linques design speaks

new tutorial available!

Just a quick update to say my bracelet tutorial is now available at Whipup!

In it I show how to make just a basic braclet, and also how to make it even better!

Enjoy! :)

November Whiplash: Alt Craft

I did not think I was going to enter this month's Whiplash. That's because the category was ALT CRAFT. Honestly, that scared me a bit! I love reading books and looking at OTHER peoples alt crafts, but I've never really been one to try/do it. I think because in my mind I didn't have the confidence I could make beautiful jewelry that can be worn everyday out of unusual/found objects. So I was just going to let this one pass me by...

However--tonight I had to stop by the Home Depot to get an extension cord for Cosmo's heated puppy bed (that's another story...). After I found it I was going to check out, but the hardware aisle caught my eye. There was a solid wall of silver washers and findings; not unlike what you'd see at a jewelry store! Suddenly I had my project, and picked out 3 packages to get it done! So now I present to you my November Tutorial Whiplash Entry: the Garnet and Washer Necklace Tutorial

Garnet + Washer Necklace Tutorial

combine everyday washers into wearable jewelry! please use this tutorial as a starting point-check out your local hardware store for never ending possibilities!

Skill level: novice             Finished length: approximately 18"
Skills used: opening split rings, wire wrapping

As before, the pictures will come first, and then the explanations.

The finished necklace

Step 1: Gather your supplies. You will need:

-9 Lock washers with internal teeth, size 1/4". These are the the circles with the "floral" cutout.
-18 Lock washers, medium split, size #10. These are the medium sized rings on the right.
-18 Lock washers, medium split, size #8. These are the smallest rings on the top.
-21 Garnet nuggets
-10 Garnet ovals
-1 clasp, I used a sterling silver toggle.
-sterling silver wire, I used 24 gauge
-2 pairs of flat nosed pliers
-nail clippers (or any wire cutters, not pictured)
-2 jump rings to hook the clasp on (not pictured)

Step 2: Open up a size 10 lock washer.

This is the medium size. Notice that the outside has small ridges; I like it for some extra texture. Be careful when using your two pliers to open the ring, they're TOUGH!

Step 3: slide on 1 lock washer with internal teeth, and close ring to secure it.

Step 4: Open up another size 10 lock washer, and slide it onto the same washer with internal teeth. Close this washer to secure.

Step 5: Add 1 size 8 washer (the small ones) to each end. This is what you'll have. From here on out I'll refer to this finished piece of chain as "one link".

Step 6: Complete one more "link" in the same fashion as above.

Step 7: Using your wire wrapping learned here, attach a length of wire to the end of your link. Trim to about 1 1/2".

Step 8: Slide on one oval garnet, one nugget, and one oval. Wrap the end of your wire into a loop.

Step 9: Wrap the wire onto your other link section.

Step 10: Keep adding links and beaded sections until you have 8 beaded sections. I alternated between the ovals and nuggets.

Step 11: Add a dangle to the center "flower" of your necklace.

Step 12: Add your clasp to the ends of the necklace using the "real" jewelers jump rings.

Voila! In less than 30 minutes you have taken something "found" and made something wonderful! You can easily make earrings to match by making 2 additional link sections and adding them to earrings. How easy was that??

Once again, thank you Whipup for pushing me as a designer. Without this challenge I would not have tried or even thought of looking outside of my normal boundaries! I definitely think it was worth it!

please check out whiplash! try something new today. (i'll get the link to work with the picture someday...

 

tutorial anyone?

I will do my regular post later, but I'm making jewelry right now and had an idea. I had such an overwhelming response to this. That made me very happy because I think everyone should learn how to make jewelry!

So...since I'm making things double-time right now to prep for shows I thought I'd open this up to you--I would love to do another/more tutorials, but I would want to do what YOU want to learn! So if you want a tutorial for something; earrings, necklaces, bracelets, wire wrapping, etc just leave me a comment and I can probably get it up today!

Cascading Crystal Earrings Tutorial

Here's a little WIP you can try for today! This is a very fun project to make, and this month's Whipup is accessories, so it coincides nicely. Now I'm not even sure if I can enter this for Whiplash because I still can't figure out how, but that doesn't mean I can't post it!

Cascading Crystal Earrings Tutorial

*Please try this project, but only for personal use! Please don't sell items made using this tutorial. Thanks!*

Finished length app 2"; skills used: wire wrapping, wire twisting

The pictures will come first, then the explanation

*The finished earrings*

Step 1:  Gather your materials. You will need:
-2 french earring wires, I've used sterling silver
-2 lengths of chain, I've used 12 links per earring
-wire, I've used 24 gauge round sterling silver wire
-crystals, I've used 12 per earring in a 6mm bicone
-round nose pliers
-flat nosed pliers
-wire cutters, I always use fingernail clippers-they're the best!

