Music as a calming influence

I love to spend time at the jewelry bench. In fact it is my FAVORITE way to spend my time. Yes I do love the outdoors as well. Hiking when the weather permits is invigorating and fun. However, my time at the bench is precious. How do I keep my concentration? Music! I love music that is strictly instrumental. Often songs are distracting when I am contemplating a new design or soldering a tricky join with the torch.

Classical Music is the Best

For me the best most relaxing music is classical. I have always been a lover of Mozart, Hayden and JS Bach. Now with the advantage of a terrific classical music station KBACH I can enjoy these favorites and find new favorites as well. Did you know there are LOTS of BACH composers? JS Bach had lots of children and several of them became composers too. Who knew?

For our wedding my husband and I chose the Pachelbel Canon performed by a string quartet. Every time I hear this Canon it brings back those happy memories.

I put together this short video so you can see me in action. Often I am even keeping time with the beat while working!

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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!

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What a wonderful world this would be if I could create gorgeous jewelry and have it work out the first time.. every time. Sadly the life of a jewelry designer is not so black and white. Over the years I have learned so much from my mishaps. At least this is the way I choose to think of my mistakes. I am the eternal optimist. The pendant shown here has gone through several transformations before it emerged as an Azurite gemstone pendant with a Druzy quartz accent. This pendant started out with a petrified palm root gem. I was so excited to design with my newest find. I had multiple issues getting the bezel to solder in all areas. This should have been the red flag but I was determined to create using this gem.

The Azurite pendant saga continues

I finally got the entire bezel soldered. Success! or so I thought at the time. I proceeded to attach the backing so I could later add the sterling chain. The final step is to place the gem in the bezel (the frame). When I did this I realized that when I had soldered the bezel multiple times, I warped the backing so it was no longer flat. So now the gem would fit but pop out at the slightest urging.

I searched frantically for another gem that would fit the bezel. Anyone who has attempted this fix knows it is an impossible task. What I did find was this beautiful blue/green azurite gem. It was too long for the bezel BUT with a little creative changes I was able to make it fit. It looks great if I do say so myself. Had I not given you this saga you may not have known it was a colossal mistake.

Other ‘learning experiences’ along the way.

In addition to this saga of the pendant, I admit to the following mistakes.

• Soldering the bezel to the base upside down. (cabs don’t fit that way)
• Cracking the stone when fitting it into the bezel
• Using too thin of a backing to allow for multiple gems
• Inserting the gem before I had completely shaped and filed the bezel

• and MANY MORE

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Peruvian Opal Gemstones have the most vibrant colors. I love the combination of turquoise, teal and caramel. It reminds me of spending time on the beach, letting the sand wiggle between my toes while I absorb the ocean breeze.

Since most of us rarely have ready access to the beach, I implore you to imagine the feeling of being at the beach. Wearing these Peruvian Opal designs will give you the jump start to your new virtual experience!

This vibrant blue/green gem is the national stone of Peru. It is only found in  the Andes Mountains. Legend has it that these gems are a gift from Pachamama, the earliest Inca Goddess of Mother Earth.

Peruvian Opal is said to pacify our minds and even help us sleep better!

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One of my original Collections is still a strong part of my line. The SACRED SPIRAL story is near and dear to me. I strive to live my life employing it’s principals.

Sacred Spiral Collection; Because Kindness Matters

Each design is created by me in my Arizona Studio. The Spiral is an ancient symbol representing growth and evolution. It has been found in cave carvings, shells and even in the Milky Way.

 A spiral starts as a smaller, tight circle and expands quickly all the way to infinity. Each of our actions…a quick smile to a stranger, holding the door for someone, a kind word to a friend.. seems like a small gesture but the ripples of joy it causes is infinite.

“A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”      Margaret Mead

My hope is that all of us follow these principals. What a wonderful world we would create.

Shop Sacred Spiral Designs Here

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This week has been challenging for all of us. Social distancing is the new reality for the next couple of weeks. Yes it has been crazy trying to purchase our basic groceries. What ARE people are doing with all the fresh meat and toilet paper??

I am finally getting used to being home and not popping out for errands whenever I want. Now many new options are emerging. My obsession with purchasing cabochons (gemstones that I can use in my designs) over the last couple of years has been just that. An OBSESSION. I am constantly seeing cabochons that say. Buy Me.. Buy Me please! Making these gems into finished design requires many many hours of labor and precise shaping. The gem should fit snugly but have the wiggle room necesary to insert the stone into the finished design. My skill level is good and has improved over time. HERE is my SILVER LINING!

The last several days I have been creating the bezels for these new gems. Previously when I worked on this process, I had a success rate of 70-80%. This means that 2-3 out of ten needed to be reworked. NOW my success rate is 100%!!! These few days allowed me to master this process! YIPPEE!

I hope you are discovering new skills or maybe just some much needed quiet during this time. We are all in this together.

Check out my Completed designs here.

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This newly designed earring might be ‘just what the doctor ordered’ Yes I know it will not cure any ailments but wearing them will make you feel happy!

The NATURAL: Marilyn Earring.

My big sister Marilyn is the original ‘Natural’. Her interest in others is genuine. I have personally watched her meet someone new & within minutes know who they are and what they love.  Her natural state of being is one of going above and beyond to make others feel special.

Features my signature Sprinkled Silver process. (silver fused right into the copper) and a vinegar/ammonia blue patina. Swarovski crystal and sterling silver links add the finishing touches. Copper is treated to maintain the finish

Now available in my online shop.

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Purple is well known as the color of royalty. Want to know why? In ancient times the only way to replicate purple dye was by harvesting thousands and thousands of murex sea snails . As you can imagine this was not an easy task. It was time consuming and expensive. Only the very rich royalty could afford it. Since purple was relegated to royalty it was only fitting that deep rich purple amethyst gemstones would be their choice as well.

Now of course we all have access to amethyst and purple. Wear some purple today and feel like royalty.

Shop my Amethyst designs today

Want to know more about amethyst? Here’s a video with more fascinating facts and tidbits.

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The OPEN SPIRAL Pendant! I have been playing around with new pendant designs centered around the Sacred Spiral. From all this playing emerged the Open Spiral concept. The frame is copper with a sterling silver spiral. And of course I have to add gemstones! These natural turquoise beads are from the Sonoran mine in Mexico.

The neck chain in sterling silver is 36″ long! this means you can wear it doubled up as shown here… or Super long as shown below.

The Spiral is an ancient symbol representing growth and evolution. A Spiral starts as a smaller tight circle expanding quickly to infinity. Each of our actions.. a quick smile to a stranger, holding the door for someone, a kind word to a friend..seem like small gestures but the ripples of joy created is infinite.  “No act of kindness, no matter how small is ever wasted.” Aesop

Shop my entire Sacred Spiral collection here.

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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 What’s New in Spirals? appeared first on Alene's Adornments Blog.

I print this phrase in the description of Each Ring design in my shop. While I do feature a line of Sacred Spiral designs that are available in several sizes.. most of my designs are one of a kind. I just cannot seem to stop making new designs! Perhaps this is the nature of an artist.

At any rate I will redesign any style in a different size. Keep in mind that the actual gem may not be exactly the same. But you are involved in the process every step of the way and will select your own gem. Feel free to contact me with your requests.

Here is a recent custom design I created for a customer.

Become an Alene’s Adornments Collector today.

Just 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 Love this Ring But need another size? appeared first on Alene's Adornments Blog.