Sometimes I get caught up in doing using the same skills to create my designs. Of course I vary the designs using different gemstones, unusual shaped stones, a variety of texturing options and the type of metal I use. It is easy to stay in a comfort zone and keep using the skills I have mastered. But the artist in me wants to explore and grow! When I was single we always kidded that there were So Many Men… So Little Time. As a jeweler this translates to SO Many Ideas… So Little Time!

Learning to Prong Set

This particular style of stone setting is can often enhance the beauty of the stone. I have been avoiding the learning curve now for several years! My goal this year is to learn and perfect this skill. The image at the top of this blog is my first attempt! The gem I selected is round. Round gems are the easiest to set using any method. Following instructions in books and online videos, I took the plunge and created this pendant. Overall I am happy with the results. Keep in mind that I started over once in the process. The prong thickness I chose was just too thick! So I removed the prongs and used thinner versions.

Taking another crack at it!

This is the 2nd design completed. In this instance I used a rose quartz gem in the rough. This means that the finish is more natural and I ADORE working with this type of gem. To add more pizazz to the pendant, it is complemented with a faceted rose quartz gem. I am finally feeling more comfortable with this process. Starting out with the correct gauge of silver helped cut down the time it took to finish the design, too.

What’s next?

I feel the beginner stage in now over and I am moving full force into the intermediate phase. Rigth now I have a lace agate gem from my South Seas Treasures collection ready to be prong set. Next I want to set a smaller faceted stone. Finally I want to play around with prongs and basket setting. This style will work best with gems with tapered backs. The basket, which is a stacked setting, allows for the tapering while protecting the gem. Complicated isn’t it?

Follow me on my design journey and become a collector. Not only do my collectors receive first look at my newest designs but the also have the advantage of Collector-only discounts and specials. It’s Free. In addition you Get 15% off your first order.

Here’s How

Shop Here for all my Designs

The post Sharpening my Jewelry Skills appeared first on Alene's Adornments Blog.

My bead collection is a vital part of my design business. Over these many years I have purchased a variety of gems. In the early years I bought whatever was bright and beautiful and did not give much thought to the type of gem, the quality of the gem or the origin of the gems. Let’s just say I have learned a LOT over the past years. Most of the those early finds are long gone. Now When I attend the gem shows, or search product online, I am more discerning. Like any other business person, I learn from my earlier errors!

Natural Turquoise and Amethyst Collection

The image above shows you my current beads of natural turquoise and amethyst. These are two of my favorite gems to work with. The turquoise is all natural and most of it is from the Sonoran mines in Mexico. I still hang on to a few of the turquoise chips and believe they are from a Chinese mine.

Amethyst beads are labeled as AA, A or B grade quality. Many of mine shown in the image are AA grade. the rest are A grade. The main difference in the quality is the deep color and the clarity. Each of my designs is created to be worn for many years and then passed down to future generations. So I want the best quality gems that will withstand the wear and time.

Other gemstone beads in my collection

I should mention that this box of amethyst and turquoise has companion boxes of other types of beads.

Overall I have 6 such cases comprised of malachite, peridot, azurite, tiger eye, red creek jasper, picture jasper, rhodochrosite, moonstone, rose quartz, coral, amber and cultured pearls.

One whole case is filled with onyx and hematite. I think I might have overdone the purchasing of these particular gems! Many of the hematite gems are heart shaped and are just waiting for my inspiration on how to design with them.

I forgot to mention amber! About a year ago I got the chance to purchase some free-form Baltic amber beads. Not one to pass up on such an opportunity, I now have several hundred amber beads! By now you might wonder if I am obsessed with gems. I am proud to admit that you are right.

Some days I wonder if all these are necessary. Then I will be working on a design and realize that I have so many options to create the perfect pair of earrings or ring. It is all worth it!

Cabochons are for another post

Most of my work uses cabochons in the design process. These are flat backed gems that require a bezel to adhere them to metal. This collection is enormous. Perhaps a future blog will highlight these gems. Stay Tuned!

Follow me on my design journey and become a collector. Not only do my collectors receive first look at my newest designs but the also have the advantage of Collector-only discounts and specials. It’s Free. In addition you Get 15% off your first order.

Here’s How

Shop Here for all my Designs

The post A peek at my Beads Collection appeared first on Alene's Adornments Blog.

So Many Hammers… So Little time!

Hammers are an essential piece of my design experience.

Each year I purchase more and more hammers. To date I own 31 hammers.

Each hammer is designed for a specific task. Texturing hammers (and I have several) are used to create texture and design in the metal. I have ones that create patterns such as tiny squares or circles, a satin finish, vertical or horizontal lines, spirals and raindrops. Then I have hammers used strictly for flattening metal. The steel hammers are good for this use IF I am OK to alter the shape slightly . The steel hammers when pounded against another metal tend to distort the metal. So I use this option sparingly. However, these hammers come in handy for any riveting work. The leather or Delrin style hammers have a softer imprint. They are prefect for flattening metal without distorting the shape.

