The Wigglebutt Blog

I can't even tell you  how much I love this cuff. The wrap is rustic (read: far from perfect☺) It's chunky A little wonky It looks like it would be really heavy But it's not It is seriously comfy ~ fits like a glove☺ Don't you just love that eyeball???!!! THAT my friends is a hand made lampwork cabochon made by the lovely and talented Juli Cannon of Studio Juls ♥ I used copper wire in several gauges: 10g, 16g, 20g and 24g A lot of heating and pounding went into this cuff and I couldn't be more pleased with how it turned out.

I don't know why I have issues with stringing bracelets, but it always seems to be such a struggle to get them  'just right'. This one I loved, then I hated it (almost took it all apart) and now I think I am OK with it. I wasn't even planning on making anything this weekend. This was going to be a "clean up and organize" weekend and I started here Apparently this was a huge mistake. This is my 'lampwork' drawer and I have never really had it  organized in any particular way and I need to find a home for all of the  cabs I have for wire wrapping, so I needed to condense. This was as far as I got. (Drawer and contents currently taking up a large parcel of floor) I came across the red, white and black set of Juls Beads and decided that I was going to just GO FOR IT and pulled out my sterling silver wire (which I am usually terrified to use because I waste  so much wire when I have a vague idea and it doesn'...

Fall is definitely in the air. I will spend the next couple of weeks clearing out the remainder of the  "crops" from the garden, storing all of the planters and pots and trying to keep the greenhouse warm long enough for some more of the tomatoes to turn red. Over the last few weeks, we have had almost non-stop rain so I have had plenty of  'indoor time'. Time to get all caught up on The Year of Jewelry Project . I was determined that I would follow through when I signed on and I am happy that I am back on track after the busy summer months. In my last post I showed you Week 32. Well, we technically just started Week 36 (finished piece due by Sept 7) so I have weeks 33, 34 & 35 to show you today. I think I may have to keep these☺ The main pic shows what I meant to be the front of the pendant  but I almost like the back better. So it's reversible☺ Lampwork beads by Juls More viking knit ....and lampwork by Juls   ...

Once again this week I did not follow the prompt, which was "Hidden from View". Instead I took the opportunity to learn another new jewelry making technique... Chain Maille! It wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be. I'm sure there are super complicated patterns out there, but this pattern was kind of fun. It's call Byzantine. Learning the Beaded Russian Spiral Russian Spiral ~ the green one and the blue one in front was, at least to me, much more difficult. And it is MUCH easier to go back and fix a mistake later in the Chain Maille. And quicker. Much, much quicker! lol I have already ordered a couple of chain maille kits, (surprise) so I can play with this some more. In other news,  I think I made the trade of the century this last week:~) A lady came in the shop to drop her car off for some services. While waiting for her ride, she noticed my display cases and we got to chatting about jewelry maki...

I can't even tell you how happy I am with this one☺ With the exception of the 2 small pink beads (which are 'reconstructed turquoise') everything about this necklace is handmade☺ I made some "organic" links using steel wire and enameled them along with some iron beads. I added a couple of ceramic beads by an  "unknown to me" artist here in AK that I got at a bead show, and two JulsBeads. All of the wire wraps and links are made with annealed steel wire and I seriously believe my fingertips are actually swollen. This turned out even better than what I had in my head! It is totally different than what I am usually inclined to make and even with the dark wire work, I think it still looks bright and cheerful! Think maybe this Year of Jewelry Project might be doing me some good ~LOVE!~

See? The photo stinks but the beads are definately drool-worthy☺ All of these gorgeous beads made it all the way from Juls in Alabama  to Alaska in pristine condition. I spent a couple of hours one evening, opening tons of little bundles of bubble wrap. (It was better than Christmas morning!) When I went to bed that night I left the box of beads on the table next to my chair. Said box of beads also contained tissue paper - I know better. Lily-girl has a little addiction to all things paper. She can eat a half a box of kleenex in 10 minutes flat. Paper towels, napkins it doesn't matter, she can have a roll of toilet paper strung down the hall and halfway up the stairs in no time. And apparently the addiction includes, Yep, tissue paper.  The next morning when I went back upstairs there was a giant pile of gorgeous glass on the floor. After picking everything up and assessing the damage I found that there was  only one broken bead. I'm sure that was due to the workmanship ...

I am officially in love with handmade lampwork beads. Aren't these gorgeous? I got these on Etsy from   Julsbeads I have never owned any lampwork beads and certainly nothing so perty☺ I absolutely love these and my photo does NOT do them justice.  If you are into handmade beads you HAVE GOT TO GO HERE . I actually came across this very talented and totally hilarious bead maker/ blogger during this last OWOH Giveaway. I have been a follower of her blog ever since. If you want to get to know a very sweet and funny person, go HERE . She is super full of personality and super generous.   I say generous because look at what else she sent to me! She just sent these along as "extras" and I gotta tell ya that I just can't stop touching this one.  It is definately my FAV!! (Once again, keep in mind my not so great photography skills, this bead is to DIE for!) It is going to have to remain in my possession permanently. At least some of the other beads are desti...