Party and Prom Parures – New in the Shop

Happy Monday to all!

I would like to once again thank Terry for handling the blog posts and the internet responsibilities while I was doing other things that required my attention.  She did a fabulous job and I appreciate it.

It is that time of year, parties, picnics and proms are right around the corner and The Alchemists Vessel has some absolutely beautiful accessories to punch up the punch bowl patron’s attire, or have them swooning at that Summer soiree.  No Prom attendee should go dancing without a gorgeous parure fit for the Prom Queen in a matching or contrasting color of her dress, or perhaps to match her date’s dashing accents of color, tie and cummerbund.

These are created with the Half-Persian 3-in-1 Chain Maille weave, in choker (14″ – 15″), collar (16″), and necklace (up to 18″) lengths that drape the decolletage and accentuate the lovely curve of throat and shoulders.

The choker below, dubbed Phoenix Phire, is full of passion in that just right fiery red that looks stunning on everybody!  The beads glow with an inner warmth and sparkle of their own, absolutely outstanding when worn.  The chain is crafted from Silver Plated wire, and red Silver Lined Czech glass beads.  This item may be found on Etsy by following the link above.  It comes with matching earrings, arrives boxed, ready for gift giving. 

Would make a stunning and attractive present for a January or July birthday.

Here we see it in Sapphire Czech Glass beads, labeled “Luster” these shine and gleam in any light and are a wonderful deep blue color.

Upon the recommendation of a fellow Shop Owner, I tried different backgrounds while taking photos, and wouldn’t you know it!  My memory card winds up full after only three photos of this stunning beauty.  I think the garden lion statue is a no go, but for the blog, it is fun and an interesting segue to the usual tailored gray board I use.

I do love this color!  Would make a wonderful September Birthstone alternative.

After new batteries and background change, we have a couple of more photos for you. 

Matching Earrings are included.

 Emerald Czech Glass Beads and Silver Plated wire are used to create this version of the choker.  14″ long, the makes a nice band just above the decolletage around the throat.

Earrings too!

Also available in Amethyst (aurora borealis finish), Aquamarine, Silver lined Black, Matte Black, Crystal Blue lined, and Pink beads.  More colors are available, we are awaiting shipment!

Don’t forget, custom work is available!  Convo us using the Etsy Shop’s contact link, send us an e-mail, check us out on Facebook, find us on Google + leave a comment here.  We’d love to hear from you!  (Even if you’re not placing an order).

Thank you for stopping by.  We would like to wish you a pleasant and enjoyable week!

**REMEMBER:  Metal is heavy, and even though these are light and lacy in appearance, adding additional rings and glass beads will add weight to the piece.  18″ is long enough to hang below a collar, but not too heavy as to feel like you are wearing armor (which you are, by the way).  I would also like to mention that in no way will these delicate jewelry pieces protect you from anything, bullets, knives, sharp, or dull sticks, and Cupid’s arrows included!

What’s New In The Shop? Beads and Bracelets

Happy Monday!

Is everyone ready for a fabulous work week filled with fun and excitement?  No?  Can’t say as I blame you.  Busy with Easter activities last weekend and inspired by spring and the beautiful things mother nature has to offer, I sat down, racked my alleged mind, and came up with these Springtime festive and fashionable beaded beauties! Yes, they are available in the shop!  Finally something new!

First, however, I would like to give an example of the weave without all the additional beads.  Although jewelry is a very forgiving medium / art form that allows you to play with ideas and styles, patterns, textures and colors, the traditional pattern must be incorporated as a basis from which to start.  So let us begin at the beginning, as that is usually best.

Here we see the Full Persian Chain Maille weave, completed in 6mm *Nickel silver jump rings, which have been hand spun and linked.  A strong, supple, and striking pattern, it is appropriate for either men or women.  Would make a great gift for a Boyfriend!

I should mention that “Nickle Silver” is not Silver, and has no Silver content at all.  Also called “German” or “Indian” Silver it is actually an alloy containing copper, nickle and zinc.

The usual formulation is 60% copper, 20% nickel and 20% zinc.  

Nickel 

These next two pretties are designs and patterns of my own creation.  Full Persian Chain Maille is not usually beaded, but the creativity bug grabbed me and said, “You SIMPLY MUST bead these bracelets”.  So like a good Craft-person, I listened to my inner muse and went with its decision.  After all if I didn’t, it would annoy, pester, harass, harangue me, and be a nuisance in general until I did so.

