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.

These 3 processes are essential to my life at the Jewelry Bench.

My least favorite is the sawing. I think it’s because this process is used towards the beginning of the design process. Whereas the filing and sanding are done once the piece is close to completion.

Moreover  both the filing and sanding have an almost meditative effect for me. I can let my mind relax and dream a little, since these processes are so repetitive. Anything that helps me relax is worth it! Plus I love seeing the result that sanding brings to my vision for the design. I guess it’s what we call a Win-Win.

Now to show off a few of my designs!

The post Sawing, Filing and Sanding: a Jeweler’s life appeared first on Alene's Adornments Blog.

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 ring.

The second tool is this Delrin hammer. Delrin is  a thermoplastic material used in precision parts. Since it is non-marring, I hammer away to my heart’s content. This hammer does not leave any marks on the metal, nor does it skew the metal.

Here is the process I use to design rings.

• Cut the metal to size.

• Stamp the back with my Alene branding (and the .925 if the metal is silver).

• Add texture or fuse metal to the shank

• Anneal it (heat it until the metal softens)

• Insert the mandrel into a vise or other holding device to keep it stable

• Form the metal around the mandrel to round it properly.

[tweet_box design=”box_02″ float=”none”] “Jewelry takes people’s minds off our wrinkles” Sonja Henie[/tweet_box]

Here are two of my new designs.  See all ring designs currently for sale here.

Want to know YOUR ring size?

Download the template here.

The post Tools of the Trade: Ring Shank appeared first on Alene's Adornments Blog.

If someone had told me 15 years ago that I would be salivating over sheets of metal and hammers I would have [tweet_dis_img][/tweet_dis_img]laughed out loud!

Yet here I am … getting excited over my collection of hammers. This is one of my favorite ones. The surface creates a soft almost satiny texture on my Copper, Silver or Brass metal.

But the fun only starts with this hammer. Currently I have over 25 different pieces ranging from ones that texture.. styles that form, and some that just plain flatten a rivet. Talking to other jewelers, I am aware that mine is a small collection compared to many. We are all Hammer Hoarders!

Aren’t tools supposed to be a man’s toy box? Truly times are changing. I know women who love to hammer. This includes not only jewelers but also those in the construction business.  There is such a feeling of strength, control and accomplishment that a hammer brings to us.

The use of simple hammers dates to about 2,600,000 BC when various shaped stones were used to strike wood, bone or other stones to break them apart and shape them.  This evolved into stones attached to sticks with strips of leather or animal sinew. 

The hammer’s archeological record shows that it may be the oldest tool for which definite evidence exists of its early existence.

[tweet_box design=”box_01″ float=”none”]”The world is more malleable than you think. and it’s waiting for you to hammer it into shape.”       Bono[/tweet_box]

In addition to sheets  and coils of copper, brass and silver, I also am the owner of a bench vise,  drill, Lots of pliers, two saws and so much more. Here’s the picture of my workbench to give you an idea. Do you see the tool chest in the back? it is filled with all my supplies.

The best part of this is the FUN I have creating (and sometimes recreating) my jewelry designs. Each time I sit at this bench, the rest of the world melts away. All the ‘issues’ of the day or week dont seem to matter at all. This passion is truly a gift and I appreciate it so much.

Here’s hoping you find some of this inspiration when wearing one of my designs.   Alene’s Adornments.

The post The Secret Life of a Metal & Hammer Hoarder appeared first on Alene's Adornments Blog.

If you haven’t guessed by now. I love to texture my metal as I create my designs. So when I became aware of the corrugation process, I was intrigued.

First of all I purchased the book. Metal Corrugation by Patricia McAleer.   This colorful book introduces the metalsmith (that’s me) to a new method of creative expression–metal corrugated jewelry designs.

I read it cover to cover (several times). Hooked after the first page.

[tweet_box design=”default” float=”none”]Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, making mistakes and having fun.[/tweet_box]

I use this corrugation brake with very pliable (after lots of heat) metal. The metal sheet I use is a thinner gauge. I stick with 24 gauge or even 26 gauge to be safe. Did you know that metal gauges get thinner as the number gets higher.. 24 gauge is thicker than 26 gauge. This took me awhile to get used to this counter-intuitive method of measuring.

By the way, this process requires arm strength!

The texture created is so much fun to work with. Often my mind is 4 steps ahead of the process.. already figuring out what cool designs will result.  These raw copper sheets are corrugated. The two pieces to the left are run through the brake twice at different angles. Consequently, I reheated the metal in between the two runs through the brake. Most of all, I am having fun. After all, don’t we all want to have fun while we work?

This short video on corrugated jewelry  gives you peek into how this all works. Enjoy!

[tweet_box design=”box_14_at” float=”none” author=”Alene Geed” pic_url=”http://alenesadornmentsblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/alene_geed_jewelry_designer.jpg”] “Corrugating metal is a creative way to create designer jewelry.”   [/tweet_box]

Want to see a few of the finished designs? 
I knew you would say yes!

Read my post – An Inside Peek; How I create my designs.

The post Corrugated Jewelry? Yes! appeared first on Alene's Adornments Blog.

Texturing Metal is one of my favorite ways to create designs. I love the way texture adds to the basic metal. It gives it dimension and makes the designs more interesting.

There are LOTS of ways to texture metal. Here’s a peek into two of the ways I use most frequently.

Corrugation.  

This means literally, to shape into folds or parallel and alternating ridges and grooves. Old-fashioned washboards were corrugated.  I use a corrugation brake to create the folds. Then as you can see on the large metal piece to the right.. I turned the metal 90 degrees and corrugated again! There are endless designs using this process. I just have to remember to soften the metal EVERY time after running the metal through the brake. Otherwise it gets too brittle.

