Hammer Textured Earrings- how to make...

Here's a picture of some simple textured earrings. These can be made from wire or sheet, in silver, gold, copper, brass etc.  Several people have asked me how I make this type of earring and what processes go into making handmade jewelry - so I will try to show you here.  Bear with me as I figure this whole blog thing out and get some step by step directions posted. 

Simplify

I took this picture outside my studio and it made me want to create something from the really warm pinks and deep leafy greens. Maybe a tourmaline or rhodochrisite pink stone and a small emerald. Any ideas for me?
Summer is over- what happened to it? Schools back on and on the news today they said that a big giant store- that begins with a W- we don't want to mention names..... said sales for back to school are really down. Of course this translated to a 186 point drop on the stock market. Fall is crawling in sales wise. I hear shopping at Goodwill is getting really popular with the kids- never mind the e-bayers etc.
I'm all for recycling and re purposing- so Goodwill is perfect for that.
I'm working on a line of really inexpensive items (in the $5.00 to $20.00 range) that combine good looks with value. Just because we spend less doesn't mean we have to give up quality - we can be minimalists, we can repurpose, we can make things ouselves....simplify...

Excess Inventory- Cabachons

I've got more cabs than I can use in years and some are not up to the quality I want to use in my pieces- sooooo- I put some up for sale, in lots, on the main site, and will be adding more soon. many would be great for crafting, wire wrapping, rock collections etc.

I'll be adding all sorts of findings too- some that I make and some like you've never seen before- really interesting ones....

Studio Pictures

I've finally started to post some pictures on my studio site. I plan to have pictures of the equipment in the work areas as well as work in process. I have set up metals and gemstone pages to provide information and resources for making jewelry. There are so many beaders and jewelry makers that I know that are interested in taking the next step into silversmithing or metals working. I'm hoping that my site will help them towards those goals....

Pendant Picture

Here's some of the more "masculine" pendants I made today. These were a learning experience and gave me some practice with making my own rivets. I chose rivets because they are a very secure way to add the bails and decorative elements.
The one on the bottom has honey comb shaped stainless steel riveted to the brass. The rivets are all copper.
Let me know what you think!

Pendants and sulfer!

Made some pendants today! I'll take some pictures and post them here later. Pictures are always a chore for me! I love to make the jewelry but I have to do the rest too.
I also got out the liver of sulfer and experimented with torched on patinas. I managed to get some really nice finishes. I'll need to order some Renaissance wax - it puts a wonderful protective coating on your jewelry - someone told me they use it in museums!
Experimented with brass, stainless steel and copper rivets - I did have fun with that and have the rivet making down now! Thanks to Dan for the chasing tools he's lending me- one of them flares rivets really nicely! Back soon with Pics!

Mens Jewelry

Today I'm working on some masculine designs. I plan to use some brass and copper to begin with and possibly fold form or hammer some interesting pendant shapes. Most modern jewelry out there right now has a blackened patina. Blackening is done by finishing the piece completely- including the polishing and tumbling but then dipping or brushing on a solution (usually Liver of Sulfer) that will turn the item black. Then going back and polishing off some of it - usually in the raised areas. End result is a more defined aged looking piece. In ceramics a similar process using a dark thinned paint is washed over and then selectively removed to make an antiqued finish.