Shiny Things Gallery | Search
Total matches for wire: 125
Star Reborn
We are stardust. From the hydrogen that our bodies carry, vast and plentiful in the universe, to the iron in our blood--the final product of a star before it dies. We're dead stars given another life; stars reborn. Shine.
The moment I saw this labradorite cabochon, I could only think of a galaxy exploding into life. I had to snap it up and make a spectacular necklace for it to hang from. Un/fortunately, that seemed to mean visiting my old friend, the dragonscale weave, used a little differently than most tend to use it. This is how I like it, though. It's extremely solid with a nice heft to it, but it doesn't feel heavy when worn.
Sold.
Steel Hand in a Velvet Glove
Do no harm. But take no s-- Stuff. Take no stuff.
I was determined to make a really, really simple wrap for this already spectacular labradorite centerpiece, and a reasonably simple chain. ...Uh. Well, simple enough. Any variation of a byzantine weave is a touch of madness; two steps forward, one step back. Over and over and over again. I'm still happy with the shiny-glowy result, though.
(For Sale)
Simple Linked Materia Bracelet
Need a linked materia option that's also a versatile fashion accessory? This style has you covered! Magic materia plus an Independent materia make for nearly limitless options! (Personally I recommend Mega-All + Master Magic, but y'know, whatever the battle calls for.)
I really, really wanted to get back to chainmaile. For some reason. And I wanted it to be relatively simple, so... I should have picked another project. Oh, it's a simple enough weave, but the gauge of the wire for the rings is quite a bit thicker than I was used to. Combine that with the fact it's nice, sturdy stainless steel and that pretty much makes the easy method of this chain weave completely impossible to achieve. So it took two days. Can't argue with the results, though.
And yeah, I'm more than up for custom pieces/colors/designs. I mean, this was a prototype. And it worked. Yay there.
(For Sale)
Simple Linked Materia Bracelet
Need a linked materia option that's also a versatile fashion accessory? This style has you covered! Magic materia plus an Independent materia make for nearly limitless options! (Personally I recommend Mega-All + Master Magic, but y'know, whatever the battle calls for.)
I really, really wanted to get back to chainmaile. For some reason. And I wanted it to be relatively simple, so... I should have picked another project. Oh, it's a simple enough weave, but the gauge of the wire for the rings is quite a bit thicker than I was used to. Combine that with the fact it's nice, sturdy stainless steel and that pretty much makes the easy method of this chain weave completely impossible to achieve. So it took two days. Can't argue with the results, though.
And yeah, I'm more than up for custom pieces/colors/designs. I mean, this was a prototype. And it worked. Yay there.
(Sold.)
Fisher Totem
I was commissioned by an old, dear, and remarkably supportive friend for something of a wearable fisher totem. Initial thoughts were simple. So we all knew it had to unravel into sparkly delightfully chaos, right? Of course it wasn't really that bad; the work was greatly enjoyed, I learned a heck of a lot about fishers/"fisher cats", and even managed to teach myself a few additional techniques which I'll be using in the future for other critters, but the waiting for various beads and things to come by mail was very unfun. I'm also pretty sure I caused any number of panic attacks through progress shots, since this wasn't something that actually came together and looked anywhere near finished until it was about 90% done. But do let it be said that when I am graciously "overpaid" for a project, I will earn every last penny.
Since this creature was designed to be wearable and super sturdy, there are a number of reinforcements, both internal and external. While still a touch "squishy" as my beaded critters tend to be, there's a lot more general firmness and lack of flexibility to this one. I also wound up using four different colors of beads, from light golden brown to dark brown (and the main coppery brown color of the body is, of course, comprised of discontinued beads, argh!), mimicking the natural color variations of fishers. As to be expected, no camera is rarely able to actually reflect as much, as getting the light "just right" usually results in over-bright and fuzzy images. Fun for everyone.
As for the harness, well... an embedded bail was just weird and uncomfortable looking, y'know? And I'd already sort of been thinking about what I'd like to do for a harness/bail combination, so when I got permission I just ran with it. The wire is stainless steel (and VERY STURDY ow my hand), and the little silver eyes are indeed sterling silver.
