Wednesday 25 March 2015

Chain reaction

I thought today I would share another of my jewellery projects I finished at the end of last year which I have yet had a chance to share on my blog. Our brief was to make a bracelet with wide textured links. I looked at our tutor's finished piece and decided that the bracelet was rather too chunky but that it could be adapted to be made into a necklace as a Christmas present for my darling daughter.

The first thing I did was to cut out the links in paper to find the size links which suited. I then made a plan of the sizes and bought a piece of sheet silver. To texture my sheet of silver I played with several fabrics and copper samples and eventually found that this lace made a pretty texture.
I placed it on my sheet silver and put it through the rolling mill.
 I then marked up the sheet and using a saw cut out all the strips I needed.
Next it was time to bend the strips into links first using pliers and then use a mandrel for shaping.
I then bound each link with steel binding wire and soldered them shut.
Here is a link soldered and yes it was very fiddly!
It was then time to put the links together but as these are in a chain, alternate links had to be sawn open again and re soldered again afterwards.

 You can see how I had to then re solder the middle link of each group.
It was then time to file, finish and polish the links and attach a length of shop bought silver chain. My chunky links were the "feature " of my necklace.  All this work took me over 6 lessons to complete and I was delighted that on the last class before Christmas I able to put it into the polisher.

My daughter unwrapped her present on Christmas day and was thrilled with it.  Here is the finished chain.

She wears it lots and it was certainly made with lots of love.

My card challenge today has nothing to do with chains but I really liked the simplicity of my silver chain against the white card so I created a wedding card for my Etsy shop using this as my inspiration.
I made a shabby chic white on white card with a silver edged ribbon and a black heat embossed LOTV sentiment stamp.. I embossed the backing paper. The floral die cuts are Cheery Lynn and Joanna Sheen. It is so hard to photograph white on white, they always look a bit grey but IRL this is a gorgeous crisp white.
I also added one little silver heart brad to the flower.

This is for sale here in my Etsy shop which I am trying to re stock with some summery cards. More will be listed over the coming weeks.

I would like to enter my card into the following great challenges;

Cheery Lynn anything goes
Penny Black and More blossoms and bows
Fashionable stamping favourite go to stamp I have many favourite stamps this my fave wedding sentiment stamp
Country view crafts anything goes
Crafty ribbons anything goes with ribbon
Crafty Catz no designer papers
Whimsy stamps use a diecut
 Papertake Weekly a cut above
Top Tip Tuesdays buttons or bows
Frilly and Funkie put a ribbon on it


I have a wonderful day to look forward to tomorrow, my parents' Diamond Wedding Anniversary. We are visiting a National Trust property and having lunch. Their official celebrations are not until Sunday when the rest of the family are able to join us. I have made a very special card which I will share after the big day.....

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x

25 comments:

  1. Your jewellery making is always so interesting, Jane, and I love this gorgeous necklace you made! Your daughter must be delighted with it and I can see why she wears it a lot....what a wonderful gift. Love your card today too, I really like that style of font and the little touches of silver among the white make it special.
    Happy week....hope it's a sunny one for you.
    Helen xox

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  2. Wow, Jane, your necklace is stunning...lucky daughter! Love your 'inspired' card too. Please congratulate your parents on their Diamond Anniversary. What a wonderful achievement.

    Hugs
    Jennifer. x

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  3. Oh Jane that is the loveliest of necklaces! Love seeing the methods and steps in making the rings. A beautiful piece of jewelry and I'm sure your darling daughter gets so many compliments! Have a wonderful time with your parents and Congratulations to them❤️
    xoRobin

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  4. Your jewellery is amazing Jane - really very beautiful - no wonder your daughter loves it - your card is stunning too! Big hugs Rachel x

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  5. Oh wow Jane, what a wonderful piece of jewellery! I love how you imprinted the lace on to the silver, so beautiful ! I'll bet M was delighted, what a lucky girl!
    I just love the simplicity of your card today, so pretty.
    Wishing your parents a very anniversary, I hope you all have a fantastic celebration.
    V x

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  6. Beautiful black and white card, Jane, I love the dimension achieved by adding the die cuts on top of the embossed background. Good luck and thanks for joining in on the fun at Cheery Lynn Designs challenge.