Design process using Hammers

When I am at the bench looking to create a new pendant or earrings, the first thing I do is decide upon the gem or gems. The next process involves creating a bezel for the gems. Once the bezel is soldered, Then the hammers become vital. I decide upon the shape and material for the pendant or earrings; I choose the metal and then choose the texture. If I want something more subtle, I will use the satin finish hammer. If I want something bolder, I will choose the squares, circles, raindrops or vertical lines. Sometimes the texture goes on the front around the gem. And often I texture the back if the front has little or no metal showing.

Get a closer look at the individual hammers here in my video

Follow me on my design journey and become a collector. Not only do my collectors receive first look at my newest designs but the also have the advantage of Collector-only discounts and specials. It’s Free. In addition you Get 15% off your first order.

Here’s How

Shop Here for all my Designs

The post Getting Hammered at the Jewelry Bench appeared first on Alene's Adornments Blog.

Right now I am in the learning curve for this new incredible equipment. While the Gem Light Box is easy to set up and use, I am still testing ways to take the videos and images. Since a couple of additional lighting options are included, I am taking photos and videos several times to see what works best for my particular style of jewelry design. For example, some of the designs without gems seem to photograph well using the reflective cover. Most other designs with gemstones tend to prefer the sparkle light.

my other photography options

I am discovering that this box does eliminate many of my other methods. However I use a larger type light box to take panoramic photos of my collections. I do love taking some photos outdoors in nature as well. And yes I still use my Canon DSLR camera for certain shots.

I intend to use all options that save me time and create the best images to showcase my work.

Follow me on my design journey and become a collector. Not only do my collectors receive first look at my newest designs but the also have the advantage of Collector-only discounts and specials. It’s Free. In addition you Get 15% off your first order.

Here’s How

Shop Here for all my Designs

The post Video Fun with my Designs appeared first on Alene's Adornments Blog.

One of the final processes in my jewelry design is filing the metal so it is smooth to the touch. My husband has asked me many times if there is an easier way to achieve this finish.. one that does not involve so much of my time. He is the king of finding simpler solutions to save time! I tell him what I share with you now.

I LOVE the process of filing these designs.

Yes it is time consuming. To me this adds to the concept of Handmade or Handcrafted. It means no shortcuts. This is the simple explanation of course. However I find that this process, which can add as much as an hour to each design, is relaxing. I have the radio tuned to KBACH classical music. My Preferences are baroque, JS Bach and Mozart. Then I get out my files and begin. It becomes almost a meditation for me. I relax into the motion of filing and zone out on the music.

Several File types are involved in my process.

Yes I own LOTS of files. Above is an image showing the two main files I use for working with silver. the larger one is coarser and is normally the first one I use. Then I switch to the smaller one, which is a finer grit. Beyond this I have smaller files referred to as needle files. These smaller files allow me to take care of smaller areas in the design. Another type of file is the 1/2 round file. This curved surface is perfect for curves in the design.

When working with copper or steel I use a different set of files. This is not because they are a different grit but actually so I am not mixing the tiny particles of these two metals that tend to stay in the file grooves. I want the silver or gold to be pristine. It’s another quirk of the perfection I seek for each of my pieces.

Finding simpler solutions is necessary in most cases. Filing is just not one of them for me!

Follow me on my design journey by becoming a collector. My collectors receive first look at my newest designs plus Collector-only discounts and specials. It’s Free. And you Get 15% off your first order.

Here’s How

Shop Here for all my Designs

The post The Zen of Jewelry filing appeared first on Alene's Adornments Blog.

what does a typical day look like for a jewelry designer? First of all I can only give you my take on this topic. The nature of an artist or designer is such that we create in many different ways. I work with metals, gemstones and lots of fire! This may not be true for others though.

My typical day at the bench

I tend to segment my days to be more effective. The days I am at the bench are dedicated to creating the design, texturing and cutting the metals and using my torch to solder or add metals to the design. I might spend one or two hours just deciding on the layout and number of pieces I will choose to work on. Look at the image at the top and see how many art pieces I want to create at once.

What usually happens though, is that I choose the 8-10 designs and from there narrow it down into what I can accomplish in a day. Since each design requires multiple processes, I most likely will finish only one or two pieces while adding another step to a few more. Sounds complicated but in my head this actually makes sense!

Here’s a video on this topic. It goes into a little more detail on the individual designs

More typical days for a jewelry designer

well I covered a typical day at the bench…. but this is only a part of what my work entails. I dedicate most of a day to photograph the finished jewelry. After all I do need to show it off in order to sell it! Then I need a day for the finishing work. This includes stone setting, final polishing and the addition of chains, ear wires, clasps and enhancements. Finally I need a day to send out orders.

