Post Earrings Trial

by Patti Vanderbloemen

I am not sure if I have mentioned it here on my personal blog, but I did mention in a post on the Love My Art Jewelry blog spot that I don't have the opportunity to take jewelry classes. So, I peruse way-too-many You Tube videos, and I purchase online videos here and there, usually through Craftsy (link here).  I almost always purchase these videos when they are on sale - usually half price, and I think they are a good deal.  One can access the video ANYTIME - there is no expiration - and if you are like me, you can replay a "scene" often.  Many times, I have purchased a class and do not even view it until I am at a loss for inspiration, which was the case here!  

The class Fabricating Dimensional Metal Jewelry, with instructor Lisa Colby (link here), focuses on fold forming, hammering, and basically, shaping sheet metal into wearable art.  I haven't finished viewing the class yet, but, I was intrigued with one of the projects - a post-style hoop earring.  

This is truly a classic style - and not difficult to make.  The tools required include a wood dapping block and the round side of any chasing hammer (like this one). The website's class materials includes a template for cutting out the basic hoop shape from sheet metal. The basic earring design does not add a lot texture - just a slight hammered textured finish.   Really pretty, but I wanted to try to texture my metal first.

Although the video did not address this, I already knew that if I first textured the sheet metal, and then attempted to create the hoops shape with a metal chasing hammer, my initial texture would become distorted by the chasing hammer. So, first I textured my metal, annealed it, and then I used this nylon hammer to create the hoop shape (link here)

Another note before I show you lots of pictures - the class includes a down-loadable materials list, along with a template to create the basic shapes.  I actually thought these earrings were a tad on the large side, so I reduced the template by 15%.  It was a little bit more difficult to get my hammer in side the smaller metal shape within the the dapping cup, above, but I persisted!

By using the nylon hammer to manipulate the metal in the wood dapping block, the texture stayed true.

My favorite pair - brass - antiqued just a bit.

I know that these appear to be on the large side - but the longest pair is only 1 3/8" long...and they are post earrings!  I am wearing a pair as I type this, and they are extremely lightweight.

The hardest part is soldering the teeny tiny earring post to the end of the earring.  I actually want to test-fit these for a bit before even considering offering them for sale.  I would just die if that post fell off! :)

Onward.

In my last post, I shared a picture of some gorgeous focal beads by Sarah Moran of Zbeads.  I have an idea to create a sort of fringe, with chain, but could not find a cone in my stash that worked well with the bead.  So, I made my first cone!

I envision a mixed metal-type necklace, so I made the cone from copper that I textured with a hammer, and then I soldered on a teeny tiny sterling silver bead made from my shot plate. 

I am still in the thinking stage here, but the fringe of chain will hang from inside the cone...at least, I think it will! Stay tuned! :)

It was a very busy week here, personally, so not much else was accomplished.  Monday through Wednesday will be much the same - two days will involve more visits (yes - plural) to my dentist....again.  Sigh.  Hopefully, by my next posting, I will have taken this design just a bit further!

Thanks so much for stopping by today - hoping you have a wonderful week!

xo

Patti