Copper wire wrapped glass cabochon bracelet with crystals

First things first: Naomi's Designs is now on Tumblr. Now, I cannot figure out how Tumblr is all that different from Instagram, but I figure it can't hurt to expand my social media platform on sites where I can display photos and links to my jewelry and website. So Tumblr, it is! If you're on there, feel free to follow me.

Meantime, I'm continuing to teach, fill orders and create! I recently landed jobs at three more senior centers, which I'm excited about. I don't want to name them until I actually start work there, which will be toward the end of April. But this is going to be a very busy spring with me teaching pretty much full-time.

When I do have some spare time and am not firing students' pieces, I'm working on my own art and jewelry. Ridgewood Market is in a few weeks and I've been coming up with new inventory. Since the same people tend to frequent that venue, I really need to mix things up and have new items in stock.

Lately, I've been having fun making glass pieces with my glass frit and molds. I'm getting much better at it and have broken fewer molds along the way. Hurray! I was getting a bit tired of making only pendants, though, so I turned the round cabochon shape into a bracelet:

I really love that speckled red, black, pink and white glass. I did not create that; the color, called Strawberry Fields, came that way. All I did was pour it into the mold and fire it. With many frit pieces, I set up the design, but this particular kind needed no color embellishments.

Once the cabochon fired and set, I treated it like a stone, adding the copper wire wrap and crystals. I then created a copper wire spiral design that frames the red glass. Oddly, it was the chain that posed the biggest challenge for me. I've made adjustable chains for thousands of bracelets, but I hadn't taken into account how slippery the glass would be. So I needed to get the proportions just right so you can hook it under your wrist without the glass slipping. I usually make the hook end shorter and link end longer, but I reversed that -- and the clasp was much easier to support and close. I should probably try this design again with a bangle band.

As of now, I think I have some really great inventory for Ridgewood. I've done very well at the last three fairs I've been in and I want to make a lot of sales at this one, too. I'm also adding all of these new pieces to my website. I have 120 items up on this date and keep adding more, so check in often. I can add up to 1500!

I just received a teardrop-shaped mold, which is going to be fun to play with. Keep an eye out for some teardrop jewelry.

Making handmade jewelry: silver wire wrapped bracelet with pink dichroic glass heart charms and crystals

Hello, readers! I know, I've been MIA, but that's because I've been busy creating... and teaching. I recently started a glass class at a third location: the Atria Senior Residence. I've volunteered as a musician there for the past two years, but they were looking to hire some people for "different" kinds of programs. No one had ever taught a glass-making class, so I was their pick!

I'll write more on that later, but for now, I'd like to share some photos of my latest custom-designed item: this Queen Of Hearts bracelet, made with silver plated wire, crystals and three pink dichroic glass heart charms.

This bracelet actually developed from me making a ring. This week, a friend is in Vegas renewing vows -- with Elvis officiating! -- with her hubby of seven years. She asked if I'd design a ring for the event. When I asked her what she was looking for, she replied. "Anything you want. Something fun and cool." I told her I needed more information and showed her some photos of my rings. She fell in love with the ones made with dichroic glass and liked the idea of featuring a heart. She also requested that I use her favorite color, pink.

Since she didn't have a clear idea of a design, I made four versions of the ring, using pink and hot pink glass. Each had a different heart decal fired onto the surface. She ultimately chose a plain pink ring with a simple heart. Unfortunately -- or fortunately for her, anyway -- she lost a few pounds between the time I made the ring and the time she left for her trip, so my piece ended up being too big for her traditional ring finger. She's been wearing it on her thumb, which is a little odd for a wedding ring, but as she said, "It's fine for Vegas."

She felt badly for only choosing one of my four patterns, but I assured her that all of the pieces would be used. I decided to turn them into this fun and colorful wire wrapped bracelet. I'd originally planned to use one shade of pink crystals, but went with a bunch of different pinks, as well as some purple and lavender.

I'm hoping that my friend will allow me to share some photos of her ring. More importantly, I hope she's having an amazing time in Vegas!

