Bracelet in Bronze and Quartz

This is today's creation, made from Vintaj bronze Parawire and embellished with quartz and Czech fire polished amber beads.  I really enjoy creating a project from scratch.  The Parawire is certainly a great alternative from the more expensive sterling and gold filled, and just as classy.  And you don't have to worry about tarnish.  I made some earrings with the quartz, but trying to decide on ear wires for them. 

I found and recently ordered some tin/bronze wire online and awaiting the order.  I am anxious to see how the wire is to work with.  Parawire is coated copper wire and pretty easy to work with.  If you have any experience using bronze wire, I'd  love to hear from you!  Thanks for looking  Blessings.  Anita

MAY PROJECTS

So far this month, I have worked with wire, done some basic beading, and created some PMC Bronze pieces with my friend, Jeanne.  It's been a while since I've done a project just stringing beads, but this month I did a lovely necklace in a shell theme with a fossil coral focal.  I really liked it with one strand for the necklace, but since chunky is in, I decided to double strand it. 

For the wire project, I had started coiling some wire one day into links and thought I could work it into a bracelet.  My friend called it an "original", but there are so many wire workers out there that I can't believe someone hasn't thought of this design before, so I hesitate to call it my original.  But keeping with my shell theme, I added small coin/disc shell beads to it and thought it came out well.   The wire is Vintag by Parawire and the toggle is a gold tone that I thought blended well.

And lastly, Jeanne and I once again attempted our work with Bronze PMC.  I love the bronze and it seems to fit right in with the colors I like, and the patina giving it a rich antique look.  We had very good luck with the kiln this time and the settings for firing have been saved for the next time.  I cleaned up my pieces with a brass wire brush, tumbled them, and then added some patina.  I tumbled them for another half hour and this is the result.  I want to clean them up some more and maybe do some burnishing, then will decide what I want to create with them.  I especially love the large one in the center - my lovely lady with the flowing hair.  She didn't come out the last time, but she fared very well this time.

NEW BOOKS TO CONSIDER:
To help in educating myself in PMC techniques, I have purchased two books, both which I found informative and well written:  The Art of  Metal Clay by Sherri Haab and New Directions in Metal Clay by CeCe Wire. 

Another book I purchased was Contemporary Copper Jewelry by Sharilyn Miller, a great book for you wire workers.  I loved the projects in this book and the directions and photos seem easy to follow.

As always, thank you for looking!  HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL YOU MOMS AND GRANDMAS!

Blessings,
Anita