Micro-crochet Beaded Necklace

My jewelry making life has taken a back seat to my embroidery life but I whupped up this necklace for my mother for mother's day a few weeks ago and thought I would share it.  The two nubby- looking beads of purple are ones I utilized combining my love of fiber work with jewelry by micro-crocheting them with fine silk wool and sewing thread with a size 14 steel crochet hook.  It took some figuring out to get the increases and decreases to fit the bead but here is the end result and I am satisfied with it for a first endeavor.

Size 20 mm micro-crochet bead.  The beads to the left and right are lampwork glass beads I've been hoarding since 2008.  :-)

Another closeup.

Beads paired with tied rustic leather cord and brass chain and clasp.

Here is a bead in progress.  It begins as a simple wooden 20 mm bead, with thread wound on a small plastic tab, and using my trusty Addi Turbo steel crochet hook, I work around and around with teeny tiny single crochet stitches, marking the start of the row with a safety pin, although since this bead I have switched to a piece of thread to mark the spot, pulled through with the hook.  Determining where to start increasing to fit the bead is a bit of trial and error at first and in fact, this little piece was frogged back a few rounds to fit better before continuing on.

The finished bead from above, strung on a simple silver chain.  Thanks for looking at my blog!  

Luminescent Talisman Necklace

Up for offer in my etsy shop https://www.etsy.com/shop/jenniferstumpf is this lovely necklace featuring a my prettiest, highest quality moonstone and freshwater pearl beads, with a gorgeous pink and white agate bead, and a pleasing jangle of talisman charms.

I etched this little nickel pendant, along with a plethora of other etched pendants, back in my three years ago hayday of etching pendants.  It had been so long since I made this pendant, that I had to look up how I did it!  I'd forgotten how much fun it was to make these, and how each one looks completely different from the last, even using the very same text.  I like how weathered and industrial looking this one is, yet the "different" text is clearly visible.  The blue/purple lampwork disc is one of a pile I got at the Whole Bead Show in New York City in early 2008.  Unfortunately I moved three times since then and I've lost the name of the artist.  Isn't it just lovely workmanship?  And the little faceted bead is a rather hard to find mossy amethyst rondelle, with gorgeous striations throughout and a beautiful, mystical hue.  What fun to create this after a long lull in jewelry making!

Now I am starting again, like I used to, with all kinds of design ideas, and sketching them in my old sketch book.  It's almost like an awakening.

Princess Mary-inspired Chandelier Earrings

I had to dust off my blog before entering these, and my tools and beads before making them, but I have been inspired to create some new earrings!  I have been reading about Princess Mary of Denmark and was fascinated to discover that she has a deep love for chandelier earrings.  Of course they are the diamond and platinum variety, which for me only exist in my wedding rings, so here is my boho version and tribute to Princess Mary's earring faves, which can be found listed for sale in my Etsy shop. https://www.etsy.com/shop/jenniferstumpf.  I have no idea at all what is going on in the jewelry making world as I have been on a couture embroidery roll for several years, and I couldn't find the right sized beads I was looking for in my stash, which necessitated a trip to the bead store, which emptied my wallet but left me with a big enthusiasm for making small pieces of jewelry again.

These are lightly hammered vintaj brass ear-wires, with double decker drops of faceted amethyst, red carnelian and czech crystal beads.  Sandwiched in between these are copper bead caps, copper and brass spacers, beads and charms.  The bottom tier is two inches from side to side and the drop from the ear wire is 2.5 inches.  They are kind of a mix of boho chic and delicate Renaissance beauty, and are surprisingly lightweight and durable and I am really liking them!  I hope you do, too.

I've listed a few boho bracelets on Etsy...

The title says it all.  Mostly these days I am busy working on couture tambour embroidery.  Jewelry--not so much at all but there are still a few creations looking for a good home.  Check them out on my Etsy page.  

tokens of my affection is on etsy!

This pendant is now available on my etsy shop (see sidebar) with more available made to order.  I will be making some that have another hole in the bottom so there can be something dangly or jingly (my favorite!) added to it.  And I have one that is in progress as a finished necklace.

Now I am off to catch up to my husband and our dog, who have set out on a walk without me!  It's a beautiful day in Richmond.  Hooray for cooler weather!!  xo

tokens of my affection pendant

This is a pendant I finished yesterday.  I love insertions, whether it be rivets, eyelets or clean drilled holes.  This one was meant to have another hole at the bottom to dangle a bead or charm but I accidentally sawed it off when I was cutting the piece from the sheet of silver.

This past June we had a huge yard sale since we moved to an ever smaller apartment and I sold a ton of my things, including all my ledger books that I have bought over the years at yard sales and thrift shops that I used to use all the time for my jewelry props.  Dumb, but I thought it was a good idea at the time since I hadn't made jewelry in so long, plus we made enough money at the sale to purchase a new mattress, so I didn't feel the sting until now, when I am finishing off pieces and saying, hmmmm...  what to photograph it on?  I have some old autograph books I am using (above) and some old books, but I miss my ledger books like crazy now.  Anyway, I have another version of this pendant that says "a token of my affection."  Now the question is to put them in my etsy shop as pieces by themselves?  Or finish them into necklaces?

to begin again

After a year working for the government, several deaths in the family, an amazing pinch-me-I'm-dreaming stint studying couture embroidery in Paris, exploring other mediums in fiber arts, four apartment moves in three years, and helping my husband with his business, I am coming full circle and back at my bench making jewelry.  It's been a pretty long break and probably well needed.  I have ideas, ideas, ideas, and lots of sketches.  The rather washed out photo of wire wrapped pearl and aquamarine chandelier earrings above is a little sample of what I have been up to, beginning again.

There is too much, way too much, to encompass in one post, so this is just a "I'm still alive!" post, with more jewelry to come.  Also I am new to the new Blogger, and it is a doozy, isn't it?  I am embarrassed to mention how long it took me to re-vamp this page from the old.

You can see my work this month in Best of Step by Step Wire Jewelry 2012, page 73.

blue patina necklace

This is a necklace I created some months ago as a submission for a book on use of patina in jewelry.  They only wanted images and I haven't heard anything back from the book company yet so I am thinking it is safe to sell!  I created this beginning with a flat piece of copper, cutting it out into two circle shapes of same size using a jeweler's saw.  I stamped the pieces with a bird and a moon/star.  Then I domed the copper pieces into two rather organic shapes- meaning they were not meant to be perfect and were a tad crinkled on the edges.  Lightly tapping around the perimeter of the domes while held together with the fingers melds them into each other for a perfect fit, mirrored crinkles and all.

Super stinky ammonia is the simple ingredient that produces this pretty intense blue.  Easy as pie.  Lots of info about using it for metal patina online.  I intended to spray a clear glossy coat to seal this but I still haven't done it and months later the color is still true.  I'll probably spray several coats on before I place it at its next stop-- my etsy shop.

Sterling silver chain, a hand stamped silver round (with the patina and stamped textures I love...) and some pretty apatite and gemstone citrine teardrop complete the piece.  Look for it later tomorrow http://jenniferstumpf.etsy.com.

Where Mango can be found every single morning from about 7 a.m.- 10:30 a.m.  Don't tell but I keep the window open for him in this intense heat, and run the AC full blast, just because I love him so much and he loves the window open.  Shhhh....

trudi bird bracelet

Just a quick post since I am heading out to work and I'm running late!  But here is my latest creation-- the Trudi Bird Bracelet, which is currently for sale at http://jenniferstumpf.etsy.com.  It is created from some of my prettiest beads (agates!  prehnite!  apatite! vintage czech glass!  lampwork glass beads! Swarovski crystals!), some of which have been in my stash for quite a while, waiting for me to get the lead out and make something with them!

Awww..  isn't this turqoise bird the sweetest little thing?  He has a sterling cap and a lovely Swarovski crystal perched on his head.  A faceted green agate egg is next to him...  Above is a drilled river pebble and a pretty antiqued round bone bead-- peeking above is a lentil shaped lampwork glass bead purchased years ago from the Greater Washington D.C. bead society bead show and I'm sorry to say I have lost the name of the artist who created it.

Paired with my grand-dad's watch, it makes a handsome piece and is very comfortable to wear at 7 3/4". I'm heading out for the rest of the day and evening-- thanks for looking!!  xo

Beauty Walk- reloaded!

I made a necklace today, incorporating a pendant previously created and dismantled with different elements.  More and more I am enjoying simpler designs with just a hint of sparkle and color, just enough to catch attention but not so much that it is distracting.  The pendant is hand stamped brass and is from the Navajo Beauty Way poem.

I am also loving the simplicity of vintaj wire and chain (this one is 20" with a 3.5" inch pendant drop), which goes so well with a summer tan and does not tarnish as easily as silver (no, it does not turn your neck green!).

Lanyard hooks are so cool!  This piece has two-- one vintage lanyard hook on the 3.5" drop pendant and one as the clasp.  I see all kinds of design potential using these simple but interesting elements.

And I had to post a cute photo of my big boy Mango the Manx, propping his head on his new squirrel toy.  :-)  I didn't plan for the sofa, toy and kitty to be the same color!

For a closer look (at the necklace, of course), check out my etsy shop http://jenniferstumpf.etsy.com.

Boho Bracelet on Etsy!

It's taken me almost a year of life getting in the way but I finally made time to make a piece of jewelry for sale. Woo hoo! This is an eight inch bracelet chock full of lovely earthenware, bone, nut and lampwork beads. Lots of charms to jingle jangle and a comfortable fit with double leather cord band and sterling silver clasp. All the details are besides the point, but it felt very good to make something again. What with tambour embroidery, weaving, crochet and needlework projects stacked to the ceiling, jewelry took a long term back burner! I'm happy to be back. I hope you enjoy this bracelet and you can find it for sale at http://jenniferstumpf.etsy.com. Thanks for looking!

tambour embroidery class piece finish

Last June 2010, I took a tambour embroidery class at the University of Kentucky, under the direction of Professor Bob Haven, who is a professor of costume design and also a graduate of the Lesage school of embroidery in Paris, France.  This is the piece he designed for us to complete, using basically four techniques of luneville or tambour embroidery, which, simply put, is a form of embroidery using a very tiny sharp crochet hook.  After some serious practice, intense concentration and a few painful (and bloody) stabs to my thumb, I got the hang of it all and here is the finished piece.

The base fabric is organza, with metallic and polyester threads, flat and cupped sequins, beads and gold lame to complete the design.

Tomorrow I am heading first to Pennsylvania with my husband, to attend first his art opening at the Dressler Center for the Arts in Somerset, and then a memorial "jam session" to honor my late father in law, who passed away in March.  Sunday we are driving to Kentucky for me to study again with Bob Haven for an intensive three day course in tambour embroidery.  From this embroidery study has come a new passion for me and when I am working it, I feel completely alive and aware, totally in the moment.  More to come on my future with tambour embroidery featuring very prominently in my life!

updating since November!

This is a necklace I made a few weeks ago.  Probably is a little hard to tell but it is a domed piece of copper held together with brass eyelets and silver wire.  How long have I been out of the loop?  Last time I placed an order for silver I think it was around $18 an ounce.  Imagine my shock at yesterday's prices!  Upwards of $39 an ounce! :-O I think I'll be using up what I have and then working with lots of lovely colored copper wire and base metals!  This piece was one of those immediate ideas that came to me and I just sat down and banged the whole thing out, except for the blue colored copper, which took longer for a nice patina.  I am really liking the look of stacked flat beads and metal elements these days and as always, I love gemstone drops!  This one is a gorgeous faceted citrine tear drop.  I have very little sterling chain left.  *sigh*  When will prices come down, people?  I really like silver chain with my pendants!

A close up of the pendant.  Because I cut out my own round copper pieces, I don't always get them perfectly round (even though I try!).  Consequently, when I use the dapping block, sometimes the pieces get a bit wonky and warped  out of shape.  After I hammered and banged (and annoyed the neighbors to no end), I was bemoaning that this piece didn't come out perfect on both sides to match evenly.  WAAAAAAAA!!!  BUT!  I then discovered that if I held both wonky domed halves together and held them tight, then lightly tapped the perimeter with my little hammer, each wonked half conformed to the other and it fit perfectly, wonks and all!  This one is not yet for sale, but probably will be soon on my long, long empty etsy shop.  Just for the heck of it, here is the link http://jenniferstumpf.etsy.com.

Many things have happened this year of 2011 so far.  Painful still is the death of our sweet dog, Lucy.  We had her for fifteen years, since she was 10 weeks old, when I found her broken and bleeding by the side of the road, having been thrown from a car and abandoned.  We were lucky to have her for so many wonderful years and she is missed to no end.   Rest in peace, Lucy!  You deserve it and we will see you again, sweet girl!  August 1996- February 23, 2011.

Ah....  still makes me cry.  Hasn't been that long.  But we are still inspired to save another little life via animal shelter rescue and even though it hasn't been very long, we have started looking for that little critter that clicks with us.  It's not like there is a shortage of dogs or cats or other critters for adoption and life is too short and precious to wait!

What else?  I splurged and treated myself to a Bernina sewing machine.   I taught myself to crochet and LOVE it.  Needlework is still a passion, especially tambour embroidery.  The University of Kentucky School of Fine Arts is calling my name again in May for the next advanced master class in tambour embroidery.  The instructor has taken and completed the coveted Lesage school of professional couture, and he is most excellent at his art.  I am in awe of his abilities.  Since I can't get to Paris for the several hundred hour class myself, I head for Kentucky once a year for a week to learn all I can from Bob Haven.  Most exciting!!

Hope life is treating everyone well.  It there is anything that I continually learn, it is that we need to be kind to each other.

My husband and I are heading out for an evening power walk now.  We both are trying to get into better shape.  Ten hours prone in a chair at work has not worked wonders on my physique!  

checking in

Hi there! I've been long lost from the jewelry world and have not made a single piece of anything in a while... To catch anyone not in the know up to speed, here are my activities & passions of late:

I've gone to work full time for state police again. Yeah, yeah. Again. This takes up HUGE swaths of my time!

Needlework has intensely captured my imagination again and much of my spare time (heh. what spare time?) is spent bent over my tambour work (for which I have signed up for the next University of Kentucky School of Fine Arts master class in May- woo hoo!!), or an embroidery hoop, or free hand with cross stitch (mostly subversive cross stitch because it's more fun!)

www.postcrossing.com has brought me immense pleasure, introduced me to new and wonderful people around the world and I'm happy to have made one very special new friend in particular in Britain. Check it out!

Our sweet dog Lucy is almost 15 years old now and requires special needs care at this point. She is on pain meds, melatonin to help her sleep and Hills Prescription B for brain health food. So far she is holding steady but it's increasingly difficult. So when I am not at my ten hour shifts at work, I am spending time walking her and just being with her while she is still on this side of the hereafter.

Still working on numerous sewing projects and saving for my dream Bernina sewing machine!

Thanks to my cool friend in the UK, Michael and I spend as much of our time off as we can indulging in our new passion-- geocaching. We both love it! Good fun, outdoors, minimal expense, spend time together. What else can you ask for? www.geocaching.com

Oh, yes. Cleaning, cooking, laundry, shopping. The usual drudge everyone deals with. For now, I may as well take the "beads and jewelry of" off my banner (in fact, as an after thought, I just did). My jewelry bench has collected serious dust.... Honestly I have just lost the mojo for it for the foreseeable future, and I'd rather wear the pieces I've made than sell them. :D

In case anyone was wondering what I am doing in this photo rooting around in the bushes, I have just found my first geocache and am examining the treasures! Woot!

Mostly Sewing

I've been so busy with working full time again, it hasn't left the time to set down and organize my thoughts well enough to concentrate on coming up with new jewelry designs. So I have been doing some sewing, just to keep creativity flowing. Here is a bag I just finished-- the pattern is called Bow Tucks Tote and it is from Quilts illustrated by Penny Sturges. I've been itching to use my newest Heather Ross Far Far Away 2 fabrics-- they are the moons on the top portion and the orange moon pocket. The bottom is pretty blue corduroy from Joann's and the handles are from Red Rooster Fabrics The Quilter's Kitchen Collection by Jennifer Chiaverini. To make life easier, I eliminated the ties on the sides that the pattern called for.

Close up of pocket. Yes I did all the free motion meandering embroidery myself and I think it came out ok. What didn't, I hid under the pocket. :-)

The finishing touch-- a large vintage bakelite button for easy open & close. I love the smiling moons and the matching yellow thread. This is a great pattern and easy to sew up, once you get past the front pocket (thanks, Cheryl!).

Since I have quilted pincushions, a wallet and another bag under construction, plus a sewing tool bag, a knitted bag and a hexagon crochet project going on, it's busy enough to keep me going for a while.