be-rare! art jewelery

Fire & Water - rings

2012-03-09T14:23:00.000-08:00

Today I present two rings similar to each other, made in wire wrapping technique and decorated with cut millefiori glass.
The red ring is already somewhere on the blog, but especially for a certain person has been renovated ;) After the renovation I made a second ring - same, but different (as the kids often say).

I took a lot of photos of those rings, but I love the way they look on hand

Chainmaille ring with a lucky charm

2012-03-02T21:31:00.000-08:00

After the earlier big rings with large beads I wanted to do something more modest ... more subtle. I used for the first time this half persian weave and added a charm - a lucky little elephant :) Charms can be changed or another can be attached.

The ring on a hand looks gorgeous, it is ~~soft~~ flexible and very comfortable. I know that recently it's big rings with cabachons or antlers are ... trendy, but not always fit the occasion :)

Spring earrings

2012-02-28T15:11:00.001-08:00

I'm sick of winter and snow, and ice, and wind from the north (because it's cold in my bedroom) ... So today I made quite spring earrings in wire wrapping technique, which I recently give up in favor of chainmaille jewelery... Earrings are very simple, entirely hand-made with art wire - long leaf shaped ear hooks are finished with half of a flower with amethyst center.

Pink lanterns - chainmaille earrings

2012-02-24T13:29:00.000-08:00

Another chainmaille earrings (similar to those in the previous post). Pearl bead is surrounded by helm pattern, hang on so-called rose and standard ear hook. Earrings are quite short (about 4cm with the hook), look elegant and simple at the same time. I made that peace of jewelry thinking about my Mother in law and of course I gave her the earrings. Greetings to my Mother in low ofc :)

Retro earrings: lilies of the valley

2012-02-20T14:38:00.000-08:00

In order not to fall into routine, I made earrings :)
The technique remains the same - chainmaille earrings with beads of an unspecified type of quartz (really hard to define). Earrings are very elegant and feminine, they look wonderful on ears :)

Chainmaille earrings

Phantom ring

2012-02-19T01:08:00.000-08:00

As I wrote in previous post I created the bracelet during creating another ring in chainmaille technique :)
Ring is entirety - a garland around the ring and mesh - made with persian weave. Its finished with a mineral bead, probably synthetic quartz with a phantom. I like the beads, which are not plain and perfect, they have that charm and add character to jewelry, enhance its uniqueness :)

The advantage of that ring is the ability to change the stone to another in a similar size - just have to open few rings :)

Sense and Sensibility - bracelet with straps

2012-02-18T08:27:00.002-08:00

The project is made between one ring and another. The bracelet with braided straps has a bit of chain and artificial pearls. Although I prefer to wear jewelry which shines, I must admit that this bracelet looks very interesting - this combination of romantic pearls with a thick chain and straps is what I love :)

Green eye - chainmaille ring

2012-02-11T18:03:00.000-08:00

Here is the second ring, mentioned in a previous post. This time the ring is made in chainmaille technique. The ring is made in persian pattern, and green glass bead is surrounded by rings in helmet pattern. Even for me, these names do not sound too good, but the patterns look great :) Anyway, you judge it ...

The ring is quite large, it looks best on hand without any other jewelry. Of course its a matter of taste and someone surely would find something that fits him :)

Wire wrapped ring with agates

2012-02-10T06:12:00.000-08:00

Yes, my husband managed to persuade me to make some rings :)
The first one is a wire wrapped ring. Transparent bead (I assume it's some kind of chalcedony, because it was on one string with agate) surrounded by a garland of green agates. The ring cannot be resized.

Pity that I only have matte agates, maybe I should try to polish them somehow... any ideas how I could do that at home (without any tools for polishing)?

Oh, the second ring I'll add tomorrow... :)

Chainmaille earrings with flowers and blue millefiori

2012-02-06T21:12:00.000-08:00

Today I present two pairs of earrings in chainmaille technique, the jewelry made of rings :)

The first earrings I made some time ago, but threw them into my jewelry trunk and got out only to wear them. So finally, I reached for the camera ...

As you can see earrings are not complicated, but they look very nice anyway :) They should be in the shape of flowers, but gravity and various size of rings made the earrings look like that.

Another chainmaille earrings are made of millefiori glass (I call it the "chips", because the glass is cut into irregular peaces ...). Blue milefiori is surrounded by braided mesh of rings. This weave is also very simple, but I have't used it yet. Maybe I'll make a bracelet to match :)

Although it was a long break in posting it is the only jewelry I had to show. My husband urged me to do more wire wrapped rings. Sometimes I am surprised that a man may be interested in rings, earrings, beads, etc. (I haven't tried to make any jewelry for men...) And somehow I found that kind of man ;]
Lately I got my (ours) wedding photos and they inspired me to try to design the wedding jewelry. Although I do not know if I have enough pearl beads, hope it won't be a problem...

