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.

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.

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 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.

YOJ wk 4 - The Blues earrings

Perfect pearls, iolite brios, sapphires, and sterling silver.

Ruby Slippers revisited

I was unhappy with the colour in the photos I posted previously so I redid them. These are much better.

Ruby Slippers

More Wizard of Oz earrings - each with three ruby brios and a single faceted ruby rondelle dangling from sterling chain beneath a slightly peachy pearl.