Dubbed “Chunk Maille” for their large size, which is all the rage this season.  Big, bold, colorful jewelry or statement pieces, are very in vogue this year.  I have created two distinct patterns for these bracelets, Walking Beads and Serpents Spine.  Although I am sure other Maillers have thought of this before, I haven’t seen / found an exact pattern to match.

Done in Black and Red Silver lined Czech Glass beads, is March of the Lady Bug, in honor of my friend Shelly Moody.  The beads appear to walk, or march across the surface of the bracelet a versatile pattern the beads may also be worn “in front” instead of on “the top” for a different look.  The Walking Bead pattern is available in a variety of colors, single or multiple as seen here.

March of the Lady Bugs

This is one of my favorites and has two versions, the second is not shown here, and is a basic bead addition to another version of the Full Persian where a single connector ring is beaded.  That pattern will be shown later.  Serpents Spine is modeled after Dragons, Sea Serpents / Monsters (Nessie!), and of course, snakes.  The beads appear to be tucked or set inside the bracelet.  Using even intervals of non-beaded units to allow the pattern to flow and move, the beads appear to undulate through the bracelet like something through the water, a snake in the grass, or a Dragon in the clouds.

Dragon’s Back

We also have some new Chain Maille Earrings and some fun and simple jewelry for those that like something a little more understated, but still shiny.  Shown here in Gunmetal jump rings in Dragon Chain and Byzantine weaves, and Red round glass beads, these are also available in a variety of shapes and colors.  At $5.00 a pair and Free Shipping, you can’t go wrong!

Chain Maille Dangles 

Red Dragon

Busy Byzantine

Light

Light Blue Splatter Paint Glass Beads (Also available in Purple)

Thank you for stopping by and having a look.  We wish you a pleasant work week.

In My Studio – Chain Maille and Beads

Currently I am working on several things, however I have been talking about learning a new weave, the Full Persian.  Much like the Box or Inca Puno Weave, as well as the Byzantine weave, the jump rings are grouped together, flipped, turned, and closed to create units, each unit forms a link, the links then form a chain.

The Full Persian begins with a Box weave, and additional jump rings are added to the unit to create a link that that consists of six rings, instead of four.  In the photos below a red bead marks where I have stopped the chain pattern.  I like the addition of the bead so much that I slightly opened already added jump rings to let me know where the other beads must go to complete the pattern.

Jump rings and pliers are all that is required to create and produce this very pretty and complicated-look chain.

 

I have also been tucked away at the Bench working on Brochure Projects for Jo-Ann Fabrics.  I now remember why I don’t bead.  If you have the knack and the talent CONGRATULATIONS! Tiny uncooperative things make my head hurt, needles prick my finger and the thread gets tangled up, but I suppose it’s not art if you’re not bleeding.  Diagrams and poorly written or confusing instructions don’t help either.  Just a personal observation on my crafting abilities.

Don’t laugh, it took me three days to figure out this pattern.  As an example of what I may be teaching and what kind of Advanced Jewelry Making Classes you can sign up for and learn by doing.  From Jo-Ann’s “Link -n- Bling” project.  6/0 Amethyst Czech Glass Seed Beads are woven flat in a Figure 8 or infinity symbol weave, rows are counted and the beads are then laced up along the length of the vertical edge and sewn together to form a Circular tube.  Since no one has signed up for this particular class, I do not have to finish the project.

With the Treasure Valley Market next week and then again in July, I suddenly find myself very busy, perhaps even over extended to the point of burnout.  This is not good.  What does one do when burnout begins?  One takes a  break, a respite, a walk in the woods, and then reorganizes and prioritizes and gets it done!  That being said, many of the irons I have in the fire are either just sitting due to lack of attention, or so red hot that they take up the majority of my time, leaving everything else behind to be caught up with later.  I will be paring down some of the things to better manage my time and the business.

Although I just opened and listed things on Cafe Press they want the shop owners to put a lot work into promoting the site instead of their shop, and  I have gotten ZERO response, so I will be closing that down.  The Official Website will be downgraded to little more than information and the shopping pages will be removed as customers seem to click through from the site to purchase items on Etsy instead of the direct “Buy” button.  

I have also started to attend classes to upgrade my skills.  A combination of Hands-On Training and Internet Reading Material and Examinations, I must carve out enough time to complete the course work, that means limiting or eliminating some of the other things that aren’t working or producing results in favor of study and class project time.

Thank you for stopping in and having a look.  We would like to wish you a pleasant rest of the week.