Saturday, May 30, 2015

Creating With Cabochons Challenge - Hosted by Sally Russick




Hi Y'all,

Well it is time for Creating with Cabochons Challenge hosted by Sally Russick.  I enjoy participating in Sally's challenges they are always a lot of fun and push you to think about what you are creating.
Here are the rules in Sally's own words borrowed from her blog.

Guidelines:
: create a unique piece of jewelry using any type of cabochon(s)!  
: techniques you can use (but aren't limited too) are metalsmithingwire wrappingbeadweavingbead embroidery
: you can tab set it...sink it in a metal bezel... wrap it... smother it in seed beads...  the sky is the limit!!!  Go for it!!!
: post a photo  and a little bit about what you created on the reveal date: May 30th, 2015
KEEP CALM and HAVE FUN!!!  Don't worry about finishing just start!  We love progress photos and if you have something that just didn't work out, post about it!! Someone else might be in the same boat or better yet you may find someone has an answer that may make it work!! 

So there you have it easy and care free.  I was going to show y'all the process of making a stone cabochon, but fate has a funny way of skewing my well laid plans up and throwing them out the window. So I am left with showing you an already made cabochon, that I made, and the process of what I did with the cabochon.
But first I want to show you a slab of rough stone.


This is a piece of Marble slab, that I will be able to cut out three cabochons. As you can see in the upper left hand corner it is fractured all the way through, so I snapped it loose.


The corner piece is still big enough to make a nice cabochon out of it.


See this will be the back side of the cabochon.  Okay on to the one I actually worked with.


I chose this cabochon because I like the waves that run across the stone.  I was going to bead embroider it, but then an wire wrapping idea came to me, so I went with it.


I got my box of wire out and my tools and started to bring my idea to life. ( I did the wire wrapping on top of the box resting on my lap.)
I used 21 gauge square copper wire for the base wires, 21 gauge silver twisted wire for the decoration. and 21 gauge copper half round wire for wrapping all the wires together.
The result...


It turned out almost like I had envisioned it.  I wanted to mimic the waves with the silver wire going across the stone, without covering the waves.  Not quite what I wanted, but I am satisfied with the results.

Thank you Sally for hosting yet another fun challenge.
Thank you to all of you that have stopped by for a visit. Please go by and visit the other participants in this challenge and see what wonders they have created using a cabochon.

17 comments:

  1. This is so fascinating! That you can actually make your stone cabochons amazes me and now the beautiful wire wrapping, it is so harmonious. I love it!

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  2. This is beautiful, i love the little crown on top. I'd be fascinated to learn how you cut cabochons

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  3. Oh Therese! What a beautiful cabochon! And the wire work is perfectly in sync with the waves. This is gorgeous!

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  4. What, you cut your own cabs? How cool is that! I am very impressed!!!! Beautiful work.

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  5. Oh Therese, I love the way that you wrapped the stone and how the wire "flows" across the pendant and follow the lines in the cab itself! Beautifully done!!
    Love seeing your cab cutting skills!!!
    Thank you for participating in the challenge!!!!

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  6. Utterly amazed that you cut your own cabs, and wow what a beautiful design you created! I love the contrasting metals and how well it goes with the contrasting colours in the stone and the waves are brilliant, such a lovely design!

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  7. Just enough wire wrapping to set off the stone! This is just fantastic! Love it!!

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  8. I look forward to seeing out the marble cabs come out! The rhyolite piece is a beauty. Even more so with the waves you created from the wire wrapping. Gorgeous!

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  9. Just gorgeous, Therese! And I LOVE hearing about the cab creation process. You have talked about the classes you took and it is very inspiring to see your artistic progression. Your wave vision for the rhyolite was perfect - love the combo of copper and silver. There are lots of rock hounds out here in Arizona - let me know if you ever decide to visit! A great challenge!

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  10. Therese, this is one of the most beautiful pieces I've seen! I love the way you used the two metals and the way the twisted wire mimics the waves in the cab! This is just gorgeous!!
    I love that you make you're own cabs. That marble slab is beautiful and I'm looking forward to seeing what you create with it.

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  11. Gorgeous Therese and I'm so impressed you cut that cab yourself!

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  12. Exquisite! I agree the wire wrapping truly worked with that piece. And I love how you did the top. Looks almost like a crown. I would love to see what you make from the marble slab. I know it will be stunning. Thanks for posting!

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  13. Wow, that is so cool that you cut your cab, beutiful!

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  14. I know I sound like a broken record, but you are so darn multi-talented! Love the cabs, and the cabs-to-be, too!

    Your wire wrapping is just gorgeous...I cannot believe you are able to achieve such a perfect flow with the wire (square wire,too) on YOUR LAP!!! I am always impressed with your art!!!

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  15. Hi Therese, I was expecting to see an embroidered piece from you. This is a surprise. It is fabulous. You did a wonderful job of cutting the cab and your wirework is stunning. It complements the cab perfectly.

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  16. Therese, what a beautiful pendant!!
    The wire wrapping is done so beautifully. I am simply speechless. I love it, love it!!!

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  17. Always so clever, Therese! Love your work here!

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