Making Silver Circles
Posted by Leah on Aug 24, 2008
A lot of the jewelry designs I have in mind include silver circles - so I made a whole bunch in various sizes. The process I used is very similar to how band rings are made from wire. I start by cutting wire to the length I need, and filing the ends til they are smooth. Then I form the wire into a kind of oval with the ends touching each other.
Silver Rings - Before Fusing
If I was using regular sterling silver, my next step would be to solder the rings - but I prefer fusing to soldering, so I used Argentium sterling silver. I line the rings up on my firebrick and fuse them closed with a propane torch. I like this method because it is less toxic than soldering - no flux, no pickle, only the propane gas and the metal itself. Also, there is less clean-up involved. My rings look pretty good right after fusing, and just need to be reshaped into circles.
Rings - After Fusing
I reshape them using a ring mandrel and a mallet, one at a time, then polish them a bit, and they are ready to be used in my jewelry designs (or worn as rings - many of them are big enough to fit an average woman’s ring finger, though normally I’d use thicker wire for a finger ring). Some will be textured, others left smooth, and they’ll become parts of earrings and necklaces.
ZNE Gallery Show
Posted by Leah on Aug 22, 2008
Four of my resin necklaces are at Worthington Gallery West for the ZNE Convenzione Gallery Show, opening today (running through September). If you happen to be in Pleasanton, California stop by (739 J Main Street) - there are SO MANY talented mixed media artists represented in this show, you’re sure to see something that you love.
Pendants for ZNE Gallery Show
More Treasury Love
Posted by Leah on Aug 19, 2008
Thank you to Marisa of Elegant Snobbery and Tootsie and Grace for including one of my bracelets in her beautiful fall inspired treasury!
Here’s a screenshot:
Fall Colors Treasury
Ocean Bracelet
Posted by Leah on Aug 18, 2008
The colors in this bracelet are very watery, and since I live near the coast, I named it after the ocean.
Ocean Bracelet
Available in my etsy shop.
Rusted Olives
Posted by Leah on Aug 17, 2008
Isn’t that a great title for a treasury? Thanks to winklepots for including one of my resin pendants in her gorgeous rusted olives treasury! Here’s a partial screenshot:
rusted olive treasury
Autumn Leaves Bracelet
Posted by Leah on Aug 15, 2008
The color combo in this bracelet reminds me of fall - when the leaves are changing from green to reds, oranges, yellows, and browns.
Autumn Leaves Bracelet
It is available for purchase in my etsy shop.
Copper Color Series - Yellow and Purple
Posted by Leah on Aug 12, 2008
The fourth and final pendant from my copper color series, in yellow with deep purple accents:
Copper Color Series Pendant - Yellow and Purple
Previous posts in this series:
Pink and Blue
Red and Yellow Pendant
Green two-tone pendant
Copper Color Series - Pink and Blue
Posted by Leah on Aug 10, 2008
The third pendant in the copper color series, in a magenta/pink with blue accents:
Copper Color Series - Pink and Blue
Previous posts in this series:
Red and Yellow Pendant
Green two-tone pendant
Copper Color Series - Green
Posted by Leah on Aug 8, 2008
The next pendant in my copper color series, green two-color beads on copper:
Copper Color Series Pendant - Green
Previous post in this series: Red & Yellow Pendant
Copper Color Series
Posted by Leah on Aug 6, 2008
I made this series of pendants a while ago as a color exercise and recently found them while sorting old stock, and decided to show them off here. I’m not sure where to try selling these, or even if I want to sell them, but I like them. They are made with copper wire and glass seed beads in contrasting colors.
Here is the first one, red with yellow accents:
Copper Series Pendant: Red and Yellow
