Wire wrapped necklaces-snowflakes for the Christmas school sale

This year I created snowflake necklaces for my youngest daughter’s Christmas school sale. Creating these shapes from wire was very pleasant. I even added some beads to them.

My goal was to use only supplies which I already had. So I used two types of 20 gauge non-tarnishing silver-toned copper wire and acrylic beads for the pendants. Also ball chains – I had two ready. Had black cotton waxed string and made the finishings of the ends as well as the clasp from 22 gauge stainless steel wire.

Then it was time to think of his to display them. Every necklace was different from the others. I wanted them to take very little place as well as be seen well enough.

I found an old cardboard box. Folded it and and connected with wire. Then glued green paper on it. Placed the pendants and … something was off. Wondered what to put in place of it so the wire and both center beads would look well on it as a background. Finally I thought of a brown faux leather sheet which I had recently bought in order to take photos of my handmade jewelry on it. Placed the snowflakes against it and they both turned out to be a great match for one another.

Glued it with craft glue and stuck some sewing pins on the back to stabilize the strings and chains of the necklaces. Here is how the tiny display looks:

Thanks for looking and happy holidays!

If you’re interested in buying my handmade pieces of jewelry, check out the available ones at my Etsy store. If you are in Bulgaria or want to ask me something, you can also write to me here:

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Braided copper cuff made of recycled wire

Here’s a chunky braided copper cuff which I crafted last summer. It is naturally oxidized in warm chocolate-y copper tones. I crafted this bracelet using recycled copper wire.

How it started

My father-in-law works with electricity and he gave me a supply treasury of old cables. Here is the particular one which I used for crafting this cuff:

I stripped it of the coating and started playing with the 2.5 cm wire. Coiled 0.6 mm wire around one of the wires and then braided together all of them. I had wanted to try this type of braiding for some time. I got this:

The finishing was hard. I put it the wire structure around a small cylindrical glass to shape it. Then I made a clasp. Day after day I looked at the bracelet and the clasp was just nagging me. I didn’t like it at all. So I got my jeweler’s saw and just cut the end to which the clasp was connected. It was a relief – now I was okay with this tortured piece of jewelry. Filed a lot, polished a lot. Then left for many many days until natural patina appeared. (Franky, I actually forgot about the cuff for some time, but the former sentence sounds more professional.) Lastly I put some layers of Renaissance wax to simultaneously protect and allow the warm brown color to further develop with the aging of copper. Here is the result:

Buy this bracelet at my Etsy store here

If you’re interested in buying my handmade pieces of jewelry, check out the available ones at my Etsy store. If you are in Bulgaria or want to ask me something, you can also write to me here:

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Copper Silver and Garnet Dangling Earrings

I made these earrings from wire, copper washers, natural garnet faceted stones and glass seed beads. Wanted to create something which includes movement and a play with light reflections. Used hammered copper and sterling silver wire to shape them.

Each earring has five long copper teardrops attached to a small silver triangle wrapped with silver wire. Above this structure I added a 3 mm garnet wire wrapped into a copper washer. I love this deep red faceted gemstone with just a subtle sparkle! Everything connects to the handmade silver ear wires, which are great for comfort and hypoallergenic for most ears, too.

I like how these earrings turned out – they catch the light in a lovely way and produce delightful dangling sounds when they are moving.

I added them to my Etsy store and they were already sold! So I’m showing photos of the newly crafted ones here.

If you’re interested in buying these handmade copper earrings with sterling silver and garnet gemstones, check them out at my Etsy store. If you are in Bulgaria or want to ask me something, you can also write to me here:

If you’re interested in buying my handmade pieces of jewelry, check out the available ones at my Etsy store. If you are in Bulgaria or want to ask me something, you can also write to me here:

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Handcrafted Copper Earrings with Teardrop Links

If you love handmade jewelry and boho earrings these new designs might be exactly for you. They are not new, actually. I made them in the summer, then oxidized them a bit, then left copper’s natural patina to develop for quite some time. Copper has long been one of my favorite materials to work with – its warmth and ability to develop a natural patina make it perfect for creating rustic, earthy jewelry with character.

