Charleans Ring

This is about the 5th ring like this that I have made.

You would think that it got easier, but I really battled with this one. I am not exaggerating when I say that I soldered the bezzle to the shaft about 7 times before I was happy. The worst part is I think I shoud have left it the first time as it was only slightly skew and not as noticeable as all the problems you get when you heat something over and over again.

I love this ring.It was made for a friend for a friend.

When I was making it I decided the band was too small even though I had used the correct formula so I cut another piece of silver and made another band guessing how much I was out by.

The final ring was way too big.

I couldnt face removing the stone and making it smaller so I made a new ring with a much bigger stone. Using the band I made in the first place. LOL.

Stone and resin pendant

I am working on a totally new (for me) idea.
I was experimenting with drilling a hole through a beach stone with a diamond bur. (I think that is what it is) it was taking forever.
It occured to me that I could engrave into my stone and paint resin on to it.
So I ditched the hole - (easily side tracked) and engraved a rough flower onto my stone.
I then painted silver poster paint onto my design as the stone is black and resin is translucent - I wanted to be able to see my picture. I have now added pink resin.
will add a picture once it is dry and I have added a bail and leather cord. That is if it works.

Our Easter Holiday!

Easter Holiday

Well we are off for a four day camping trip over the easter holidays.

I really need a portable bench. Although.....................
I tried beading on a camping holiday once.
It was a nightmare, I kept spilling the beads.

Little little beads everywhere.

Luckily it was early days and they were of the cheap and nasty variety. So I left them to decorate the campsite for future holiday makers.
Now that I am into precious metals I think it would be a lot safer if I just left my toys at home and had a break.
4 days, at least it is not as long as the christmas holiday was.

new bracelet

I haven't made a chain for a while. I had some 1.6mm dia wire and it occured to me to try and make a bracelet with my new texture tool. I really do like the random texture that it makes.

I made the clasp out of .8mm plate. I needed to add the extra bar because the bar was too short and kept coming undone.

rivet attempt

I bought a book by Joanna Gollberg that focuses on cold connection.
My goal last weekend was to create a riveted piece. I got side tracked and started making a couple of punches out of steel nails which I got on special from the hardware store.

I made a texture punch. Which lead me to texturing a small piece of silver to death. (annealed three times with hammering in between) Came out great. So I cut off the edges. I then added it to some copper and more silver finally using 2 copper wire rivets. I drew the wire down to just the right size (because I can) and the wire rivets worked perfectly.

My pendant needed a little something. So I soldered a copper bezel to my silver texture.

This is a riveting project so I needed 2 tube rivets to suspend my pendant from.
Tube rivets - what was I thinking? I am going to need a lot of practice at these things.
My first 2 attempts were a huge failure both split - why didn't I practice this first? Ok maybe I can drill these things out and try again.
Try again with a new piece of tube (sterling silver tube bead from local bead shop)
With my first attempt I heated the bead until it looked like it fused closed. This time I solder it properly. and try again. The first one split at the back. - Now I read my book. Perhaps I am hitting a little hard or fast. The next one works but the hole in the middle is a little oval in shape.?
No problem I even the shape out with one of the attachments for my drill. WooHoo works great.

Lttle green stone (was going to be carnelian but I opted for colour instead)

Sand Sand Sand

LOS - need to show off that texture.
Steel wool.
I was going to (might still) Weave/knit a chain for this pendant But I made this chain previously
and it seems to go quite well with the Pendant
So I make a few largish Jumprings with 1mm wire and attach it to my Pendant.

I try not to copy but this pendant looks so familiar that I am almost embarrased to post a pic incase my subconcious has recreated someone elses work of art. Here it is anyway.

Chisel art

OK I am no where near Valentin Yoktov but I had such fun with this.

Now what to do with it?

Bookmark?

I realize now (after posting this on a jewellery forum)

That it is not as obvious to everyone else as it is to me what this is actually meant to be so I googled some pics