Adventures in Sterling Silver

Since Spring of 2012 I've been taking metalsmithing classes, which has opened up a whole new world of expression for me. My first efforts have been rather modest - pieces in copper and brass and simple skills such as soldering, sawing, and more sawing. I don't have most of the equipment in my home studio; I use my school's studio for torch and other work, so it takes a little time to fabricate pieces for my shop. Here's a gallery of my pieces so far.

Antique chandelier crystal wire-wrapped to a handmade oxidized and brushed sterling silver component and handmade earwires.

Pyrite coin pill beads on handmade hammered ball head pin sterling silver earwires with a satin finish that contrasts the shiny beads. 

I purchased this lemon yellow Art Deco stylized heart-shaped glass cabochon and couldn't wait to make a bezel setting for it. Here's the result, on a novelty sterling chain.

I cut these leaf shapes from sterling silver sheet, filed the edges, punched with the smallest dapper and oxidized them. Then I brushed the raised bumps with fine sandpaper to clean them off and polished the edges for some contrast. I also made a pair in shiny copper and sterling, which I will post when I've finished them.

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These copper earrings were made in the same manner as the sterling earrings, and a sterling silver jump ring was soldered around the hole. I also made the earwires. I have never been much of a fan of copper, as it turns dark so quickly, but I lacquer the surface to keep it from tarnishing. 

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This organic pendant was made from sterling silver sheet, silver balls and a labradorite cabochon. 

Back view with texture and scratches added for interest. 

I love circles, and have been experimenting with wire of different gauges that I cut into jump rings, then soldered, hammered and textured. I completed a 36-inch sterling silver chain necklace using 14 gauge wire, that involved plenty of torch time, hammering and filing. I wore it for the first time this summer and while I still see places to file smooth, want to preserve a sense of primitive roughness.

Each ring is roughly an inch wide, but I varied the sizes here and there and hammered some into ovals for variation.

 The earrings began as wire, and was soldered, hammered and filed for a matte finish. I even made my own earwires for these, of heavier 19 gauge wire - comfortable and sturdy. These are quite long - 4.5 inches from top to bottom. I made another pair for myself and have been most gratified to receive compliments on them the first time I wore them. I don't have a long neck and am not tall, so you'd think that these would be too large for me, but they're very flattering.

Here's another pair: shaped hammered wire with freshwater pearls in mauve and peach. The texture of the shaped wire is matte, which I find more interesting than shiny silver.

I made this bracelet for a male friend for his birthday - 12 gauge sterling wire annealed and wrestled into an oval, then rubbed with a polishing pad for a matte look on the outside, shiny on the inside. The chain is a somewhat manly vintage brass novelty chain, oxidized and brushed, and closes with a lobster clasp. It could also work for a woman, and next time I think I'll make the oval a bit smaller.

 I made these lightweight rings, hammered, textured and oxidized them, and added dyed freshwater pearls.

This necklace has one of my round shaped rings at the center, holding together the various chains and drops. I used a textured sterling chain that I bought last year for myself, but I couldn't decide what to use it for and had a little too much of it, so I sacrificed it for this piece. 

I wire-wrapped (a ton of sterling silver wire!) some clear chandelier crystals and rutilated clear-quartz briolettes for some nice contrast to the oxidized silver. I like the industrial feel of this necklace and the texture...oh, the texture!

Matching earrings, for the matchy-matchy who walk among us. :)

I revised a bracelet that expired, using green rutilated quartz and a pillow cut green chalcedony bead, plus another textured ring and handmade hook and eye clasp, and oxidized and brushed all of the hardware.

This bracelet is a little late for the season - it's really more of a summer piece, or feels that way to me because of the turquoise, but I'd forgotten about the brilliant striped agate beads that I purchased at the Bead Show in 2010 and never used. I had some more rings left and added two textured ones for variety. The beads shown are some fun turquoise nuggets, striped agate ad one last labradorite beauty from a certain stash.

The first pieces I made...these copper earrings with a verdigris patina over stamped circles (natch)

Brass rings bracelet and clasp, which I may have gold plated to keep the shine.

