Christmas Charity Bazaar

Busy........ as a bee (well.... not really!)

Just to share with all of you that I'll be (or rather my pretties) participating in the upcoming Christmas Charity Bazaar, organised by the LEO Club of Petaling Jaya Integrity (O). The proposed date and venue for the event is from 17th to 19th of December 2010 to be held at Subang Parade Shopping Centre.

I'll be sending some of my pretties to be sold at the bazaar itself as well as making some to be given as gifts to respective charitable organisations. You may log on to www.f-expressions.blogspot.com to find out further information.

Ok......right after this I'll have to get back to my work table to continue the crafting so that I can complete them (I hope) in a few days and send them off earlier.

Will share the pictures of the completed pieces when am done with them.

Thanks for taking the time to read. Have a nice weekend everyone!

Green Jasper Copper Pendant - Wedding Gift

This is a 20mm x 30mm Green Jasper Cabochon,

crafted with anti tarnish copper coloured artistic wire, meant as a wedding gift.

Incomplete piece...... without the Swarovski Crystals.

The completed Green Jasper Copper Pendant, complete with "old fashioned chain".

Aventurine Sparkly Ring - Custom Order

Seems like I couldn't stay away from the computer ...... Just taking a short break from crafting and here is a Sparkly Ring custom made for NG, completed much earlier but only posting it now.

Aventurine Bead surrounded by Swarovski Bicones as well as 14k Gold Filled Beads

Thanks NG!

Addicted to Viking Knitting technique ...

Oops.......I've done it again - the disappearing act, I mean. Didn't learn any new techniques lately but got myself addicted with the viking knitting technique. Have I gone crazy or what......?

When I first purchased the tutorial (from Jan Raven), I was a little intimidated by the technique and was wondering where I could get the draw plate (the wooden tool to draw the cord) with various sizes drilled into them. Finally I found an idea ....... the small wooden plank/board my son had used to practice his Taekwon-do kicking/punching technique and as I don't have a drill at home, I had requested nicely to someone to drill the various holes for me.

So, here are a couple of pics that I took of the bangles/bracelets that I completed few days ago.

They're hand knitted with brass and silver plated anti-tarnish copper artistic wire and adorned with Murano Glass Beads in red and black and finished with 3D Tulip end caps and handforged clasp.

I kind of like this bangle and would probably do one for myself later.

I don't know when I'll be able to update my blog again as I'll be busy for the next one week or so as I've got some projects to complete for a charity bazaar organised by the Leo Club in KL. But definitely, I'll be back.

Have a nice weekend, everyone!

Louise VK Green Jasper Necklace

Code: ESP101

Viking knitted necklace cord with Green Jasper Oval Gemstone as the focals,

framed and coiled with nettings. The Green Jasper Oval Bead is 30mm x 20mm.

Measures about 17 - 18" (with ext), to be worn short around the neck.

Status: Only 1 pc available.

Sigrid VK Necklace

Code: ESP100

Viking Knitted necklace worn short around the neck

(with ext, ended with a carnelian bead)

Turquoise Gemstone Twist Bead as the focal and

Aventurine Gemstone 8mm Round Beads side by side

with copper plated spacers

& 3D Tulip copper plated bead caps.

Status: Only 1 pc available.

Helga VK Teardrop Shape Earrings

Code: ESP 99

Knitted with natural copper artistic wire, using Viking Technique, a simple teardrop shape.

Measures slightly less than 5cm (less than 2") from loop of ear wire.

Can be crafted with other colours as well.

Viking Knit Woven Bangle/Bracelet

Code: ESP 98

A bold woven silver plated copper artistic wire bangle/bracelet. Unisex, for a man or woman.

This bracelet is made using the traditional viking single knit weave.

A great amount of wire went into making this bangle/bracelet,

yet it is still light weight and comfortable.

Ending in Bali Style 3-D Tulips end caps and a simple clasp.

This will be a made to order piece, so do not hesitate to email me if you have any inquiries.

Viking Knitting in Single Weaves - Prototypes

These bangles were done in Viking Knitting technique in single weaves.

The cord ends with a pair of Bead Caps in 3D Tulip shape and hand forged clasp.

Turquoise Oval & Round beads and bead caps were added to this bangle

that ends with a hand forged spiral clasp.

The above two pics shown how it looks when worn on the wrist.

I'll be working my next project with the Non-Tarnish Artistic Wire and we'll see how it goes with a thinner gauge.

I am looking to buy a clamp to hold down the wrench so that I can work the wire with both hands. If not, then I'll just have to make do with my pair of hands and possibly my knee, as the clamp (just joking !) =)

Thanks for looking !

Viking Knitting Update

It's raining dogs and cats outside now, here in Seremban.

It's early morning and I've returned from sending the children to school.

The picture shown below are just a few of the prototypes

that I've done using the Viking Knitting technique.

Two bangles and parts of earrings.

I think I kinda like the bangle without the Turquoise beads.

I'm sort of addicted to this technique for now, so I think I'll be doing a few more !

Free Form Wire Flower Bib Necklace

This is something I completed over the weekend and is a commissioned piece.

A very simple Bib Necklace with free form wire flowers attached to each other with jump rings. I've used two colours here; silver and brass artistic wire. The flowers are then connected to a silver plated chain with extention.

Thanks for looking!

Viking Knitting Technique

I've recently started playing around with wires for the past one week for this technique called Viking Knit.

Viking Knitting or Viking Weave is a type of wire weaving that dates back to the 8th Century and is one of the oldest known forms of knitting. The woven structure consists of interconnected loops so that it resembles knitted fabric, hence the name. The weaving is made around a base, called a mandrel, and the resulting woven tube is (usually) pulled through a drawplate which stretches the chain, condense the stitches, and makes the chain flexible.

This technique is perfect for making a cord for bracelets, necklaces and even earrings.

For this learning purpose, I've used the normal wire in thinner gauge (this one is about 22g I think and it's quite hard) from the hardware store so that it will not be wasted if mistakes were made. Actual wire gauge to be used should be 24 or 26g.

The tutorial I got was from Jan Raven at JewelryLessons.com

Loops are created around a base, the mandrel. I've used the Allen Key (or Hex wrench). I've made this in single weave (there's also double weave) and as I don't have a clamp, I've used both hands; one to hold the mandrel and the other to control the wire.

6 feet of wire can get you about 3 inches in length only, after which you have

to add a new piece of wire to continue with the weaving to the length you require. Very tight and rigid before the stretching.

The drawplate (I've used a small wooden plank) with various sizes of holes drilled through it.

The chain is then pulled through the desired holes which will stretch them further.

The above picture shows the stretched chain, which is about 4" to 5" in length. It is now very flexible. Very short but not enough to make a cord for bracelet and necklace. Therefore, this Viking Knitting technique takes time and lots of wire. Actual pieces would be done with artistic wire, of course.

Lastly, am satisfied with the tutorial as well as the quality of my hand work.

Now I am off to do some more knitting/weaving and will be back to share

some pictures of my prototypes based on this technique.

Have a nice weekend, folks ! =)