Social media, updates to collectors, YouTube and blog posts are usually done in the morning.

Follow me on my design journey by becoming a collector. My collectors receive first look at my newest designs plus Collector-only discounts and specials. It’s Free. And you Get 15% off your first order.

Here’s How

Shop Here for all my Designs

The post A day in the life of a jewelry designer appeared first on Alene's Adornments Blog.

Not really. I know it has that chaotic vibe but actually I have a feel for everything and where it has been placed on the bench. Currently I am doing some soldering so I need the soldering board. In my case I use the bottom board for protection of the wooden bench. I have learned over the years that you just cannot be TOO careful when working with fire! Thankfully I have not burned any holes in the wood yet, but I feel safer with this added protection. I put the circular board on top. This one absorbs the heat. Plus it swivels.

I have several Third hands. (these are the black based tools you see in the photo) They are used to hold the pieces that I am soldering. Since I am usually working on several pieces simultaneously, I need a few of these. Then of course there is the solder pick, tongs, solder and torch. these are essential for soldering. Lest we forget, I need the water for quenching the soldered designs and the pickle to clean the jewelry.

So what is all the rest of the paraphernalia on my bench? Since I am prone to doing several things at once, I keep my shears, my tweezers and a file handy. Off to the left you can glimpse some of my polishing tools These are used daily.

OK that covers the bulk of my bench chaos. I mentioned that I tend to work on several projects at once .. So the next projects are usually in the bench too. Right now I have a few gemstones ready for bezeling, plus a few gemstones that I want to design with once I am finished with my current designs.

So maybe I does sound chaotic? But to me this is just a day in the life of a jewelry designer!

Follow me on my design journey by becoming a collector. My collectors receive first look at my newest designs plus Collector-only discounts and specials. It’s Free. And you Get 15% off your first order.

Here’s How

Shop Here for all my Designs.

The post Chaos at the Jewelry Bench? appeared first on Alene's Adornments Blog.

Do you ever wonder how some of my jewelry gets to it’s final wearable state? Here’s a peek at a few designs in process. As you can see I am partial to amethyst! the entire left half of this photo features 6 different amethyst pieces!. On the right you can see a potential malachite and emerald pendant plus a few druzy quartz gems.

By the end of the day, ONE of these pieces got completed. See below. I made progress on the rest but the finishing is for another day.

Want to see more finished designs? Here’s the link to my shopping site. Pick one or two to drool over and purchase!

Become an Alene’s Adornments Collector

Provide your Email and first name to Get First Look at newest designs, tidbits and legends about gemstones, jewelry care tips and of course.. COLLECTOR ONLY specials and discounts.

The post New Projects at the Bench appeared first on Alene's Adornments Blog.

You’ve most likely seen this tag line on my jewelry designs. Did you ever wonder what handmade means? Here’s the official definition: made by hand, not by machine, and typically therefore of superior quality.

Each of my designs starts with metal sheet or wire. I use a variety of tools to texture, fold and mold the metal. Texturing hammers add subtle or bold finishes, depending upon the type chosen

Soldering (joining metal) is an important step in my processes. Here you see the sterling that has been soldered and shaped.. ready for the gemstones to be inserted.

When you purchase a handmade design you have chosen something to be treasured and passed along to future generations. These designs are all created with love and passion. This energy shines through each time you wear your one of a kind jewelry. What could be more special?

The post Handmade in Arizona.. appeared first on Alene's Adornments Blog.

Yes, it’s true. I love to solder. Next to hammering it is my favorite jewelry technique.

Of course it was not always so. I have destroyed many a piece of silver during my early days.  Life has gotten much easier since I have broken the code on this process though.

Here’s a piece that was one of my first soldering jobs.

Not only did this take about 10 times longer that it would today, but the finished product is one that any fellow jeweler would take apart in seconds.

Why not redo this beautiful dichroic cabochon, then and create something more to my skill level??  Because every time I wear this it reminds me of how far I have come.

Yes the sides are  rough. I heated this piece so MANY times that part of the bezel melted! This design has enough solder in it to set at least 4 more gemstones.  I just kept adding solder each time when some of the joins did not ‘join’

As with any skill, practice, practice and more practice is required. Now all these years later I am proud of the designs I can offer to my customers. Soldering has become routine. Do I still make mistakes? Absolutely! But they are fewer and fewer as time passes.

I have learned to use soldering as a gauge to my ability to work.. 

If I am soldering several pieces and all goes well (or at least 90% well) I know that my time at the bench is meant to be.

On the other hand, if my soldering projects are just not gelling for me.. (some of the piece doesn’t solder or a variety of maladies… I know that it is now time to clean up and go do something else!.. Watch TV, read, go for a walk, have a drink… whatever!  Just DO NOT stay at the bench.

Shop for my complete design collection here.

The post Confessions of a Jewelry Soldering Junkie appeared first on Alene's Adornments Blog.