Steampunk Princess: Mechanical Butterfly

I finished it! *dances* Last night, with 10 minutes to go before I was supposed to be getting ready for date night, I finished the necklace I started next week (and even made some earrings... because that's only the right thing to do :P ).

Like I said in one of my previous posts, this necklace was inspired by a bracelet design featured in a book called "Steampunk-Style Jewelry". Mostly, I used the idea of coiled wire helping filigree pieces look like cogs or mechanical parts, which you can see in the focal of my necklace. The book had the coiled wire a bit tighter but I couldn't get the wire to stay tight. I'll admit, I didn't read the directions... I was on lunch and just flipped through the book. But I think I like the way the coils look like springs. It works for me.

The focal is pretty much the only part I kept the same from the original design of the necklace. I originally was going to have the pretty green Magatama drop beads strung on hemp, but it proved too much of a pain to find six beads that would fit over the cord. I decided to just do four whole strands of the pretty bead and I rather like it. It think it works out better and looks prettier. Kind of liquidy with their shininess.

Another part that changed was the chain. I originally had the chains be equal length. But that looked a bit boring and unbalanced with the boldness of the green Magatama beads. Also, the necklace was a bit long... so I shortened a piece of chain on each side and then hung the other two off the shortened pieces so the chain scalloped. It gives it a sort of elegance that I think it was missing. To the chain, I also added a few of the Chinese glass beads I have on the focal. I thought it brought a bit more green to the piece.

The earrings I made from two more copper connectors and the bit of scrap chain I snipped off the necklace. Added some of the green beads (both the Chinese glass and Magatama beads) and I think it matches the necklace nicely.

I wore the necklace and earrings on date night. And they made me feel so pretty... which I think is important to a piece of jewelry. I originally thought I would sell these pieces, but I just can't bring myself to part with them. I will just have to make a sister necklace.

My boyfriend thinks I should add some of the Magatama beads to the chain or maybe the focal. I might try that. They're such pretty beads. I'd also like to try making a matching bracelet. Hmm... maybe that's how I'll spend my day off today...

Happy Friday, everyone!

Who is "Ahtee?"- Week 4

So, of course yesterday, after being sick in bed the whole day, I couldn't sleep! I sketched these out at around 2am this morning. It's how I see myself.

I'm told I don't have quite as big a face as I draw. Or a double chin that is as noticeable as those in my drawings... but when one does a self-portrait, sometimes they focus on what they don't like and highlight it. At least, that's what I do. These sketches were drawn with pen in my little sketchbook (little meaning 4"x6" maybe...). I wonder. Each sketch is different, but each is me. Do you think so?

This self-portrait project is fun. And I'm glad I'm doing it because its forcing me to post at least once a week. And that's good, I think. Keeps me on track and reminding me that I have an art/jewelry blog and need to keep at it!

I did a semi-autobiographical comic once... I wonder if I should give that a go again. It was fun.

Sleep calls... hopefully some new jewelry next post!

<3

WIP- Mechanical Butterfly

While my boyfriend and friends go out to watch my friend's band's first performance, I am sick in bed! I had to call out because I was feverish and now, though the fever is gone, I feel very weak.

I wanted to finish this necklace yesterday but was so busy with work. I thought, when I went to bed last night, I could finish it today, but woke up sick! How unfair. Haha.

The idea for this "mechanical butterfly" sprang from a project I read of in a book at work called "Steampunk-Style Jewelry." In it, there's a project where coiled wire, when sandwiched between two filigree pieces, look like cogs! I thought "Wow. I want to have a go at that..." And I'd seen these butterfly pieces probably the day before at my bead store. Sooo... after the project sat in my brain, growing, for about a week, I went to the bead store on Thursday and asked them for my first bit of freshly cut wire and chain just for this necklace (I'm a bit shy and barely talk to the lovely ladies who run the store and though I've wanted to try my hand at making my own ear wires, I haven't had the courage to ask them to cut me some wire. Something must be wrong with me, no? Hahaha) along with those butterflies I'd seen but didn't buy.

To me, the color that copper turns when it oxidizes is beautiful. And I thought that the two Chinese glass beads that sit atop the face of the butterfly pendant are the perfect color. I added some shiny copper chain to contrast the aged copper of the butterfly (and, in all honesty, to give something for the loops that hold the glass beads in place something to hold... :D).

The necklace is almost done. Here is a close up of the chain. Its also aged copper and hangs off of a connector that holds hemp cord with green Magatma drop beads. I felt like the cord and Magatama beads would add an organic feel to the necklace. That's the part that I need to finish- add the cord to the other connector, cord tips, and a clasp.

