On the Bench

These are just a couple of recent commissions of custom jewelry that I really liked.



Elk tooth earrings view 1
 

Elk tooth earrings view 2

 

This snowflake obsidian bracelet combined with filigree was particularly pretty, I thought.

Snowflake obsidian bracelet front view

 

Snowflake obsidian bracelet side view
 

Snowflake obsidian bracelet reverse view

 



 



How to Clean Really Dirty Greasy Grimy Hands

Jewelry makers have awful looking fingers. We take off skin with deburring wheels, have scars from where the gravers slipped, cracked fingertips from water, fingernails (what fingernails?) that have been smashed, cut, rippled, etc. I have to laugh when someone says they make jewelry and they have these soft hands with perfectly manicured nails.

However, the bane all metalsmiths have is polishing compound!

Polishing compound is in a grease base. There are usually at least 3 different compounds used per piece--bobbing, tripoli and rouge. Each compound has to be washed off before going to the next compound, to avoid cross-contamination. Sometimes we have to show up with presentable hands.

I've tried just about everything, and the result was cleaner. Clean happened after doing dishes, taking a shower and washing my hair. But one day I ran across my old Masters soap, and it was an "Aha!" moment.

Here's the best proof:



Before--just one compound for one pair of earrings

 

After--squeaky clean!

 

The Recipe:

1 bar The Master's soap, available online or from art supply store

1 soft nylong bristle brush (surgical scrub), available from Lee Valley Tools

Warm water

 

Just to forewarn you, the Master's soap is black colored, but has lots of emollients in it to keep your hands from getting dried out.

If you liked this tip and want to see other tricks of the trade, find the postings labeled "For the Metalheads!"

On the Bench



I like to show people what I'm working on occasionally, so I'll show what's on my bench in the process of being worked on.

This one is getting close to getting set. It has a large titanium coated drusy with checkerboard garnets. It'll be done as a bead enhancer, which means you can take it off beads to wear as a pendant on a chain. This one will be set on a garnet bead strand.

Titanium drusy crystal with checkerboard cut garnets being fitted for a bead enhancer pendant

 OK, I work on a bunch of things consecutively, so it doesn't seem like I'm doing anything, then all of a sudden there's a bunch of pieces done. These really pretty pieces have complex executions, so it takes awhile to complete them. This one will have a Storybook on how I made it too.

This particular piece began as just sheet. I hand etched the Celtic pattern into it, cut it out, made the hinges, did the hinge pin catch assembly and set it with amethysts on both the top and the bottom of the catch assembly.

Everybody who got a sneak peak preview at the opening of the jewelry show was fascinated with the catch. (Thank you Jean Stark for teaching me that catch--elegant.) They were pulling the catch pin up, unfastening, putting it on, fastening the thing. Repeat. All the extra tight hinge allowances have now loosened to their proper tension.

Celtic key pattern hinged panel bracelet with amethysts

 

I'll show better pictures of it when I do more photo shoots.

Ta-Daaah! New Studio!

Woo-hoo! I'm so excited about my new studio! My awesome husband is still putting the finishing touches on it, but I couldn't wait any longer to move in.

I'm in love with it. It's bright, cheery, has a view, enough space for me to more around in, and warm in the winter. So, check it out.

New studio view 1

On the left is my big heavy work table that has all my big equipment on it: scroll saw, bench polisher, hydraulic press, shear and brake, and a vise. The thing under the towel is my rolling mill. My work bench is next to the windows, and between the work bench and the work table is my map chest that holds my stones, findings and small hand tools.

 





New studio view 2

And, over to the left further, you see my big storage rack that holds a lot of my reference materials, some of my equipment, display cases, and various solutions and chemicals.

 

 



New studio view 3

Now notice my rolling carts. Is that cool, or what? If I have to have something closer to the bench, or somewhere else in the studio, I just roll it over. Also, dust bunnies and skittering stones can't hide out under them anymore.

 

Oh, and I went a little crazy with the label maker, because everything was reorganized, so I put labels on everything in hope I'd be able to figure out where I put something.

 

Expecting some good stuff to come out of here soon!



Wind Generator and Eagle Co-Exist

There has been controversy about wind generators killing raptors (birds that hunt), but I think the bunnies are in more jeopardy than the eagle in this case!



Golden eagle on our wind generator

Sayonara WordPress!

People kept telling me I had to do my blog on WordPress, so I migrated it over there. Now for months, I've been trying to post things onto it. Mostly it won't let me sign in, or else once I do get in and halfway through the upload, it crashes.

So I'm back to Blogger and happy to be here!

New posts about new things will be up soon!

That Rockin' Stone!

The stone in my ring rocks a little bit when I press on it. Do I need to worry about it?
Oh yes! You definitely need to worry about it, because you’re about to lose your stone!

Take off your ring immediately and get it to a jeweler. It could have received a hard knock and the prongs were moved a bit. This is a very easy repair for your jeweler, taking only a few minutes and is very inexpensive.

More probably, it only needs the prong(s) retipped. This is where a bit of material is added to the top of the prongs. It’s moderately inexpensive and will save your much costlier stone.

Occasionally, the stone will need to be removed to do this, and a new seat for the stone will be cut. This is more expensive, but you have to take into consideration the loss of the stone otherwise, not to mention the sentimental value.

Things that are worn on an everyday basis, such as a wedding ring, need to be checked at least once a year for loose prongs or settings, and to get a good cleaning.

If you wear your string of pearls several times a week, it will need to be restrung every year. If you wear them only occasionally, they need to be restrung every 2-3 years.

Would you rather wear that special piece of jewelry or prefer to have it sit in a jewelry box?

Do you have a question about jewelry or jewelry care? Drop me a line!