Gem stones - amethyst

2012-01-29T13:04:00.000-08:00

Today will be no jewelry, I'll write about stones. Well, about one stone...
Amethyst is called the apostles stone or the stone of sobriety (a - denial, no; methystos - drunk) is a variety of quartz colored violet or purple.

Amethyst cluster from wikipedia

Amethyst in Roman mythology
Amethyst occurs in the mythology and takes its name from a beautiful nymph Amethis. In that myth a drunken god Bacchus (gr. Dionysus) was angry with people who didnt show respect to god so he threatened that the first person who stand in his way will be torn to shreds by tigers. Unfortunately, the first one was the nymph, who traveled to the temple of Diana, to worship her. Running from Bacchus, she cried for help to goddess. Diana heard her and changed the nymph in a transparent colorless stone (quartz). Drunken Bacchus took his cup and said that wine makes everyone alive, then he poured red liquor on the stone and colored it in purple.
Another version of this myth is that Bacchus was in love with Amethis, but she loved a shepherd. Drunken god harass a beautiful nymph. Running from god, Amethis cried for help to Diana, the goddess of virginity. She changed the nymph in a shiny stone.
And this is the story of amethyst ;) According to the two versions of the myth, amethyst protects from the consequences of drinking wine, any alcohol in general. It was believed that drinking wine from amethyst cup protectsfrom being drunk or even poisoned.
Amethyst in the Bible
Referring to the term "rock/stone of the apostles", amethyst is mentioned as one of stones in the breastplate of Aaron, and in the Book of Revelation amethys is an adornment of twelve layer of foundation of heavenly Jerusalem (golden city, a metaphor of a transfigured earth, Rev 21.20).
Moreover amethyst strengthen celibacy and piety. Since the Middle Ages amethyst was an important decorative stone in Catholic church, it was called the bishop stone, because they wear amethyst rings.
Properties of amethyst
Many people attributed ordinary and extraordinary properties to amethyst. Konrad von Megenberg claimed that amethyst provides common sense and moves away bad thoughts. Arnoldus Saxo and Albert the Great came to the conclusion that amethyst provides prosperity and happiness.
According to Plinius amethyst turns hail and locusts, and in the Middle Ages it was believed that it affects plant growth.
Stone was also a talisman of riders. It was said that it protects both man and horse from wounds, as well as from hatred, anger, grief, nostalgy, and it pushes away all the other hazards.
Amethyst is also considered to be a lucky talisman of happy marriage and at the same time a suitable wedding gift (my husband bought me a few strings of amethyst beads, none of us knew what properties are assigned to the purple beads :)).
Violet color symbolizes dignity, spiritual strength, understanding and knowledge.
(Source: The magic of precious stones, Astrum).
A.A. Chrzanowska wrote that amethyst absorbs negative energies and protects against drunkenness and brings peace of mind, by which the mind can open up to greater experience. She assigns to amethyst some zodiac signs: Aries, Virgo, Scorpion, Sagittarius, Aquarius (that's me!), Pisces.
When it comes to healing, amethyst helps in migraine, because it strongly affects the whole sphere of the head, also stimulates function of pancreas and thyroid.

Amethyst geode from wikipedia

At the end an interesting fact: in 1900 in Santa Cruz, Brazil, geologists discovered a huge geode, a cave 10 m long and 5 m wide, its walls were covered with amethyst crystals (it had to be amazing!). This geode provided 70 tons (!) of amethyst.

I love all colours of amethyst, they are really amazing in natural light. Im quite new in stones ;) so I was more in 7th heaven when I found out that all purple stones I have are amethyst :] And now you can find here many jewelry peaces with it - amethyst ring in wire wrapping techniue, earrings and im working on some new ones. Maybe a bracelet... :)

Fish Scale Bracelet

2012-01-22T06:38:00.000-08:00

I spent about 20 hours, used a Lot of rings in three sizes and two headpins, watched whole season of The Mentalist and here it is - a bracelet, THE bracelet with fish scale pattern. In chainmaille technique of course :)
It's a birthday present for... someone. That Someone doesn't know it yet :) so shhh...
Check it out & let me know what you think :)

Bracelet with fish scale pattern (chainmaille)

Retro earrings

2012-01-20T05:29:00.000-08:00

Another jewelry project in chainmaille technique. For me they look like retro earrings, simple classic earrings from grandmother's trunk ;)
Dark brown stone surrounded by rings weave, diameter is about 25 mm (length of earrings - about 5 cm).

