My Bead Soup Partner...Molly Alexander

I am humbled to be partnered with 

Molly Alexander 

from 

Miss Molly Designs

for this season's Bead Soup Party! 

Please stop by her social sites and check out all of her wonderfulness!

www.missmollysdesigns.com

www.beautifullybrokenme.blogspot.com

www.beautifullybrokenme-gratefulliving.blogspot.com

www.MollyJAlexander.etsy.com

I'm late getting this posted ...

so so busy with orders, shows etc..
I apologize Molly for the being so late!

Now to the eye candy ~

My package was so beautiful! So much time and warmth included!

Now...I just want to look at these forever...
this  message focal and hand beaded toggle clasp
Honestly..I am in awe! 

Gorgeous lampworked beads 

So sweet ~ glass bell flowers

Yum....think I want to eat these..:-) 

So pretty lampworked beads ~

Each was separately wrapped...just like Christmas!

I'm contemplating...haven't yet started....
but it's coming together in my mind

Visit Molly's Blog to see what I sent her!
Here's a peek

Look for the reveal on
MARCH 3rd

CAB 52 ~ Week 5

Today's a little fun way to create a cabochon look with beads....

I always love pink with copper..

It always seems to push aside the orange 

& pulls in the pink side for a perfect harmony

of color. 

Add the blue/green patina on textured slivers 

& it's a match made in heaven!

 I could have circled the stone too...would have been pretty...

I kind of like the messy wrapping....

Hope you enjoyed this little peek in to my cab world!

Take a minute to see my post over at Earrings Everyday blog 

for a wonderful new earring design....

Many of the items to create this design are available on my Etsy site...

Hope you'll stop by! 

Melinda 

Kristi Bowman Copper Component Reveal ~

Today is the reveal for the ammonite copper component from Kristi Bowman Designs ~ 

I have used many of her components in my finished jewelry designs last year.  

This particular piece is slightly larger than a quarter. 

It comes with a rainbow effect on the finish ~ 

I thought about this for a few weeks before I got started....

and thought it would make a wonderful bracelet... 

Marti Conrad had sent me some little speckled clay links a few weeks back,

when she sent the focal I used for my CAB 52 Project...

and they were a perfect fit.

So I got to work and created the bracelet.....

I was thrilled with this piece....

but kept thinking this would also make a great necklace with a few additions ~

I received a message from Kristi. this week ..asking if we were all creating bracelets....

That's when I knew, I should go with my feelings and add the links, etc.... 

I'm so glad I did! 

Some brown pearls wire wrapped with Copper beads, 

some of my textured large ovals with handmade links 

& assorted wire wrapped beads 

Voila....a beautiful rustic necklace ~ 

Thank you Kristi....what a wonderful component to design with ~

Stop by Kristi's Etsy site and get a few of these beauties for yourself!

Kristi's Etsy

I hope you'll visit the other participants in this reveal ~ 

A wonderful group of designers &

so fun to see how we each decided to design around it.

Click on the links below...

Kristi Bowman Design http://dreamsomedesigns.blogspot.com/ 

Jean Wells http://jeanawells.blogspot.com/

Melinda Orr http://orrtec.blogspot.com/  YOU ARE HERE!

Sue Kennedy http://suebeads.blogspot.com/

Shannon Chomanczuk http://formysweetdaughter.blogspot.com/

Melissa Cable http://createrecklessly.blogspot.com/

Cindy Wimmer http://www.sweetbeadstudio.com/

Mary Harding http://maryhardingjewelrybeadblog.blogspot.com/

Karen Totten http://starryroadstudio.blogspot.com/

Jan Molten Mayhem http://moltenmayhem.typepad.com/molten-mayhem/

Linda Landig http://lindasbeadblog.com/

Kristi Harrison http://kristibasket-itsanewday.blogspot.com/

Kimberly Sturrup http://bahamadawn.blogspot.com/

Sally Russick http://thestudiosublime.com/

 

Thanks for joining us and I hope you enjoy checking out all the other creations!

Waiting for Spring ~ Filling the time...

I've been working hard on new designs &

 just wanted to share a few of my favorites! 

I'll be adding a new GREEN Athena Patina soon!  

Oversized textured jumprings...now available on my site ~ 

An new idea in Patina....the butterfly was created by buffing off the layers of patina .
 Permanent ink for the lines and detail...
I look forward to playing with this more! 

Just a simple LOVE gesture...
The little copper beads on the chain, brass disc & copper heart
 are available on my site too!

Cabbage Rose Bracelet...not much to say ...but....I LOVE!
Look for more designs to come ~ 

New Orange Blue Patina....just working out the bugs....but coming soon! 