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  7. Love the wonderful techniques you used for your necklace! Gorgeous card, the sentiment makes a wonderful focal point and the touch of bling on the ribbon is so elegant! Thank you so much for joining us at Frilly and Funkie for our 'Put a Ribbon on it! Hugs, Pamellia DT :)

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  8. Your wedding card is very elegant and I like the layering of your die cuts in the background. The necklace for you daughter is so pretty and what a special keepsake and family heirloom. Thanks for joining in the challenge at Cheery Lynn Designs and good luck.
    Julie x

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  9. *H*A*P*P*Y* * *A*N*N*I*V*E*R*S*A*R*Y*!*!* to your parents, Jane! I bet you are all excited about their party on Sunday! Fun fun! I do hope you hare photos. Gorgeous car, my friend. As a fellow jeweler I totally loved seeing the progress of your creating this fabulous gift for your daughter. What a treasure for her forever. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  10. the necklace is stunning - love the design! and your card is so lovely, very elegant. Thanks for joining us at CraftyCatz.
    Kim (CraftyCatz DT) x

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  11. This is a true beauty, Jane!! Thank you so much for joining us at the Frilly and Funkie Challenge!
    Hugs,
    Nancy

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  12. Dear Jane,

    I left one comment already but it was lost in www-space :) so if multiple ones should appear, please feel free to delete some!

    What a lovely necklace you have created, M is so lucky to have such talented mom creating her unique pieces. I especially love the lace texture on silver.

    Happy weekend and lovely anniversary to your parents, and lot's of sunshine from here!

    Yours,
    Mia

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  13. So pretty and great for our blossoms and bows theme Jane, thanks so much for joining in at Penny Black and More challenge.

    B x

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  14. Hi Jane; what an interesting blog and may I ask you where the statue on top of your blog is placed and what it's called? I like it and wonder if I have ever seen it? Second point is to thank you for having linked you project to Crafty Ribbons challenge this fortnight,

    La Vikinga / Charlotta

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  15. Hello Jane, what beautiful silvery creations you've shared this week! Your daughter will always treasure this lovely, custom made gift. Such an elegant effect the touch of silver gives to your lacy card design. So dainty! Enjoy the celebrations this week- I suspect there will be more than one... ;o)

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  16. Awesome. Very beautiful, and your daughter is a lucky girl. It would never occur to me that lace could be used to make a texture like this.

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  17. What a unique necklace; well done Jane. Enjoy wearing this piece of art, M. 0-:
    Happy celebrating weekend.....
    Anne and all xx
    PC22

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  18. Wow your necklace is gorgeous!! And so is your card! I love all white cards, especially when there is gorgeous detail and depth. Thanks for playing along at Frilly and Funkie xx

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  19. Wow this is gorgeous!!! love the elegance of this card!!!!

    Thanks for joining our fortnightly challenge here at Top Tip Tuesday. Hope you will join us next time DT Crafting Vicky.

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  20. Another beauty Jane, gorgeous card and equally stunning necklace too.
    Thanks for joining us at Fashionable Stamping Challenges this time
    Claire xx

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  21. Beautiful card Jane and love the necklace too - your daughter must treasure this piece made with so much love.
    Thank you for sharing at Penny Black & More 'Blossoms & Bows' challenge and good luck x Susan x

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  22. I love both projects! The background on the card is wonderful! Great ideas! Thank you for joining Cheery Lynn Challenges! Good Luck!

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  23. I like your necklace - so different! And the card is beautiful too, very elegant.
    Thanks for joining our challenge at Crafty ribbons! Hugs! xx

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  24. What a beautiful piece of jewellery (love the impression the lace adds) and your card is gorgeous too. Thank you so much for joining us at Frilly and Funkie. Jenny x

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Jane x