In September 2016 I made a braided horse hair bracelet for a friend with tail hairs from her three horses.
There are other jewelry makers that glue the ends into metal caps. I don’t trust glue to hold, so prefer to pair glue with a mechanical join as well, in this case crimping down a wire wrap on the ends of the braids. When I do this again, I will do a different clasp, because the clip is difficult to get on, but easy to accidentally pop open.
In May of 2013 I was experimenting with circuits and epoxy resin. I made a set of earrings with components striped from a cell phone, epoxy, and sterling silver wire.
This project did not stand the test of time. The epoxy yellowed and the silver tarnished. I thought I used “non-yellowing” epoxy, but I don’t have a record of the brand or type. I’ve drifted away from epoxy except as an adhesive for this reason.
I have to say that I’m not entirely displeased with the aging of these earrings. The yellow and oxide have a more steampunk look than the newly made earrings. The epoxy is still solid, not cracked or degrading or sticky. I still wear the earrings.
Here is another requested repair from my mother-in-law. This is a pretty nested tear drop design made from several colored loops. Here, the component holding all the loops broke in half.
Rather than glue the link back together, which surely would have broken again, I crafted a new linkage from twisted square sterling silver wire. I liked the rustic look of the twisted wire, and how it coordinated with the existing loops.
I did accidentally break the silver colored tear drop, but a little sanding removed the burr and I was able to still use it in the repaired pendant.
Did I remember to take a photo of the pendant on the chain? Sigh, no.
I did some experiments in button making in February of 2010, tiny silver buttons for my button-collecting Grandmother. One set fashioned from sterling wire, and the other set from silver clay and cubic zirconia, which can survive the firing temperature of the clay.
All the buttons have shank loops for sewing, rather than holes through the buttons. It was a fun project, and I think they came out interesting, although they are mostly for show. They are functional buttons, but not practical buttons.
This is another favorite jewelry project I made back in January 2010. I used silver clay, some with cubic zirconia inclusions, to make unique beads, created custom wire elements, small chain link florets, and built links with end caps and beads.
This necklace did not do as well in the Fire Mountain Gems contest, which disappointed me because I thought this one displayed more technical skill. In hindsight, that is probably why it didn’t do well, it isn’t something easily duplicated, so wouldn’t advertise their products to the best advantage.
Live and learn.
Critters and Craft 