My mailbox contained my shipment from Urban Maille today and I just had to try my hand at the fancy bracelet I'd gotten silver rings for. The results are here on Beader's Haven:
Mj
Do you have to be able to solder to make that? I love it.
Tina
No soldering required. Just two pairs of good flat nose pliers and some patience to learn the pattern. I'd already practiced a bit by making my own rings out of brass wire and learning the weave from "Great Wire Jewelry" by Irene Peterson. However, getting the refill kit from Urban Maille made all the difference! The rings in this bracelet are 16 gauge sterling silver with a 4.5mm inner diameter - and the relationship between the wire gauge and inner diameter is critical to having the weave turn out properly!
They have kits for beginner and 'apprentice' level items, refills for the kits and plain cut & polished rings. I also got the watch kit - that will take longer but it looks gorgeous!! Here's the URL for them
and I just had to try my hand at the fancy bracelet I'd gotten silver rings for. ?
WOW cool....
Cheryl of DRAGON BEADS Flameworked beads and glass
OHHHHHHHHHH SWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!
I came SO CLOSE to participating in that buy! I'm not very good at getting stuff just because I want it or think it would be fun. *pout* You did a FABULOUS job! And you've never done that before??? WOW!
Did you get the kit, or just the rings and use other instructions? I keep looking at the picture... It's magnificent!
I have had Irene Peterson's book "Great Wire Jewelry" for some time now, which has great directions and illustrations for many of the ring patterns. I'd experimented a bit with some brass rings that I made while I was waiting for the Urban Maille order to come in and had some trouble with it. The finished product really does depend greatly on the relationship between the wire gauge and the inner diameter of the rings. My first attempts with the brass rings didn't work very well, but this was extremely easy!! Once I did two of the sections, I had it down pat and just plowed along.
For the bracelet, I just ordered their refill for the kit and used the directions in the book. But I also ordered the watch kit - it's a double Byzantine chain band so I figured I needed to see the directions on how to join the two. I intend to order more rings now to make other bracelets and possibly necklaces. And I also ordered some stuff from Rio Grande so I could experiment making my own rings, but that's down the road a bit. This was definitely the most fun (and instant gratification!) I've had making anything in years!
Mj
Well, you did a totally SMASHING job!!! I understand the Byzantine bracelet takes more than one ounce, but less than two. Now I'm trying to decide if I should get two or three ounces of rings. I can't wait! Thanks for the inspiration!
My bracelet has 11 sections - each section takes 12 rings, except the first, which takes 14. So there's a total of 134 rings in it. The Byzantine part measures 6 7/8" and the clasp adds another inch+ to the length. The rings are 16 gauge with a 4.5mm ID. It makes for a hefty bracelet! I had rings left over from the refill kit, too. Enough to add two more sections to the bracelet OR make a pair of earrings to match, which I just may do just to see how they look. If you get rings, one troy ounce isn't quite enough, two would be way too many, and three ounces would make two bracelets! Have fun!
Mj
Ooooooooh, I love it!
cool link,( pardon the pun please!!) Sarajane
Sarajane's Polymer Clay Gallery
Sarajane's Polymer Clay Gallery
Gorgeous!!
YOWZA! I really, really like that.
Did you make you own jump rings when practicing? Do you think it would matter if they're not perfect?
-- Margie
-- Margie
WOW!! I've always said sleep is over rated. Great job!!! Patti
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