My Offering

I've made a decision.

I'll open my heart

to you.

When I sit at my workbench, you will be with me.

We will sit side by side,

and laugh,

and smile,

whilst wires, stones and sheets of silver dance along the benchtop

and come to rest on our fingers, in our ears and near our hearts on a necklace.

This will be my offering,

my contribution to my fellow jewellers,

and the lovely friends I meet along the way.

Seeing the process,

and the result.

It's as though the jewellery making process is a sacred, guarded secret. But I want to share it with the world, a world that is so full of mechanically made, identical, quick-fix jewellery and components.

They have no meaning,

no feeling,

no story

and no strength.

My aim is to let you see the handmade process,

and for you to share in the journey of each and every piece.

Care to join me?

Let's start with this pretty ring...

...it follows on from the picture in my previous post.

The components, the bezel and the ring shank were soldered.

The stone is now ready to be set in the ring

I created a bezel pusher from a nail head when I studied at NMIT.

It has been my trusty setting tool ever since.

The bezel pusher is pressed against the bezel at opposing sides of the stone until the bezel is nice and snug against the stone and the stone does not move within the setting.

A ring clamp holds the ring secure during setting.

A burnisher helps to smooth out the marks left from the bezel pusher.

I made this burnisher from the pointy end of a nail.

A quick sanding with fine emery paper helps to smooth out the bezel.

I use Jax Oxidizing solution to give the ring an antique finish.

Several coats are needed for a deep, black finish.

A quick rub with scotch brite helps to highlight the layers on the ring.

I like to use fine pumice powder and fine steel wool to soften the metal after the scotch brite.

The result is a lovely satin sheen on the silver.

Floret ring in sterling silver and chrysoprase.

This evening I will be adding more patina to this ring to really give it some serious definition.

It will then be photographed and listed for purchase tomorrow.

..all my love..

- Mariann -

 xoxo

Neglected

Working full time means my creative urges are sometimes left unfulfilled.

This pains me to my very core.

I cannot begin to tell you how much of my waking hours are spent thinking about jewellery,
thinking of jewellery designs,
thinking of jewellery tools that I must acquire to make the most fabulous pieces...

My head is left muddled..
..did I finish that ring tonight?
..I remember having made it. Or was it just another daydream that got mixed up with my
reality of all the jewellery thoughts swirling around in my cluttered mind?

My workshop sits quiet and still in the frozen air of the evenings of late.

I promise to thaw it out.

I'll show you...

...but you must be patient...

xoxo 

-Mariann-