Check out the rest of my jewelry at Naomi's Designs and MayaGirl Creations.

Silver wire wrapped bracelet with spirals, crystals and handmade dichroic glass beads in purple and blue

One of the most challenging things that's come up in making glass pieces is learning to control the exact colors of the dichroic glass. "Dichroic" means two (or more)-colored, so each firing in the kiln yields a surprise for me. The Candy Apple red glass I purchased turns orange, while the light blue glass looks more magenta.

Then there's the tie-dyed glass I have where any portion of the sheet can turn any color. It's always an adventure!

When I'm experimenting and just creating pieces as I go along, I don't worry too much about the final glass shades. The dichros are so pretty, it doesn't really matter -- and I enjoy being surprised. However, a customer recently asked me to make her a glass jewelry set with very specific colors in the pendant, earrings and bracelet. She actually drew a graphic for me showing where she wanted each color to be in the design.

This meant I had to get my butt in gear and actually figure out how to get exact hues in the glass. My answer? Test strips.

We use test strips in enameling, where we'll fire a color on top of plain copper, copper with a white base, copper with a clear base, etc. The thing with fine glass powder, though, is that it's usually at least somewhat close to the shade it'll yield. You can be pretty certain that purple powder will turn into purple enamel. It might not be the exact shade you want, but it'll at least be in the correct family. You won't end up with pink or yellow glass... unless you're applying the powder to silver or gold foil, which is a whole other story...

Anyway, I decided to fire small pieces of glass so I could determine each shade. In the end, I created dozens of these tiny cabochons. I didn't want to waste them, especially since they took time to make. My solution is to turn these into links for bracelets and necklaces.

The first bracelet I created was this purple and blue piece:

The links are pretty small, so I added a silver spiral and a couple of matching crystals. I love my blues and purples... my friend and music partner, Judy, would say it's because I'm an Aquarian, LOL.

I have dozens more of these links, in all different sizes. I'm using some to make a necklace, which I'll post soon. And I "found" my colors! The woman's jewelry set is coming along nicely and should be completed this week. I'll have photos soon, though you can sneak a peak on my Instagram page.

In other news, my first wire wrapping class is tomorrow morning. I'm a little nervous. I've been so looking forward to this and hope it goes well. Wish me luck!

You can check out the rest of my handmade wire wrapped and dichroic glass jewelry at Naomi's Designs, MayaGirl Creations and Glass By Naomi.

Copper wire wrapped "Pumpkin Spice" bangle bracelet with orange crystals

After making those orange and purple football bracelets for the Clemson fans, I have an entire bag of leftover beads. I don't use orange beads that often in my pieces, but wanted to play around with them.

I ended up making these copper wire wrapped bracelets. I really like the way the orange and copper go together and they're the perfect colors for fall. The leaves are finally beginning to change up here in NY and these bangle bracelets make me think of a crisp October afternoon:

I'm calling these my "Pumpkin Spice" bracelets because the round, orange beads look like little pumpkins! I'm also seeing ads for pumpkin spice products EVERYWHERE, so the term is stuck in my head, LOL. I'm not a huge fan of the flavor, but I guess subliminal advertising does work in some way!

Whenever fall hits, I dig out my yellow, gold, red, orange and brown clothing -- and these bracelets fit right in with my wardrobe. But even if you live in a warmer area, they'll look good paired with jeans or a neutral-colored outfit.

I'm thinking of other ways in which I can use these beads; perhaps some orange and light blue bracelets, or orange and red? After making these pieces, I'm gaining a new respect for this color!

Check out the rest of my handmade wire wrapped and enamel jewellery at Naomi's Designs and MayaGirl Creations.

Copper wire wrapped bangle bracelet with green AB crystals

I liked my copper wire wrapped bracelet with gold beads so much, I made a couple more bangles using copper. One didn't turn out so well. I made it using flat, coin-shaped lapis lazuli beads and while the blue and copper looked pretty, these particular beads just didn't work well for this style bracelet. They're large and flat and don't stay in place... which means that they keep falling onto their sides and leaving a large, unattractive gap in the design. I've used other coin-shaped crystals, but they were thicker and smaller and just looked better. Live and learn!

