Raziela Designs to Participate in Luxury Pre-Event Celebrity Gift Lounge in Honor of the 2015 Primetime Emmy Nominees and Presenters

We are pleased to announce Raziela Designs, in association with The Artisan Group®, will participate in an invitation-only luxury pre-event celebrity gift lounge hosted by GBK Productions on September 18-19, 2015 at an exclusive location in Beverly Hills, California in honor of the Emmy nominees and presenters.  

Our Boho Gemstone Dangle Earrings will be gifted to select press and media outlets attending the event. (Pictured below.)

To learn more about Raziela Designs and our products, or our participation in this exclusive event, visit our Etsy Shop, call 601-265-4824 , or email razieladesigns@yahoo.com.

Shelly Owen, Raziela Designs's sole proprietor, is a resident of Pearl, MS.

For press inquiries regarding The Artisan Group, please visit http://www.theartisangroup.org or email press@theartisangroup.org.

*Neither Raziela Designs nor The Artisan Group are officially affiliated with The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (The Emmys or The Primetime Emmys).

DIY Filigree Hoop Earring Tutorial

Last week I gave a review of a two wire jigs Prima Bead has available on their site and I told you I would be posting tutorials using both jigs.  Here is the very first of those tutorials.  This particular one is using the flat or regular jig.  It is a very versatile tutorial that can be easily customized to your tastes.  Your end result will be a lightweight and fashionable pair of earrings.

SPECIAL NOTE: DO NOT USE HALF-HARD WIRE.  Your pegs will snap.

Filigree Hoop Earrings

Materials Needed:
20 gauge silver plated copper wire or any wire you choose (I used 63815072 from Prima Bead)

Tools Required:

Wire Jig (34737052)

Round Nose Pliers

Flat Nose or Chain Nose Pliers

Marker

Emery Board or Wire Rounder

Skill Level: Beginner 

Craft Time: 20 - 30 minutes

Skills Required:

Form a Loop

Wire Jig

Instructions:

Measure, cut, and straighten two 10 inch pieces of wire.  Form a loop at one end of each piece of wire. Set aside.

Place 16 pegs into the jig in two rows of 8 diagonally across the jig. 

Place one piece of wire between the rows of pegs.  Slide the loop all the way against the pegs.  

 Begin wrapping the wire around each peg forming a series of figure 8s.









Gently slide form off the jig.

 

Press the loops closed using flat or chain nose pliers.  Adjust any odd shaped loops with round nose pliers.

Bend the end of the wire at a 90º angle flush with the last loop using flat or chain nose pliers.

Wrap form around the barrel of a marker.  Slip the tail into the end loop.

 Make a slight bend in the very end of the wire using flat or chain nose pliers. Trim if necessary.

Smooth wire end with emery board or wire rounder.

 Repeat for second wire.

Design Idea:  Wire wrap crystals or beads into the loops of the filigree for a little bling.

Beadalon's Artistic Wire 3D Bracelet Jig and Prima Bead's Wire Jig Reviews

I was recently asked by Prima Bead to play around with Beadalon's new Artistic Wire 3D Bracelet Jig and create some projects using the jig as well as using a flat wire jig, also available from Prima Bead.

First let us look at Beadalon's new Artistic Wire 3D Bracelet Jig.

This thing is totally cool. It is a round jig base with evenly spaced rows and columns of holes.  Pegs go through the holes and are secured with some sort of flexible plastic fasteners that slip over the peg ends.  This jig allows you to create wire bangles and cuff bracelets with ease as well as curved earring components.  The jig retails for $15.99 on Prima Bead and comes with 20 pegs and fasteners as well as an instruction booklet.

It is a very easy to use jig and the pegs really stay in play as you work.  I have used up to 16 gauge wire on the jig without any trouble.  To remove your design, simply slip the fasteners off the bottom of the pegs and remove the pegs.  The design will fall off with ease.  You can even make those super cute and trendy adjustable bangle charm bracelets with this bad boy.