Texturing with Hammers:

Did I mention that I LOVE to hammer?? Maybe this is my positive way of taking out aggression. Could be!! At any rate I do love the feel of the hammer in my hand and adore the textures that can be created. And art is involved in the techniques too. The hammer hit needs to be precise or the texture will not be consistent. This takes practice.

Here are a few of the texturing hammers I use on a regular basis. Each one of them gives a different texture or design to the metal.

Did you know there is actually a Hammer Museum? It is located in Alaska. Wouldn’t it be fun to visit?

If I ever get back to Alaska, I will check it out. A whole building filled with hammers. Whoopee!

Several other texturing techniques including Stamping, roller mill, form folding and fusing will be highlighted in future Peeks into my design process.

A few of my finished designs.

There is still time to enter the SWEEPSTAKES!   One lucky person will win this Sterling and Dichroic glass pendant.

The post Peek into my Design Process: Texturing appeared first on Alene's Adornments Blog.

Do you have any idea how much fun it is to get a new tool?

OK,  I know this sounds like a ‘guy’ thing… but any metals jeweler will tell you that we get so much pleasure from being able to do something creative with our new ‘toy’

This new disc cutter cuts squares from metal.  So what you say?

Now I can create my own designs more quickly. Plus I now have endless ways to add new components to my jewelry. For instance, I have been purchasing a square washer piece. Basically this is a square with a square hole in the center. My one issue with these was that they were too heavy a gauge for many of my designs.

NOW I have complete control of the process.  And as any Type A personality will tell you..   Complete control rocks!

This idea board shows you some of the current squares I have been either hand cutting or purchasing. Just wait until you see the new stuff.

A couple of years ago I purchased the circle disc cutter shown here. You can see some of those shapes on the idea board. So this new Square style is sending me to Nirvana. 

See my current designs at http://www.alenesadornments.com

The post Tools of the Jewelry Trade: Disc Cutter appeared first on Alene's Adornments Blog.

The other day I decided to play around with a new process… using copper piping to create a jewelry design. I had seen some designs recently that started out as tubing/pipe and then were chased with a hammer to create some awesome results.

I had some 1/2″ pipe and 1/4″ flexible piping that I had purchased at a local Home Depot. 

As I brought out my Jewelers Saw to make the necessary cuts, my husband asked me why I wasn’t using a pipe cutter.

A Pipe cutter?? Aren’t those something that plumbers use? The answer was Yes… but if you want to cut pipe then why not use it for jewelry? What a concept!

And of course since my husband is handy around the house… he already owned 3 different sizes of cutters. Yippee!

Once he showed my how to use this handy tool. I was in heaven! The one you see here is the smaller size for 1/4″ tubing. There is a blade on one side and a recessed area for the pipe on the other side. And talk about EASY to use.

1) Mark where you want the cut.. insert the tube into the cutter, turn the wheel to hold it snugly. (dont tighten too much)

2) Then spin the cutter slowly.

3) Once you see the marks (slight indentation around the tube), then tighten a little and spin again… repeat process until the piece is cut all the way through.  

AND, there is no need to anneal the tube before cutting. Save that step for  the design process. 

Next time you want to accomplish a new jewelry process and are not sure about the right tools to use.. remember to think outside the box and look at tools that are made for other purposes. They may be the perfect solution for your creation.

 Here’s the product I created in the rough stages. (copper cut, annealed, textured/hammered and sterling added)

And here is the finished Earring design.. the first of many designs now that I have this shortcut!

IF you enjoyed this post you may like

Tools of the Trade; Mini electric sander and filer.

The post Tools of the Jewelry Trade; Pipe Cutter appeared first on Alene's Adornments Blog.

I am a jewelry designer and yes I do my own photography.

As in the case of most artists who create limited Edition and one-of-a- kind pieces.. It is not cost effective to hire a professional to photograph each design!

So I decided early on to take my own photos. And I can tell you that this became a whole new learning curve for me. I read lots of comments and tutorials online, purchased proper equipment for photographing small objects (jewelry in my case), purchased editing software  and then experimented a lot!

Each time I played around with the process I got just a tiny bit more competent.

Then earlier this year I took a workshop from a real photographer and had to unlearn  and rethink it all. Doug Baldwin, the instructor and photographer for over 30 years, drummed one rule into our heads.. and it finally sunk in.  “Don’t photograph on artsy backgrounds. Customers want to be able to see the product clearly.. they don’t CARE about the surroundings.”  Of course there were lots more helpful hints and insights in the workshop…I improved the way I photographed the gems and learned how to use diffused lighting.  I even ended up purchasing another photography system that I love. 

I live in Arizona and Love the outdoors. So a dried piece of cholla cactus seemed like a great option for a background. As you can see by the two images above… the background, while so cool looking, does not allow you to see the earring design clearly. The image to the left gives you a focused, clean image… so you can decide if this design is a must-have for your own collection.

Here is another example.. Again using the cholla cactus.

See how much better the image to the right is?

It shows off the texture and beauty (OK so I am a little prejudiced on that) of this pendant!

The Cuff image below is yet another example. Malachite is highlighted and featured prominently in the photo to the left.

Yes, I am still a novice when it comes to photography.. and yes I will continue to learn and improve my photos.

over the next several months, I should have all the images on my site converted over to the newer, cleaner looking images.

My next step is a class on editing. Cannot wait!

Check out my jewelry (and the current photos online) and give me your feedback.

Every bit helps me to improve my craft!

 If you liked this blog you may like The Secret Life of a Metal and Hammer Hoarder.

The post Photographing Jewelry… Harder than it looks! appeared first on Alene's Adornments Blog.