On the other hand, I'm really pleased with these square green aurora borealis (AB) crystals:

Green and copper just go so well together. These crystals are also unique because the AB prism has a purple tint. That probably sounds like a clashing combo, but the squares are beautiful when the light hits. Real auroras have shades of greens and purples, so it's a natural mix! I have yet to see a real aurora, so this is as close as I'm going to get for now, LOL.

I found yet another unfinished enamel project so I'm working on that. It'll take me a while, but I'll post photos when I've completed it. Be sure to check out the rest of my handmade wire wrapped and enamel jewelry at Naomi's Designs and MayaGirl Creations.

Copper wire wrapped bangle bracelet with gold yellow crystals

First up, a little bit a good news: I went ahead and signed up for a beginner painting class! This one features painting with acrylics and is a mini-class (only six sessions) which begins in November. I figure it'll be a good way to try it out. I'm really looking forward to it.

I have plenty of time to work on my jewelry until then, though. I've been trying to make a few different pieces each week. People often ask how long it takes me to make something and it really depends. Some of the more complex necklaces can take a couple of weeks to complete, especially if the pendant is enamel. A bracelet, on the other hand, generally takes me only an hour or two.

Earlier this week I made this copper wire wrapped bracelet with gold yellow crystals:

I usually use silver wire for my bracelets, but the copper is warm and rich-looking. I'll have to use it more often! I also like the way the copper with the golden beads. I wasn't so sure about using yellow crystals because I thought they might blend together a little too well with the copper, but I think the color combo works.

Though I've been making these bangle bracelets for a long time, I've been trying to improve the clasp. Whenever I take out my older bracelets, I cringe because the clasps are so flimsy. I now double wrap the ends so the clasps are firmly in place and don't pop out when you wear the bracelet. I want to give my customers the highest quality products I can, and so I'm always refining my techniques.

I don't know if anyone has noticed, but I've also been working on my photography. I am NOT a good photographer. I don't pretend to be. But taking pictures is part of my business. I've been trying to take photos with better backgrounds, lighting, etc. -- and I think I'm seeing some results. I've gotten some good tips from my dad who actually is a really talented photographer. Perhaps I should take a photography class in the future?

Meantime, please check out my handmade jewelry at Naomi's Designs and MayaGirl Creations.

Silver Wire Wrapped Bangle Bracelet With Blue, Turquoise And Purple Crystals

I wasn't kidding about being on a wire wrapped bracelet kick! This morning I made another one, only this has tri-colored crystals in blue, turquoise and purple:

What I like about these diamond-shaped crystals is that a really interesting looking "frame" is formed around them when I bend the wire to make the bracelet. The crystals are the main focus, but the wire has a unique design, as well. I also like this combination of the blues with the purple. I used only one turquoise crystal and put that one in center because I felt as if that color is the brightest; I wanted to have that pop of light, but also keep the other colored beads balanced.

As I make more of these bracelets, I'm getting better at doing the clasps. Frankly, my older bracelets were a mess. The ends of the wires poked out all over the place and the clasps weren't as secure as they should be. I feel much more confident in my designs and my bangles' durability -- but I do spend a lot of time practicing!

Check out the rest of my handmade wire wrapped and enamel jewelry at Naomi's Designs and MayaGirl Creations.

Classic Silver Wire Wrapped Bangle Bracelet With Blue And Turquoise Square Crystals

Lately I've been selling a lot of bangle bracelets... and so I've decided to make a few more.

I'd started this wire wrapped bracelet for a customer -- and then realized that she wanted a similar-looking, but not quite the same bangle. I then looked through my bracelet listings and realized I've never actually made one that has blue and turquoise beads. Surprising, given how much I love the combination! I've done several bracelets in blue, light blue and indigo or blue and green, but for some reason, I'd skipped this rather obvious color pattern.