These are  just a few blue Bell jars on my patio....
They are patiently waiting for Spring flowers ~
And so am I ~ but in the meantime...
I'll just keep designing :-)

What are you working on right now?

Would love to hear!

Tons of new components on my ETSY Site....

Click here to see!
Stay up to date with daily inspiration pictures on my Facebook page
Click here to see!

COPPER COMPONENT BLOG HOP ~ This Saturday!

This is my creation for Kristi Bowman Designs Blog Hop ~ 

It has a kaleidoscope effect to hide the finished design ~ 

 Copper Component Blog Hop!!
The reveal is this Saturday February 4th.
Join Kristi Bowman, 15 other designers~

We're all using a copper design from Kristi...

so should be fun to see how everyone interprets the design!

Here is the piece I am designing around~ 

How would you use it? 

If you'd like to see who is participating here is a list!
Please come back and join us on Saturday!

Kristi Bowman Design http://dreamsomedesigns.blogspot.com/ YOU ARE HERE

Jean Wells http://jeanawells.blogspot.com/

Melinda Orr http://orrtec.blogspot.com/

Sue Kennedy http://suebeads.blogspot.com/

Shannon Chomanczuk http://formysweetdaughter.blogspot.com/

Pam Brisse http://bluebetween.blogspot.com/

Melissa Cable http://createrecklessly.blogspot.com/

Cindy Wimmer http://www.sweetbeadstudio.com/

Mary Harding http://maryhardingjewelrybeadblog.blogspot.com/

Karen Totten http://starryroadstudio.blogspot.com/

Jan Molten Mayhem http://moltenmayhem.typepad.com/molten-mayhem/

Linda Landig http://lindasbeadblog.com/

Kristi Harrison http://kristibasket-itsanewday.blogspot.com/

Kimberly Sturrup http://bahamadawn.blogspot.com/

Sally Russick http://thestudiosublime.com/

Lana Kinney (will share on my blog)

And check out the other Bead Table Wednesday artists on Flickr

Kristi

New Riveted Heart Ring Tutorial

Hi Everyone!
Finally getting my second tutorial finished.....

you don't want to know how many times I've recorded this...lol! 

Fortunately the swear words have been cut! 

So here you go ~ 

My apologies for the narrowness...I'm still working out the bugs...

So hang in there!

For this project you will need the following

Below you can click on the links to go to the specific item on my Etsy ~ 

Ring Shanks

Heart blanks 

Chasing Hammer

Riveting Hammer

Metalwork  File 

Bench Block

1.5mm Hole Punch

Copper/Brass Polishing Pads

Patina Gel
Ring Looper Pliers
1/4" Rivets 

All of these items are in stock and ready to ship....
will be mailed within a day!

Here's a pic of  the finished product...I especially like the you & me ring!
Would love your feedback!  

Look for more tutorials ....like I said working out the bugs!

I'll be posting the winner if the Hammered Pink Earrings tomorrow!

Happy Designing!

CAB 52 ~ Week 4

This week's CAB 52 Project...really just came to me in a flash...I've just posted new oval stampings on my Etsy site and have been incorporating them into my designs the last couple weeks.  As I was looking at them...I thought I could use half of the oval for the prong setting and the other half could be flower petals coming out from each end...I actually made it originally this way and thought it looked a little flat....even though I textured the petals.  (Next time I have to remember to photograph in stages) I really wanted to incorporate wire and added 14g annealed wire through the loops I ended up making from the petals.  The base is a 1.5" brass round from my Etsy and I soldered 5 copper skinny ovals around the brass circle.  This week I am using a new piece that I've been testing all week...a dome bisque ceramic cabochon  with a copper polymer..it has been oxidized and bits of blue patina peek through....I've been working hard for weeks on trying to get unique results....I have some really cool pieces coming out...this particular one is subdued...but I really like it.   

The bail was made from a scrap piece of copper.

Textured and formed it snugly tp fit the thick ivory leather bail bar.

I've been missing working my leather into designs and really wanted the softness of it here.   

The clasp is hole punched and a copper hook completes the piece....

I used a chunky copper link for chain which matched the size of the pendant.

I hope this inspires you to think out of the box....

use common components to create a fun, original bezels 

for Artisan Beads and Cabs! 

I have so many ideas for the future cabs....and many component designers pieces are arriving everyday! 

I hope you'll take a moment to visit my Etsy Site...

Ton's of components, tools and finished jewelry to choose from

www.orrtec.etsy.com

Sorry for the delay on tutorials...ran into a couple snags...

Tomorrow for sure! 

Happy Designing ~ M

CAB 52 ~ Week 3

When is a cab really a cab.....
Who says a cabochon needs 
to be in a pretty setting....
I say no! 
I want it to be different! 
Something just for me ~ 
 ~ A little Valentine gift to myself  ~

Today's project really got me thinking of how to mix a truly pretty focal  with my rustic organic look...

