My Journey - A Wirework Odyssey

The Swan Princess

2010-08-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

After months of inactive, This is my come back piece. I must have been hypnotised with all the swan princess dvds watched by my daughter.

Fairy

2009-12-01T23:46:00.000-08:00

Just a little fairy I made for my daughter.

Bird Brooches Series - 6 of 6 - DOVE

2009-12-01T23:45:00.000-08:00

This is the last of this series, DOVE. I was struggling to design one as Dove is quite a popular inspiration and I wanted to have a unique design. Quite a 3D piece hence 2 photos to show off its wing. It is made with 12mm Crystal Rivoli.

Bird Brooches Series - 5 of 6 - PEACOCK

2009-12-01T18:41:00.001-08:00

What next.......

2009-11-24T23:13:00.000-08:00

Check this spot out for the rest of the Bird Brooches which are PEACOCK and DOVE.

After this series I will create a few more animals series. I still have not decided on the next series yet but highly likely it would be PET Brooches.........

Bird Brooches Series - 4 of 6 - SWAN

2009-11-24T23:10:00.000-08:00

Always wanted to do a swan but restricted on a lots of ideas of swan already created. I wanted something that is uniquely me. So here it is.

Bird Brooches Series - 3 of 6 - FLAMINGO

2009-11-24T22:14:00.000-08:00

The third of the Bird Brooches Series. This one was made with 14mm Rose Rivoli while the body was made using mostly half hard silverwire (quite unforgiving on manipulation mistake).

Bird Brooches Series - 2 of 6 - ROBIN

2009-11-24T22:12:00.000-08:00

This is the second of this series. It is made with 18mm Volcano Rivoli.

Bird Brooches Series - 1 of 6 - OWL

2009-11-23T22:40:00.000-08:00

This idea just came to me, more like an urge of doing an owl. I was experimenting with 12mm Rivoli buttons for the eyes at first but they were not stable enough nor strong enough to withstand wire manipulation. So I had to come back to the normal rivoli. After this made I decided on making a series of brooches base on animals. First stop Bird Brooches Series.

It is made with 2 x 12mm rivoli in a oxidised silver wire setting.

Geometry

2009-09-13T23:46:00.000-07:00

My newest neckie, "Geometry". Beside the obvious facts that lead me to name it "Geometry", it does hold a number of thoughts, personal feelings within its design. I was struggling between the two names "Geometry" and/or "Life". It does representing my life journey, my way of thinking and my hopes. The squares and rectangles intertwined represent my logical approach in life. The rivolis scattered around are events that are "non-logical" but occurs anyway in my life. They are in different shade of light and dark as are good and bad events that occurred. But if we look at out life from a different perspective, these negative and positive events are combined to make a beautiful picture of our life. The centre rivoli is a bigger size and in "light" colour as to represent that light at the end of the tunnel of which I am searching for. Ultimately, my hopes in life.

Untitled

2009-08-31T03:36:00.001-07:00

Vintage

2009-08-31T03:31:00.000-07:00

Not a very good Photo considering it was taken at midnight using a crappy camera. There is an uncomplete feeling about this one. Something is missing from it but I can not pinpoint it. It was in fact a disappoinment on my behalf. If I could just know what was wrong with it.

LOVE

2009-08-31T03:26:00.000-07:00

This piece represent the passion and the peace that love brings. The existence of the two opposite extremes in a harmonic setting (much like yin and yang I supposed).

Untitle

2009-08-26T03:57:00.001-07:00

This necklace is of the same style as "Midnite Princess" but it represent another different design of mine.

Midnite Princess

2009-08-26T03:46:00.000-07:00

The second of my new series of necklaces which consist of a number of identical links and a centre piece. This particular necklace is made using 12mm and 14mm Swaovski Taihitian pearls. Its swirls and drops were made using 26g Halfhard wire for stability and hardness.

Cosmic

2009-08-26T03:39:00.000-07:00

This is very much my come back piece after a long period on non-active in the wirework front. It is a revisited idea that I had for a very long time, but back in the day the limitation of my technique did not allow me to achieve the desired effect.
It is made with various sizes of Swarovski Rivoli Crystal AB ranging from 14mm to 27mm in a silver and goldfilled wire setting. The centre stone is 27mm Swarovski 1201 Special Stone and it is raised up by 5mm above the actual necklace to give a 3D depth.

AB Crystal Rivoli earring

2009-05-19T21:33:00.000-07:00

This is again one of my idea floating around that eventually become reality.

New pendant

2009-05-19T04:56:00.000-07:00

Just came up with this one. Subconciously I always wanted to create something like this. Hence few days ago it moved to the concious level of my creativity. Guess I can finally move on now.

