February New Earrings

I recently cranked out some earrings this month, trying to break out of my super necklace-centric vibe. I will also try and do more bracelets, especially if I can get more 3rd studio time, AND rings. Though rings are really tough, because you kinda have to make a lot of it from scratch, (though I'm figuring out setting Tibetan skull beads in vintage settings....stay tuned).
The pair above features wire-wrapped quartz, brass leaves, and wire hoops on a latch back clasp.



Ok, so this pair is super special. The metal parts are by an important mid-century jewelry designer, Ed Weiner. Known for working in sterling silver, and influenced by the art world, he made super unique shapes. I added copper wire mounted quartz.




These were super simple, I just doctored them up with some cool chain fringe.




I really dig asymmetrical earrings, and these are cool because its only the shape of the hoops that make it so. Real peacock feathers and freshwater pearls give it drama.


New Necklaces coming soon.....

Hephaestus

So, I recently took an AMAZING class at 3Rd Ward. It was "Intro to Silversmithing" , where we learned the basics of working with sheet metal. We had four 3-hour sessions, where we learned how to saw, file, hammer, solder, bezel-set stones, and patina. We also had a studio card where we could use the jewelry studio outside of class 3 times. These photos are from my last studio session, where I made three cuff bracelets.


I started with a nice big 20 gauge sheet of copper, courtesy of my prior trip to Metalliferous.



Tracing shapes with a sharpie.....



...and sawing them out!



The Jewelers saw! The blade seems flimsy, but it can cut through METAL. I'm sure it could cut through your hand too, if you're not careful.



So, after you saw, you file. I used a bunch of different ones, this one was my favorite.






Now its time to get hammered.....


I wear noise-canceling headphones, cause dat shit is LOUD.



The hammer is a weird shape...thats how I got all those feathery lines on it. I hammered it around the curve of the anvil, to get that bracelet shape.



The bracelets are formed, now its time to patina.


The patina kit....I turned them black with hot water, and liver of sulphur...yeah...it smells bad...


You get the metal hot, under hot tap water, then you dip them in the jar of stinky sulphur water. When you pull them out, the air oxidizes the surface, making the piece black.


You gently brush the piece with a brass brush in water, and you get this awesome gunmetal color.

Then, I varnished them (outside) and let them dry....
My playlist included "Hejira" by Joni Mitchell, "California" by Mr Bungle, "Dark at the End of the Tunnel" by Oingo Boingo, "Lapland" by Craig Wedren, and "Get Your Goat" by Shudder to Think.

Hopefully I'll be able to save up the money to take more classes, and somehow get access to a studio. 3rd Ward is such an amazing place. My teacher, Max Goodman, was awesome, and the whole experience was really rewarding.