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

Workshop Wednesday

I made some beautiful rings as part of

a new series a few weeks ago.

It's called the 'Ruffled Ring' series,

and here's how they were made...

Bezels and surrounding feature wires formed and soldered

Baseplate sawpierced from sterling silver sheet

Bezel and feature surround soldered. Ring bands formed and stamps cut out ready for soldering onto the base, along with the ring bands.

I use a flat head screwdriver for patterning the ruffled edges.

Ring bands and stamps soldered onto base. Ready for a dip in oxidizing solution to add dimension to the ruffled edges. I then set the stones into the bezels.

Below are the pretty rings from the 'Ruffled Rings' series:

Sterling silver and chrysoprase

Sterling silver and labradorite

Sterling silver and dendritic opal

Sterling silver and purple jadeite

Available from my Etsy shop here,

and my Madeit shop here.

The labradorite ruffled ring will be listed this evening.

I hope you enjoyed my Workshop Wednesday!

--- Mariann ---

xoxo

There she is...

... at her workbench,

making and creating

on a windswept Saturday night.

She

is

in

heaven.

xx M xx

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