The Eye of Horus

2009-05-12T19:34:00.001-07:00

First item made specially for my new venture in Etsy. It is constructed using silver wire, goldfill wire and swarovski stone 1201 Jet 27mm.

Crystal ring

2009-03-08T08:51:00.000-07:00

Ah horrible insomnia, but it did produce this ring. I was just wanted to see if briolettes work well with rivoli.

Wirework Bangle

2009-03-01T21:37:00.000-08:00

I just got my hand on these Swarovski special stone 1201 27mm, a close brother of the rivoli range. My original design was to incorporate chainmaille into the body of the bangle itself but it seem to over shadow the main stone. I am still lingering with the idea of wirework and chainmaille hybrid design. After all chainmaille is wirework, is it not. This design seemed to leave me an unfinishing feeling as if something is missing from it. I definitely have to relook into the design to improve it.

Commissioned pieces

2009-02-03T22:05:00.000-08:00

These are the first two item for the year 2009. I am trying to work up my motivation, too many ideas floating around in my head that need to be out.

Wirework Cabochon

2009-01-26T16:38:00.001-08:00

This is a rare one of the wirework cabochon I made. I normally only work with swarovski crystal.

Zodiac Pendants

2009-01-24T15:15:00.000-08:00

Well, due to my moving interstate, I haven't done much lately. So I had to resort to posting these old ones.

Golden Snake

2008-12-20T15:47:00.000-08:00

I was meant to do another dragon but half way through I changed my mind and do the snake instead. Inspiration from the TV series "Millenium" logo, a snake eating its tail. Stubborn me wanted to do the head by chainmailled. It took me virtually the whole day working on how to do the head only, totally "free" weaving so it can not be reproduced. I can't remember how. I should have stick to wirework. Then again, this properly is my last chainmaille. Definitely not for me. Two tone again (you guys must be sick looking at my two tone stuffs by now) but more gold this time. 5mm Silver plated and gold plated ring with the exception of 5 large titanium rings for the head.

"Golden Dragon" Bracelet

2008-12-17T00:41:00.000-08:00

Chainmaille, a new frontier! It is made with 4mm silver ring, goldplated rings and goldfilled wire. A bit of a rush job and unfamiliar techniques of chainmailled.

Golden colour and Dragon are exclusively used for the Emperor only in ancient time. So I guessed my piece could be called "Golden Dragon" bracelet. It is quite small actually with the head is a bit bigger than 5 cents piece.

Wirework Rivoli pendant - Teardrop

2008-11-22T06:23:00.001-08:00

Wirework Rivoli pendant - Seahorse

2008-11-22T06:15:00.000-08:00

Wirework Rivoli pendant - Heart

2008-10-26T02:21:00.000-07:00

Wirework Rivoli pendant - Fern

2008-10-26T02:19:00.000-07:00

Wirework Rivoli pendant - Seed

2008-10-26T02:16:00.000-07:00

After the test piece, I've decided to create a whole range of unique wirework rivoli pendants rather than imitating thread work rivoli pendants.

Rivoli Ring

2008-10-22T08:18:00.001-07:00

Wirework Rivoli pendant

2008-10-22T08:13:00.000-07:00

Another test for upcoming master piece. Created with a 18mm Rivoli, 3.8mm montees and swaro drops.

Wirework pendant

2008-10-22T08:12:00.000-07:00

A test in techniques in preparation for a coming master piece

Glass cabochon cuff

2008-10-22T08:10:00.000-07:00

Rivoli Cuff 02

2008-09-24T07:10:00.001-07:00

Another wirework rivoli cuff but this time a different approach using sliders as enhancer.

Rivoli cuff - Untitled

2008-09-15T06:19:00.000-07:00

A first venture into making cuff. I like it very much as it representing my creativity well. Lots of curves. Did I ever mention that I love everything with curves.

First cabochon pendant

2008-08-21T03:42:00.000-07:00

One of many first of mine, it ultilised my technique of rivoli pendant.

Light vitrail rivoli

2008-08-03T02:21:00.000-07:00

Nothing exciting, just another of my Wirework Rivoli.

Untitled

2008-07-28T03:26:00.000-07:00

This is a necklace using my rivoli pendant technique with a little twist. Consist of 14mm and 18 Rivoli and a "Double Vision" chain. First time making chainmaille. Note to self to use a larger ring ( I used 4mm in this case) and an easier pattern. Realised during this time that my tute for the rivoli pendant need an upgrade on how to do the casing as I had found an easier way to accomplish it. Still undecide whether I should whack it in the Swarov comp or not.

