Monday, May 21, 2012

PROJECT #2 AT THE APPALACHAIN ROCK SHOP

I completed my second project at the Appalachian Rock Shop in Harmony, PA.  I purchased this beautiful, polished, Ohio flint stone at the shop and set it in a hand crafted sterling silver setting, opting this time for prongs rather than a bezel setting.  It gave me the opportunity to try something new in stone setting.  Overall, I am very happy with the end result, but would have done the bail a little differently - perhaps added on some wire or more silver balls.  I may ask my instructor, Jo Naleppa, about making these changes.  Otherwise, I accomplished a different look from my last stone pendant.  Thanks for visiting my blog!  I hope you stop back.  Anita

For more information about flint, Ohio's State Gemstone, visit http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entryphp?rec=1875

Friday, May 11, 2012

Wire Wrapped Quartz Crystal Points

I'm having an open house tomorrow afternoon and wanted to make some wire wrapped crystal quartz points - this is something new for me, so we'll see what my visitors think!  I did one last week and posted it on Artfire along with a sterling silver chain.  I am going to offer these three without chains - many people have their own chains and interchange the pendants!  Two are in jeweler's bronze wire and the other is Argentium sterling silver.  (Purchased at the Appalachian Rock Shop & Jewelry Emporium).

According to Emily Gems, "Quartz crystal points are used for healing, meditation and expanding the mind to touch the spirit world. Quartz crystals are used for protection and capturing and changing bad vibrations...A single crystal point is often used in healing. Pointed away, it draws energy off the body. Pointed inward, it channels energy inward."

Stop by again.  Have a great weekend!  Anita

SILVERSMITHING CLASS - PROJECT TWO!


Project two at the Appalachian Rock Shop with Jo Naleppa - yes, it's another pendant!!  My goal was to get a good grip on bezel setting stones, but I decided to go in a different direction this time and am setting this beautiful stone with prongs from 16 ga. wire.  The back plate and bail are created with sterling silver.  This probably looks pretty simple, but for those of you who don't make jewelry, there is a lot of time that goes into the simplest creation.  I was in class for three hours and in that time, I outlined my back plate and bail, cut them out with a jeweler's saw, rounded the edges with filing tools and then sanded them with three different grits/sanding papers.  I hammered the edges to add a little interest and will probably have to go over the edges again before I am done.  The pieces were pickled and cleaned.  At that point, I formed the wires, gave them a little sanding where they were to be soldered, and fluxed everything.  We also added some "mud" on the parts of the wire that we didn't not want to get soldered (accidentally).  After soldering the wires, they had to be placed in water and pickle.  Then back to the drawing board so the soldered wires could be soldered onto the plate.  More flux, more mud, then pinned to the soldering brick so it wouldn't move during soldering.  After a successful join of metals, back into the water and pickle for cleaning.  The next step should be attaching the bail...next week  The bail will be carefully bent in half and placed on the back plate - more flux - place the solder, and we should be close to setting the stone.... but I think there will be more polishing before that.  So, that is the process.  More next week!
I tell you this because when artisans have to price their work, it is not just the materials, but the time and energy that goes into creating a piece that is pleasing to the eye and of good workmanship.  The best part (for me) of creating, is finding that special person who falls in love with something you made  That brings me great joy and keeps me going!  Thanks for reading my post!  Please leave a comment!  I appreciate knowing when someone has read my posts and if you have something to add, I would love for you to share!