2011 - week 9

Nothing photographed this week because nothing got finished. I had two short sessions at the bench though. The first was disastrous. The second I got a lot of little components for things started but nothing got finished. I was so happy to have a good session that I quit when I started to get tired and didn't try to force anything to come together. Maybe next time!

2011 - week 8

I had one of those days where nothing wanted to work. Finally, in a fit of frustration, I gave up all thoughts of finishing something good and just made this little (1/2" diameter) bead. Another day I will pickle it and polish it and maybe even embellish it. For now I'm calling it done.

2011 - week 7

Away on vacation in Mexico all week so nothing happened on the bench.

2011 - week 6

Experimental open backed bezel set coin pearl pendant. It has proven more difficult to set than I expected (and I expected difficulty) but I think the basic idea has promise.

2011 - week 5

Iolite, moonstone, and plain sterling rings. I intended the whole group to be a stacking ring set but didn't think about the clearance needed under the moonstone and set it too low into the band. It fits nicely on the adjacent finger though so all is not lost.

2011 - week 4

The Ring That Wouldn't Be


Sterling silver. Amethyst. Size 4.

This ring did not want to come together. I ended up having to remake almost every component in it, sometimes more than once. The kid is happy with it in the end though so I can't complain.

2011 - week 3

No photos this week. I did get some time at my bench but nothing came together.

2011 - week 2

Teeny tiny little ring for a kidlet. This is approximately a size 1-1/2. Isn't it cute?!

2011 - week 1

Square bead. Sterling silver. I had a hard time getting this dapped neatly because my tools aren't the right size for these pieces of metal. Next time I'm going to make a smaller bead to see if I can't do better.

Wicked cool!

I whipped this set up last weekend to go with my witch costume. I intended it to be single-wear so I just used cheap base metal components. In the end I liked it so much that I think I'm going to dismantle it and remake it with sterling. When I do that I'll retake the photos and hopefully get a better one.

Black druzy and lava, green and black seed beads, and assorted metal components.

Spinny spinner and more teeny tiny bling

This ring was harder to flare evenly than I expected. I think I just assumed that each side would flare neatly. Worked okay in the end though, and it fits me perfectly. I'm going to take full credit for that even though I started it so long ago that I honestly don't remember what size I intended it to be.



More teeny tiny stud earrings. The white one is the one I made previously and the butterfly is just in the photo for scale. It looks a little tarnished because it probably is - I've been wearing this little post almost daily since I finished it.

Bouncing back after a dry spell

I've been in a bit of a slump at my bench this summer. The rings I showed in the last couple of posts came together quite easily and then it seemed that everything I touched was a disaster. So I took a little break, did a little organization and planning, started prepping the walls of my workroom for painting, and then finished these. I worked on them on and off for ages - all through my disaster period - and I think I always expected them to end up as little molten blobs on my soldering block. In the end though everything just clicked and they came together nicely.

Deep red garnets. Lustrous freshwater pearl drops. Sterling.

I also made a single tiny stud earring. I had a terrible time photographing it and the photo below at least shows the scale. A 2mm CZ is tube set in sterling. I'm quite pleased with how it turned out and have several more colours in the works.

Stacking rings

Made these last weekend - a dainty stacking ring set with CZ and sterling silver. About a size 6.

Purple agate

I have not made much since my life was packed away in boxes last summer. This weekend I made a simple pair of fused earrings (not photographed, sorry) and this beauty. I made it for myself but unfortunately it turned out about half a size too big. I'm wearing it anyway.

YOJ weeks 24 and 25

Week 24
Simple carnelian ring. Bezel set oval stone on a slightly hammered wire band.


Week 25
It is a bit of a miracle that this piece turned out. It started as a casual "wonder if I can bezel set this pearl". Once I had the bezel in hand I was driven to add the wire border out of admiration for Deborah (Sneakbead)'s pieces using a similar technique. I figured out lots of things to do differently next time. Then, at the last minute, I realized the bezel wasn't high enough to hold the pearl. Luckily I was able to cut out the back of the pendant which reduced the height of the pearl enough that I could set it. I like this - there will be more.

YOJ weeks 22 and 23

I'm working on multiple pieces at once these days. More efficient but often means I don't finish a piece every week and then have several all at once.

Week 22
All sterling.


Week 23
Sterling, with a mystery stone faceted cab.

Interesting Educational Experience

This mostly rectangular felted vessel got the name Interesting Educational Experience during the felting process. I learned quite a few things that I shall try not to repeat in the future. Purple and brown handmade felt embellished with seed beads.

YOJ weeks 18 to 21 - more catchup

Week 18



This needs cleaning up but I was sloppy while making it because I honestly didn't expect it to turn out this well. Prong set CZ in sterling silver. I have not used prongs before.

Week 19

I cleverly dismantled my week 19 piece before I photographed it. I know that I did it which is good enough for my purposes.

Week 20



These pretty little half drilled pearls are one of three pairs I got recently. I've not worked with half drilled anything before. I wanted these to look clean so I soldered tiny posts onto tiny rings rather than doing any wire wrapping. I might have to keep these.

Week 21



I am so pleased with these! I used my new disc cutter to make the sterling discs, dapped them, soldered on earring posts, soldered on posts for the pearls, polished, tumbled, patinaed and polished again before gluing on the pearls.

YOJ weeks 15 to 17 - playing catch up

I've made a piece in each week but I got behind in the photography. Catching up with a number in one post seems neater to me.

Week 15 - Grenadine and keshi earrings



I like the way the orderly cube shape in the ceramic beads contrasts with the flowing form of the keshi pearls.

Week 16 - Fused fine silver earrings



This and the next pair are formed from fused and hammered fine silver links. I've made a number of variations on this recently.

Week 17 - More fused fine silver

YOJ wk 14 - Jess's wedding bracelet

I was asked to make this bracelet for a family friend's wedding. Freshwater pearls, sapphires, and sterling silver. I think it turned out perfectly but you can judge for yourself.

The following photos were sent to me by the bride. She wore no other jewellery.