All New....All Sterling!

by Patti Vanderbloemen

As I type this post on Wednesday evening, I realize it has been a bit more productive week than I had originally thought. I have not been venturing to my studio as much as I would like these days - still a bit under the weather.  But, when I finally make it down there, I realize that it's quality not quantity (at least..that's what I keep telling myself)!

First up is this nifty little ring I made.  I wanted to make at least one more bezel in a cone shape while it was still fresh in my memory from making the sterling silver cuff with a similar focal, back in December.

The ring features a faceted, 10mm Cubic Zirconia - great flash in that stone!  It's really a simple ring - but that focal truly makes it a statement ring...at least for me! I soldered on a little concho embellishment at a slight angle on the bottom of the ring.

I hate taking pictures when my own hands have to serve as the model! Macro shots of my skin just make me cringe! :)

The next two pieces were inspired by a technique that Carol Dekle-Foss wrote about on the Love My Art Jewelry Blog - you can read that post here.  Carol is an amazing artist with a repertoire that encompasses metalsmithing, ceramics and porcelain, metal clay - her sand blasted pendants are drool-worthy! (You can see more of Carol's beautiful designs here).  Anyway, her post, which includes a brief video, demonstrated reticulation silver techniques AND Reticulation Silver onto Copper. During the process of melting sterling silver scraps onto the copper, the silver fuses to the copper and produces the most amazing textures!

I started by cutting out two little ovals from copper sheet.  The end result was so tactile - I did not want to punch a hole in the tabs and ruin all that perfect texture.  So, I soldered tiny little jump rings to the back of the tabs, to serve as little bails.  

I recently acquired some amazing Sparkling Rocks lampwork beads from GlassBeadArt, and I think they complement those silver tabs quite well - understated sparkle!

  

Then, I took a scrap of silver about 2" square, plopped on some silver scrap, and went to melting.  After LOTS of polishing (this technique creates a lot of oxidation which has to be buffed away before you see the beauty of the texture), I saw a free form heart shape! So...without even using a sharpie to outline my shape (EGADS!), I went at it with my jeweler's saw.

I still cannot get over all this texture!

Last, but not least, I got out some of my recently purchase handmade stamps, and made a sterling silver cuff.

It's funny...I have made quite a few spinner-style anticlastic bangles.  The cuff is a constant repetition of forging the cuff into it's oval shape, start the forming of the concave curves and BOOM...no more cuff shape!  I have a new appreciation for this cuff, as it took more concentration on maintaining that classic cuff shape, while still achieving a concave curve.

I  only oxidized the interior to accentuate the stamping - I kept a mirror finish on the outside of the cuff and I really do like that contrast.

That's it - I am spent! :)  Looking at the compilation picture though, at least it is a complete set of jewelry!

I hope to continue visiting new techniques and incorporating them in my work.

Thank you so much for stopping by today!  Have a wonderful rest of the week!

xo

Patti

Sunday

So, I have faithfully changed every clock in the house...except the one in my studio, which is where I am sitting at this very moment.  I am still trying to figure out who to blame for Daylight Saving Time.  I should not be tired...I had the same amount of sleep last night as every night. But, my head has been in a fog all day long.    I read somewhere that the affects of Daylight Saving Time are similar to jet lag - and I agree! I will never understand the logic behind this changing of the time...never.

A couple of weeks ago, I finally took the plunge and purchased some forming stakes.  It has been my goal for some time to learn how to create anticlastic shapes.  I have made my share of spinner rings  - which have the beginnings of this shape - this one below is MY FAVORITE - oozing with texture!  I achieved that luscious texture with a hammer.

But I want to make Spinner Bangles.  The techniques and tools involved in making the rings is totally different for bangles.  

I always begin slowly when learning a new technique.  First I have master creating a bangle - solo - no spinner!  Part of my purchases included two similar Fretz hammers - one to aide in achieving the curves WITHOUT texture (nylon tip) and one with texture (metal).

These are the some of the steel stakes that I used.  As you can see, each stake is made with specific curves to achieve a concave or convex curve to the metal.

I should have started with a cuff.  But...I actually made bangles, which involved soldering (more on that further down in this post).  This was the first proto-type bangle I made, using the nylon hammer with no texture.  I used 18 gauge copper sheet metal, and it's about 5/8" wide.

I was ready to add texture, and made this bangle.  It measures a little over 1" wide.

While I do love the smoothness of the first bangle, I am a texture girl!  I attempted to make a second and yes, a third bangle - spinner style.  BUT, I am having issues with hammering along the solder seam.  Each of the subsequent bangles split right at the seam.  I need to continue to practice - perhaps anneal more in the process.  I will get there!

I have also wanted to bezel set a cab on a cuff - not an easy task (for me)!  There is an obvious curve on the cuff, and well, the cab is flat!  I did manage to complete this bracelet - and it was gifted to one of my nieces.  No anticlastic curves on the cuff - but - for me - it was challenging!

Gorgeous flash in that Labradorite!  

I have spent quite a bit of time researching these techniques.  If you have some time on your hands (and if you have not already), just Google the name Soham Harrison.  He is a master metalsmith with amazing You-Videos (free) for just about every technique I want to learn!

As usual, I am ending this blog post with comments related to the weather.  Last week was AWFUL.  It began with an ice storm last weekend, and in my neck of the woods, progressed to an 8" snowfall last Thursday.  It hit 55 degrees today, and there is actual grass to be seen where we shoveled snow trails in the backyard for Sarge.  My gutters have not stopped singing that wonderful song of melting ice.  I have never in my life longed for Spring.  I am Chicago-born and truly do enjoy the snow.  But this winter has resulted in way-too-many consecutive days below freezing.  There is definitely light at the end of this long-winter tunnel!  Hooray!!!

Thanks for stopping by today!  Have a lovely week!

xo

Patti