How can I bring down the metal to meet this pretty in pink mended heart pendant ...

An unlikely couple...but so many of us are attracted to the other kind...lol...

You know the story....bad boy meets nice girl.... 

Today I'm Featuring clay artist Marti Conrad 

(Visit Marti's Etsy site and see all of her wonderful designs..Click here)

and her beautiful mended heart in a pastel watercolor glaze..

I chose this piece because it is totally different than what I normally work with...

I have formed a cyber friendship with Marti over the years...

My all time favorite design in clay is her mended heart... I had seen it years ago..

and was lucky enough to receive one from her in a clay swap.

My jewelry design history comes from clay component design, then slowly evolved to metal...

The base for this piece is aluminum textured and patina added to bring out the pattern.  

I rounded the top to form a bail and hole punched exactly where the holes in the clay piece are.  

Oxidized copper wire is used to "mend" the heart and connect it to the base...

This would have been cool with a pink braided leather too I think....

My idea door is open with this new piece....

look for more in this avenue to come..

I think it is perfectly acceptable as a cab setting....

Would love to hear what you think! 

Visit my Etsy site for all of my components and finished jewelry

www.orrtec.etsy.com

Cab 52 ~ Week 2

Today's cabochon setting is inspired by my love of rings....I've been really trying to simplify the process and will be sharing some of my ideas in the coming weeks in tutorials ~  If you've been following me, you know that I scored this amazing box of cabochons from a gentleman at a craft show....what he said were his imperfects....well that is exactly what I love...Imperfectly Perfect ~ I'll be using some of these along the way....I love them and really don't want to use them...I just want to look at them...funny huh!

I really love the way this ring feels on...really artsy and rustic.... It is an interesting setting...I think you all can do this too. It is totally cold connection...no soldering involved.....

I see it being set with polymer, glass or driftwood...

Please share any other ideas you have!  

Just a brief over view....The shank is textured with stampings.  The oval is bent to snugly wrap the long free form cabochon against the top of the shank.  Then the ring shank and oval are hole punched on each side with  a 1.5mm hole punch.  Riveted the stone under the oval to the ring shank, then shaped on my ring mandrel tool....Finally weaving the wire under the oval and around the stone, flowing but snug....finished the wire off, by wrapping both ends around a few of the wires....Oxidized and shined up....

Would love to hear your comments or ideas for upcoming Cab 52 features  ~ 

Also, if you design cabochons, feel free to submit a link or picture for consideration! 

Here is a list of the items with links,

 if you would like to try this:

Ring Shanks

Oval Washers

Rivets

Riveting Hammer

Patina Gel

Ring Shaping Mandrel

Copper Shine Pads

Happy Designing!! 

Hammered Pink...A Video Tutorial

Apologies for the delay of my weekly DIY Project....

I ran into some video problems...

so hang in there while I get it a little more together....

Without further ado.....

Hammered Pink ~ An Earring Tutorial and how to DIY! 

Using a chasing hammer, bench block, hole punch, polish pads & working with metal blanks....

Hope you enjoy it! 

Would really appreciate your feedback here since this is all new to me! 

 Please leave a comment & share this post with all your friends! 

for entries to win a pair of these beauties or the metal kit w/hammer to DIY...

your choice! 

Thanks for watching....look for more each week!
~Here is what you will need to get started for yourself ~

Earwires, bead caps, spacers, 18gauge wire, beads, & blanks

Below you can click on the links to go to the specific item on my Etsy ~ 

Square blanks 

Earwires

Bead Caps

Wire...coming soon 

(if you need it send me a convo) 

Chasing Hammer

Metalwork  File 

Bench Block

1.8mm Hole Punch

Copper/Brass Polishing Padsf

Flush Cutters (to cut wire) 

WINNERS!!!! 

Barbara Bechtel, Louise Turner and Lisa Amato Staten are the 

winners of the Last 3 Days of Countdown to Christmas 

(sorry it took so long!) 

Email/facebook your addresses to me please! 

Art Bead Scene Blog: January Monthly Challenge Sponsors and Prizes

Stop over to Art Bead Scene and join the monthly challenge! You could win 2 gift certificates from me and my favorite online ....Ornamentea!

Art Bead Scene Blog: January Monthly Challenge Sponsors and Prizes

Cab 52 ~ Week 1

This is the first of my new project

CAB 52

It is a challenge to myself to design a bezel set cabochon in an original piece of  jewelry every week in 2012.  I plan to explore rings, pendants, earrings, pins and bracelets. 

I will be using handmade Artisan cabochons and beads.  

