And the WInner is.........

Announcing the winner of my 25$ gift certificate giveaway!

The winner is Danica, of Stinkydancer.etsy.com!

25$ Giveaway Ends at 8am Monday Morning!

Just a friendly reminder to let you know that the 25$ gift certificate giveaway ends on Monday morning at 8am Eastern Time.

For more details, check out this blog post here: http://gailavira.blogspot.com/2009/11/gailavira-jewelry-blog-giveaway-25.html

Also, everything in my Etsy shop is already discounted 20%-50% for my Black Friday Weekend Sale! All prices will return to normal Tuesday morning. (cannot be combined with any other discounts) http://gailavira.etsy.com

"Knotted" Headpin Tutorial Now uploaded to Instructables.com

I still have a few more tutorials to post over on Instructables.com. Here's the one I posted this morning. Enjoy *s*


Knotted Headpin Tutorial

Also, don't forget to check out my Half Off Holiday Sale (this week's theme is BLACK) and the 25$ gift certificate giveaway going on in my shop right now!

Another Free Tutorial Posted on Instructables.com

Here is my Wrapped Connector Post Tutorial over on Instructables.com.


Wire Jewelry - Wrapped Connector Post - More DIY How To Projects

Gailavira Jewelry Blog Giveaway! 25$ Store Credit!

And the winner is: Danica!

With the Holidays just around the corner, I've been in a really good mood lately. So I decided to spread the cheer a little bit. I'm going to give away a 25$ store credit (good in either of my shops) to one lucky blog reader!

Here's out it works.
First, you check out both of my Etsy shops:
http://gailavira.etsy.com
http://gailaviratutorials.etsy.com

When you are done looking around my shops, come back here and tell me what jewelry items you liked the best, or what tutorials look most interesting to you, or even which finished pieces in my shop you would like to see a tutorial for.

Make sure to leave me some kind of contact info. If you do not want to post your email address, give me a link to your etsy profile, or your profile on any other site that has a private message system so that I can let you know if you win.

That's it!

On the morning of Monday, November 30th, I will pick a random winner out of all of the people who commented here on this blog.

Oh, and if you don't win this one, don't worry! I am already collaborating with another Etsian to do a giveaway on her blog too. Once all the details are set on that one I will let you know here so you can go to her blog and enter there too.

Of course, if you see something you just have to have right away, and don't want to wait for the end of the contest to see if you've won, I'll give anyone who mentions this blog post in the notes to seller during checkout a 20% discount! (Discount cannot be combined with any other sales or discounts)

New Tutorial - Beaded Ear Cuffs!

http://gailaviratutorials.etsy.com


This lesson teaches you a simple technique for making ear cuffs that look like a row of beads climbing up your ear. These look great worn as a pair, but if you prefer the asymmetrical look, make one ear cuff and an earring to match for the other ear.

The frame used for this ear cuff can be turned into many other designs. By using different beads and adding different wirework techniques, you can create many other looks.

These cuffs are shaped as an oval for more comfort when wearing, however, you can also shape them like the more traditional round ear cuffs if that is what you prefer.

Skill Level:
Intermediate

Material List:

* 13” of 20g dead soft wire
* 5’ of 26g or 28g dead soft wire
* 14 4mm beads
* 2 charms or dangles (optional)

Tool List:

* Chain nose pliers
* Round nose pliers
* Wire cutters
* Flat nose pliers
* 6mm mandrel (or small piece of a 6mm wooden dowel)
* Marker

SugarCreekHollow - Another Etsy Seller!

Today I just want to give a quick mention to another Etsy seller,
SugarCreekHollow. I was just in her shop and she sells very beautiful hand crocheted afghans. You'll find them in her Etsy shop if you want to take a look. They are absolutely gorgeous, and would make great Christmas presents for the people on your list who appreciate all the time, energy and love it takes to make something so special!

She also sells many other wonderful items. From soy candles to handmade lace doilies, even spiced peach jam! So, what are you waiting for? Check her out now!

SugarCreekHollow.etsy.com

Last Day of the End of Summer Sale!