On a side note, I love the chain that I found at my bead store. Its hammered half-way through each link. I don't know why, but it made me feel like it was a perfect match to this necklace. It was a wonderful feeling when I saw this chain.

Hopefully I can finish this necklace soon. I don't like having something so close to being done but am just unable to finish it.

My head is spinning slightly so I think it's time to rest my eyes for a bit. Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend!

Rainy Day Beading

It has been STORMING here in southern California. I'm sure other parts of the United States are used to this kind of weather, but a "tornado warning" for Orange County? Really?

Personally, I love the rain. It's calming. And I felt ready to tackle a project that had been growing in my head for a little while. Not a complicated one, but a project nonetheless.

I can't reveal what is going to happen to this bracelet/earring pair just yet... because I have no idea who is going to be reading my blog. And I'd like to keep it as a little bit of a surprise, but I did want to share this design with whoever does happen to read my blog.

This bracelet was made using memory wire and five-holed spacers. The seed beads are from a bead soup I mixed up with purples, blues, white with a slight gold finish, and a touch of hot pink and brown. Four little metal dragonflies are worked into this bracelet. The dark blue beads are glass and look like stone. The purple beads are glass crackle beads. There are also lavender glass pearls and lavender fire polished glass beads. Its really very spring-like in my opinion.

I finished the ends with more spacers and chain on two of the three pieces of memory wire. Without the chain, the bracelet felt un-secure when I tried it on (is that a word? Un-secure?). On the middle piece of memory wire, purple Crystazzi crystal beads dangle and add just a touch more sparkle. Not really in a noticeable place but something that is waiting to be found.

Not one to waste, I used some of the scrap wire from the Crystazzi dangle beads to start a pair of earrings to match the bracelet. More seed beads and metal dragonflies. A touch of lavender fire polished beads. And a bit more Crystazzi sparkle.

Purples and silver really are my favorite colors to bead with right now. Hopefully, I can branch off and do something a bit different for next time.

Happy beading, all!

Note: I feel compelled to tell you that I watch the Lord of the Rings trilogy while I make things... drawing, painting, bookbinding, beading... all things made by me are made with Lord of the Rings playing in the background. Movie, movie with commentary, or special features. While making these, I was listening to the cast commentary of "The Return of the King." And Billy Boyd, who plays Pippin, has a fantastic Scottish accent. Well, while writing this, and even while I'm writing this little note, the words are being said in my head in his voice. Isn't that odd? It makes me giggle.

Who is "Ahtee?"- Week 3

I cut my own hair (for the first time since I was like 5) this week. I had one of those days on Thursday where I just wanted to hide under my covers until Friday, and I did. And when Friday came along, I found myself to have survived what had gone on and just took a pair of scissors and lopped off the hair.

It's not really a new start. I've had plenty of those. But its kind of a reminder that I am fully capable of doing things myself. Even something as silly has a haircut.

BTW- That diet I had planned for myself? PLLBBTTT! (is that the proper "raspberry sound effect" spelling?) Our fridge is broken. How can I store healthy food without a cooling unit? Oh well. :P

Re-Design W/ My Christmas Beads

Here is the original necklace I made using the beads my boyfriend bought me for Christmas. I wore it. Didn't like it. So. I changed it today.


This is the new design which I think works well with the upcoming lovey-dovey holiday. It was made using a two-needle weaving technique I read about in a magazine. They used four beads per section... I used a few more (they're seed beads and four didn't seem like enough).

The sections aren't quite hearts but I think they'll do.

I think it might be a tad too long but I can always change that. One of the joys of making my own jewelry is being able to make things that fit ME. :)

Rainbows and Puppies

My world isn't always full of rainbows and puppies. It's raining right now and after a cold and sad night, it isn't cheering me up like rain usually does. So, I thought I would share some puppy sketches that I did a few days ago. Puppies always cheer me up.

I've drawn quite a few different animals in my 22 years of living. I think I can honestly say I struggle the most with dogs and cats. Wolves, I can do. Tigers, lions... those I can eventually get something decent out of my pencil. But domesticated cats and dogs? I just am never happy with my ("realistic") sketches of them.

These at the top were some doodles I was fooling around with when my eyes grew tired of staring at a computer screen. I think the puppies came out ok. They look a little like Blue from "Blue's Clues," but I rather like the one holding the heart in its mouth. I was thinking of Valentine's Day when I drew that.

Here's to hoping we all get through this Wednesday and make it to Thursday, the beginning of the end of the week :D