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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Lorenz's Forget-Me-Not Necklace

When I was making the Forget-Me-Not earrings for my dear friend Kathy, I was hoping I'll make a matching necklace so they can go together as a set, like the first set I made years back.  Should be quick and easy, right?  cuz I've done it once already, and I have enough niobium rings anodized in all colors of the interference spectrum.  Let's get started!

Well, then the "what-if" side of me took over (again), and I wanted an update for this set, something still the straight forward Forget-Me-Not weave, but with a spin.

 First of all, I set the little "falling petal" ring back to the upright position, as opposed to the downward direction in my previous set.  Then I thought the focal design of necklace just looked better when it's on opposite direction facing each other.

That worked out well, except for the center triplet.....

Several go-arounds on finding the right size rings, some trial and error, flip up and flip down, dangles or no dangle ....  Long story short, this is the final look.

A short 16" choker style necklace, which is not my kind of necklace.  Added a 2" extension at the back makes it an 18"; much better!  Flexibility is a good thing:-)

Speaking of flexibility, the center beads are AB coasted on one side only, i.e., the other side is clear with a foiled-back, silver sparkly look.  So, wear it on the "top side" of the "flip side", your choice!  Bit unexpected bonus, cool!

I'm rather pleased with the final look.  A simple structure, classic symmetry, pops of colors, shiny but not noisy.  It all ends well!

This necklace is available for custom order thru my online studio DaisyKreates.com.  Just drop me a note via the Contact form on right!

More photos?  Please visit my Picasa web album!

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Lorenz's Forget-Me-Not Earrings

Made these earrings as a special order for my dear friend Kathy, who already bought a pair of these for herself earlier this year; now getting another pair for her sister.

I'm so glad I have the opportunity to come back to this weave after more than two years ago when I first learned it.  So simple, so cute!  Lots of ways to expand on these.   

Compared to the original weave, I'm hanging these upside down, seems more natural this way for earrings.

One of these days, I'll make a pair with the petals going the right way, upward, that is:-)

Incidentally, I hand saw these niobium rings with a 4/o saw blade.  I wasn't too sure if these blades will work on 17 swg coils; the wire is 1.31 mm.  Well, as you can see, it did work, not very difficult at all.

Couple of things worth noting:

1. I used Rio Grande's Burr Life liberally on the blade, and it cuts much better than all my previously improvised lubricants.  Burr Life, good stuff to have.

2. Niobium gets warm rather quickly when worked on, this includes when being forged and being cut.  I could feel the temperature warming up thru the masking tape around the coil....

It's always a good day when I learn something new:-)

   

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Helm Fuchsia Chainmaille Earrings

I'm often asked, "How long does it take you to make this?"

Well, how long is a piece of string? :-)

Sometimes, it's that long!

I started this helm half sphere design way back when, and the pair was for all intend and purpose done.  I even did a few rounds of usability test, and they passed with flying colors (pun intended:-)!  But in my mind, it seems to be lacking that final touch.... until I switched out the tassels with these stainless steel curb chain with diamond cuts.

Now, they're done!  Ready for their close-ups!

A total of 3 inches long, 3/4 inch wide, with mostly anodized aluminum rings, on surgical steel ear wires.  Totally vivacious!!

Available for special order via my online studio DaisyKreates.com.  Hope you'll come by for a visit!

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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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Double Half Persian 3 in 1 Bracelet in Mixed Metals

Not just doubled as in "kinged".  And no, doubling a Half Persian doesn't make it a "Full" Persian, at least no in chainmaille land.

This is "doubling" as in "layering", emphasizing the "stacking" effect of Persian weaves.

Very tactile.  Somewhat lacy, but sturdy enough to feel like a rope.

Not a particularly difficult weave either, just tricky to start, as usual with many Persian weaves, specially when the ring size is way bigger than the classic Half Persian 3 in 1.

From the side, it looks kind of feathery.

and the bottom (or valley) side is still wider than the top.

Very supple.  Both feminine and masculine.  A classic modern!

Available for purchase in my online studio DaisyKreates.com!

Complete views in my Picasa online album.

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What "NOT" to do: JPL with Rubber Rings

This should be pretty self explanatory.

Interesting to look at, and maybe play with, but only if one knows how to put each ring back to its proper place.  Could be a good learning tool for JPL.....

Yeah, I had just realized I never logged this here in my own blog .....  so this is a catch-up from back in early 2012.

More catch-up's coming up:-)

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Confused Chameleon Bracelet

No, I didn't make up the name.  It's called "Confused Chameleon", that's the name of the weave, see for yourself.

Does a close-up help?

I don't know the back story of the weave name, but I do see those big old, somewhat dazed looking eyes, not to mention the whole 7" length can also be contracted back down to 4"!  That would qualify for a chameleon of some sort:-)

I think they are very cute, either way!

I found this weave on M.A.I.L. by accident, and I don't remember what I was looking for when this weave showed up.

It's one of those unruly looking weaves no matter how you look at it; it says so in the weave description: "... highly chaotic-looking weave, even when it is consistent"!

Cool!  I like those!

Turned out, once I got going, the pattern becomes obvious.  Do you see it now?  It's a very "touchable" kind of bracelet ....

.... the kind you want to feel it, hold it, try it on for yourself.

I'd describe it as "lacy, festive, attention-grabbing"!

With the tube slider clasp, the bracelet will fit up to 7 1/2".

If you prefer your bracelet to be on the weighty side, the shiny jewelry brass jump rings give you plenty of that.  Brass will tarnish over time, but the shine can be brought back easily by a few quick dips in household white vinegar.

This cute little chameleon bracelet can be made to order via my online studio DaisyKreates.com.

Complete views of this little critter is in my Picasa web album.  Please come by for a visit!

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Strangemaille

You know what people say about things they don't understand.....  "That's strange..."  Got your attention, didn't it? :-)  It did for me!

It looks a bit strange (duh!), but in a very attractive way:-)  Saw several gorgeous bracelets made in the weave, looked almost like fuzzy loops out of yarns.  I want one!

So last night, I set out for my first go at Strangemaille; I was aiming for a short test strip.  It was rather easy, to my surprise.  So I kept going.  Wow, this weave is additive!  I couldn't stop!  Went for nearly 4 inches when it happened again, my eternal nemesis:  Running out of rings!  Ugh!

So I broke off a section of the strip, counted a few multiples of 3 center rings, decided to connect it end to end for a finger ring, instant gratification, right?!  But ahh.....  (you may have guessed it) The connecting part took me longer than learning and making the 4-inch strip!!

Lucky for me, when I nearly decided to give up and call it a night, it clicked!  Like a zipper!!

Not exactly prim and proper, more funky and loopy, LOL!!

It definitely is not as thin as a Oops ring would feel, but still pretty comfy on the finger, about the size of a chunky pinkie ring.  I'm very happy with this:-)

This ring is now available for purchase in my online studio DaisyKreates.com.  Please come by a visit.

As to the rest of that test strip?  I put a pink drop bead on one end, a simple bail of triple rings on the other, and turned it into a funky little pendant!

More pictures of the pendant to come in my future blog entry.  Please stand by! :-)

(I noticed how many times I used the word "funky" here; it's either it really is very funky, or I should expand my vocabulary beyond "funky"....:-) )

Complete views of the "Strange" stuff, please visit my Picasa web album.

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Strangemaille is a weave by lorenzo on M.A.I.L.  To learn how to make this weave, I followed this tutorial by hysteria101, an excellent article.  Several inspiring work there as well as on M.W.W.


up, down, middle, up, down, middle, up down, middle....


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