Embrace

I know it's been quite a while, but here it is!

The Embrace Ring with Mookaite

I have a few of these designs on the go at the moment.

The lovely wide bands making for the 'embrace' as mentioned above.

They are eating through my silver supplies, that's for sure!

But it's worth every ounce of silver, making these rings.

A challenge, too, without a swaging block or ring bending tool.

All done using pliers and a ring mandrel and a plastic mallet.

I did however find a really handy tool for holding these wide band rings in place when setting the stones.

More on that in my next post!

I can't wait to share this gadget with you,

my lovely readers

and talented silversmithing friends!

--- Mariann ---

xoxo

Workshop Wednesday

Following on from last week's Workshop Wednesday where I sawpierced, textured and soldered a lovely ring band with elements taken from my Hungarian Folk Art and Ruffled Series of rings.

I think I'll call this one an 'Embrace Ring',

so lovely it is to wear as it wraps around and embraces the wearer.

I soldered a high walled bezel for the mookaite stone, this allows for the curve of the ring band which I file into the bottom of the bezel using a half round bench file. The bezel is resting on the bench file, you can see the curve in the bezel taking shape.

The ring band is quite large, so the curve left on the bezel from the bench file does not match up with the ring band. To overcome this problem, and to make sure the bezel touches the ring band perfectly for the solder join, I taped some rough emery paper to my ring mandrel and moved the bezel from side to side until the curve in the bezel was perfectly matched to the curve of the ring band.

As you can see, my ring mandrel has Australian sizing, which uses letters instead of numbers.

The bezel is ready for soldering onto the ring band. The base of the bezel is touching the ring band perfectly, making for a good solder join.

I use steel binding wire to hold it in place.

I like to twist little kinks in the binding wire using pliers. Binding wire tends to move with heat, so this helps to keep it locked in place nice and tight during soldering.

 

Yellow Ochre gouache paint is applied to any previous solder joins. It stops solder from running during soldering. Here, I've applied it to the solder join on the ring band.

I've soldered the bezel onto the ring band, soldering from the inside of the bezel so the outside remains free from solder smears. Little silver buds have been carefully filed away so they sit flat and are ready for soldering onto the scalloped edges of the ring band for decoration.

 

I'm using the yellow ochre gouache paint again on the inside of the bezel so the solder doesn't run whilst soldering the little silver buds. It's best to keep the yellow ochre away from any areas where you do wish to solder, as the flux will be contaminated and the solder won't join the metal in the place where you need it most. The yellow ochre on the inside of the bezel should be enough to keep the bezel in place during soldering.

I hope you've enjoyed the progress!

I'll be back before the week is done to show you more.

What have you been working on feverishly this week?

--- Mariann ---

xoxo

Workshop Wednesday

Here's a peek at what I've been working on...

 

 I draw the design onto card to check how it will fit when made in silver and stone.

Saw-pierced from sterling silver sheet.

 Shaped and soldered, the cut-outs are 'ruffled' with texture.

My flower stamp is on the inside of the ring.

A little bit of planning is needed with this design.

I need to know what should be done before shaping and soldering and what can be done afterwards.

There's still the bezel for the stone to be completed and soldered,

along with six little silver buds

to help decorate the ring.

I hope to have it finished this week,

more photos to follow!

--- Mariann ---

xoxo

Giveaway Winner!

Ready...

Set...

And the winner is....

----{--{@   AmerissaG   @}--}----

Congratulations!

Please send me an email,

and your lovely Rustic Australian Mookaite Earrings will be shipped out to you as soon as possible!

mariannmonika [at] gmail [dot] com

Thank you so so much for all of your tweets,

follows and kind words.

I never could have imagined that my giveaway would be such a huge success!

And it's all thanks to you!

I'll be back in the swing of blogging.

Stay tuned for more jewelry designs

and this topsy-turvy little life of mine.

Hugs and kisses from across the oceans

and continents.

--- Mariann ---

xoxo

Mookaite Earrings

... the first of many!

I am excited to say that a series is born,
each one handcrafted from sterling silver wire and sheet,
filed,
soldered
and oxidized
for a rustic finish
and adorned with mookaite beads.





Mookaite originates from right here in Australia,
From the very heart of this Great Southern Land.
It is mined near Mooka Creek at a place called Gascoyne Junction,
about 600 miles north of Perth in Western Australia.

Australian Outback Mining,
owned and operated by Glenn Archer,
mines mookaite and many other gemstones,
minerals and fossils in Western Australia.
I am delighted to have found his website.

I am astounded and uplifted by the many
dazzling,
unique
and colourful stones that are mined right here in Australia.
Mookaite is so very reminiscent of the rich, red earth that envelops this sunburnt country.
It sticks in your pores
and doesn't let go of your heart,
it simmers beneath the midday sun
and keeps you warm as the sun sets and the stars sparkle in the midnight sky.

I adore mookaite.
It is the landscape of the Australian outback,
captured in a stone.

Happy Day!
xoxo
- Mariann -