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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Ruffly Ribbon Strangemaille Pendant in Golden Fuchsia

Yes, this is a pendant that I created a while back, but never quite finished the whole piece, until now!

I really like this weave, Strangemaille, created by lorenzo of MAIL.  Seemingly random, but strangely consistent; I like the little wonkiness (is that a word? :-), and the softness both in look and feel.

But when it's centered on a delicate ball chain, it's totally prim and proper, be it on a white blouse....

or that cute little black dress!!

Pendant is 2" long, 5/8" wide, on 18" plated ball chain, with a 1" extension.

Make this your go-to necklace for the long, lazy summer to come!

This pretty pink pendant is now available for purchase in my online studio DaisyKreates.com.

Oh, and you are also looking for a something to go with this necklace, a finger ring perhaps?  Be sure to check this out as well.

Tibetan Mandala Pendant - Chainmaille Style

I don't stand a chance when it comes to colors.

The more, the merrier!!!



A circle of all inclusiveness, as a symbol of compassion for all.

More pix?  Come visit my online albums on Google+.

This cheerful pendant/necklace is now available in my online studio DaisyKreates.com.  Come by for a visit!

Genie Bottle Pendant in Raven Black

One of my favorite Genie Bottles in monochrome black.

It's difficult to photograph black on black ....

See what I mean?
But this black beauty is totally versatile.  Be it raven black, jet black, onyx black, or black galaxy, it's a little bit of everything, reserved, goth-looking, mysterious, unexpected, still goes perfectly with any outfit, in any occasion, day and night!

I'm glad my friend Joanna asked for one of these; I might not have tried this color scheme on my own, mostly because I already wore so much black, LOL!!!

Took me way longer to prepare photos for this pretty pendant than to make it.  One day I'll figure this one out.

Available as customer through my online studio!!

More pix?  Please visit my online album.

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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Chainmaille Temari Pendants

I think of these as my chainmaille Temari pendants, although the die-hard maillers would perhaps insist on their technical name: Japanese Dodecahedron 10 in 3.

In any case, one thing is true:

These little balls are totally addictive!!

There is never making just one of them...

Difficult for me to use only one color; must mix them up a bit:-)

OK, so maybe just one of these in a single color... How about blue?  Very cool color, blue, that is, with a little on the indigo side... and a little on the purple side:-)

Seriously, isn't this so much more interesting than just the same shade of blue? :-)

I like using the color rings for the surface layer of the sphere, and the bright aluminum rings on the outer connections; the colors stay protected from wear, while the shiny silvery rings bring out the highlights, and echo the reflection from the glass marble in the center of the ball.

 

Strung on 24" smooth rubber cord, 2mm thick, closes with a dainty sterling silver clasp, the Temari pendant is just a little over 1" in diameter, perfect size for everything in your wardrobe!!

These cute chainmaille Temari ball necklaces are now available for purchase in my online studio DaisyKreates.com.  Thinking about different color combinations?  How about dropping me a note in the "Contact Form" to arrange for a custom order?!

More views of the necklace available in my Picasa Web 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!!

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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Dancing in the Rainbow - Part 2

Following upon yesterday's post of the sparkly set of "Dancing in the Rainbow", here's a little collage for the necklace.

This genie bottle pendant has the same elements as all her older sisters:-) but a whole lot more colors.  In fact, just about all the colors in the rainbow, and a couple more, making up the chamber portion of the chainmaille genie bottle.

Unlike all my other genie bottle pendants that "lounge" on the neck chains, this "all-spectrum" genie bottle sits straight up in the middle of the necklace.  It's incorporated into the necklace in a more classic design, very prim and proper:-)

Same as the other pieces of the set, this necklace is loaded with Swarovski crystals on its fringes.  We are going full force for the "bling factor"!

Now that we're all set,

~~~~~ Shall we dance? ~~~~~

For complete views of this very special set, please visit my Google Photos album.

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Dancing in the Rainbow

A commissioned 3-piece set of jewelry, with lots of colors, lots of bling!

The finger ring

If this looks lots of fun to wear, it was even more fun to make!

The chainmaille portion is a fancy European 4 in 1, kind of a morphed Chrysanthemum.  Easy enough.

But the base took me a while....  a long while.  Many experiments, lots of testing; I finally settled on the technique I learned from Eni Oken's Ornate Ring, which I modified to make a separate ring base/shank like so....

which can then be used with many other ring applications.  Pretty snazzy, wouldn't you say?!

And here are the earrings with clip-on ear wire findings...

A colorful version of my chainmaille genie bottle line, a very embellished chainmaille Whirlybird.

And finally, the necklace!

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I wanted to take more photos for the necklace but my camera has finally decided to quit.  Not blaming it; it's given me almost 10 years of fun and good time; not many electronic gizmos out there these days can last 10 months with non-stop performance.  Thank you, my little red Exilim!  I will miss you...

So, I'm now shopping for a new camera.  Suggestions/recommendations welcome!  When I'm back behind my new camera, I'll get more pix for this fancy, blingy necklace, provided its owner Eunice will loan this back to me for more photos:-)