My End of Summer sale was so popular that I ended up extending it a few weeks. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. Today is the last full day of the sale. I will begin editing the prices on all the listings sometime tomorrow morning, so if you still want to get an amazing deal on some great jewelry, you better check it out quick!

Just a quick recap on what the sale is, all clearance items are marked HALF OFF the regular clearance price.

If you want to check out what's left, Click Here to go to my shop!

Fossil Hunting at Ceasar's Creek

Another fun activity we found (see previous post) was fossil hunting. There are actually several places you can go to hunt fossils in Ohio, but we chose to go to Ceasar's Creek state park in Waynesville. After we finished with the fossils, we drove over to the "beach" to have a picnic lunch. At which point, of course, we were attacked by seagulls (ok, not really attacked, but my daughter kept feeding them, so they stayed with us for a while). As always... had to take pictures.

A Walk Near Englewood Dam

Over the summer we decided to see what we could find to do that was close to home (within 70 miles) and free. We found a few things that were kind of fun. One of them was simply taking a walk in the park at Englewood Dam.

Of course, I can't take a walk in the woods (well, not exactly woods, but you get the idea) without taking pictures. Here are some of the pictures I took that day. Hope you enjoy them.

End of Summer Sale!

I need to make room in my shop for all the new jewelry I've been making this summer. So I decided to have an awesome sale!

All items in the clearance section have been reduced to HALF OFF the regular clearance price! Over 50 items to choose from!
Click here to go to the clearance section of my shop!

No need to wait for a revised invoice. Just purchase and pay as usual.

New Tutorial! The Medusa Pendant

Click here to purchase the Medusa Pendant tutorial.

This tutorial teaches you how to make a pendant full of dreamy coils and swirls.

This lesson is really more of a set of rules than an absolute technique. Most of the work is done by feel.

Skill Level:
Intermediate

Material List:
* 3 15” pieces 20g round dead soft wire
* 1/3 ounce of round 28g wire
* 1 oval bead (must be drilled)- approximately 25mm x 18mm

Tool List:
* Chain nose pliers
* Wire cutters
* Flat nose pliers
* Needle file or wire rounder

© Donna Spadafore, Gailavira Jewelry
You may use this tutorial to make jewelry for sale. If you do so, please link back to Gailavira Jewelry ( http://www.gailavira.com or http://gailavira.blogspot.com ) in the item description.

New Tutorial in the Works - Tortured Innocence

I've received so many requests for a tutorial for my Tortured Innocence pendant that I have finally decided to just go ahead and do one. I wasn't sure about creating a lesson for this pendant because I actually didn't remember how I made it. But after a few attempts I figured it out.

The pendant pictured below is probably the best one I have done so far.




I hope to start working on the tutorial within the next few days, so it should be ready within a couple of weeks!

Re-purposing Old Techniques

While taking a break from another tutorial I'm working on, I decided to play around and see if I could use a technique taught in an older tutorial of mine to make something nothing like the original lesson. I've been loving some of the wire sculpted beaded beads that I've been seeing lately (especially those from Perri at Shaktipaj Designs!) and figured I'd like to make some of those. Well, maybe not quite like Perri's beads, but certainly something in a similar category. I like to make things sorta quick and easy to start, then alter the design later to be a little bit more complicated.

Since I wanted to find a way to re-purpose an old tutorial of mine, I decided on playing around with my "Carry Me" tutorial (a tutorial for a simple way to wrap a gemstone point bead).

For the first and last beads pictured, I pretty much followed the tutorial step by step, working in reverse to complete the second half of the bead.

The other two beads pictured began similarly to the tutorial. However, instead of weaving the entire length of the bead, I coiled each wire separately, then brought them back together at the second end the same way the wires were wrapped together on the first end.

Since these beads are somewhat small, I used 22g wire for the core wires and 30g wire for the weaving and coiling. What's great about this technique is that you can make these beads any size you want. Just be sure to increase or decrease the wire gages you use so that they are proportionate to the size bead you are making.

