I found a stunning blue labradorite that was simply amazing.  I wanted to put it in sterling silver.

Here's the finished piece.

Labradorite in Sterling Silver

Here's my process.

I took five, 12 inch wires in 20 gauge and 1 length of 26 gauge weaving wire and started a chevron type weave.  Using two wraps on each base wire before moving to the next level.

Labradorite in Sterling Silver

 I continued that pattern until stone was completely wrapped in the weave.

Labradorite in Sterling Silver

 I then made a slight bend in the tops of the wires to crisscross the front two wires around the back to lock the frame.

Labradorite in Sterling Silver

 I then use the weaving wire to secure the two wires around the back of the stone.

Labradorite in Sterling Silver

 I ended at the bottom, trimmed the excess wire and created spirals to end the wires neatly.

Labradorite in Sterling Silver

After completing the bail with a figure eight type weave, I used the end of the bail wires create the decorative weave for the front and sides of the piece.

Labradorite in Sterling Silver

I used the weaving wire to create the main weave.

Labradorite in Sterling Silver

I used the weaving wire to lock the weave in place by looping once around the frame in places where it came close to the stone.

Labradorite in Sterling Silver

 This is the finished piece.  it turned out really well.

Labradorite in Sterling Silver

You can purchase my jewelry at my Facebook Shop and learn more about me on my website.

This is another piece I finished while we were evacuated due to flooding from Hurricane Matthew.

Here's the finished piece

Photography & Jewelry by Renee Olson

I started with five base wires and did a stair step style weave to create the frame.

Photography & Jewelry by Renee Olson

 I circle the frame around the stone and use the wire to close the frame.

Photography & Jewelry by Renee Olson

 The stone is held in place by attaching the base wires to the back.

Photography & Jewelry by Renee Olson

I then separate the base wires leaving four for the bail and four for the front weaves.

Photography & Jewelry by Renee Olson

 The bail is attached and then the extra wires are used to create the decorative weave down the sides.

Photography & Jewelry by Renee Olson

 These are the finished photos.  This piece is available on the Facebook Page for purchase.

Photography & Jewelry by Renee Olson

Photography & Jewelry by Renee Olson

I ended up evacuating for a flood from Hurricane Matthew and didn't get a chance to get this post scheduled.  So here it is finally ....

Jewelry & Photography - Renee Olson

I started out with five base wires and created a wide weave due to the size of the stone.

Jewelry & Photography - Renee Olson

 I think wrapped it around the outside of the stone and joined the wires at the top to begin working on the bail.

Jewelry & Photography - Renee Olson

 To create the bail I pulled four of the wires up straight to the top and started a type of figure eight weave to create the bail.  To of the front wires are pulled around the back to lock the stone in place.

Jewelry & Photography - Renee Olson

 The bail weave is created and tided into the back of the piece.

Jewelry & Photography - Renee Olson

 Using the remaining wires I pair them up in sets of two/three/four and create decorative weaves to go along the sides of the piece.

Jewelry & Photography - Renee Olson

 These are the final pictures.  I needed up using the plain wires across the front to add a bit of a decorative element to the front of the stone.

This piece is available for sale and can be purchased on the Facebook Page

Jewelry & Photography - Renee Olson

Jewelry & Photography - Renee Olson

Jewelry & Photography - Renee Olson

This is one of the best pieces I believe I have ever made. It turned out amazing.

Photography & Jewelry by Renee Sosanna Olson

I started out with five 20 gauge base wires and 1 26 gauge weaving wire.  I added peach seed beads along the top of the first wire.

Photography & Jewelry by Renee Sosanna Olson

Photography & Jewelry by Renee Sosanna Olson

I wrapped the weave around the stone and secured the stone in the setting by attaching two of the base wires across the back of the stone.

Photography & Jewelry by Renee Sosanna Olson

 Next I did a figure eight weave around four of the base wires to create a bail.  I pulled those bail wires around the front. On side one I did a two two weave and used it to circle the bail.