Rustic Hammered Copper Drop Earrings

The first design is a pair of copper drop earrings featuring three layered teardrop shapes. Each element is hand-formed and hammered so that the widest part of the shape corresponds with the thickest part of the wire to give it a visual interest and rhythm. The result is a pair of bohemian copper dangle earrings. Oxidation gives them a hint of steampunk style. They’re finished with sterling silver ear wires in order to be hypoallergenic for most people.

View them on Etsy

Copper and Green Glass Teardrop Earrings

The second design adds a touch of color to the same hammered teardrop structure. A delicate green glass teardrop bead hangs in the lowest copper frame, creating a beautiful contrast between the warm metal and cool green tones. These copper and glass earrings also have a natural, organic feel – perfect for anyone who loves earthy boho jewelry or pieces inspired by nature.

View them on Etsy

Both pairs are lightweight, especially the ones without glass – you almost don’t feel them except when they follow your movement.

If you’re interested in any of these jewelry pieces, check out my Etsy store. You can also write to me here:

If you’re interested in buying my handmade pieces of jewelry, check out the available ones at my Etsy store. If you are in Bulgaria or want to ask me something, you can also write to me here:

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Random jewelry stuff – some in progress of making and some ready

I’ve created so many jewelry items lately, that I lost count of them. Actually, I’ve started many more than I’ve finished. I want to make posts for them but somehow this has been one of the last things on my to-do list. And I still want to add them to my visual journal here. So I decided to just show some of them here in no particular order, with not many words about them. Things I’m working on, things ready to be put up for sale. Stuff. 🙂

Copper earrings with green and purple tourmaline stones and sterling silver hooks.
Stainless steel bracelet with big amethyst stones. Adjustable.
Simple ornamental earring, extremely lightweight and comfortable. I’m wearing the pair of them constantly recently and I don’t feel them at all.
Twisted copper bangle, woven from 0.8 mm and 1.5 mm recycled copper wire. Wondered a lot how to finish it – clasp or no clasp. Then, in a moment of marvelous epiphany, just cut the sticking edges and filed the ends until lovely smoothness was achieved.
And the bracelet on my hand in early autumn.
Another copper bangle. This time made of 1 mm copper wire and synthetic amethyst stones. Used a very beautiful stone for the photo shoot (I’m an avid stone gatherer hah).
The bangle on my hand again.
This will be an earring. Hammered copper and green teardrop shaped glass bead.
Copper chain with creamy white wooden beads. Very lightweight. For anklet or bracelet.
Very simple chain bracelet made of lovely green nephrite (jade) stone chips, round jade stones and golden toned non-tarnishing copper wire.
Earrings made of hammered copper washers and African turquoise (which is actually jasper) stones. Made a weird hole in one of them which pierced the rim of the earring. Covered it with wire, heh.
These earrings feature beautiful green jadeite stones, glass seed beads and orange opal stones.
Played with silver plated copper wire and synthetic turquoise – it pairs so well with the copper washers. Also, I love how these glass beads have a color so very similar to copper.
Wonderful green nephrite chips here. I’m so lame with the torch yet but I at least managed to make small balls at the hooks of the earwires.
Played with thick aluminum wire here. It’s so easy to hammer!
Here are both earrings. They resemble windchimes a bit 🙂
These earrings are made of copper, garnet and silver. They were sold before I have even finished the post I’m preparing for them. I’m making a new pair now.

I have more but I’ll stop here. They’re too many already. I’m beginning to bore even myself.

If you’re interested in any of the finished pieces, write to me here and I’ll make listings at my Etsy store for them as soon as possible. 

If you’re interested in buying my handmade pieces of jewelry, check out the available ones at my Etsy store. If you are in Bulgaria or want to ask me something, you can also write to me here:

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Whimsigoth Magic: Purple Eye Flower Pendant

Here’s a purple eye flower pendant which I made recently. Whimsical, slightly creepy, weird and fun. It combines a spooky stare with a cute floral structure.

Made it from air dry clay. I designed and 3d printed my own clay cutter. Conditioned and cut the clay then sculpted the petals a bit and pressed in the center where the eyeball would be. Then made the eyeball and connected it with the flower. Waited for some days to dry. Then heavy sanding followed.

Next I painted it in shades of cold purple/violet and drew the details of the eye – purple iris to go well with the petals.

Lastly, varnished the petals with a couple of layers of matte varnish. The eyeball should be delightful my glossy so I used gloss varnish for it.

