A New Use For Jump Rings!

I apologize for the poor picture quality, but I wanted to post about this necklace today, so what you see here is the best I could come up with from the store! The beautiful and talented Rose Berger (of Yoga Twins jewelry--you can see an example of her work HERE) gave me thousands of bronze jump rings a few weeks ago, and I've been trying to think up something to do with them ever since. Rose makes some beautiful chainmaille pieces in her store, and chainmaille also happens to be an excellent way to use up lots and lots of jump rings! But my style is a little bit "messier"--I really wanted to make something funky, that was also neutral enough for every day.

And this is what I came up with! This necklace took forever to make the first time I did it--I ended up making a second one the next day, and I got my time down to 90 minutes that time. A "quick" project it is not, but I think it's really beautiful, and I also think I will be keeping one for myself! This necklace has been made in mixed metals--bronze as well as copper, but now I am expanding my jump ring horizons. I really want to make a silver version, and maybe even a gold one too. I did end up with a huge, fat blister on one of my fingers from all the opening and closing of jump rings, but it was totally worth it. Just the price you pay for jewelry sometimes!

Jewelry for Your (and my!) Hands

Can you tell that it's been another slow day at my store??? I have been creating a lot of new pieces lately, and I have been especially interested in thinking up some fun new ideas for hand jewelry. This is partially selfish--I really wanted something cool to wear on my hand today that was more interesting than a usual ring or bracelet, so I made myself something! Well, something for my right hand--on my left hand, I'm wearing one of the cool double rings that I made yesterday. Oh, the perks of being a jewelry designer...

This was also a good project because I have had tons of extra chain laying around for months now, just waiting to be put to good use. Some of that chain finally got used up today in the creation of a few of these ring bracelets. I am currently wearing the one above, that's made of turquoise and brass. It's super comfortable and looks really pretty. Not too delicate, not too high maintenance. I am totally keeping it for myself!

Also, I really wish that there was a better name for these things--"ring bracelet" sounds awkward, but I can't figure out a good alternative. I have seen them sold as "slave bracelets" before, but that is literally the most offensive name for a piece of jewelry I have ever heard. I am always going to err on the side of not using the word "slave" to describe any of my jewelry, EVER. I guess I am stuck with "ring bracelet" until something better comes along..... I'm not sure whether I will add these to either my boutique or online store, but for now I at least have two new pieces for myself!