If you have a handmade piece you would like to be considered or you have created a design with a bezel setting, I would love to share your work 

Please email me HERE 

I will be purchasing the cabs/beads once I decide on the pieces to use...if you would rather donate them, I'll place a month long ad with your link/picture on the side bar.  

So this weeks cab setting has an interesting story... My daughter Angela saw a piece that I designed recently and wanted to do something similar...she took a 1.5" round disc cut a hole in the middle and stamped it with a cool sun motif ~ she etched the back side as well so it would be interesting to look at.  We decided to put holes in the disc and wire wrap around the edges....but this turned out failing miserably....she was totally discouraged and left it on the bench....She went away for a few days...and there it sat...I just kept glancing at it.   Finally I came up with a plan to surprise her....I cut the holes out to make sun rays....if you look closely you can see where they were...I bent the inside prongs up and down...... soldered the back to the front.....then set the glass cab inside the prongs and used my bezel tools to create a snug fit.  Using 16g brass wire  bent the whole length, I wrapped it around the piece weaving it in and out of itself.   Made a loop from the end of the brass and added a simple copper bail and over-sized ball chain necklace ~ 

I was totally thrilled and wrapped it up.....

She about cried when she opened it up Christmas morning....

She knew immediately that it was her piece! 

 I thought this would be a fun story to share...I hope you like my collaboration design! 

Goddess of the Sun Bezel Necklace 

Stop back every Wednesday to follow my progress! 

Many of the components I use are available on my Etsy page as well as the tools you'll need! 

Stop over and take a peek! Melinda Orr Designs  ~ Etsy

Every Friday I'll be posting a new tutorial or how to on metalworking and tools ...Come on back!

Hello 2012....The Fun Starts Tomorrow :-))

Thank you 2011! 

You have been an amazing year for me ~ 

Hello 2012! 

I have so many ideas for this new year...

Look for my Wednesday posts right here...called 

CAB 52

I'll be designing around Artisan cabochons and beads....

finding new & exciting ways to use them.  

I'm looking for unique pieces to work with....more details tomorrow!  

Every Friday, I'll be offering tutorials of fun projects

 in riveting, metalwork, soldering, 

wire work, patina/oxidizing and tool usage. 

I'm excited to be involved in so many new group projects. 

I'll be contributing over at the Everyday Earrings blog every other Tuesday...

I'm working with a truly talented group of component designers for a new blog coming soon.  

More details as we move forward with it and a few more group projects in the works...

not much I can say yet, but I'm really excited about them! 

I'll be offering lot's of 

giveaways and good deals 

this year on my blog ~ 

I'm excited to add lots of new components and jewelry designs as well as DIY kits &  

collaborating with other designers along the way  ~ 

So you don't want to miss a single post this year....

you can follow easily via email ...

just click on the email notice on the left of this post....

All of my blog posts connect with my facebook business page  

www.facebook.com/melindaorrdesigns  

 I have a few winners to get designs to yet this week 

(I'm behind a couple weeks) ~ 

A house full of family and kids....

family visiting from California & driving through a few states to visit even more family....

A wonderful holiday...just shorted my time in the studio.  

So hang in there if you're waiting for something...

will be in your mailbox soon ~ 

Thank you all for your support ~

I hope you'll all join me this year! 

It's going to be a really fun & inspirational year~  

Melinda 

Day 5 of Christmas Giveaway!!

To enter today's drawing, please leave a message to the left of this post in my new Chat Box ~ 

Let's see...

Tell me what color your Christmas tree lights are....

If you have them...if not...pick a favorite color :-)  

You can log in to my chat box using your facebook acct or other options pop up. Good Luck! 

I'll draw sometime late tomorrow and post the winner here....

but, you'll need to check back as I'm not sure if I can find you through the chat box 

(this is a learning event for me & the chat box

lol...at your expense) 

Congratulations  

Linda Landig

you are my Day 5 winner! 

You've won my Leather & Patina Bracelet

Day 6 & 7 of Countdown to Christmas

I just want to let you know my Countdown to Christmas has taken a serious turn....

I've decided to have GIVEAWAYS instead!!! 

A Mystery Giveaway..Til Christmas Eve

Day 5 of my Christmas Giving

Please tell me your favorite Christmas Song in a comment below 

or on my facebook post...

Winner will be drawn Monday morning ~ 

You won't know til the next day what it is..

but I promise...It will be something I love and think is very cool!  

LOL! this doesn't mean you will think it's cool...but I hope you will ~

 I'll throw in some deals in along the way too...

(I know, I know I've missed a couple of days on my countdown and I'll be posting those deals soon)

 ~ I've also decided to offer the DEALS weekly through 2012...

Yesterday I posted on my facebook page...a comment to win the 

Day 6 and 7 of my Christmas Giving

Congratulations!  

Marti Conrad  

Kari Alexander