Important to note is that you will need additional pegs and fasteners for more intricate projects.  The extra pegs come packages in sets of 30 pegs with fasteners for $6.99 on Prima Bead.

The only draw back to this jig is that there isn't enough pegs in the package with the jig if you have an elaborate design. For simple designs, 20 pegs are plenty.



Here are two bracelets I made using the 3D Bracelet Jig:

This one was made with 20 pegs.

This one definitely required extra pegs.

Tutorials to follow in another post for these two bracelet.

Prima Bead also offers a flat wire jig for those who are just starting out. It retails for only $7.49 and comes with two colors of practice wire, 21 various sized plastic pegs and instruction booklet.  There is one really large peg, two smaller pegs, two medium size pegs and 16 small pegs. The pegs stay securely in the jig without any fasteners.  This is a great beginner jig for simple projects.  You can create filigree connectors, hook and eye clasps, and even ear wires with this jig.  If you are just creating simplistic designs, then this is a great jig to use.

This jig can be a bit of a learning curve when you first look at it, but don't be intimidated.  Once you figure out what row lines up with which column, you will have it licked.  The instruction booklet has two blank templates for you to sketch out designs on.

I found three minor drawbacks to this tool.  One is again the pegs. There is not any extra pack of pegs that can be purchased as yet.  So, be careful as not to lose them.  The second drawback to this jig is there are only two blank templates. But this is an easy fix.  Simply photocopy or scan them.  The final drawback is the jig cannot handle heavier gauge wire.  16 gauge wire is a bit of a stretch for the jig.  It can be done as long as the wire is aluminum or dead soft copper wire.  It is, after all, just a beginner jig.

Here are a few items made with the flat wire jig:

Tutorials to follow on these as well.

While you are visiting the Prima Bead site, check out the new look.  Also, make sure to check out the link at the bottom of the page for their loyalty program.  Be sure to sign up and let them know you found about about it here!

Florida Keepsake Necklace

Of all the souvenirs I receive and pick up in Florida, I think by far my favorite are the little jars of sand and shells.  Why do I like them?  They have so much project potential.

In this tutorial, I will show you how to make a cute, Swarovski crusted, keepsake necklace like the one below. You can customize the project to use any color you choose.  I chose a seaglass theme.

Supplies I Used:
One "Florida" mini-bottle sand and shell keychain souvenir with keychain removed
One 21x10.5 mm Swarovski crystal pendant (6010) in Golden Shadow (SC5152)

SC5152

SC5152

SC5152

Two 7.2mm Swarovski crystal non-hotfix flatbacks (2028) in Mint Alabasater (hard to find)
One 7.2 mm Swarovski crystal non-hotfix flatbacks (2028) in Sand Opal
Four 6mm Swarovski crystal bicones in Sea Glass (47501514)
Four 4mm Swarovski crystal bicones in Sea Glass (47500514)
Two 6mm  heavy gauge jump ring
One 4mm heavy gauge jump ring
Three regular jump rings
Eight silver plated headpins
Swarovski crystal non-hotfix flatback mix in Turquoise and Brown combo (47509569)
Swarovski crystal non-hotfix flatback mix in Crystal (47509526)
Swarovski crystal 4.7mm 2088 Xilion Rose flatbacks in Light Colorado Topaz
36" beige organza ribbon (63800353)
36" large link silver plated copper chain (AJM-ZG-003-00031 available from Walmart)
12" 18 gauge silver plated copper wire
 E-6000 Glue
Singer brand Sew-No-More (available from Walmart)
Singer brand Fray-No-More (available from Walmart)






Tools Used:
Large Bail Making Pliers
Flush Cutters
Chain Nose Pliers (2 pair)
Round Nose Pliers
Large Yarn Needle
Toothpicks

Techniques Required:
Wire Wrapping
Form a Loop
Jump Rings 
Cutting Chain

Skill Level: Intermediate

Craft Time:  About an hour

Instructions:
Put a heavy gauge jump ring through the hole of the Swarovski pendant. Connect the 4mm heavy gauge jump ring to the first jump ring and set aside.  Create 8 Swarovski crystal bicone dangles using headpins and form a loop. Set aside.










