Presentation rescheduled!

Presentation rescheduled!

Posted on by dianne

I was originally supposed to give a presentation on the History of Wire Jewellery on October 3, 2007 at the Gem & Mineral Club of Scarborough.

Unfortunately, my husband was involved in a car accident two hours before I was to give the presentation. (Thankfully, he’s fine – it’s wasn’t his fault and the car’s damage was relatively minor.) When it first happened, I phoned the President of the club to let him know that I would likely be late, because DH had to wait for the police. Luckily they were able to arrange another speaker on short notice.

So… the date has now been rescheduled. Mark it on your calendar!

Wednesday, June 4th, 2008, 8:00 pm
Past Links – A History of Wire Jewellery
Dianne Karg Baron

One of the forms of metal available to the jeweler is wire. The art of creating jewellery from wire is popular with many craftspeople, particularly those of us in gem and mineral clubs. The popularity among clubs can be explained by the availability of beads, cabochons, polished stones and other lapidary products that are commonly used as attachments. Wire has been used in jewellery going back to ancient times. Dianne Karg Baron will trace its history, from its earliest known beginnings to modern times.

The presentation will take place at Knox United Church Hall, 2569 Midland Ave., Scarborough, ON.(located on the northeast corner of Midland and Sheppard Ave.).

Guests are welcome to attend!

Bridal Commission

Posted on by dianne

Flotiste Headpiece Final Flotiste Necklace FinalBack in December I was contacted by a lady who wanted a bridal set based on the Musicali Necklace.

She wanted the necklace and a headpiece based on the necklace.

Since she was getting married in Scotland, she also wanted two Celtic-style pendants for her attendants – one based on a shield with a malachite bead, and another based on a treskele with garnet beads.

Flotiste Treskele Flotiste ShieldI got a follow up email from her at the end of last month. She was very happy with all of the jewellery.

Apparently the dressmaker loved the jewellery so much “she refused to allow me to put any kind of embellishment on the dress, because she said the necklace and headpiece were already the perfect compliment to it, and would take away from the overall effect.”

Here’s the bride wearing the headpiece and necklace, and another shot of the bridesmaids wearing their pendants.

Bebee’s Earrings

Posted on by dianne

Bebee EarringsThe “young-at-heart” gentleman who commissioned a name pin from me back at Christmas wanted a pair of earrings for the special nurse for Easter.

I should mention, actually, that the name pin had to be done again, because he gave me the wrong spelling. The funny thing was that she refused to give back the original pin.

Here’s the photo of the replacement pin:

Bebee Pin

Tutorial – Undercurrents Earrings

Posted on by dianne

Undercurrents EarringsUndercurrents Earrings

The surface of the ocean shows only the smallest hint of the turbulence underneath the waves! This is a great project for practicing precise measuring and mirror images.

11 pages, 35 photos, 39 steps, plus design notes

USD $5.00

This tutorial was voted “Best Advanced Tutorial” &”Favourite Piece” by the Members of the International Guild of Wire Jewelry Artists, Earring Tutorials Contest 2007. IGWJA decided to put it into the advanced category for the purposes of the contest, but in my opinion, this is an easy project.

(FREE to IGWAJ members, login to the guild’s website to access the tutorials library. Note: IGWAJ version does not include all of the design notes)

Available now from my Tutorials Page.

Tutorial – Micki Ring

Posted on by dianne

Micki RingMicki Ring

This bold, geometric design was inspired by the work of Max Froehlich (1908-1997), a Swiss-born goldsmith who was part of the “Modern” school of jewellery design. With one change, it is possible to make two variations of this ring! In heavier gauges, it makes an appealing men’s ring! The ring is named after Micki Bleily of Parma, ID, for whom it was made as a Secret Santa gift in 2002.

Project instructions contain both variations – 11 pages, 52 photos, 43 steps, plus design notes

USD $5.00

Available now from my Tutorials Page.

Tutorial – Illusion Prong Ring

Posted on by dianne

Illusion Prong RingIllusion Prong Ring

This quick and simple ring creates an illusion prong setting for a 6 mm bead. A modified version of this project was published in “Contemporary Bead and Wire Jewelry” by Suzanne Tourtillott and Nathalie Mornu.

5 pages, 16 photos, 14 steps, plus design notes

USD $5.00

Available now from my Tutorials Page.

Tutorial – Stud Earrings

Posted on by dianne

Stud EarringsStud Earrings Tutorial

Not eveyone likes to wear dangling earrings, so here’s a quick and easy-to-make pair of stud earrings!

6 pages, 23 photos, 20 steps, plus design notes

USD $5.00

Available now from my Tutorials Page.

Tutorial – Ancient Horn Earrings

Posted on by dianne

Ancient Horn EarringsAncient Horn Earrings

This design is based on jewellery found in archeological excavations in Ancient Greece. Coiled beads of this shape were often used in necklaces. The beads were filled with wax to give them stability when strung. This design adds an ingenious trick to provide structure.

7 pages, 22 photos, 16 steps, plus design notes

USD $5.00

Available now from my Tutorials Page

Another Free Tutorial – Esprit Christmas Earrings

Posted on by dianne

Esprit Christmas Earrings Step-by-Step Wire Jewelry published my tutorial on their website in Dec. 2005
17 photos, 17 steps
Download instructions here (opens a new window)

How to make French Kidney Earwires

Posted on by dianne

Here’s a simple set of instructions for creating your own French Kidney Earwires. Or watch an online video tutorial of the instructions!

These are great for people who hate Shepherd’s Hook earwires – they are very secure to wear. Quick and easy – you’ll never buy these retail again!

5 pages, 12 photos, 12 steps, plus design notes

FREE

Check out the Tutorials Page for other tutorials.

Other Musings

Blasts from the Past

Photo of the Day

Judith Goldstein

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