Well, since I was already halfway through with the bracelet, I finished it and really like the result:

It's difficult to tell from these photos, but the darker blue beads are AB (aurora borealis) crystals. Two sides of the crystal are made of a shimmery prism material that sparkles when the light hits. It's a really beautiful effect. I have AB crystals in many different colors, but I especially like them in blue. It reminds me of the sunlight hitting the ocean.

This was a bracelet that sold almost as soon as I listed it yesterday. I love when that happens! Since I seem to be on a "bracelet kick," I'm off to make some more. Meantime, check out my handmade wire wrapped and enamel jewelry at Naomi's Designs or MayaGirl Creations.

Bronze wire wrapped bangle bracelet with garnet red and black crystals

As I've said before on this blog, I often get great ideas for jewelry from customers. Many request custom-made items and have a very specific vision in mind. I try to accommodate them as best as I can.

This week I received a request from a loyal customer who's purchased several bracelets from me. She wants to give a bracelet to a friend who is a fan of University Of South Carolina football, where the Gamecocks' team colors are garnet and black. She asked if I could design a garnet and black bracelet with a gold-colored band. I came up with this:

I don't know if the crystals are garnet, exactly, but they are a shade of deep, rich red. What's interesting is that I couldn't find red and black beads that were the exact same size and shape, so I ended up going with two different, but similar crystals: diamond-shaped black beads and barrel-shaped reds. The wire is 20 gauge bronze, but has that golden color.

I think she has a great sense of style because these colors work well together! The combination looks very regal; perfect for fall. I don't use a lot of reds and blacks; I tend to go for "cooler" colors, like blues, greens and purples, but perhaps I should add more red and black pieces to my repertoire. I also never would've thought to make jewelry based on sports team colors (full disclosure: I don't watch sports AT ALL unless you count ice skating), but this bracelet is appropriate for anyone -- not just fans of SC.

There's that old saying about how the customer is always right. I really don't think it's true, but my customer was right on in this case!

Check out the rest of my wire wrapped jewellery at Naomi's Designs and MayaGirl Creations. And check out my novel, REVENGE OF A BAND GEEK GONE BAD, at Amazon.

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Silver wire wrapped bracelet with blue and turquoise crystals

This silver wire wrapped bangle bracelet with blue crystals is one of the first bracelets that I made. I was still learning how to effectively wrap the wire so that the bracelet would stay together and look pretty, and was still figuring out how to make a simple clasp.

Over the years, this particular bracelet has gotten a lot of notice. I've worn it a few times and always receive compliments. While it hasn't gotten tons of views, it was always admired at craft fairs. I think that people like that it's very simple, but striking. This was the bracelet that people would pick up, try on, say, "Oh, how pretty!" Then they'd say, "I'm just going to look around for a while, but I'll be back." And then they never returned. This seriously happened with this bracelet about four or five times. I even had a friend who planned to buy it... and then found that she didn't have enough cash on her. I offered to let her pay me back later, but she refused to do that. I didn't want to push her on the sale and didn't bring it up again... and so I'd bring it from craft fair to fair where it would ALMOST get purchased.

Well, this morning someone finally bought it! Hooray! It's funny because in the last month I've sold several of my "classic" items. While I'm always happy to make a sale, it feels good to be cleaning out my old inventory. It feels like I'm moving ahead in my life and the business; it also reminds me that I made the right decision to become a jewelry designer -- even back in the days when my skills weren't as sharp.

I've had this bracelet for so long that I'll miss it a little when it's shipped out. But I'm glad that it will have a new owner and hope that she enjoys wearing it for a long time. Check out the rest of my jewelry at Naomi's Designs or MayaGirl Creations.

Wire wrapped copper bubble bangle bracelet with copper and bronze spirals

My new shipment of 18 gauge copper wire arrived this weekend -- and I finally made a wire wrapped bubble bangle bracelet using a copper base instead of silver.

I usually favor silver jewelry, but I really like this bracelet in copper. The warm copper tones work so well with the bronze and the design looks a bit art deco to me.