Here are some more photos of the pendant:

This whimsigoth necklace is available for sale at my Etsy store here. I ship it in a stylish jewelry box, so it is ready for gifting. 🙂

If you are in Bulgaria and want to buy the pendant, you can do so here.

If you’re interested in buying my handmade pieces of jewelry, check out the available ones at my Etsy store. If you are in Bulgaria or want to ask me something, you can also write to me here:

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Weird cat character art – ink drawings of a strange creature

I have a particular character of mine which I like to draw. It is a weird kitty with black and white stripes and a long neck. This creature appeared while I was drawing for daily Inktober prompts some years ago. I feel connected with it on a level I cannot entirely understand. It has many reincarnations but is always fun, fluffy, weird and wonderful. Interesting things tend to happen to it on a regular basis.

weird striped cat creature with a colourful paw shaped as evil flowers with teeth - psychedelic art
weird cat swimming and its front paws are skeleton hands
weird kitty sleeping on a huge pillow
mother cat protects and crushes its little kitty offspring - she's overprotective in her love towards it
the cat character holds a skull mask in front of its face
weird cat with long neck drooling over a piece of chocolate
kitty eaten and held d in prison by a huge monster with sharp teeth
cat sits in the mud amidst a forest and uses spoon and fork to eat eyeballs which are floating around it
electrical cat - electrodes are connected to its paws and it emits electricity
weird kitty celebrates Christmas with a cactus adorned like a Christmas tree with lights and star. the cactus strangles the kitty but she's calm. Her eyes are closed.
weird kitty feels comfortable sitting in a chair with eyes pattern, reading a biology book and drinking coffee.

You can also catch a glimpse on some of my original ink drawings with stories behind them below. All of them are sketched in pencil first, then inked with my favourite ink brush pen. And looking at the artworks now, I find that there is one which is not yet made into an art print. I may get to this soon then. 🙂

Weird kitty character with a strange hand. Drawing for day 17 of Inktober - “swollen”
The prompt was “bulge”. My hands were in a bad condition due to the arthritis at that time. It was not hard to imagine such a thing.
Inktober day 21 - drain. Ideally it should drain down a pipe
The prompt was “swim”. You see, even with skeleton hands you are able to swim. You just have to put on your favourite cat suit and you can glide happily in the water.
Initial sketch. The cat mother looks dead and the kitten looks evil. Too pathetic, too hilarious.
Weird mother cat protecting its kitty - ink drawing
Final drawing of the overprotective mother / child pair. This finally had to be the mood. Not the horrific one.
Weak cat like creature who is a slave of chocolate, day 17 of Inktober - "weak"
Hello. I love chocolate. This is me.
Day 25 of Inktober - prickly - drawing of a cactus wrapping around a weird girly cat
This kitty was in her usual Christmas mood.
Day 19 of #Inktober - “scorched”
The prompt here was “scorched”. So, the kitty seems to have burned its paws. It always stays calm, I don’t know how it manages to do this.
day 23 of #Inktober - “muddy”
And about this, I don’t exactly remember the prompt. Something with “mud” I suppose. Eyes swim like fish in the mud. Cats like eating fish. So this one is fishing for eyes. Anyway. The cat it’s just having fun.

Well, these are all the kitties up to now. You see, they are always in the midst of something exciting happening. It is strange that I personally don’t have a favourite. I love them all – they’re all my fluffy distressed creatures. I will add more when I draw them.

You can buy prints, T-Shirts and more stuff with these weird cats at my Redbubble store.

Find me on Instagram here and on Pinterest here.

Handmade amethyst drop earrings with celtic flower

I love the Celtic flower shape. I made these earrings from stainless steel wire and natural purple amethyst stone chips. Finished them with sterling silver hooks for maximum comfort, even for sensitive ears.

amethyst earrings with flowers in a black jewelry box

I used 22 gauge (0.8 mm) stainless steel 304 wire. It is hard to shape in this floral structure but I love the challenge. I also love the feeling when my fingers hurt but the flower is finished. And most of all, I love the feeling that I get when I have polished the whole thing to mirror shine. It’s beautiful.