Flower Ring(s)

2012-01-15T16:01:00.000-08:00

It's time for my last, I mean latest project. It's a ring with chainmaille flower, which can slightly change its shape. The flower can lie flat or take shape of a flower cup. I like it and I hope you'll feel the same :)

Chainmaille earrings

2012-01-15T10:24:00.000-08:00

Another project made during my movies marathon - lovely earrings with brown and green gemstones. Although the pattern is simple, it looks great :)

DNA necklace

2012-01-13T06:09:00.000-08:00

I work better when I can watch a movie. So yesterday I watched like 3 or 4... Yes, Im against SOPA ;)
My movies were Bag of Bones based on S. Kings novel, I Don't Know How She Does It also with Pierce Brosnan and S.J. Parker who I really dont like (so I wouldnt go to cinema to watch it) but the movie was... decent. Hmm, what else?... Oh, I watched Love Actually again (5th time) - I love British accent & movies & Robbie Williams ;)
During that movies marathon I made few... things and this is one of them.

It's a chainmaille necklace which I fell in love with right away. So did my husband :)
To a simple ring-to-ring chain I added a DNA alike chain. You can adjust the length of the necklace (a clasp is on the right side of both photos) and one end of the chain is finished with a single leaf charm.
Hope you like it :)

To do or not to do... Green

2012-01-11T09:09:00.002-08:00

I havent done anything new for a few days. A week maybe... So I checked whats left in my magic box, looked at my jars of beads... and... I took some wire and green glass beads that look like juicy grapes to me.

And here is what I managed to do :)

Its just another project to work on, but it looks good (on me for now :))

Pink

2012-01-05T11:41:00.000-08:00

Today I have another chainaille set to show. This time its a variation of byzantine pattern. Its very delicate and light so I decided to put pink glass pearls in it.
So... let me introduce you the set of earrings and bracelet. Hope you enjoy :)

Chainmaille Set

2012-01-03T06:39:00.002-08:00

Here's one of my chainmaille projects. I used a dragonback pattern to do these earrings and bracelet. Plus green stones.

Blue Eye

2012-01-01T10:14:00.001-08:00

Few day ago I made a ring and finally I made a photo of it so I can show it to you :)
I have no idea what kind of stone it is and I had only one gem in that color...

In addition I made earrings with that fishy ear hooks and purple gem stones:

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T20:23:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to all crafters, craft lovers and everyone else (if there are any ;))

The Snow Queen

2011-12-28T15:05:00.000-08:00

Well, actually its all about Kay who falls victim to the splinters of the troll-mirror and the blandishments of the Snow Queen...

Pic found at http://culturemouse.blogspot.com .
Its very alike to what I have in my H. Ch. Andersen stories book .

At first I was making just some heart-shaped earrings, without any plan, any vision... But when I added these blue glass beads it came to me its an icy heart, heart of a boy from the story.
...Splinters of the troll-mirror get into Kay's heart and eyes while he and Gerda are looking at a picture book in their window-box garden. Kay's personality changes: he becomes cruel and aggressive and he no longer cares about Gerda, since all of them now appear bad and ugly to him. The only beautiful and perfect things to him now are the tiny snowflakes that he sees through a magnifying glass...
Its a beautiful story about friendship and love and growing up... I love it :)

Kay's Heart Earrings

Ho ho ho!

2011-12-23T14:44:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to all! :))

(jewelry supplies christmas tree)

Ooops...

2011-12-20T09:10:00.003-08:00

An hour later... more or less :D
I still have a mess in my photos folder, but oh well... I have to admitt Im quite messy in some artistic way - I always know where I can find what Im looking for :]

So... here you have some photos of my older projects:

Left photo - one of my favorite sets, bracelet and earrings made of CCB and brass wire. Not expensive but it looks really good :)
Right one is my first chainmaille project. It looks... decent :)
And now its time to show my latest pieces.
Ta da!

Thats a lot of wire, isnt it? :)

Everything is quite delicate tho... Earrings with pearls look like bridal... :)

And thats all for now, tell me what you think - leave a comment :)

Some Changes

2011-12-20T03:18:00.003-08:00

This is the main change. Im gonna write the blog in English only. My language skill isnt perfect, but I made my decision because... well, theres not many viewers from Poland here so Im going to do another for them...
Okay... now Ill have to organize all my photos and then Ill publish them here... So see you in an hour or so :)