I've made several bubble bracelets at this point, but I think that this and my blue, aqua and silver bracelets are my favorites. Next up, I want to try making one that has a silver base and then rainbow-colored spirals.

In other news, I've been trying to wear my jewelry more often. I really don't wear a lot of jewelry -- I prefer to make it for other people -- but I do like to "test drive" new pieces. We attended a wedding today so I wore one of my bubble bracelets, as well as an abstract necklace and earrings that I'd made. And a few guests noticed my accessories and asked for my shop names! I met one woman who makes pieces from polymer clay. I haven't yet worked with that, but her colorful and creative jewelry makes me tempted to try it out.

What's funny is that several of the guests were like, "You should sell on this site called Etsy..." Is Etsy still a secret for most people? If it is, I guess it's good that the word is getting out.

Meantime, check out my jewellery shops Naomi's Designs and MayaGirl Creations.

Wire Wrapped Spiral Bangle Bubble Bracelet In Silver And Copper

In my last entry, I wrote about the earring fan who requested that I make variations on some of my designs. She also asked if I could make her this mixed metal wire wrapped bracelet in silver and copper:

I created a similar bracelet in silver and red last holiday season. I was working at a 2012 Christmas fair and things weren't going so well, so I filled my time by making new jewelry. Since it was the holiday season, I put together a bracelet with appropriate colors. It's kind of cool then that this woman had me create a variation on this bracelet during this year's holidays. I like how the silver and copper look together, too. I originally made this as a bangle, but she asked if I could clip it and add an adjustable chain since she has a small wrist. I cut it about midway (right after the spiral sequence) and attached the chain there. Hopefully she'll find it comfortable to wear.

Since this is my 300th (!!!!!) blog entry and it's January 1st, it's a great time to list some of my jewelry goals for 2014. This also happens to be the year I turn 40 (it's about a month from now, yikes), so I'm coming up with a list of 40 Things To Do At 40. They range from wanting to go scuba diving to wanting to become a better cook, but my jewelry is a big part of this, too. I'd like to: 1) Finally put together my how-to book with jewelry projects. I talked about doing this last year and never found the time to do it. 2) Learn a new jewelry making skill. So far, I've learned how to do wire work, basic soldering and various types of enameling. Maybe this will be the year to try some goldsmithing. 3) Sell my pieces to a store or gallery. I tried to do this last year and never succeeded. I'm hoping that my higher-end pieces will garner some more attention.

Of course, I'd like to continue to build my business -- and to keep doing what I love! So check out my pieces at Naomi's Designs and MayaGirl Creations.

Silver wire wrapped Mommy and Grandma bracelets

A few weeks ago my friend had her first child, a baby boy. I'd already given her a gift for the baby shower, but wanted to bring something for the baby's bris. I figured that she'd already received tons of baby clothes and supplies, so I figured I'd make something just for the mom. Too often, new moms are kind of overlooked as attention is lavished on the baby -- and I wanted to remind her that she's important, too.

I ended up making this silver wire wrapped bracelet that spells out "Mommy." I then made a matching one for her mother that says "Grandma." Both celebrate the fact that there is a new baby in the family, but they're gifts meant for the adults. I added a blue Swarovski crystal heart in honor of the baby being a boy.

To be honest, I'm not sure if my friend and her mom liked my gifts. They thanked me when I handed them over, but didn't really look at what I'd given them. Understandably, both were so distracted at the time and my friend was still very sore from her C-section. I hope that at life begins to calm down (somewhat) that they'll appreciate my gift, as well as their new roles in life.

To purchase these wire wrapped bracelets or my other jewelry, head to Naomi's Designs or MayaGirl Creations.

New silver wire wrapped bangle bracelets with square crystals

I've been getting back into the groove of making jewelry by creating some new silver wire wrapped bangle bracelets. I have a craft fair coming up in two weeks and these always sell pretty well. My plan is to have a whole bunch of these in different colors.

