Ring... update!

Silver smithing update guys! Here's the ring that I mentioned in my other post... finished!

Ok that's two rings! And also a bracelet. The top ring is the same one that I showed you in the other photos. All of these were made from vintage sterling silver spoons. 

I've been doing some research and coming up with the best way of incorporating the quartz chunks into rings but unfortunately I couldn't work on it this week due to a couple of birthdays coming up that I wanted to make things for. I'll be in the workshop a couple of times next week though so hopefully I'll be able to post photos of the finished piece by next weekend! 

Ring.

Silver spoons from Peru and quartz. 

Silver dust from sawing. 

Finished sawing!

Annealing.

Shaping and sizing the ring. 

On Wednesday I started making a silver ring in my jewellery class. I managed to snap a few photos while I got started. First I sawed the top and bottom off the spoon. I annealed the piece of silver and passed it through rollers a couple of times to flatten it and make it longer. When it was the right thickness I hammered it to straighten it, annealed it again and shaped it into a ring. Next I need to solder it together and then hammer it to the perfect shape/size. Apparently it's better to make it a size or two smaller as the silver stretches while you're hammering it into shape.   I also need to make the simple setting I designed for the quartz and then I'm done! Once I've got a supply of these stones I'll be selling these rings via etsy. 

Wonderhill Market

The lovely wife and I shared a table at Wonderhill Market last Saturday. It was a little quieter than we would've expected on the last weekend before Christmas but we had some amazing mulled apple from Borough market and met some lovely people. 


I also made a few pairs of earrings that will be making their way onto etsy sometime this week. 

Paper & Chain

The other day I decided to treat myself to the Vega ring from Paper & Chain. 
It arrived in the post yesterday and I couldn't be happier with it! I went for the thick silver option in a size small and it fits perfectly. I'm planning on getting another one to wear with it as it's the perfect size for stacking!

I've decided my next treat will be one of these beauties from Reid Peppard next. I'm thinking in black gold.  


If you know of any other small jewellery designers please post a link!

Etsy sale....

I'm having an epic sale over on etsy. All the jewellery is reduced to £5! I'm trying to have a massive clear out before launching my winter range so if you fancy treating yourself I think now is the time!

Sneak peek....

I've started shooting stock photographs for the winter collection. Here's a sneak peek....

Amethyst chunk necklace 

Labradorite & leather bracelet

Winter.

The wife is not allowed to be talking about winter already as she has only just launched her Autumn range of jewellery! I'm kidding of course - it's always good to plan things in advance. I've completely missed out on Autumn but I've been spending the last month or so thinking about my winter lines and looking at inspiration. 


I started with silver chain, black tourmaline and herkimer diamonds. I don't have much interest in colour at the moment and this led to me joking that my inspiration was nuclear winter. Then I had a light-bulb moment! Much googling later and after reading about impact winter and volcanic winter. I had a concept for my winter range of jewelley! Having these images in my head has really helped give me some direction. I'm no longer looking at supplies and wanting to buy everything! I have a very clear idea in my head of what I want.    


I'm still waiting for one or two things to be delivered but these are the stones I've been working with today...

White howlite slabs 

Raw amethyst 

Black tourmaline - Herkimer diamonds - Labradorite faceted rondelles

Hematite chevrons and circles

Grey agate - Purple aventurine

As you can see it's a lot of smoky colours and raw or faceted stones.

If all goes to plan I'll spend the rest of this week and next making. The next two weeks shooting a lookbook and stock photos and then get everything launched on etsy on October 1st! 

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Respice Finem.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/74464937/disco-ball-necklace

http://www.etsy.com/listing/75474134/danse-macabre-necklace

http://www.etsy.com/listing/74581962/pyrite-chunk-necklace

After photoshooting the other weekend with this lovely lady I have started giving the etsy store a bit of a overhaul. I've re-jigged the listings for the three necklaces above - I'm gonna be working on the rest AND adding some new items over the next couple of weeks. 

I've been so busy recently I just haven't had chance to do much craft wise so it's nice to ease myself back into it.

I'm also offering 15% off all items in store with the code SUMMER15. So feel free to treat yourself.

Labradorite.

I have a new necklace for sale over in the store.


I've been waiting for these supplies for a while so I was pleased to be able to take a bit of time this morning to sit down and put these necklaces together. 
The stones are large faceted chunks of labradorite - it's a Feldspar mineral which means it crystallised from magma! Each chunk is a beautiful stormy grey colour and when the light catches it there's a lovely blue and golden iridescent sheen.