Year of Jewelry 2013 Week 1 - "Renewal"

Once again, I am embarking on the year long project called Year of Jewelry.  I participated a few years ago and found that it instilled some discipline in my creative process, well as much as you can discipline creativity, as well as keeping me on track just simply designing, making, and more importantly, finishing a piece.  At the end of the year it's always interesting to take a look back and see how my work has grown and changed from the challenge.

The theme of the week is "Renewal".  I walked around saying the word and trying to envision what it meant to me. The recurring thought for me was "Spring" (possible because it's winter and all around me is bare trees and frosted grass!).  So, when I finally had the opportunity I sat at the bench, pulled out the beads and copper and came up with this design.

Renewal

I cut a leaf shape out of my copper sheet, shaped it, domed it and etched it

used some of my 12 or 14 gauge wire to make some swirly connectors 

wrapped some beautiful blue Peruvian opal beads and some luscious wine fluorite rondells 

crafted a nice clasp for it (again with the 12/14 gauge copper wire)

It's been patinaed with Perma Blue which adds a really nice contrast.

Renewal

It's just Common Cents

.........or maybe I should say the new jewelry line from mrs beadsley's is anyway! I am having fun with pennies and all the things that can be done with them.  I think they are interesting when flattened, left whole, buffed or whatever.  And since there are boxes and boxes of them here at the house, that equals a lot of opportunities to explore creative ways to use them in jewelry.

So, I collected some tools and wire and beads - and a penny of course

some lovely aventurine beads from Turquoise Magpie

a lovely heart shaped clasp from my local bead store - Beads on the Kennebec

copper wire from my local hardware store - Audettes - Ace Hardware

wheat penny drilled and domed

the finished piece.  Now named "(un)common cents".