Each of these is pretty minimalist. I use 18 gauge silver plated wire and 8mm square crystals. They look so pretty, though, and I think that's why my customers like them: they're a simple, classic design.

I haven't sold at a craft fair for a few months so I feel like I'm a bit out of practice. Hopefully, these bracelets will get my stand some attention and I'll have a great start to the spring craft fair season. Meanwhile, you can purchase my jewelry on Etsy at Naomi's Designs or MayaGirl Creations.

Silver wire wrapped infinity symbol birthstone bracelet

One of my New Year's resolutions was to build up my MayaGirl Creations shop. I'm pleased to say that so far, it's working out! This morning I received an interesting order from a customer; she said that she liked my line of infinity rings and asked if I could design an infinity symbol bracelet for a four-year-old.

We e-mailed back and forth and I suggested that I make a delicate wire wrapped bracelet with a large silver infinity charm as the centerpiece, pink crystals and an adjustable chain. This way, the little girl can grow into this bracelet from her mom and wear it for a few years. I used pink Swarovski bicones because they're tiny and will work well on a small wrist. I curved the end of the clasp so that there would be no edges that could dig into her arm. This is what I came up with:

Since my infinity birthstone rings have sold so well, I'm planning to offer this bracelet with birthstones, too. I can also do it in rainbow colors or with alternating colors, like green and pink or blue and purple. In other words, there are about a million variations I can make with this simple design.

So thank you to this customer for putting this idea in my head. It was a good one!

To purchase my jewellery, head to Naomi's Designs. To purchase my children's jewelry, head to MayaGirl Creations. To purchase my novel, check out REVENGE OF A BAND GEEK GONE BAD.

Beautiful silver wire wrapped bangle bracelets

Whew, this holiday season has been crazy for my jewelry stores -- but that's a good thing! I've been going to the post office almost every day with orders; by now, the clerks even know me by name.

Now that Christmas is almost here, things have been calming down, but the recent surge in business has put me in a jewelry making mood. For the past couple of days, I've been working on some new silver wire wrapped bangle bracelets:

The top bracelet is made with a rose pink marble oval. I like the rich color and the way that it goes so perfectly with the silver. I wanted to make the stone the centerpiece of the bracelet so I "framed" it with silver wire spirals. For this bracelet, I first made the bangle portion and then attached the stone; after, I cut the other end so that I could make the clasps. I think that next time, I'll make two separate sides and then attach the stone; I just think that each end of the bracelet will be a little stronger.

The red and white spiral "bubble" bracelet was a lot of fun to make! After designing the silver wire wrapped bangle, I made all of the little spirals and then attached them in a funky design. I just got that red wire and love how it looks. I think I was inspired to use red and white since it's still the holiday season, but it works for Valentine's Day, too. I plan to make more of these with other colors.

I'm working on more stuff for my 2013 collection, so keep checking in!

To purchase my jewellery, head to Naomi's Designs. To purchase my children's jewelry, head to MayaGirl Creations. To purchase my novel, check out REVENGE OF A BAND GEEK GONE BAD.

Beautiful wire wrapped jewelry designs for fall

I've written many times on this blog about how much I love the fall. Autumn is my favorite season for many reasons: I love the cool, crisp air, which is a welcome change after enduring a hot summer. I love the colors of the falling leaves. I love the holidays! Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite holiday -- I think I love it even more than my birthday -- and I look forward to this day all year.

It's not too surprising then that I'm a big fan of autumn colors: oranges, rusts, reds, yellows, golds. They're very warm, happy colors -- and if you think about it, this makes sense because they're all sun or fire colors. So there's a lot of energy behind yellow or orange, especially when you combine them.

I have this gorgeous rust-colored wire, so I combined it with a lighter, almost peach colored wire. I really like the result! By itself, the darker orange looks almost coppery because it's so bright, but the peach tones it down. Meanwhile, the peach looks pinkish on its own, but the orange brings out the richer highlights. They just work very, very well together. I ended up making two bracelets using this color combo. I also made a pair of rust orange heart earrings with yellow crystals:

I still have some wire left in those colors, so I'm going to play around and see what else I can come up with. Meanwhile, only three more days until my craft fair and I'm in good shape for it. Woo hoo!

