July AJE Component of the Month - Fused Glass Fantasy!

This month, the design team over at AJE was honored to work with gorgeous fused glass pieces by the multi-talented Francesca Watson.

She asked if we wanted cabochons or drilled pieces and I chose the red piece on the bottom right and left it undrilled since I thought this was a perfect opportunity to practice my bezel-setting skills!  And I was right!

I chose some scalloped bezel wire to use and originally was going to use a copper backing to create a pendant, but the more the copper laid on the work bench, the more I longed to jump in and use the sterling sheet I had stashed away.  I told myself I wasn't going to use it until I felt more proficient...sterling is expensive, y'all!  But, I jumped in with both feet!

I went with an organic shape, but when I put the cab in, I wasn't sure which side was going to be the top, or how I would attach a bail.  I punched one hole where I thought I might try to hang it, and didn't like it, so I punched holes in each of the scallops, then punched a few more, and then a few more! I also wanted to pierce the back so that the red glass would show through in a design...believe me, this was not the design I wanted!  It was going to be a pretty spiral, but after I got part of it sawed out, I realized how flimsy it was so I sawed it into a big hole, then tried to mimic the outer shape with the waves and holes.  After a trying soldering session (couldn't get it to flow) I finally got my act together, decided to use my bigger torch and finished it up.

I like it and am so happy I persevered and went with the sterling instead of the copper!  Here is the back...

Now, I need to get the rest of the design going!  I think I am either going to do a sterling viking knit or a handmade chain of some sort...what do you think?

Thanks, Francesca, for the gorgeous glass cabs, and for the design challenge!  Go see what the rest of our team created!

Guest Designers

Deb Fortin - www.studiok24.blogspot.ca

Toltec Jewels - www.JewelSchoolFriends.com

Carol Briody - cbriody.blogspot.com

The AJE Team

Caroline Dewison - blueberribeads.blogspot.co.uk

Susan Kennedy - www.suebeads.blogspot.com

Jenny Davies-Reazor - www.jdaviesreazor.com/blog

Kristen Stevens - kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com

Francesca Watson - www.francescawatson.com

AJE February Component of the Month - Fluttering Hearts

I am so honored to be part of the group of talented, kind and generous jewelry artists at Art Jewelry Elements!  One of my favorite things about being part of that team is participating in these Component of the Month challenges...it is so much fun to receive such gorgeous, unique pieces from these wonderful artists.  I have to say it is sort of humbling when it comes your turn to be on the 'component provider' end!

For February, I decided to offer hearts that I hand-cut from copper, shaped, then torch-fire enameled. The finishing touch was the addition of colorful glass frit.

I was trying hard to think outside the box this month and had something on my mind that I wanted to do...

I wanted to create a sort of  "milagro" type of sacred heart and did a search on Pinterest.  Wow, lots of inspiration there!  So I set to work.  I did some sketches, decided on one, then sawed it from copper.

I was going to leave it bare, with perhaps some texture, but changed my mind, and covered it with molten solder and embedded little brass flowers in.  I riveted the heart onto piece using balled copper headpins which also create a pin clasp in the back.  Not showing the back this time as I am not especially happy with it right now and am going to work on it some more with some other ideas I have for future pieces.

I chipped the heart as well when I was attaching it, but I just filed it down and patina'ed it with some liver of sulfur and left it...I think it adds to the "vintage" feel of the piece!

Below is our team of designers for this month.  I can't wait to see what everyone created!  How about you!

Guests...
Lori Bowring Michaud 
Kathy Lindemer
Kim Bender 

AJE Team...
Melissa Meman
Jenny Davies-Reazor
Rebekah Payne
Caroline Dewison
Kristen Stevens
Keirsten Giles
Sue Kennedy