Mystic Ring Tutorial

Click here to purchase tutorial.





This lesson teaches you to make a ring which can hold un-drilled stones attractively and securely.

The ring shank design in this tutorial is merely a suggestion. At the end of this lesson you will see other options for the band portion of the ring. Using your own imagination you will be able to adapt the bezel technique in this tutorial so it can be used with many different ring shanks.

Prerequisite Tutorial:
Determining the Length of Wire Needed for a Ring Shank

Material List:
* 12' of 28 ga Round Soft Wire
* 16" of 20 ga Round Soft Wire
* 1 18mm x 13 mm Oval Cabochon
* Small piece of scrap paper
* Masking tape or painters tape
* Ruler (measuring in millimeters)

Tool List:
* Ring Mandrel
* Flat Nose or Bent Nose Pliers
* Wire Cutters
* Needle File or Wire Rounder
* Round Nose Pliers
* Fine tip pen or ultra fine tip marker
* Any marker that will work on metal

© Donna Spadafore, Gailavira Jewelry
You may use this tutorial to make jewelry for sale. If you do so, please link back to Gailavira Jewelry ( http://www.gailavira.com or http://gailavira.blogspot.com ) in the item description, if possible.

Facebook and Twitter

Just wanted to put out a quick note to let everyone know you can also find me on Facebook and Twitter. I don't always have time to post a full blog, but I usually get time to post one or two updates a day on those two sites. All new jewelry tutorials will be announced on the three sites linked below, plus here.

Twitter:
http://www.twitter/com/Gailavira
And Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/people/Donna-Spadafore/1565033532
I'm also still on MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/gailavirajewelry

You Can Now Purchase Tutorials Directly from my Web-Site!

Ok, I was up till 1:30am last night getting it all together, but I'd say it was definitely worth it! Now, those of you who don't want to have to sign up for another website, but still want to purchase some of my wire jewelry tutorials, you can buy them directly from my website. Just go to http://www.gailavira.com and click on the "Tutorials" link on the left hand side. There you will find all my current tutorials,including the free ones!

Prison of Enchantment Tutorial

Available in my Tutorial Shop on Etsy!

This lesson shows you one way to wrap an un-drilled stone point (though you can use a drilled stone if you like). This particular style gives the finished pendant an old world feel, especially if oxidized.

Skill Level:
Intermediate

Materials:
• 13” of 22 ga Round Soft Wire
• 11’ of 30 ga Round soft Wire
• 1 Stone Point (For this tutorial I am using one that measures 8mm wide and 31mm long – you can use a different, but you will need more or less wire depending on the stone)
• 18g Jump Ring (the inside diameter must be large enough to accommodate the thickness of the wire plus the cord or chain you plan to use with the pendant)



Tools:
• Chain nose pliers
• Round nose pliers
• Wire cutters
• Flat nose pliers



© Donna Spadafore, Gailavira Jewelry
You may use this tutorial to make jewelry for sale.
Click here to go to my Tutorial Shop on Etsy!


If you would like to be notified when new tutorials are released, add Gailavira Jewelry to your MySpace Friends List. Bulletins are sent out for each new tutorial.
Http://www.myspace.com/gailavirajewelry

Everyday Classics Collection

I have often heard much of the jewelry I make referred to as "Wearable Art". I must admit, it makes me a little bit giddy when I hear that. Unfortunately, it is usually followed by, "I wish I could afford it," or some other similar sentiment.

I love making jewelry with a story behind it. Of course, the more the story effects me, the more involved the finished piece will be. This usually means that it will cost much more than I originally intended it to. To solve this dilemma, I have decided to do a new collection.

My Everyday Classics Collection is a series of smaller items that are very versatile. Most pieces can can be worn for anything from a day at work, to a casual evening at the movies, a dinner party at a colleagues house, or just a day at the mall. My goal with this collection was to create a line of jewelry that is affordable for almost everyone, but still having pieces that have a story, or an emotion, behind them. Pieces that still speak to your heart, but can be worn for more than just special occasions.

