Gettin’ Jiggy Steampunk Style
A couple of weeks ago, I told you I was going to be in a travel challenge and I would be blogging about Ireland, the one place I dream of seeing. I talked about the influence of Irish music from my childhood and gave you a link to that rousing Irish jig, the Irish Washerwoman.
I got inspired by that song and the photos I found that seemed to represent my idea of an Irish washerwoman. I want to post a couple of pictures of some jewelry I made from that inspiration.
First photo:
an Irish washerwoman
I decided she wanted some earrings to brighten up her dull day scrubbing clothes. This is the pair I created
The other photo seemed more of a peasant style, fitted the words to the song better: If you ever go into an Irishman’s shanty, where money is scarece and whiskey is plenty, theres a three legged stool and a table to match and the door of the shanty is barred with a latch.
Irish peasant postcard
What the heck was I going to make with this color palette? I was stumped! I had beads this color, but………..
Anyhow, sometimes, right before I drift off to sleep, I mentally string beads to calm down that active ADHD brain of mine. I mentally pulled out those green beads and a steampunk pendant I had bought from Earthenwood Studio. What the heck would I do with them though? In my head, I strung them on cord, I put them with chain and they looked okay but nothing “popped”. I hummed a bar or two of the Irish Washerwoman and than it hit me. WASHERS! Steampunk jewelry usually has gears, but what about washers? You can’t have machines without washers. Now I really could not sleep. I wanted to get up and head out for the hardware store.!
First thing in the morning, off I went to Ace. I had the devil’s own time finding brass washers and let me tell you, they are NOT cheap! I brought a few home, hammered them to get some texture and loved what I had. I used copper wire and jump rings because I do love mixed metals and here is my piece. It’s way cooler than just using cord or gears and chain.
Steampunk Irish Jig necklace
textured washer link with copper wire
handmade “chain” with textured washers and jumprings
closeup of the pendant
yep, I made matching earrings
I would dance a jig in this set any day!
Share this:
15 Comments »
Leave a comment
Who am I?
I am a lively Aries lady who lives in a house owned by a bunch of wacky animals.
I am the matriarch of a clan of kids, grands and great grands.
I am a solitary Wiccan whose pagan roots are both Native American and Celtic, strongly connected to the earth.
I am a jewelry artisan, addicted to beads, wire, silver, rocks, stones and minerals. I love working with metal clay, wire and natural stones.
I am a teacher. I’ve learned a lot about stones and minerals and folklore: the history behind the stones. I teach special classes for underpriveleged kids. I teach everyone who asks about the ancient uses of rocks and stones.
BALC Alumni Badge
BALC Alumni
Strega Jewellry's Blog 
Those are amazing. You really did a great job. I would wear all of those pieces. I’m also really glad you didn’t just use Connemara marble and call it Irish! I love how you were inspired by your research and color palettes while still remembering Ireland is a modern place too. I hope you get to visit and if you are in Cork and need a great hostel to stay in, try Shelia’s.
LikeLike
Thanks so much. I really wanted to stay away from the traditional “emerald green” that most folks associate with things Irish…..shamrocks, leprechauns, etc. Ireland is a place of many beautiful rocky coasts and cliffs with lot of blues and browns. I had a blast with the color palettes also. I’m going to be using them a lot in the future.
LikeLike
Beautiful, truly.
LikeLike
Beautiful! I love everything you created. I will have to try these color pallets. Blessed be!
LikeLike
What great inspiration! And I like the jewelry too!
LikeLike
Gorgeous! Love it all! Blessed Be Sister!
LikeLike
Thanks Kimberly! Am visiting your blog/s. You are a busy woman.
LikeLike
Thank you for the tour of the home of my ancestry. Your jewelry is awesome.
LikeLike
Thanks Marlene, I had such fun!
LikeLike
Just my style, and I’m not even an Irish washerwoman. Do you sell your jewelry?
LikeLike
I sure do TRY to sell my jewelry. LOL………I have a shop on Artfire. What? I don’t have a link on this blog? I will need a remedy for that!
LikeLike
Gorgeous! If they need a good home…let me know!
LikeLike
LOL, how about I let your husband know!
LikeLike
Hi Strega, thank you for your blogs! I stumbled across your site while looking at jewellery stuff on the web. Your Irish projects really inspired me after having had ‘jeweller’s block’ for over a year. Am feeling the flow again – love the way you interpret the themes and create the colour schemes…thank you again! x
LikeLike
Hi Camilla. Thanks so much for Stopping by to visit. I’m glad you enjoyed my Irish blogs. Mostly6 I think I blog for myself so I can sort out my own process. Sometimes I get stuck with “jewelry block” also. I’m stuck tonight. Remade the same necklace 4 times and can’t get the bale the way I want it to look. SIGH………..Hey, maybe I’ll go look and see if YOU have a blog that will inspire me!!!
LikeLike