Next Tuesday night (25th Sept) I will be starting a 25 week silver jewellery class! I found out about it last year a couple of months too late but this year miraculously remembered about it in time and enrolled a few weeks ago. It was quite expensive but covers all those lovely techniques I either can't teach myself/am too scared to try myself or just really need an expert to show how to do it properly.
I know it definitely covers etching (yay!), soldering, stone setting, enamelling and ring making. Some of it I will know how to do but a lot I won't so I'm really looking forward to getting started. Slightly nervous too but once I've got over the "which building is it/who are all these strange people/where's the toilet" stage I know I'll be fine :D
Finally got round to photographing a few pairs of earrings today - I was in one of those let's get organised and do the things that actually need doing and not spend all day experimenting with new design ideas moods, and the weather was perfect too.
The pair above are handcut flowers enamelled and wire wrapped to copper washers. I'm going to try the same idea with some soldered copper hoops (when I make them) for a more delicate version ......soon.......... :D
These are two copper discs rolled through my Bigshot with a Vintaj design (deco etch) folder then domed and pinned with sterling wire.
Sheet copper stamped with my favourite circle design then the earrings cut out and finished. I painted turquoise patina ink over the top and sanded back to reveal the design then oxidized and tumbled for just 15 minutes to it didn't take too much of the black off. Dark and a bit different.
You will love working with silver, I worked meanly in copper first, but then finally took the next step, i'm self taught, i have made a few mistakes along the way but it's part of the learning, oh i love the bottom earrings the patina is gorgeous,
ReplyDeleteLove your new flower earrings at the top - they are gorgeous! XTania
ReplyDeleteGorgeous pieces! Wow, your work is absolutely gorgeous:) Good luck with your new class, that sounds like so much fun. And thanks so much for the comment on my blog!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments!
ReplyDeleteReally good update here about jewellery.
ReplyDeleteIt’s always pleasant to see something created by your own hands. And as per being the first love of every woman, jewelry possesses a special place in every woman’s heart. You have certainly given me some more options to try in handmade jewelry. Thanks a lot for that…
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Thank you Joryel :D
ReplyDeleteYou will love working with silver, I worked meanly in copper first, but then finally took the next step, i'm self taught, i have made a few mistakes along the way but it's part of the learning, oh i love the bottom earrings the patina is gorgeous,
ReplyDeleteThese creations are all so beautiful! The upcoming class sounds so fun! Taking classes is so much better than trying to figure something out on your own. I would love to learn soldering and there are classes at the local art center. Finding time to do so is tricky though!
ReplyDeleteEarrings are lovely accessories that dress up your beautiful ears and show off your personality and fashion.Nice collection on earrings.I like your different earrings designs..
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Long earrings are totally out of fashion nowadays but small and round earrings are very popular. Your designs are also good.
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Ohh wow sounds great, and looking at the final project above, it was well worth it.
ReplyDeleteWas the course in Eastbourne?
It's really exciting to find somebody else interested in this as I live just outside Eastbourne.
Hugs
Kay
Toodles & Binks
I like the long ear rings its looks very nice, I want do the career in jewellery designing thanks for having such a good blog.
ReplyDeleteIt has been such a pleasure reading your blog from it's inception to lets see...now I am at sept 2012...what a joy to travel your journey as you have self taught yourself these techniques which have produced such creative and beautiful pieces. My own motivation is being tweaked again, so I must go to my empty room with bags and bags of materials and books that I have amassed over a 2 yr period, and get off my buttocks :). Thank you for your generosity in sharing.
ReplyDeleteOh yea I too am a circle fiend, where did you find your circle stamp?
Thanks Bridgette!
ReplyDeleteI love reading other people's blogs and how they have developed their jewellery designs so it's nice that someone enjoys reading mine!
I think I got the larger circle stamp from a ship on Artfire but they are widely available. The smaller circle stamps are actually nail punches which are handy as they come in different sizes.