To see more of my Everyday Classics Collection, Click Here

Sacrifice of the Virgin Bride

This piece is a perfect example of how the subconscious mind works to inspire the creation of any artistic endeavor.

As I began working on the main part of the centerpiece, (the larger Rose Quartz teardrop and the Garnets surrounding it), I had decided to call it "Unbridled Passion". At that point, it was a fitting name. However, as the branches along the top took shape, I decided it needed a better name. A more appropriate name. As I continued to work on it several possible names came to mind. Finally, as I finished the centerpiece, I settled on "Sacrifice of the Virgin Bride". Really, I just thought it was sort of a neat name that would grab people's attention.

After it was posted on JewelryLessons.com someone made a comment about it looking like a uterus. I laughed it off thinking it was just a funny coincidence. After my mother said the same thing about it, I laughed even harder. When I finished laughing and began working on something else I started to think a little bit harder about it. I decided to look again at the necklace, and I began to see it too.

As women, we make so many sacrifices in our lives. We sacrifice our time for other people. We surrender our dreams, many times giving way for other dreams of our own, or to help someone we love to accomplish their dreams. Of all the things we choose to lose, none of them are so great a sacrifice as the one we make for our future.

When we choose to have children, we sacrifice our bodies. We give what ever we can while a child is growing inside us to nourish him and to make sure he is strong. We spend hours of agony pushing them out. Then we give them our love. We spend years nurturing our children. Teaching them right from wrong. Giving them everything we can to make sure they grow up ready for the world.

We give ourselves completely to our children. In conception, labor, and throughout their lives we make incredible sacrifices. During pregnancy, our bones and teeth become weak as our bodies give all the nutrients we need for ourselves to the developing child. In delivering our children unto the world our bodies are torn and beaten. In raising our children we forget that our bodies are as important as theirs and so we fail to remember to do the little things we need to in order to keep ourselves healthy. In letting them go, we send our hearts out with them.

And then they leave us. They move on to make sacrifices of their own. In doing so, they make us more proud than we could ever have been of them, all while breaking our hearts. We love them so much that we cannot bear to let them go. But in the end, we have to.

In love, we sacrifice our bodies so that our children can go out into the world. In that act of selflessness we ensure the future of all humankind.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

To see more images of this necklace, go to my Etsy shop.

Finally! A New Tutorial! Woven Band Ring

Available in my Tutorial Shop on Etsy!

This tutorial teaches you to make a simple looking woven band ring that can be altered to make many other designs.

Adding small beads to the weave gives this ring a wonderfully textured look. You can also change the spiral design, making them go in different directions than suggested, or making them larger or smaller, to create many different designs.

Skill Level:
Advanced

Materials:

* 9 1/2" of 18 ga Round Half Hard or Dead Soft Wire
* 6’ 28 ga Round Dead Soft Wire


Tools:

* Chain nose pliers
* Round nose pliers
* Wire cutters
* Flat nose pliers
* Metal Ring Mandrel (or other round metal object that can be hammered on)
* Hammer
* File

© Donna Spadafore, Gailavira Jewelry
You may use this tutorial to make jewelry for sale. If you do so, please link back to Gailavira Jewelry ( http://www.gailavira.com or http://gailavira.blogspot.com ) in the item description.

Click here to go to my Tutorial Shop on Etsy!


If you would like to be notified when new tutorials are released, add Gailavira Jewelry to your MySpace Friends List. Bulletins are sent out for each new tutorial.
Http://www.myspace.com/gailavirajewelry

Happy New Year Everyone! (sorry I'm a bit late)

Ok, so I'm a few days late. I do have a tendency to never quite be on-time, so this really shouldn't surprise anyone. But hey, Happy New Year!

Once these e-mail forwards have gotten around to entering my inbox they've usually been seen by just about everyone else on the planet. But my mother sent one to me this morning that I just want to share with everyone anyway. Usually, I hate these things, which is precisely why I like this one so much. It expresses my feelings towards pretty much every other e-mail forward I've ever received.



In my case, just send cash and chocolate. I don't need the rest. *s*