Rise of the Phoenix

2008-07-27T05:35:00.000-07:00

My final entry for the Swarovski Competition 08.

Here is a proper photo of my piece "Rise of the Phoenix".

Phoenix is a oriental mystical creature of significant. Same level of significant compare to the Dragon. It represent the female (Yin) in comparison to the Dragon representing the male (Yang).

According to wiki search: Phoenix (mythology), a mythical bird that dies in flames and is reborn from the ashes.

My interpretation, in this case, is the Phoenix just reborn from the ashes.

Another Rivoli Pendant

2008-07-11T06:15:00.001-07:00

My first attempt on 14mm Rivoli. Fiddly but turned out quite nice.

Wirework Rivoli 02

2008-07-05T07:13:00.000-07:00

This pendant I made solely for the purpose of a tute for my wirework Rivoli pendant. I had increase the difficulty a little trying to match the level of detail of a threadwork rivoli pendant by doing a double layer of 4mm bicones. Very close I thought. When my next batch of rivoli get here, I will work on how to perfecting the design and sorts.

Rivoli Pendant

2008-07-05T07:11:00.000-07:00

I am always admiring all the Rivoli pendants. As for a wireworker like me, start working with thread and seed beads probably like torturing. It took 3 hours for me just to work out how to do the frame work. Stayed up late til 1 am just to finish one of these. I just want to shout "Rivoli pendants are no longer thread work only"

Caged pearl pendant No. 2

2008-07-05T07:08:00.000-07:00

This was made with love for my wife. A simpe setting and design but hard to achieved. I eventually worked out how to do it. Learnt heaps from the experiences.

Caged pearl pendant

2008-07-05T07:05:00.000-07:00

This particular pendant was created as a swap for a Rivoli pendant which my wife loved. A brain storm project, it taking a shape of an old genie bottle and of course there is a genie sitting in it.

Pearl Choker

2008-07-05T07:01:00.000-07:00

This idea had been brewing in my head for quite sometime. Eventually I obtained the right beads to do it. The frame work was a bit difficult to achieve otherwise everything else was easy enough. I would class it as intermediate level. Some people asked why I did not enter this into the Swarovski 08 Competition, well I did not think it has achieved the competition standard.

My second ring

2008-05-25T01:53:00.000-07:00

Of course with better knowledge about constructing ring, this piece was a breeze from start to finish. It turned out very close to my visualisation, which I am very proud. I named it "Treasure of the deep". This is a solid construction with 18g silver square wire for the arms. Nothing is loose nor wiggly. I made it with the intention that it would withstand the daily wear and tear.

My first ring

2008-05-25T01:46:00.000-07:00

I always wanted to do ring but never get around to do one. This ring turned out totally different from what I got in mind. During the course of construction, a few problems I could not conquer. Hence the change in design. I learnt a lots from it. Its experiences will definitely have great impact to my future ring.

Angel Wings

2008-05-25T01:40:00.000-07:00

My most favourite piece so far. I am so emotionally attached to it probably because of so many unhappy things happened during its construction. It was my escape pod during those negative time. It was my personal protective angel.

Princess Choker

2008-04-05T06:24:00.000-07:00

A very first piece made for the Swarovski Competition 08. However, it was requested to be in the Creative Beading project.

Its tutorial can be found in the Creative Beading magazine Volume 3-6

Wireeork Dragonfly

2008-03-29T19:37:00.000-07:00

Here is one of my old idea that never really become a reality until now. The wings are made with 24g silver wire frame and decorated with 28g silver wire.

It is 7cm in length and made with all swarovski crystals.

Its tutorial is ready but damn I don't know how to put it on the web. So contact me if you interested in a copy.

My first Entry in the 2008 Swarovsky competition

2008-03-19T04:14:00.000-07:00

This particular design was my first test in wirework 3D structural jewelery. After finishing the framewaork, admitedly I was very very disapointed on how it turned out. I was so ready throwing it into the bin, luckily my wife had a lok at it and said "very nice", I was then so keen to finish it off. It had undergone 1 minor facelift and a change of focal bead from De-art to Baroque pendant.

With the completion of this necklace, I realised that anything (structural that is) is possible with wirework.

I named it : "Meadieval Princess" choker

Materials list:

- 4mm crystal AB bicones

- 4mm Golden shadow bicones

-Golden shadow baroque pendant

-Creamrose pearls round and pear-shaped

-Light rose pearls round and pear-shaped

-Rondelled

-Goldfilled round beads

-Goldfilled wire

-Sterling Silver Wire (mostly deadsoft)