Step 2: Begin to wrap your wire into coils, both for decoration and to hold your beads in place. Using your round nosed pliers, grasp the very end of the wire. Wrap your pliers, creating a tight coil with the wire.

(sorry for the blurry picture, I needed to show an action shot)

Step 3: Once you have made your starter coil shown in step 2, grasp it with your round nose pliers. You will need to twist your pliers while holding the coil, so the coil builds tightly around itself. I generally make my coils about 2 times around.

Step 4: Once you have your coil to your desired size, you will need to cut it. You have to leave enough wire to wrap around your bead later, so using your wire cutters cut your wire so it leaves you with about 2".

Step 5: Now you will need to create enough wires for all of your beads. Repeat steps 2-4 until you  have enough. I have used 12 per earring, so 24 in total.

Step 6: Prepare your ear wires. Add you length of chain to the earrings. This will make your wire  wrapping easier because you will have more weight on the chain.

Step 7: Determine your color layout. I always lay both earring patterns out so I don't mess up later. Here I have layed them out bottom to top when they'll be on the earrings by going left to right.

Step 8: Begin wire wrapping. (Multiple photos, shown off of the chain first to get the details.) This will ensure the beads don't ever fall off of the chain. Begin by grasping your wire with your first bead a little above the bead, and bend it to the right in a 90* angle.

Next, twist your round nose pliers to create a loop.

You will now need to straighten the loop so it aligns with the bead. Still using your round nose pliers, grasp the bottom of the loop and twist it so the loop straightens up. Open up the loop and slide it onto the first link at the bottom of your chain. (This will not be depicted, simply because I need to show the wrapping.)
 

***While the wire loop is on your chain, grasp the loop as shown using your round nose pliers. Then grasp the wire end using your flat nosed pliers, and begin to wrap the wire tightly around itself, going all the way to the top of the bead.

Once the wire is wrapped to the top of the bead, trim the wire end closely so it doesn't poke or stick out. Here's what it will look like on the chain:

Step 9: Add your other crystals. I always work form the bottom up, and also alternate between the left side of the link to the right side, so the crystals are spaced apart a little bit.

Step 10: Repeat for the other earring, and enjoy!

Using the same technique, you can create many different styles. Try letting your silver oxidize a little to get a different effect, or try using the wrapped technique at the bottom of the bead instead of the coil.

Couldn't get it to link, so to check it out go to Whiplash !

Making Gathers Tutorial

Alright, as promised here is a "making a gathered pattern tutorial." I hope at least someone finds it useful!

For the tutorial, the pictures come first, and then the explanation.

1. Draw out what you'd like your bag to look like. I always just use whatever scraps I find on the floor, but you can use a fancy notebook if you'd like!

2. Draw out a sketch with some rough measurements. These will just be guides; you will most likely change these once you start making your pattern.

3. Start drafting. You will have to start with the piece of your bag that does not have gathers. This is your bag, so you get to decide what it looks like. I have already added 1/4" seam allowance on my pattern, but this is not necessary yet. If you've drawn a slight curve like me on the side that needs to get sewn into the gathers, make sure to measure the length with a flexible ruler.

4. Draft the rest of the purse. This will be the piece with the gathers, but don't worry about that yet. Just draft it as you'd like it to look in the end. Make sure the top end of the bottom bag is the same length as the bottom of your top piece so you will be able to sew them together. Mark the center and draw a straight line all the way to the bottom.

5. Measure equal marks from center. I have used 2" on either side, but you could make it closer or further away depending on how many gathers you'd like. If you want lots of gathers, make your marks closer together; if you want fewer gathers, make them further apart. (Please remember though, that the fewer the gathers the harder it is to sew them evenly!) Once you've marked your measurement, draw a straight line all the way down.

6. Using the center line you have drawn, plus any gather lines you have, cut straight down them all the way to the bottom of your pattern. Be careful though, you don't want to cut through your pattern! Just leave enough so you can pivot your pieces like I have shown.

7. Place your slashed pattern onto more paper, and open the spaces up equally. I have used a 1" distance. This distance also decides how many gathers will be in your final piece: a larger distance means more gathers, and a smaller distance means fewer gathers. It is important though that the distance is exactly the same in between each slashed piece! Tape the pattern down to your backing paper, and trim around your pattern. The pieces will look funny and that's fine! Once you actually sew the gathers in you'll see that your bag will go back to looking like your original pattern. Simply smooth out the pattern where it's a little too pointy so the seam allowance matches up.

8. Cut your fabric, make a gathering stitch along the bottom purse piece, and pull your gathers to match the top purse piece! You will get this:

It's really not hard, and you don't have to have anything fancy to make your own patterns! With this slash and pivot technique you can also modify it slightly to make patterns for pleats! Hope you can use this tutorial!