Joined: Fri Dec 15, 2006 10:46 am Posts: 250 Location: Santa Fe/Chicago
Hans,
Thank you so much for posting this tutorial. I'm a newbie at metalsmithing, and this was wonderful. The detail in your tips such as flame size are really helpful.
Best,
360
_________________ "Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid". - Goethe
Joined: Thu May 18, 2006 5:08 am Posts: 481 Location: Kuala Lumpur
Hey Carrie!
Not sure about the earrings - I guess just not my taste, but I love the necklaces, especially the 2nd and 3rd one. How long did it take you to make them? Do you sell your jewelry at shows or were these for someone in particular?
Im still working on my husband for the 3 month New Approach School course!!!
Joined: Tue Mar 14, 2006 11:08 am Posts: 832 Location: Nashville, TN
That's cool Lucy! My work is not everyone's cup o' tea! Those particular earrings were inspired by some Violet graphics on a little drinking glass from the 1940's, a violet in profile. Sorta whimsical.
For time, if I am remaking a previous design, construction and finishing can go pretty quickly depending on the complexity. I make metal patterns or templates of shapes and have sketches and photos to go by. Often though I am making something for the first time. So I sketch and play with the layout, sometimes solder things together and reject the result or make changes. Some very simple pieces can go from start to finish in an hour and half maybe. More involved pieces like that second pendant, I probably spent two afternoons on it (after the layout was actually decided). Construct my framework, petals and bezels one day. Polish, patina, and set stones the next day. There are usually several projects underway at the same time. There have been pieces in the past that I have spent many days and nights working on, with handmade chain and more complex construction. This current work is intentionally more spare.
These pieces are at a local jewelry gallery. (Hopefully some have sold already!)
I am planning to make some similarly inspired work in all gold. I feel critical of my own work more so now than ever before with my recent appraisal training and would like to bring my craftsmanship up to a higher level. Hopefully you will see my work evolve.
You shouldnt crituze yourself so hard , i think their great pieces , and the added hand made makes it sooo much better then mass produced pieces , dont get to good it takes away from the appeal
just remember perfection isnt always perfect
Joined: Thu May 18, 2006 5:08 am Posts: 481 Location: Kuala Lumpur
I think your work is pretty awsome already Carrie! Hopefully some of your pieces have sold already! money to put towards the next course right?? - If I ever make back the money I have spent so far it will be a miracle!
Do you say "cup o tea" in the US? I thought that was only a yorkshire thing!
Joined: Tue Mar 14, 2006 11:08 am Posts: 832 Location: Nashville, TN
I say cup o' tea, but maybe I am just odd.
Here are a couple of older pieces that involved more fabrication.
This one has a handmade, fused fine silver double loop in loop chain.
The body of this one is a hollow form. Not sure if I still have a photo of the back of this one but the back was quite decorative too with little vents sawn into the form. Sterling, 18K gold, mokume gane, Chrysoprase.
I love doing this type of fabrication and chain making. I just reserve that energy now for those special one of a kind pieces.
Joined: Wed Nov 23, 2005 12:47 pm Posts: 2505 Location: Eastern Europe
Oh! The second and the last pendants of the first batch... and of course, the silver flowers (I could imagine them in mokume gane in their entirety ). You have touched a week spot... Always loved the essential look of metals at least as much as any sophisticated stuff. My jewelry box can testify as much.
Last edited by valeria102 on Sat Nov 17, 2007 8:46 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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