To purchase my jewellery, head to Naomi's Designs. To purchase my children's jewelry, head to MayaGirl Creations.

Wire wrapped spiral bracelet in peach and blue

As I prepare for next weekend's craft fair and my in-person debut of MayaGirl Creations, I'm making more and more colorful jewelry. Yesterday, I made yet another wire wrapped spiral bracelet, this time in peach and light blue:

Feeling nostalgic over a color combination might not be the norm, but these colors, peach and blue, make me think of my childhood. Growing up, I had a beautiful peach and blue room that my dad decorated for me. He, too, is an artist, and is really talented at photography and handywork/woodwork. He built a gorgeous table for their dining room that's made of tiles and even worked with stained glass for a while, until he hurt his hand. He also designed my childhood room for me.

When I was a kid and my parents told me that I was getting a "grown-up" room, what I wanted more than anything was a canopy bed. We found a beautiful canopy set with a light blue lace canopy and matching bedding and curtains. We then found this wallpaper that I loved which had a Victorian fairy design. In each square is a drawing of a different fairy girl and the base colors are earth tones: browns, tans, deep greens.

Anyway, my dad had to find a way to bring those two concepts together -- the fairy girl wallpaper and blue canopy, so he went with a light blue and peach motif. The carpet was peach and I had a wicker chair that he painted in the two colors. He then built me a bookshelf that had peach shelves and a blue desk. The walls that weren't papered were peach with blue trim. Blue and peach aren't colors I'd instinctively put together, but his room design came out so well. I seriously felt like a princess in my room! I even had a college friend take photos of it because she liked it so much.

My childhood room is still intact, though these days, my folks mainly use it as a guest room or a place to store things. Still, I'll always love that room and the fact that my dad designed it for me. This blue and peach bracelet represents those colors and makes me feel like I'm sharing a tiny piece of my life with whomever wears it.

To purchase my jewelry, head to Naomi's Designs. To purchase my children's jewellery, head to MayaGirl Creations.

Colorful wire wrapped bracelets with spiral design

My work for MayaGirl Creations is coming along very well! This morning, I heard from next week's event organizer and she said that she's really looking forward to the affair, and to working with me. I'm excited, too! This is going to be the first time that my jewellery is featured in a fashion show, so that's going to be a lot of fun.

I'd like to have at least 100 pieces ready for the fair; so far, I've made about 70, most of them earrings. But for the past couple of days, I've been making this colorful wire wrapped spiral bracelets:

The design is pretty simple, but looks really cool, especially when the spirals are made in different colors. Because I'm going to be dealing with kids, I made these with adjustable chains that can go from about four to seven inches. This way, they'll be small enough to fit little wrists, but can also fit an adult. I have a feeling that there will be at least a few adults at this event who want my jewelry for themselves!

Right now, I have about a dozen bracelets ready, but I plan to have about 20 altogether. Between that and my other pieces, I should be all set.

To purchase my jewellery, head to Naomi's Designs. To purchase my children's jewelry, head to MayaGirl Creations.

Jewellery Tutorial: How to make a wire wrapped bangle bracelet

I've just published another one of my jewelry making tutorials on HubPages. In this one, I teach you how to make a handmade wire wrapped brass and silver bangle bracelet.

As I've said before on this blog, I initially learned all of my jewelry making schools from watching videos and studying tutorials online. There are thousands of talented jewelry artists out there who've been generous enough to share their secrets -- for free. Taking in-person classes has helped me a great deal, but I would never be where I am today without having studied online first. For this reason, I feel a responsibility to pay it forward and share with others what I've learned so far.

This particular bracelet is one of my most popular designs. It's very simple and not to difficult to make, with some practice. My tutorial includes detailed photos so you can visual step-by-step instruction. So check it out!

To purchase my jewellery, head to Naomi's Designs. To purchase my children's jewelry, head to MayaGirl Creations.