                     First sterling piece - fine silver chain and hammered silver rings and clasp.
                                                                      I wear this daily. :)

New This Weekend

I have been busy making necklaces from the glass buttons I bought at the Bead Show last fall, and they are debuting at both shops. The designs and colors are amazing - so much is packed into one little button! All I'm doing is showcasing it!

I also added two simple scarab necklaces - I started out with these, but have made more ornate versions of late, and decided to add a few simpler ones at a better price point. The pink one has already sold, but there will be more available tomorrow.

FRONT PAGE!

It doesn't happen often...but I am on the Front Page of Etsy right now, and it's prime time on the West Coast! The keyword is "romantic", and I'm happy that one of my new locket necklaces was chosen.

Cobalt Blue Friday

This necklace featured in this truly gorgeous Treasury by the lovely fairyberry on Etsy - please check out her charming new shop. Cobalt is my favorite shade of blue, so I fell off my chair as soon as I saw this Treasury. The link will last until just after midnight on Monday morning, so click fast if you want to check out all of the pretties in her list.

Bloody Romance Treasury

I really love the look of this Treasury, titled, Bloody Romance, curated by Zwzzy on Etsy. I think it's so well-balanced and has something for everyone and am pleased as punch to have had my earrings been included. I would love to see it on the Front Page, as it's so totally worthy!

New This Weekend

Chalcedony and Rutilated Quartz for cooling summer jewelry...I found some pretty stones locally and was inspired to make these pieces. I gravitate toward green - there is tons of the color in my shops and I have to remind myself sometimes to add other colors!


I combined aqua amazonite, minty jade, crystal beads and chalcedony in this new necklace. It's 24 inches long and goes over the head easily.

I also have a bracelet that so simple in chalcedony and sterling silver.

This rutilated quartz has subtle needles throughout. I saw some clear and black rutilated quartz, but the stones weren't as polished as I'd have liked. Next time - I am entranced by that color combination, but this soft green bracelet is most Serene and Calming.

Made by Hand. By ME Treasury

Thanks to Tania Torres, I am in a collection of tea and coffee-inspired goodies from 1000 Markets sellers over at Made By Hand. By Me. Such a cute collection of pieces! I just love coffee, even though I have to limit my consumption for awhile.

Here's a link to the page, where you can click on the lovelies and leave a comment if you like what you see. At Tania's link, you can see where she sells her beautiful sterling silver jewelry!

Front Page Sunday

In the wee hours, just happened to be awake and online, checking into craftcult.com, and saw a sudden burst of shop hearts. Curious, I checked the Front Page on Etsy, and there I was in wonderfully witchy-looking assemblage chosen by administrators to s search term of "Black Lace." My recently re-listed Arsenic and Old Lace Necklace, made from vintage celluloid hat "feathers", was chosen. I had dinner the other night with a colleague and was wearing this piece, made from similar "feathers", which he recognized from an ancient trim store that we both frequent. He mentioned that he also had a small cache but had never figured out what to do with them, as they break easily if used on a hat, their original purpose. Well, now I am using them in jewelry, and they're stunning in all of their shiny spikiness.

More Shameless Self-Promotion

I am a member of Charming Market at 1000 Markets, and today we are featured at Chic and Green, a cool design and shopping blog!

1000 Markets is a new juried website with the novel idea of having sellers belong to different markets, in theory making it easier for buyers to find items they're into by searching through theme shops - Steampunk, Bridal, Jewelry, Country, Beach Style, etc. I belong to a few different markets there, and Charming is for people who love love love charms in their jewelry.

Re-Purposed Salvage and Glitter

I bought these beer caps on Etsy a long time ago and they've been sitting quietly in a drawer, waiting. No idea how to use them other than making magnets or some kind of altered art. Finally I had reason to raid my box of chandelier crystals, and spied the caps nearby. Why not combine them? There were some brightly colored beer caps that would be enhanced by bright crystals.

Punching holes in beer caps is a fine activity to engage in while watching TV, just so you know.

A few hours and many jump rings later, a piece of wearable ephemera was born. Perfect for that evening of karaoke, I think, and when you absolutely want to be the center of attention. One of a kind, definitely. Will debut in my Etsy shop any moment.