Etched clock part with Kynite stones and crystals

I completed this necklace on Monday.  While working on it, I realized the perfect finish would be a clasp on two-strand end bars.  I didn’t have any and my local jeweler’s supply was closed for the weekend.  I knew that the big craft stores in town didn’t carry the quality of findings I wanted to use on the piece.  So, I decided to make my own!

These brass end bars nicely separate the strands.

For these end bars I used pieces of 20 gauge brass from scrap bucket.   I drew an outline of what I wanted on plain printer paper and cut out two identical shapes.  I like to glue the paper pattern onto my metal (Aileene’s Tacky Glue is my all time favorite glue) and then use the jeweler’s saw to cut out the shape.  When you use the identical patterns both pieces will be the same size and shape. For those of you who don’t saw, just use snipes to cut the shape around the glued patterns.  I used hole punch pliers to make the holes in each piece, then filed, sanded, and polished.

The finishing step for the strand ends is the clasp.  I made the clasp of 18 gauge bronze jeweler’s wire.  When I first started making strung bead jewelry many of my store bought clasps failed - wouldn’t stay hooked, jump rings fell off, or just plain BROKE - so I now I make my own.

The next design concern was how to suspend the asymmetrical focal piece between the strands.  I decided that a back plate would be the best solution.

Attachment plate allows balance and freedom of movement.

Once again, I made a paper template and did any design and fit adjustments on the paper.  When I had the final size and shape, I cut out the paper pattern and glued it onto a piece of brass and sawed around the pattern.  Some punch plier holes, filing, sanding, and polishing.  The clock part had an existing hole. I put a long brass micro bolt through the clock part, attached the plate, and snugged it tight with a nut.  I then bent the edges of the back plate away from the clock part to make room to attach the strings of Kynite and crystals.

The brass micro bolt head can be seen here.

The wonderful workshop, taught by Susan Lenart Kazmer, was held in the little village of Durfort. The village is known for making copper pots and cookware.
In the village there is a copper pot like this hanging in each doorway.

The workshop site is a lovely house built prior to the French revolution own by the talented and gracious Gwen Gibson. The house is called La Cascade.

The house is named for the water fall made by a sluice gate on the river running behind the house.

I will post more photos as soon as I can figure out why this &%$#^*(*&^%$#@@ blog page won’t load my photos.  It’s time to call in the Big Gun - the wonderful R will come to my rescue!

After spending a wonderful 12 days in France, 6 days were spent in an amazing workshop with Susan Lenart Kazmer, I am so filled with ideas my head is about to explode.  My first stop was Paris, where I met up with some of the other workshop participants.  Such fun, talented artists!  No trip to Paris is complete without a visit to the Louvre.  Above is a photo taken from a hall window at the end of a gallery.  In the lower right hand corner of the photo is a glimpse of the “pyramid” that is at the main entrance.  Tourist hint: ask one of the Louvre workers where an alternative entrance is located if there is a long line at the pyramid entrance.

Here’s a handsome French bartender who tipped his hat to me as I walked by his establishment.  Everywhere I went the people of Paris were happy to help a clueless American.  Well, there was the clerk in the pharmacy who told me to learn French if I come back to her store!

Here’s a lovely little food store that was just across the street the hotel I stayed at in Paris.  The hotel was charming and staffed by wonderfully helpful people.

Check back with me in the next few days to see some more photos from France and to see my creations from the wonderful workshop.