Cut 36 inches of large link chain and set aside. Cut 36 inches of organza ribbon and set aside.

Remove cork from mini-bottle. Using a toothpick smear E-6000 to the inside of the keepsake bottle necklace and replace cork.




Form a Loop at the end of the wire. Press the wire against the neck of the bottle and wrap around the neck about three times.

Take the tail of the wire just past the loop and curl backward and thread the tail back through the loop.







Create a spiral with your fingers. Adjust the wraps with round nose pliers to make sure the spiral is smooth










Wrap around the top of the cork two times and pull around and across the top of the cork.  Using the largest barrel of bail making pliers form a triple wrap and trim the wire flush against the cork.

Using a tooth pick, smear glue into the opening in the wraps of wire at the top of the bottle to secure the wire and allow to dry.











Using a toothpick, smear E-6000 onto the bottom of the bottle and one side of the bottle and begin placing on the flatbacks varying the sizes and colors.

Pick a pattern that is pleasing to you and have fun! Allow to dry.





Open the link of the chain as you would a jump ring - from side to side.

Hook it to the bail of the bottle, and slide into the last link of the other end of the chain.  Close the link.

Open a 6mm jump ring and slide on a 6mm, 4mm bicone, and close the ring. Open another jump ring, thread through the first jump ring and slide one a 6mm and a 4mm bicone.  Repeat until you get to the last jump ring. 

Use a heavy gauge jump ring and thread through the last regular jump ring and slide on the last 6mm bicone dangle, 4mm bicone dangle and the 4mm jump ring of the Swarovski pendant. Attach to the bail of the bottle.

Thread the ribbon onto the large yarn needle. Beginning at the back of the chain, skip the center link and thread through the next skipping every other link.  Make sure to leave a eight inch tail of ribbon.

Do not pull tight or the ribbon could snag on the lengths of the chain.  Pass the needle in the opposite direction of the the tail of the ribbon. 

Smooth out the chain to make sure it isn't bunched up and the ribbon isn't pulled too tight.

Tie a loose overhand knot and then a bow.  Trim the ribbon ends. Treat ends with Fray-No-More and apply a dab of Sew-No-More to the center of the bow.

If you find the "Florida" fading or chipping off, repair with a Sharpie and seal with clear fingernail polish.

What Inspires You?

I was recently asked what inspires me.  It took me a bit to pinpoint the exact thing that has truly inspired me the most.  I create jewelry, but what inspires me to create it? Who or what gives me the idea that I can do this thing that I love so much to do?  Is it nature, literature, colors, other designers, architecture?

As I thought on this for a bit, I kept drawing a blank.  I thought about the styles of jewelry I make and where does that influence come from.  I couldn't put my finger on it.  I sat down the other day to work on a new creation and then it hit me like a ton of bricks.  My inspiration comes from my dad!

Why my dad?  My dad, a Vietnam vet and cancer survivor with only an eighth grade education and Dyslexia, never knew what the word "can't" means.  He taught himself German when everyone said it would be impossible and that he wasn't smart enough to do it. He has a natural mechanical and engineering bend. He was able to study drafting and worked at Boeing in Seattle during the late 60s as a draftsman.  Can you imagine a person with only an eighth grade education doing that?!

My daddy.

He has always encouraged me to do whatever I put my mind to.  He has always told me, "If you can dream it, then you can do it".  He has always pushed me to do better, to be more creative, to think outside the box, to always try again if something didn't work the first time.  My creative passion comes from his gentle reminder that no matter what, he would always have my back.

