March 2018 – Page 4 – Julie Frahm

Posted on March 5, 2018March 5, 2018 by admin

Lovely blue bracelet…

This bracelet took me hours to make!

I started making it yesterday, but it wasn’t working out so well. I couldn’t get it right with the beads that I had made. It needed a good night’s sleep, and a rethink on how to use the beads, and this is what I finally made. I really like how the beads made from a Blue Depression glass plate (the ones that are etched), contrast so nicely with the sparkly beads made from vodka, gin and wine bottles. Really quite pretty, different, unusual, interesting, quirky! If you are curious about other Blue Depression glass jewellery that I have made, simply click on this link.

Posted on March 4, 2018 by admin

A bit of a fail

Today I have a bit of a “fail” to share with you.

Before Christmas I was given several really pretty blue perfume bottles. You can see the colour in the picture below, it’s a bit like the Bombay Sapphire Gin bottle colour.

When I was given these bottles I had a feeling that they would not stay true to their colour. I have used pretty coloured glass before, and have found it to be painted on, rather than part of the actual colour of the glass.

So, when I made some test beads with one of the bottles, I was not really surprised to see the colour burn out of them. I still made a few, just in case, tried a few different ways of making them, just to be sure….but when I opened the kiln, this is what I found. Still pretty beads, but not really what I had been hoping for!

Posted on March 3, 2018 by admin

Sparkly Silver and Gold Bracelet

I had a bunch of sparkly Coopers Ale beads made, and when I put them together I felt like the bracelet needed a bit more contrast to make it really pop. So I added the sparkly wine bottle beads to the bracelet, and loving all the contrast and sparkles in the bracelet now.

Posted on March 2, 2018 by admin

Wine bottle stud earrings

I have to confess that I love studs as it starts to get cooler (not that it’s cooler here right now, I’m just getting prepared). I really enjoyed making these stud earrings from wine bottles. I have 3 designs ranging from small studs to larger flower studs, and medium studs in between!

Posted on March 1, 2018 by admin

Sketches to reality!

I always carry a notebook and my phone with me, so its really easy to capture ideas throughout my day/week. Sometimes I will sketch the idea in my notebook, other times I might take a photo of something because I like the shape or the colour of it.

Let’s just say that when it comes to making pendants I have had lots of ideas, and drawn lots of sketches, but….not much in terms of making. I often wonder what is stopping me from making things like pendants. I think I often want to get it just right in my head before I pick up the wire and beads. Today I must have tried at least six ways of making this pendant before I finally settled on this:

And I have to confess, I was quite excited when I finished it! The beads in this necklace were all made from a Banrock Station wine bottle.

I have other items where this is also the case, and I am going to “just make them” at some stage too. What’s the worst that can happen??