Bangle core: continued

I've got another suggestion from a friend on how to deal with the Stainless Steel core bangle: instead of attempting to make a wrapped loop, simply form a coil of loops (2 or 3) at the end of the wire. Then, by wrapping it with thin sterling silver, it should be strong enough (and nicely made) to support the bangle.

Unicorn Pendant Tutorial

Ok, now you know what I've been so *busy* with lately: besides working on commissions, writing my own tutorials and maintaining the website, I've also been working non-stop on editing and publishing Guest Artist Sandy Hendrickson's tutorial on how to make the gorgeous Unicorn Pendant.

Here's a secret: when Sandy first submitted her entry to the WWJ Fantasy, Myth and Magic contest, I fell in love immediately with the pendant and decided to ask the artist to work on a collaborative tutorial when the contest was over. I was NOT surprised when it snagged BEST OF SHOW! (Note: I was not a judge and had no influence whatsoever on the judges' decisions -- all entries were confidential).

We both put an enormous effort into making this tutorial happen: Sandy took hundreds of pictures and wrote detailed instructions for me. I edited the pics in Photoshop, manipulated the extensive text and published the entire thing. It took us months!

One of my next tasks is going to be to make a unicorn pendant myself -- I already ordered the materials for it, and soon enough I shall try my hand... I already even have a recipient for the first pendant, a dear friend. The question is: will I be able to make ONLY one? :-)
I THINK NOT!!!

Bangle core: stainless steel

I have received quite a few emails after I posted the problem with the "broken bangle core", asking what gauge of stainless steel is recommended. I used 24 ga, which is pretty thin and it was already very DIFFICULT to make a wrapped loop with that -- so I don't recommend any thicker. The wire I used is the kind that is sold sometimes as "memory wire", and is easily found in jewelry supply stores.

The advantage of using the stainless steel core is that, because it's thinner, you can use nicer stones to make bangles (which normally come with very tiny holes), and it will hopefully not break unless you are really *ruthless* with the jewelry.

The disadvantages are that it's tricky to make a wrapped loop with such hard wire, and you have to wrap the core wire ENTIRELY, even the loops and shanks, or else the bangle looses some of the preciousness. (If you are going to take that long to make a piece of jewelry, it better look precious!).

Oh, another disadvantage is that the stainless steel is REALLY hard to cut. Don't you use your good cutters on it or you'll ruin them. Instead, get a pair of strong regular wire cutters from the hardware store.

New Stones

Manage to post the first batch of faceted stones for sale, in between working on commissions and planning for a birthday party.

These are not small stones... These are huge!

After this, the cabs!

The business of business

There just aren't enough hours in a day. This is a list of the things I am working on now:

1) Finishing up the last touches on a special tutorial, made in partnership with a fantastic artist and which will be released in one or two weeks;

2) Working on editing several of my own tutorials;

3) Working on a whole bunch of jewelry commissions;

4) Working on several new jewelry designs;

5) Working on re-doing one bangle which had the core wire snapped (read more about this below);

6) Keeping up with bank and business paperwork.

Yesterday, I managed to add ONE more item to the list: I discovered the most fantastic supplier of cabs and beads in Brazil who is willing to work with me and find some unusual pieces. Out of impulse I got a small lot of stones which I will be posting on my site for sale.

So I have to photograph and describe the pieces on a page, which I will try to do this week. In the lot, I got some gorgeous cushion shape amethyst cabs, faceted rock crystals, shimmering faceted created amethysts and my favorite stone, the blue-green amazonite from Brazil, both in rough large nuggets and smooth cabs. Yummy. None of the stones in this lot are drilled, but the supplier promised they can drill ANYTHING, even the faceted stones, if I want to. Talk about temptation.

Back to business, this is for you bangle-makers... This is the second time the core wire of a bangle snaps. The silver wire being very soft compared to other metals maybe not be able to take all the stress. So I am re-making the bangle using stainless steel wire, which will be totally covered/coiled with silver. From now on, I will recommend that the core wire not be made in silver, but yet in stainless steel.

New Book

My good friend Karen Hardy (an amazingly versatile artist, who works with polymer clay, lampworked beads and wire wrapping with equal ease), has asked me for a long time why I didn't convert some of my tutorials into a book. I finally took her advice: I selected some of the most popular advanced tutorials and worked them together into a full colored book: Eni Oken's Jewelry Lessons -- Masters Selection.

The printing was done at Lulu.com, a printer-on-demand, per Karen's recommendation, and it was a great choice: I had them print one before launching the book and I was happily surprised with the beautiful quality of the illustrations.

FSOJ Week 39

I'm late with my projects of the FSOJ, but I have a good excuse: I'm working like crazy on various commissions. Here's one made after the Tidal Wave Bangle, with aquamarines, a silver starfish and lobster: