Secret Santa 2008 – Sneak Peak :-)

I’m participating in the Secret Santa on CWJ again this year, and as usual, I’m choosing to work outside my comfort zone.  Back in the summer when I was teaching at Haliburton, one of the projects we did was a “freeform” bangle.  Now, anyone who knows me and has any familiarity with my past work, knows that I’m not a freeform kinda gal.  It was the notes I got for my Secret Santa recipient’s preferences that made me think freeform would be the best approach.

The starting point for this bangle was the Illingworth Necklace by Sir Alfred Gilbert (1854-1934).  This is the second time I’ve used this necklace for inspiration.  The first time was during the YOJ 2005.  The results this time look to me like “Wonder Woman meets Jackson Pollack”  LOLOL

The frame was made out of 16 ga round copper.  Then, making use of the miles and miles of Artistic Wire I have, I wound in 20 ga purple and 28 ga tangerine wire.

Gilbert spent literally years working on his necklace, tying and retying the wire knots.  Originally, I was intending to make the interweaving more dense, but time is getting short, and the bracelet needs to be in the mail in the next day or so if I have any hope of getting it to its destination before Christmas.

Funny, I haven’t made much jewellery in the past two years, partly because I haven’t felt very inspired.  But working on this bangle made me feel very energetic – I have the “itch” to do more work.  Unfortunately there are other deadlines looming, so I have to put off making for a little while longer.  I’m starting to have ideas for new pieces though, and am faithfully sketching them in my notebook.  Feels good…

Here are some process photos I took showing the stages of construction.

A reply from my Secret Santa recipient :-)

I got an email from Angie Simonsen, the recipient of my Secret Santa gift this year:

Hi Dianne,

I again wanted to thank you for my necklace.

It’s is one I will certainly always treasure, especially coming from someone who’s work I first admired in the wonderful book, “Wire in Design”. I’ve always thought it so special and unique to be able to actually converse with some of the people that have really inspired me on thru my journey with wire, but to actually have a necklace from one, well – that’s really, really freaking cool.

I was going to leave a comment on your blog on the Secret Santa post, but it said it was closed for comments…

Stay wired!
Angie Simonsen
Wire Jewelry Artist
http://www.allthingsangie.com

Angie articulated exactly why I love to do swaps: it gives me the opportunity to connect with other people who share my passion. And it is freakin’ cool to get a piece from someone whose work you admire. I know exactly how that feels: I have received jewellery from several people whose style I adore, and I treasure those pieces beyond words.

(NB – I turned comments off on my posts because I was getting a lot of spam posts.)

Tutorial – Micki Ring

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

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.