What is Copper??

People often ask me why I use copper in my jewelry and not silver. The answer is simple, I can't afford silver and I love the golden colour of the copper. Copper has many of the same abilities as Silver and Gold. It is a pure natural product, that can be found in nature. You cannot get allergies from wearing copper, as copper contains non of the toxic metals such as nickel. All great reasons why I love to use copper in my jewelry.

The reason why copper is not considered to be a precious metal, is because it oxidises very quickly in the air. That's why most copper jewelry is oxidized, this means it wont change it's colour, since it already has been oxidized. This also means no polishing :-) Almost all of my copper pieces has been oxidized.

I am allergic to copper! - No probably not... When people think they are allergic to copper, it's often because their skin reacts with the copper, leaving a dark green colour on their skin. The same thing happens with silver, only that the marks are black. But the marks are in no way dangerous, but just annoying. Some people reacts stronger to this then others. This is do to the substance of chemicals in their sweat. If you have this problem, a small coat of clear nail polish on the places that touches your skin, can prevent this from happening.

I love copper so much, that I even chose to make our wedding rings in copper.

Copper is actually known to ease the pain caused by gout in the hands. So if you have trouble with pain in your hands during the cold winter months, a copper bracelet, might help you.

Available at ShelterFlair

Copper is not as rare as silver and gold, and this leaves the material coasts to be much lover, and of cause this benefits you when buying jewelry because we are able to make beautiful pieces, but at a much lower coast, then if we used gold or silver.
Remember that when you buy a copper piece, you know that there are no hidden toxics, it's a pure product that is safe for you to wear.

New tutorial - Round N' Round Earrings

I finally finished the tutorial, and it's going to be for my crazy spiral earring project "Round N' Round earrings".

 

 

In this lesson I will teach you how to make a pair of Round N’ Round earrings. We will go through such basic techniques as how to make spirals and how to form a loop, and these techniques will be used in making the fun Round N Round earring design. I do recommend that you have some wire experience before hand, but this is not a difficult project, and should be mastered by beginners as well as intermediates.


Material List

16” of 18 ga round copper wire
 8” of 20 ga round copper wire
 1 pair of ear wires

Tool List

Flat nose pliers
Round nose pliers
Wire cutters
Nylon Jaw pliers
Hammer
Steel Bench Block
Metal file

The tutorial is available in my Etsy shop and on Jewelrylessons.com

Hot News Only For my Blog readers!!

I've just finished a new tutorial! It's not ready for order yet, but will be tomorrow evening. You just got the news before everyone else...

I wont reveal what the tutorial is for just yet, but I will tell you this is my first earring tutorial. I actually hate making earrings, but this project I find to be fun, even if it is for earrings :-) plus you can use it in bracelets as well.

So keep watching! I will reveal the project tomorrow.

Until then here's a picture of the tools you'll be needing

Playing With my Hammer

I just recently got a new texture hammer, and today I tried it on some different small projects.

This necklace has a small citrine drop, dangling from it. I like the simplicity of this pendant, although it's not my usual style.

Again a more simple everyday look then my normal 

pieces.

See how different the texture is. I think these kinda look like crumbled up paper.

These have been donated for charity, supporting the fight against breast cancer. It's only available in Denmark, but you can check it out HERE

So that was just what I've been up to. All pieces are available in the shops!

Fairy Princess Necklace

I have already shown a few pictures of this piece, but I thought it deserved it's very own post...

Available here

Inspiration: When a fairy girl fancies a fairy boy, she will give him her birth flower. All fairies has a birth flower, that is sort of their guardian angel. So when a fairy boy receives a flower, he knows that someone likes him. If he likes the fairy girl back, he will also give her his birth flower, and then a wedding normally fallows quickly along after.

Nice clean back, that wont irritate your skin or clothes.

 

 

 

 Stones used are all pink tourmaline

Metal is pure oxidized copper

 

Blog Award

I just got a blog award from makingjewellerysupplies.com


So thank you, to them!! :-)

Recycling

We are doing a blog carnival on the always wonderful SATEAM. This means that we are all writing about the same topic, and this month the topic is; RECYCLING

Great theme for me as I do have some fun recycling projects to show you.

Soda can before

I had this idea, that I wanted recycle soda cans, and use them in my jewelry. The idea sprung from a friend who just can't live without her daily doses of coca cola, and as a fun present I wanted to make her coke earrings :-)

Cut out soda can earrings

So I cleaned out the cans and cut out circle discs, with my disc cutter. Afterwards I filed the edges so they wouldn't be sharp.

Finished earrings

Then I punched holes in the circles, and used little star rivets to cover the holes. I haven't gotten around to make any more, but the plan is to have some available in my shop soon, so keep an eye out.

Another recycling project is my steampunk pieces. I use old watch parts, buttons, nails and whatever fun thing I come across.

Christmas present for my Mum last year

Birthday present for my Mum

My mum love steampunk, so most of my steampunk pieces she ends up getting before they make the web shop, but I do make these as custom orders as well.

So that was a little bit about how I like to use recycling products in my jewelry making!

Follow the links to the blogs of this month's participating members to find out how recycled materials play into their work.

Bead Sire


The FamiLee Jewels