Here's a little peek of my Whiplash WIP. The due date is tomorrow...it's almost done, I just don't feel like wrapping it up tonight and getting pictures etc etc. I had to hem some pants, which wasn't hard, but still...So tomorrow after work will have to do! Any guesses as to what it could be/what materials?
I just got my first copies of Boden/Mini Boden so I'm going to take a look in those before bed!
Here is my whiplash entry in the "gift" catagory.
Presenting: the magical magnetic necklace! This was a gift for my mom, with her favorite color pink. I would've entered it sooner, but I forgot to take pictures before I wrapped it, and just made it back this weekend!
You can wear it as a choker...
You can wear it as a lariat...
You can wear it as an (adjustable to any size) bracelet...
And finally...you can wear it as a belt! (looks very cute with a black dress, especially this one because it sits higher on the waist.)
Super easy to make, you just need some magnetic beads and some other various beads as spacers. I got everything from Jewelry Supply, as they are always great! Just be sure your magnetic beads are only about 1"-2" apart so you'll have a lot of flexibility in sizing!
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On to some sadder news from the weekend...I was at home, and upstairs in my sister's old room, getting ready to go to sleep. It was around 1:30am Saturday night (Sun morning). I was getting Cosmo settled in on the bed, and heard kind of a "pop" noise. I didn't really think anything of it, because there's a transformer or something near our street corner that sometimes makes noises. Then about a minute later I heard it again, and I started to get made because I thought it was kids. I moved the drapes aside to look out the window...and was in shock. The house across the street was in FLAMES. Not just a little fire, but huge flames coming out of the windows.
I hurried to wake my mom and stepdad, and she called 911. We ran downstairs, and saw 2 cars that had stopped and were honking their horns and banging on windows to get anyone up that would be inside. (We didn't know who lived there because it's a busy street.) My mom did know that there was a man and woman, and they each had their own car. We only saw one car, so from that and from the fact that all the pounding wasn't getting a reaction from inside, we thankfully thought they were away for the weekend.
The firemen came fairly quickly, and got the fire out almost instantly. There were trucks from 3 different cities, and lots of police officers. The trucks were there until around 3:30am, and only a few officers remained after that. I went to bed around 4, and got up at 9:30. I came downstairs, and found out some very very upsetting news-the couple was home, and they both died in the fire. Turns out there was another car, but it was hidden in the dark and because of where it was parked. So we had gone to bed thinking everyone was fine, and woke up to that from the news and from friend's emails. So sad.
They're not sure what happened, but they think it might've been either unattended candles or a portable heater. There were NO working smoke detectors in the house; if there were this probably wouldn't have ended this way. So please, make sure you change your batteries!
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...
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 !
