Thursday, September 29, 2011

Gypsy Earrings

 
Gypsy Earrings, Copper and crystal beads
© Nayna Studios™
        I decided to go a little gypsy this time :) These lovely earrings are not exactly of the chandelier style nor are they traditional Indian Jhumkas, but rather a more free spirited rush of colours! I had so much fun making these, they did take a long time nearly two whole days but the final results were well worth it. Getting the wire lengths exactly right so they looked similar after the loops had been wrapped took the longest time. Thinking of making these in different colours what do you think?

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Weaving Persian style!

Weave About, Copper and Brass
© 2011 Nayna Studios™
     
        The latest in my chain maille a Persian weave that I am trying out for the first time ever. Wanted to add beads but couldn't find anything that was really adding to the look. I guess sometimes keeping it simple helps. Though nothing simple about the weave itself! Easy once I got the hang of it yes but initially I really thought I was messing it up :D Am planning on trying all copper soon to check out that look. What do you think should I add beads or will that simply clutter up this beautiful weave??

Friday, September 23, 2011

First ever earrings with posts by me !!


          Over this last weekend, I had the first ever home show for my jewellery at the home of an old friend. While I managed to make substantial sales, one of my clients completely threw me off by asking if I could make a matched set of earrings, for her . Now I know that you must be wondering, what in heavens name is so difficult about a matched set of earrings, well nothing except she is a woman in her sixties and wanted earrings with posts rather than ear wires! Well that stumped me momentarily as I have never been able to create earrings with posts prior to this, I have tried of course but could never manage to figure out the right gauge of metal or the particular shape suited for the locking mechanism. Not wanting to disappoint the client ( who also happens to be my friends mother and a a very sweet lady ) I promised her to make the matched pair mentally noting to buy a pair of locks and oxidize them to match the finish of the earrings, if I could not create them ( hey anything to please the client right  :P ) but fortunately enough the jewellery gods smiled at me and yesterday for the first time ever I was able to create the proper locking mechanism on my own with 24 ga. copper !! Now I know you must think well so what jewellery artists do this the world over, everyday probably but to me it was quite the achievement and wanted to share it with you so here they are.
Medallion Links earrings with posts
© Nayna Studios™














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Friday, September 16, 2011

Green Dreams

Green dreams, Copper, Vitreous enamel
© 2011 Nayna Studios ™
The latest in my captured series, and as a bonus I got to use two of my favorite beads !! These days I am working with setting all my previously done enameled panels. This one had been on my mind for quite a while,and I was not happy with the usual bezel settings and claw settings that I work with. While this piece is not open backed, I think it shows off the enamel to good advantage without covering  too much of the cloisonne work, what do you think? A few more to come in this series, stay tuned!!

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Nest Egg

Nest Egg, Copper wire Cloisonne Enamel
© 2011 Nayna Studios™

About this time last year I had taken to working on enameled medallions, randomly cut rounds of  copper that I had enameled without thinking of the setting or design aspect of how I was going to incorporate them into jewellery ( my setting skills being non existent at the time :) Recently going through my box of unfinished projects ( I actually have an ice- cream tin for all such projects! ) I found these medallions, four in total and decided to give setting them a try. All you regular readers will know how fond I am of copper wire, so I just decided to create a capture for these medallions with balled up wires. Its a dual bail with space for two jump rings, hopefully I will find the right chains for my Nest Egg !!

Monday, September 12, 2011

Enameled pendants


My latest projects ! Enameled pendants, well these have actually been ready for a while now, but I have run into a block figuring out the setting for them, what do you think would look good? Wire wrapping might obsure the enamel and well my bezel setting skills need a lot more work :( If you have any thoughts do let me know :)
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Dimpled Bracelet with blue patina


Dimpled Bracelet with blue and brown patina
© 2011 Nayna Studios™
       Blue is the colour of the season for now in my studio, as the bracelet that I had cooking in a patina recipe turned out gloriously blue!! Well actually a deep red brown with a top layer of blue :D  For those of you who do not practice patina regularly let me tell you that it is as much a science as an art form, if any of the required conditions, temperature, humidity, chemical concentration, metal composition .. ( you know all the metal working  mumbo jumbo )goes wrong and you have something completely unexpected! But then again that is the beauty of patina , you never know what you are going to get and you just might stumble upon some elusive shade that is simply glorious :) As I took the piece out of the patina box (had it locked in with the chemicals inside a plastic air tight box for four days ) it looked initially to have a dark blue tone but after the first washing and drying it over night this is the colour it has matured to.
Dimpled Bracelet without patina
©2011 Nayna Studios™
I made this piece as a play on the pea pod. I have always been fascinated by the form of the pea-pod, the slightly curving pod halves exposing the cute round peas to me is just such a beautiful design. Instead of rounded elements, I have used circular elements curving inwards and all the people that have seen this piece seem to have the opinion that I should add some embellishment inside the circular element that forms the main design, what do  you think a few round pearls or beads would do the trick?
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