Cuff bracelets are my life.. OK maybe not my life's goal or purpose... however I do adore designing and wearing cuff bracelets. Over the years I have designed using copper, brass and sterling. There are virtually hundreds of ways to create.. and they are all energizing and fun for me. Do YOU love cuffs too? Have you struggled with placing them on your wrist without fear of … [Read more...]
Tools of the Trade: Ring Shank
Ever wonder how we Artisan jewelry designers make our rings so round?? How do we determine the sizing? I use two secret weapons. OKAY actually these are specialized tools. The first is this ring shank (officially called a mandrel but often referred to as a shank) The mandrel is made of the finest quality steel. It's calibrated along one side so I can determine the size of the … [Read more...]
THREE Gorgeous Patinas for Copper Jewelry
If you have been following my blog or any of my Social pages... you already know that I LOVE WORKING WITH COPPER! When I first started taking metals classes, copper was used as the 'learning' metal. Meaning 'work with copper to get the feel of metal and what you can accomplish' . Once past the learning curve, then venture on with Silver and/or Gold. However, with the … [Read more...]
Turquoise Gemstone: Legends and Fascinating Facts
Turquoise is one of my favorite gemstones. The blues and greens are so vibrant. I design[tweet_dis_img][/tweet_dis_img] in both silver and copper. Did you know? Turquoise is a copper aluminum phosphate mineral. It has a hardness of 5 to 6. This means it can tend to be brittle if not stabilized for strength. You may notice a black backing on some turquoise cabochons. … [Read more...]
Reflections on the Tucson Gem Show
Once a year Tucson Arizona is home to the single largest gem show in the world. Exhibitors and buyers descend upon this mid sized town virtually taking over every venue in the city. In all there are 44 different shows running simultaneously. Each show has it's own niche. These vary from loose beads, finished jewelry, minerals or geodes and much more. Many are wholesale only … [Read more...]
