Silver Gemstone Necklace

I saw these origami gemstones on http://www.minieco.co.uk/paper-gems/ which inspired me to make this necklace

Hollow constructed Sterling silver and sterling silver plated with custom paperclip hinge.

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I constructed these silver gemstones out of sheet metal, hollow and light to wear. Then scored them, folded them and soldered the seems together pretty much using the same idea as when you work with paper - just a little harder.

My class just finished and I already sold one of my pieces (not pictured) It was a smaller and single silver gemstone in a necklace. Pretty exciting :-)  Happy 4th of July \!!/

My First Casting

Final finish of the earrings - Sand blasted Sterling Silver cast and freshwater pearls

Wax model

Plaster mold with liquid metal

Raw Casting with stem and spruces.

Irregular Sterling Silver Pentagon Rings

This week we've been learning different methods of setting stones, how to texture metal and create different patinas. I made these rings from sterling silver sheet metal. One of them is polished on the outside and brushed on the inside. The other one is made by reticulation, which means to heat up the metal with a torch so hot that it almost melts but only starts wrinkling or distorting. Tomorrow I'll be going to a gemstone show in KC. I'm really excited to start adding stones to the metal.

Jewelry Class

I started my jewelry class this week. Things were kind of slow in the beginning getting to know all the tools and techniques, but I finally made something; A ring and a bracelet out of Sterling silver wire. Brushed on the sides and polished on the outside and inside. I also got to stamp it Sterling. Pretty simple for now, but I'm working on it;-)