Anniversary Ring

It took me considerably too long to complete a 15th anniversary ring for my wife, partly do to procastination and partly do to getting the nerve up to actually make it and not make a mistake. The ring is forged from a heavy piece of sterling silver wire and then twisted and formed into the shape. I did many drawings to get the design right and then to match the forged detail took some time. The saphires are bezel set into hand made cups that were soldered to the formed ring. I completed the ring and was happy with the results and was able to give it to my beautiful wife, just a few months late (11), but beat being a year late:) She likes it and that is the most important part.

 

Etsy Treasury "Magic of Moonstone"

Wonderful jewelry created with moonstone.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTExMDU3NTF8MjEyODEzMjQ3Nw/magic-of-moonstone

Etsy Treasury "Snowman"

A wonder collection of snowman inspired arts and crafts for the holiday season.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTExMDU3NTF8MTU2MDc3ODY1NA/snowman

Etsy Treasury "Warm"

Collection of items to warm the body and soul.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTExMDU3NTF8MTUzODYyNzE5Ng/warm

Etsy Treasury "Let it Snow!"

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTEyODcyMTR8MTIxODU3NzQ1Mg/let-it-snow

Piece Featured in Etsy Treasury "Bling Bling: Let the Weekend Begin!"

I got a piece featured in treasury on Etsy "Bling Bling: Let the Weekend Begin!"

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/NzQzOTAwM3wxMTUxNzgwODc5/bling-bling-let-the-weekend-begin

Thank you Victoria Tillotson, and check out the bling, its a beautiful collection with many talented artist.

Etsy Treasury "Cattails At The Pond's Edge"

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTExMDU3NTF8MTA0MTk1Nzc4Nw/cattails-at-the-ponds-edge

Formed Patina Copper Leaf Pendant With Hook and Eye Clasp

http://www.etsy.com/listing/84546963/formed-patina-copper-leaf-pendant-with

The veins of the leaf were stamped into flat copper sheet. The sheet was then folded and cut out into a leaf shape. I then hand formed the edges to give the leaf character and drilled a hole to attach the pendant bail. I formed the bail from copper wire. The end hook and eye are made from copper tube and hand forged copper wire. The copper pieces were then covered in a salt solution and placed a sealed container with a little ammonia for three days. The dark patina with blue hi-lights is the result. All the copper was gently scrubbed with an old toothbrush and soap and water. The patina is sealed with three coats of Polycrylic. A slim leather cord completes the piece, with the ends glued into the tube ends. The pendant hangs about 1.625” long on an 18” cord, and is about 1.125” wide.        

Etsy Treasury, The Color Purple

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTEyODcyMTR8OTQzNzE3NzA5/the-color-purple

New Formed Copper With Sterling Silver Band Earrings

Latest addition to my Etsy shop.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/82997395/formed-copper-with-sterling-silver-band

New Etsy Treasury "The Leaves Are Falling"

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTExMDU3NTF8NzczMzY5Mzcy/the-leaves-are-falling?ref=pr_treasury

Stackers, Stackers, and More Stackers Etsy Treasury

I created a treasury on Etsy of stacker rings.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTExMDU3NTF8NjA0MDgwNDgy/stackers-stackers-and-more-stackers

Modifying A Ball Pene Hammer To A Raising Hammer

I modified an old ball peen hammer.

To make the hammer, I marked guide lines on the sides with a sharpie, then ground down the top and bottom to the lines using a 6" bench grinder with 60 grit wheel.  I dipped the steel into a bowl of water often to keep the steel from getting hot and destroying the temper of the steel.  Once it was roughed out I used a finer grinding wheel to smooth the surfaces and refine the shape.  I then used a file to blend and final shape the head.  I used an orbital sander and sanded the piece to a uniform finish using 60 grit paper.  I then hand sanded with 100, 150, 220, 320, 400 sand papers to get the head nice and smooth.  I then polished to finish the hammer.

Jim

Etsy Treasury

Robin created a treasury today "Inspired by Nature".

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTEyODcyMTR8Mzk3NzkyMTk5/inspired-by-nature?ref=pr_treasury

Sterling Silver Larimar earrings

I found some cute little Larimar stones on etsy, but they were cut as a square. I was a little aprehensive about purchasing these because I had never set a square cabachon. After looking at them for several days I decided to go for it. 

After a little trial and error, here are some of the things that I found helpful when setting a square cabachon. The first was to put the seam in one of the corners. This helps to have a cleaner line, and is just a whole lot easier to set. The second thing I discovered is that you need to file down the bezel at each corner of the stone. To do this I dry fitted the stone and then marked each corner with a sharpie line. Then filed to the marked lines. I would recommend doing a second dry fit before a final setting.

Finished Earrings

These earrings are available in my etsy shop.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/75848365/sterling-silver-and-larimar-earrings

Thanks for visiting..........Robin

Forged Organic Copper and Brass Earrings

These earrings are hand fabricated from brass rod forged into a tapered, annieled, formed and woven through the hand formed copper sheet. The brass is then soldered to the sheet. The earwires feature matching forged brass with sterling silver wire wrapped and soldered, then formed and lightly hammered to retain their shape. The copper has a liver of sulfur patina applied and lightly sanded to show the high points. An application of microcrystalline wax helps protect the finish. They hang about 2.25” long and about .75” wide.

The earrings are listed on etsy. http://www.etsy.com/listing/75732285/forged-organic-copper-and-brass-earrings

New Earring Designs

Two new pieces I finished last night.

Brass, Sterling Silver

Copper, Brass, Sterling Silver

Jim

Late Mother's Day

I finished these simple earrings as a late Mother's Day gift for my Mom.  The design goes with the jasper necklace I made for her birthday earlier this year.

Copper, Sterling Silver, Red Creek Jasper

Jim

New Earring Designs

I have created five new earrings.  I tried the 3 dots with a tail using rivets instead of soldering on the three dots for a new variation on my design.

J110515, Copper, Sterling Silver

J110510, Copper, Fine Silver, Sterling Silver

J110512, Copper, Sterling Siver, Fine Silver, Garnet

J110513, Copper, Brass, Sterling Silver

J110514, Sterling Silver, Copper

Jim

Friday the 13th

I created a treasury on etsy to celebrate the day.
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4dcdde96968e6d91ae811cbc/friday-the-13th