Getting things back on track!

Okay, I've noticed that this is a hair blog, and for the last month, all I've been talking about is jewelry... yes, it's my new passion, and yes, the less I touch my hair, the more it will stay on my head. So, I've been able to wear my hair in a pony puff for the last week... yes, I'm lazy. My new job hours are kicking my ass. I need a couple of days where I can just sleep. I promise to post new hair pictures.

Oh yeah, the jewelry has its on blog: Creative Magic. When I bought my ventilating supplies, I thought I had found my niche, but it's actually jewelry making. I feel like anything's possible with making jewelry, and people are actually buying it... not that I thought they wouldn't, but it's actually happening. Anyway, mosey on over there and check things out. I promise to keep the two seperated from now on, lol.

I Now Have All The Tools I Need

I am such a firm believer in research and buying the tools needed for whatever project or obsessions I'm obsessing over. Right now, obviously it's jewelry. On Tuesday, everything was finally delivered: my 3.6 volt cordless screwdriver, my Centaur Wigjig, my nylon jaw pliers, and my steel bench block. We also went to Home Depot to get a chuck adapter for my screwdriver, and a ball peen hammer. I'm so ready.

I'm a little intimidated of the Centaur Wigjig. So far, I've learned to make spirals with the Spiral Maker. Once I got the hang of it, I made these fabulous earrings:

So I've resigned myself to making my own rings if I can help it. If I'm doing a chainmaille bracelet, I'll order them premade, but I'll make my ring findings.

Obsessed with jewelry making!

The bracelets, left, an Inca Puno for my brother, and right, my first Byzantine, for my sister-in-law. The crystal/pearl earrings are for my sister, the wooden/glass beaded earrings are for my niece, and the hoop crystal earrings are for my daughter. I actually made each link, each curly cue wire, and bent each hoop. I had so much fun making these earrings. I really have a knack for jewelry making. I love the beads, I love making the rings, I love it all. I made this black and red full Persian for my friend Gina:



The orders are slowly coming in. I just sold another Rearden metal bracelet (1st version). Such a gratifying feeling when someone wants to buy your stuff.

My New Version of the "Rearden Metal" Bracelet

My Esty Page

Yes, I'm wearing it, but the first one is MINE (a prototype)! These will be handmade to order, for $80.00 plus S/H. It took me five days to make the bracelet. It wore me out, considering I was starting a new job at the same time as learning a new skill (at my age). Seeing the finished product filled me with such a sense of accomplishment... completely gratifying. This is the first item on my Esty page. I still have 4 large link ($20) and 4 small link ($15) bracelets in stock on this blog (bracelet page, at the top of the blog), available for immediate shipping. Once they're gone, I'll only be making the Rearden bracelet out of niobium jump rings. I can't find that previous particular link anymore, and jump rings are immediately available, albeit a bit pricey. I wish it was Rearden Metal. Eventually, I will be a dotcom.

I'm going to learn a new weave in a couple of weeks. I want to master starting the Persian weave, which was next to impossible (FIVE HOURS). I had to really understand the pattern. It made no sense during those five hours, and then the next day, I just did what I understood it to be, and it was correct. That was a lightbulb moment of "letting go". I had faith that it would turn out, and it did. Stay tuned for more creations from Creative Magic.

The First Batch Of Earrings Are Done!

I've been at it since 11:00am this morning! All of these are handmade. Once I got started, I couldn't stop. I even made my own earwires, out of copper (bottom right). Here are the results:

I've found my new passion. I had to physically push myself away from my work table. I'm supposed to be making the new Rearden Metal bracelets, but I'm scared to tackle assembling the jumprings (into chainmaille). I'm going to post these earrings on my Esty page. Some of them I've decided to keep (the middle picture, and the picture on the right - my mother's old pearls). Once I got the loop making down, I was off and running. I'm still having trouble with my wrapped loops, but today was only the first day... the first day. I'm not posting until I have enough to sell. I need more silver and gold euro lever earwires. I also need an anvil and nylon hammer (I slammed my finger today - still hurts). I need more pliers, at least a pair of bent chainnose and a pair of flat nose. At first, before I started, I didn't know what they were for, but after today, now I know!