Tag: throwback

Throwback Thursday: wire roots

On By CarynIn Craft, throwback

When my kids were young I turned to making more jewelry. The projects were usually quick (under a couple hours), easily stashed out of reach, and didn’t involve things like knives or torches. Wire is one of my favorite crafting media, and I still like this wire wrapped stone with braided wire necklace I made in July 2007. I feel the photography on this piece also shows skill improvement.

Photo description: triangular polished stone wrapped with twisted wire “roots”, combined at the top, then split and braided to form the sides of the necklace, finished with a magnetic clasp

Ironically, when my kids were babies, I stopped wearing necklaces and earrings so they wouldn’t be targets for little hands. Over that time I developed a neck sensitivity and can now only wear a very light necklace for an hour tops before it bugs me and has to come off. Heavier necklaces like this one don’t last 30 seconds.

Happy Fourth of July, may your neighbors celebrate quietly and early, and may your animals be calm.

P.S. My apologies for email subscribers on a partial post yesterday. I started writing tomorrow’s post, stuck my phone in my pocket, and the post published itself, incomplete. The full post should go out tomorrow, barring more technology hiccups.

Throwback Thursday: thread cutter

On By CarynIn Craft, throwback, Tools

I had a long period of time in which Sculpey clay was my go-to medium. I found this photo from March 2007 of a thread cutter made from layered oven bake clay surrounding a wheel cutter blade with a brass wire loop. I formed each side of the cutter using a mold that I made, baked it, sanded it, then assembled it, probably with glue (tsk). The loop was properly made with a mechanical connection: prongs that went into holes in the clay.

Photo description: striped red thread cutter with indents to allow access to the blade inside, but protect from accidental cutting

I made several of these at one point. If I were to attempt to make them again, I would make sure there was a mechanical connection holding the blade between the sides. I’m sure the glue didn’t hold up to time or dropping.

Throwback Thursday: wire snowflakes

On By CarynIn Craft, throwback

In November of 2005 I made a wood and nail jig and produced several styles of wire snowflake ornaments.

Photo description: twisted dark blue wire snowflake with one branch replaced with a crystal bead
Photo description: twisted copper wire snowflake with crystal beads around the center and double the amount of wire
Photo description: twisted silver wire snowflake with a single crystal bead in the center

It is quite satisfying the number of permutations that can be achieved with a single jig just by skipping an element or doubling the wire or adding beads in different places. I did move away from the black velvet for photos, but was having trouble with white balance using the cream colored felt. Yes, I could break out Photoshop and adjust them to all match, but I think the varied backgrounds are appropriate for a Throwback Thursday.

I don’t have the jig anymore, but it was a simple affair with nails driven through 1/8” or 1/4” plywood. I didn’t make any more wire snowflakes after this round because it was a pain and a twisting nightmare.

Throwback Thursday: leather belt

On By CarynIn Craft

Here is a throwback from February 2005. I carved a Celtic knot into a leather belt and dyed and finished the leather. I really enjoy leather carving, nearly as much as pyrography. The photo isn’t spectacular, but at least I moved away from the black velvet backdrop.

Photo description: black leather belt with a Celtic knot carved along the length, sitting on a sandy colored composite counter

Throwback Thursday: book weight

On By CarynIn Craft

Today we are going back to December of 2004 and a leather book weight I made and decorated with painted bees. It seemed appropriate to share this in nod to my bee visitor this week.

Photo description: tooled and painted leather book weight with painted bees on red, blue, and green circles on each end, the sides have been sewn with leather lace with a braided edge. Black velvet background (which was totally a thing back then).

The ends of the book weight are filled with small bags of sand to give it enough heft to hold a book open. The back side is suede to be gentle on the pages and have a bit of grip. I’m still quite pleased with the stitches around the outside, I love a good decorative braid stitch. I do have to admit that I have to look up how to make the braid every time.