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Handforged Sterling Hoops with Secure Clasp
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I have been primarily self-taught in my skills as a jewelry maker. And while I have gained much experience and developed my own successful ways of 'doing things', I've really wanted to grow, improve and refine many of my techniques -- and maybe uncover and remedy some 'bad habits' at the same time. My last class at Hui was perfect for just that! Creating these simple sterling hoops refined my shaping and hammering skills and developed a new technique for creating a secure clasp to better hold the earring closed. I also practiced using different tools for filing and polishing.
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| Stacking Bangles in Sterling, Copper and Brass |
Stacking bangle bracelets provided new opportunities in soldering - experimenting with brass and copper solder, firing temperatures, sanding, hammering and shaping were all part of the process and were valuable experience. Plus, I have three pretty mixed metal bangles to wear!
One of my favorite things to make is stacking rings - so cute and so fun to wear in a bunch! I learned a great deal more about ring sizing, making a set of 'templates' for each ring and bangle size and some fabulous production techniques. It was a great class!
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| Sterling Stacking Rings |
Leaving the studio yesterday, I felt kinda sad. I've met some really talented and wonderful people there in the last couple of months and will miss them and the comraderie of our groups. I can't wait to return and sign up for more!
PS. I also finished my larimar ring which I'll post later this week :)
is Larimar! I was introduced to this beauty just this year when talking to a friend who had visited the Dominican Republic. She had purchased a pair of handmade earrings made with larimar beads while on vacation. The aqua color is amazing!
Bougainvillea is one of my new favorite tropical flowers! Their profuse blooms and wonderful colors are irresistible, especially in my all-time-favorite color combination -- pink and orange! We have several colors in our yard including bright purple and white, all of which have required severe pruning in recent weeks. Watch out for the thorns -- I think they evolved to fight off dinosaurs! These have bloomed along new growth and out came my camera this morning -- they are gorgeous in the soft light. Enjoy!
At class today, I chose to work on my second ring and see if I could set this gorgeous larimar stone that I had for my first one. It is much smaller than the lapis and I felt up to the challenge :) It worked out really well -- all my solder flowed the first time (YAY!!!). I had time to saw and file the baseplate, leaving just a tiny lip around the bezel. 
Using this easy dental floss trick, I can see the stone fits. At Open Studio, I'll set the stone and finish sanding and polishing. The ring band was made at my first class so that was good to go, but I have to say, I created the setting in about half the time of the first -- that's good :)
This is the Jewelry and Pottery Studio at Hui -- a charming building with lots of windows, fresh air and gorgeous ocean views! It was a great day!
...I was SO excited to go to class this week to finish my ring and set the stone. The finishing included several rounds of sanding and polishing both the interior of the band, the setting and the rest of the ring. Next, I gave it three baths in liver of sulfur to add patina. A good scrubbing with water, a bit of dishsoap and a brass brush brought out some pretty highlights.
After securing it in my ring clamp and gathering my bezel rocker and burnisher, I was ready to set the stone :). I worked around the stone in several stages, slowly bringing the surrounding silver closer and closer until the stone was snug and then I burnished the edge of the setting to smooth it out. A bit more sanding and polishing were required as I made a few little scratched in the silver and unfortunately, that also removed some of my patina on the setting itself. I'll know better next time! 
Even so, I like how it all turned out! Here is the finished ring which I am happily wearing today! I can't wait to make another :) Stay tuned for some new silver earrings I plan to make at Open Studio this week...