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 … [Read more...]
Time for a little Dreaming
I have so much fun creating collections! Once I started designing jewelry, I noticed themes starting to develop. So I named my first collection and began creating the designs for it. This is when the fun begins for me. I love knowing that when you wear one of my designs, you have a story and an inspiration to accompany it. That way you can be reminded of the sentiment behind … [Read more...]
A Peek into my Sprinkled Silver Jewelry process
Want to see how I create some of my designs? Early in my jewelry design career, I fell in love with copper and silver metals. One of my first experiments involved fusing metal components together.. just to see what would happen. OK, so I did destroy a few chunks of metal. Applying just a little TOO much heat whereas the metals became a lump of indescribable mass. A learning … [Read more...]
What is Artisan Jewelry?
We hear this term a lot at craft shows, museums and in galleries. Ever wonder what it really means? The word artisan originates from the Italian word artigiano. it's defined as a skilled craft worker who makes or creates things by hand. These products may be functional or decorative. (in the case of jewelry) Artisan jewelry is custom made by a highly skilled craftsman. Artisan … [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...]
