Other Uses for Clothesline

What it is: Choker-length necklace with matching earrings

Materials used: Copper wire and findings, Swarovski bicones, 12mm cubic zirconia drops, focal component, clothesline

Process: Lots and lots of wire-wrapping. I started by cutting lengths of clothesline (with heavy-duty wire cutters, don't try to use good jewelry cutters for this!) to the length I wanted the necklace to be, then wire-wrapped the ends individually and connected them using a handmade toggle-style clasp. (Hint: I tightly pinched the first couple coils so that they would grip the cord securely) Once that was in place, I wire-wrapped the main focal component into place, continuing the wire-wrapping halfway up the length of the necklace and ending in coils. Off of the main wire-wrapping I attached one of the cubic zirconia drops to create an asymmetrical feel to the piece (Actually, I just had some cubic zirconia drops leftover from another project that were begging to be used and I felt like this was a great place to throw them in, but shhhhh! I planned it this way all along!). I then wire-wrapped the top half of the necklace in a couple of places to lash the clothesline together so excess movement wouldn't distort the wire-wrapping towards the bottom. With that done, I took a smaller gauge of copper wire and that's when I added the Swarovski crystals, wire-wrapping the small gauge around the larger gauge and threading crystals as I went along to give the piece some extra sparkle. I went through a similar process for the earrings.

Revvin' up the WABAC machine!

In the interest of doing things with my life like updating this blog, I think I'm going to cheat a little and post a couple pictures of old projects while I get around to photographing more recent jewelry adventures. The subject of this photo is titled "Ourobouros" from the mythological serpent consuming its own tail signifying infinity. It was designed to be worn as a bangle bracelet, but it works better as an arm cuff. It's made entirely of copper with a liver of sulfur patina, and it was created during a semester of jewelry making and metalsmithing taught by a graduate assistant at the university I attended. I wish I could give more detail about the construction, but I'm not sure I could do better than "texturing, sawing, hammering, soldering, anticlastic raising, more hammering, swearing, more soldering, more swearing, patina, polish, finally get some sleep before the class presentation."

*Note: "WABAC" is indeed pronounced "wayback," and if you recognize that particular acronym, you've watched entirely too much Rocky and Bullwinkle.

**Extra note: This photo was not photographed by me, but rather by the university photographer that frequently photographs student artwork for the department's use. The bracelet, however, is my design and construction.