His love and encouragement comes from a place deep rooted inside of him from our Heavenly Father.  His love for God has been in inspiration to me as well.  He has quiet in his passion for God, but you can tell my dad puts Him first in all he attempts to do.  Back in his Navy days, he was one of the few guys who would stay on the ship and read his Bible instead of partying with the rest of the crew.  After meeting up with one of his old shipmates, his fellow sailor told him that there was someone that had been wanting to find and talk to my dad. His friend placed a call.  That call was to my dad's former captain from the U.S.S. Whetstone. His former captain revealed to my dad he had became a Christian because of my dad's actions and living witness to Christ while aboard the ship. There are other shipmates that have confessed the same thing.  The life my dad lived in front of others left a mark on his captain and shipmates.

My dad knows how to live out of the Gospel of Christ.  He once told me that he had tried his best to model his life around the Beatitudes.  I can say honestly that his life truly reflects those words.  He is one of the most humble men I know and honest to a fault.  His life is an inspiration to me.  Can you guess that I'm a "daddy's girl"?  Yeah, I'm kinda partial to him.

I watch him with my boys and see how he teaches them and shows them things.  He is instilling in them that same passion for learning and figuring things out that he instilled into me and my brother. He has a passion for learning and history that most people stand in awe of.

When I look at my dad, I see a man who never stopped when people told him he wasn't smart enough or good enough.  He proved them all wrong with his "can do" attitude and pioneer spirit. He has endured so much hardship in his life, but has overcome it all.  He fought on when others would have given up.  He stood by my mom through her mental illness when most men would have walked out.  I believe it was his trust in God, prayers, and devotion to my mom that saw her through the worst time in her life.  He became a rock to her when she needed him most.

I know that I am able to push through creative blockages because I hear his voice in my ears encouraging me.  If I need someone to talk to, I call my dad.  If I am in need of a creative push, I talk to my dad.  I show him what I am working on, and he can usual work out how to make the design work when I can't see the forest for the trees.

His faith in me has carried me through some rough seas in life.  He always told me not to let any one tell me I couldn't do something because I was a girl. He taught me to do my best and to prove to myself that "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me".  My dad told me that I didn't have to prove to anyone else that I could do things s long as I could prove it to myself.

A Little Piece of My Heart - Create Your Style with Swarovski

Cousin Corporation of America (CCA) sent me a lovely box full of Swarovski crystals from their new Create Your Style with Swarovski™ line due to hit A.C. Moore Crafts this month.

These pieces are so versatile you can mix them with so many different things. I love all things Swarovski.  :)  I'm partial I guess.

Well.....I really fell in love with the Swarovski Heliotrope heart pendant that was in the box.  Each time I looked at it, I really felt drawn to pay homage to the Purple Heart medal.  I did my research and found that the ribbon of the medal is purple with white trim and has gold accents.  So I decided to create a lovely "ribbon" using TOHO seed beads in Heliotrope and Matte Opaque White. I wanted gold somewhere, so I decided on a gold chain necklace.

I found these lovely pavé beads with purple crystals from CCA's Jewelry Basics line. I wanted to incorporate them somehow, but the pavé beads didn't quite make it to the final design.

It was a definitely a learning curve since I had never done a decrease Peyote stitch before....How hard could it be, right?  Apparently harder than it looked.  I think I had to rip it apart about four times before it would come out right.  The beauty of using TOHO beads is the large opening that allows for jump rings to slide in even with a ton of thread already in the bead.

After I got the first part done, I had to make a second flap so it would be able to slide on a chain. I stitched it all up along the sides leaving an opening for a thin chain to slide through.

 I chose a thin 14 kt gold plated copper chain from CCA's Elegance Metal Line.  I also put two of the purple crystals from the pave beads at the back connecting to a 14kt gold plated copper heart toggle also from the Elegance Metal line.

I have to say, I am very pleased with the way it turned out.