Photography & Jewelry by Renee Sosanna Olson

 After circling the bail, I took the wires down and created curls in front on the right side.  On the left, I did an alternating 3x4 and a 2x4 weave to create a fluid swoosh down the side.

Photography & Jewelry by Renee Sosanna Olson

This is the finished piece prior to applying Liver of Sulfur.

Photography & Jewelry by Renee Sosanna Olson

 This is the piece after Liver of Sulfur has been applied.

Photography & Jewelry by Renee Sosanna Olson

 Side view to show the light from the Labradorite.

Photography & Jewelry by Renee Sosanna Olson

My jewelry is available on my website and on my Facebook Page.

Here are a few photos of my how to process working with copper and a lovely Larimar stone.

Here is the finished piece.

Photography & Jewelry by Renee Sosanna Olson

I started out with a simple chevron style stitch on five base wires, adding seed beads on one side of the point.

Photography & Jewelry by Renee Sosanna Olson

Photography & Jewelry by Renee Sosanna Olson

 I repeated this until I had enough to wrap completely around the stone.

Photography & Jewelry by Renee Sosanna Olson

Photography & Jewelry by Renee Sosanna Olson

I then pulled the two sides together and wrapped four wires with a figure eight weave to complete the bail.

Photography & Jewelry by Renee Sosanna Olson

Photography & Jewelry by Renee Sosanna Olson

 I took the remaining wires and did an assortment of two two stitches and a three three stitch to complete the access on the top and bottom as well as to encircle the bail to give it a finished look.

Photography & Jewelry by Renee Sosanna Olson

 Finally a bath of Liver of Sulfur gives it a nice rich finish.

Photography & Jewelry by Renee Sosanna Olson

All my jewelry is available for purchase on my website.  If you cannot find what you're looking for just send me a message via the contact form on this blog or on message me on my Facebook page.

This week I decided to do a little Malachite pendant.  I hope you enjoy!

Here's the finished piece.

Photography and Jewelry by - Renee Sosanna Olson

Now for the steps!

I decided to try a three base wire wrap.  The pattern is based on a weave from a tutorial which I will share at the end of the photos.  CSL Designs has a great YouTube Channel and offers a lot of great videos.  I highly recommend going and checking them out.  Now this weave is based on the Alternating picot weave, I just changed it up a bit.

Photography and Jewelry by - Renee Sosanna Olson

 I completed the weave enough to wrap around the stone but leaving it just a little short so I could frame the stone and keep it from falling out.

Photography and Jewelry by - Renee Sosanna Olson

 Next you have to wrap two of the wires around the back to set the stone.  This is when I realized I should have picked a different weave.  There was very little space between the base wires to get the weaving wires in. I tried to spread them with a crochet hook and ended up stabbing myself twice with the hook.  So note:  If you intended to set a stone in this weave, use a larger weaving wire so the space is bigger to get the wire in.

Photography and Jewelry by - Renee Sosanna Olson

 I had extra on the two base wires to enclose the back so I took them around the front of the stone for a little added interest to the front of the piece.

Photography and Jewelry by - Renee Sosanna Olson

 Next I worked on the bail.  The bail is a basic figure 8 type weave using four wires.  It gets a little tough as you get further up the wire.  But I managed ok.

Photography and Jewelry by - Renee Sosanna Olson

 Here's a look at the front with the bail partly attached.

Photography and Jewelry by - Renee Sosanna Olson

 Here's the finished piece before oxidation.

Photography and Jewelry by - Renee Sosanna Olson

 And here she is.  All finished.

Photography and Jewelry by - Renee Sosanna Olson

 Not a bad weave.

Photography and Jewelry by - Renee Sosanna Olson

Look for this piece as well as my other work available on the my website at Sosanna's Closet




Now the tutorial for the weave from CSLdesigns!