I made the pair of ear wires out of natural niobium wire, with added scrolls at front for some extra flair, shortened tail ends at the back for comfort wear, and then anodized the pair in two of the high voltage colors in the reflective spectrum: hot pink and teal blue, making them perfect for the big purple rings and the teal blue daisy beads.

These earrings are light weight, great for everyday wear; thanks to the niobium ear wires, they are hypoallergenic and will not irritate even the most sensitive ear lopes:-)

The Blue Daisies earrings measure at 2 1/2 inches long, 1/2 inch wide, weighs at a mere 0.1 oz.

Haven't tried niobium yet?  Wondering what it is?  Here's a little intro to this semi-precious metal.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ About Niobium ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Niobium is a natural material, element number 41 on the periodic table. The color of unanodized niobium is a warm, dark gray. When anodized, a layer of skin forms on the metal surface and reflects colors of the spectrum depending on the thickness of the layer.

Natural niobium requires no maintenance, will not change state or tarnish in our natural environment, hypoallergenic even for those with most skin sensitivity. It has been my favorite metal to use in handmade jewelry.

This item is available for custom order in my ArtFire studio.  Customizations welcome.

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Joanna's Genie Perfume (Faux) Bottle

My dear friend Joanna wants one of my chainmaille genie bottles in black, not as a pendant, but a treasured trinket that can stand on her own (hence without tassels) in her curio cabinet.  Here's it is!

I won't go into details as to how many failed experiments went through my work bench to allow the bottle to stand up by itself while still holding all the components sturdily in place .....  I even checked through all my vendors, online and local, to no avail.  Mind you, I want only cold connections, no glue, no soldering.

In the end, I was so glad I learned how to wire wrap good:-)

Joanna loved it!  Yay! 

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Byzantine Side Knots Bracelet

It has been a while since my last Byzantine chain in its classic form.  That was when my net surfing landed on another one of Scott David Plumlee's ingenious chainmaille designs: the Byzantine Side Knots.

Here is my sincere admiration, done in bright aluminum.

Seven and a half inches long, 1/4-inch wide, with interspersed Byzantine Side Knots, the chain has an unmistakable ancient feel.  The Side Knots are made of two different gauges of wire; the thicker rings define shape of the knots, while the thinner rings flair out and fill the Byzantine "chamber" with delicate threads of wire.

To echo the 3-ring "wings" inside the knots, my Byzantine units for the chain are done in 3-ring connection, instead of the common 2-ring type.

For closure, I hand forged an S hook for its low profile and ease of use, a perfect compliment for the time-tested beauty.

Bright aluminum is a light weight aluminum alloy that is strong enough for chainmaille use, and brightly polished for a clean, crisp shine; no maintenance required.  To freshen up, give it a slush in soap and water, followed by blowing drying with a hair dryer at low settings.

This item is available for purchase in my ArtFire online studio.

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Tripoli Triangle Bracelet

Took me quite a while, but it's well worth it...........

Based on Scott David Plumlee's ingenious design of Tripoli Triangle, six of the Tripoli Triangle units are simply connected end to end.  I tried out a few other ways to link them up; in the end, I chose the easiest one; no muss, no fuss; nothing to distract attention from the intricate, lacy design of each little triangle.

The lovely bracelet shows off the unique combination of Byzantine and Mobius, the two ever popular chainmaille weaves.  With every movement of the wrist, each tiny jump ring of the Tripoli points reflects the light in all directions, giving a soft sparkle that's the trade mark of Byzantine weave.

Each of the six Tripoli Triangles is an equilateral triangle measuring 1 1/8 inches on each side.  The total length of the bracelet, including the handcrafted heart clasp in natural niobium, is 7 1/2 inches, with a thin profile at 3/16th of an inch.  All jump rings are bright aluminum for light weight and no maintenance required.

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