Anyway, about the other details. I used tiny amethyst chips attached to a 24 gauge (0.4 mm) steel wire. Amethyst is February’s birthstone. Also, it is an alternative birthstone for people born in November. This beautiful crystal is believed to have calming and spiritual energy, often associated with peace, protection, and inner balance. Most of all, it has a gorgeous purple color.

Then I made sterling silver hooks from 20 g (0.8 mm) wire. I hammered the endings of the hooks – I think they look more pleasant this way.

earrings on stone
amethyst earrings on handmade wire stand
earring on person
earrings in a box
flower earrings close-up

So, I added these dangling flower earrings to my collection. I plan to add variations with different stones. Like citrine, garnet, turquoise or aventurine. And I want to a silver variation of them – sterling silver only. Will add them here when I do so.

These earrings with a slight boho feel are available for sale at my Etsy store here. I ship them in a stylish black jewelry box, so they are ready for gifting. 🙂

If you are in Bulgaria and want to buy them, go here.

If you want to ask me something, drop me a message below:

If you’re interested in buying my handmade pieces of jewelry, check out the available ones at my Etsy store. If you are in Bulgaria or want to ask me something, you can also write to me here:

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Spiral of Wavy Eyes Floating in The Ether

I was sitting on the balcony of my villa on the mid-afternoon. One of those rare moments of absolute calmness. Birds singing, warm sunlight shining and so on. I felt like drawing. Prepared my sketchbook and two nice 3B and 5B graphic pencils. Didn’t have the slightest idea what to draw. Then came the thought of waves. Spiralling waves.

Okay. Doodled a loose spiral frame and a wavy line in it. And the moment before I stopped scribbling I just knew with absolute certainty that there were eyes hiding in there waiting to be unveiled. The other part was pure grinding.

Drew it, photographed it and even filmed it because I thought it could be fun to watch afterwards. (And also because I want to fight with my unwillingness to show the stuff that I create to the world.)

Even made art prints. Cleaned the drawing, digitally colored the irises in green and orange because – fun! Then added texture for nice heart warming grittiness and decided to leave it alone at last.

Spiral of wavy weird eyes drawn in pencil over grunge digital texture

Now it’s available for sale on Redbubble, Threadlesss, Teepublic. Ready to weird out your walls, your t-shirts… whatever. If you’ve ever wanted a bunch of staring eyes silently judging your life choices, this one’s for you.

Check it out on Redbubble

See more of my eye art here

Find me on Instagram here and on Pinterest here.

Three Handmade Brass Chains with Stones – jewelry making diary

I wanted to make an anklet with the natural carnelian stones which I got recently – 4 mm, highly polished, in different shades or orange. Lively, energetic, transparent, just lovely. Made it with the idea the loops to be a size similar to the stones’ size. Thought it would create an interesting effect – a chain with empty and full loops. Started and liked how it looked.

Handmade brass wire chain with orange carnelian stones

While making it, I suddenly felt like crafting a similar chain with brown tiger eye stones, too. Thought they would go well with the yellow brass. Stopped making the carnelian chain, started this one. Made five links and said to myself: “Nice and earthy. It is okay enough. My mind is at rest again. I can now go back to the orange lovelies”.

Handmade brass chain with tiger’s eye stones

Then continued crafting the carnelian chain. But as I was twisting, cutting and filing the wire, again a new idea came. I just needed to see how this type of chain would look with the intense blue 3 mm synthetic turquoise stones I had in the drawer just next to me. Also, they were smaller and I was interested the contrast between their size and the loops of the chain. So I started trying this new idea. It was okay, too. The contrast in colors and sizes really added interest.

Handmade turquoise brass chain

And here I am now, with three unfinished chains.

Three unfinished handmade brass chains held in hand - one with carnelian, one with tiger’s eye and one with turquoise stones

I will continue to work on them simultaneously. This is how I always make stuff anyway. I draw this way. I read books this way, too. I suppose this is one of the reasons I am never bored.

Update

These chains ended up in the form of anklets. The one with turquoise stones became a bracelet for a person dear to my heart. Here:

Handmade chain link bracelet made of brass and turquoise stones on person’s hand

Ask me anything:

If you’re interested in buying my handmade pieces of jewelry, check out the available ones at my Etsy store. If you are in Bulgaria or want to ask me something, you can also write to me here:

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More of my handmade jewelry

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