Overall, I'm happy with the result (though clearly the commissioner's happiness is sort of key, too). It would not have happened without an extremely patient and encouraging commissioner who had faith in me even through my seeming ineptitude and many mentions of internal screaming. Heh.
Vesta
Winged fire serpents like Vesta may not be what you'd expect. Oh yes, they carry the family lines of ancients, of great and powerful creatures which roamed worlds long before we can imagine. It's just that now, here on this planet of Earth, they've come to be so very small. Fitting in the palm of your hand small. But oh, they are no less fierce! But if you'll share your lunch with them, I bet you'll have a grateful buddy who is totally willing to light your barbecue for you.
So I wanted to do something a little different from my jewel dragons. From the moment I picked out the colors, I knew exactly what she was going to be; but this poor girl waited so very patiently to be worked on between other projects, and I'm happy that I finally managed to finish her. Unlike her beaded kin before her, she's not specifically designed for poseability, but for being sturdily reinforced to hold that pose. (Which isn't to say that small adjustments can't be made, but she's meant to be static.) I just really loved the idea of the dramatic pose, wings out, her lower wings supporting her as she gets ready to fly. I am deeply pleased with the result.
About those colors by the way... her body is comprised of beads I'd been hoarding away for a very long time. Long enough to find that they've been discontinued since. The wail I let out was not dignified. These things happen way too often. So, technically, her eyes, the 6 crystals on her lower wings, the dark red beads that make up most of her body, and the fabric of her wings, have all been discontinued over the years. This seems cruel. (Sold.)
Legacy of the Nameless Queens
Well beyond our cultural memory, there was a long line of queens--warriors and scholars, from "proper" and learned to rough and feral--who abandoned their names to take on their country; and with it, a symbol of their status. The Legacy jewels have been stolen, bartered, hidden and, if the stories are true, were once melted down only to miraculously re-form in the hands of a True Queen. Clearly the legends differ from region to region, becoming more grandiose as time passes. The fact remains, however, the Legacy jewels do remain intact, perhaps waiting for their next queen...
As is usually the case, I didn't mean this project to be quite so... extensive. I'd gotten these gorgeous little "slightly imperfect" seraphinite beads a long while back with the intent to do a necklace of some sort, and it seemed like the right time to finally get around to doing that. And that seemed pretty simple, really... then I decided to add just a little bit of extra dimension by making it "not quite flat", which wasn't really a problem. Of course I followed that up by electing to develop a method with would make relatively thin beaded pieces extremely strong while maintaining flexibility and a bit of "stretch", which was more time-consuming than I wanted it to be... then came the thought, "Hey, you know what this needs? Earrings." And. Um. Well. This.
I learned. I learned a lot. As a result, the necklace is flexible and comfortable worn either as a choker or a double-wrap bracelet, and the ear cuffs are surprisingly comfortable even while I was trying them on with glasses. Weird. I'm also quite fond of using the non-pierced rings as the "actual earring portion", because it gives more flexibility to exactly where on the ear they get worn.
(For Sale)
Purple Iris Dragon
It's rare for a person to actually see an iris dragon, or at least to recognize one. They're quite good at hiding, folding up their wings in such a way as to trick the eye into thinking they're just another fancy iris. By the time there's any realization that a second look is needed, they've fluttered off to some more flowers. More fascination comes in the fact that they don't even need eyes to "see" their environment; the "teardrops" that hang down from their tail are more advanced and sensitive than any insect's antennae. If by some chance you do manage to see one that isn't hiding, they tend to like gentle rubs on their backs, right between the wings. They're very soft and fuzzy there.
I'd had a very vague idea of this lovely creature somewhere around the time when I started working on the first Desert Bus 2014 chocobo. I even started the body and basic wire structure between chocobos. After I'd finished all of my Desert Bus work, I came back to this and had intended it to be simple. Yes, I should have known better. But I really love the result. The body is real silk velvet in a rich purple, with the purple beads being dark amethyst and the white ones being opalite. Then just so many glass beads, so much wire and finally a decent use for that plastic-feeling beading thread. And they're a pin/brooch! Because I don't do practical unless I'm paid in advance. (For Sale)