Pink Tourmaline, Green Amethyst and Hydro Quartz Earrings

I've always liked the way that Sheridan Joslin uses unusual color combinations of gems in her jewelry. So even though my first instinct was to use shades of pink with these rose hydro quartz carved circles, I decided to use green amethyst instead. I also added some beautiful little carved pink tourmaline leaves as well as some champagne keishi pearls. I should get out my color wheel more often.

Hollow Forms Class

I took a class from Joyce Thor through the Flint Schools recently on making hollow beads. I successfully completed a couple after discovering that paste solder is the way to go after I tired of chasing little solder chips around. The ones that I made are the copper and brass tube bead in the middle of the bracelet and the little brass lentil on the end. I wanted to make bigger ones, and I might someday, but that will involve sawing-not my favorite thing-because I couldn't get my Harbor Freight disc cutter to cut larger circles from 22 gauge brass sheet, even after annealing. So after lots of pounding, I settled for making three of the little brass lentils. It was fun but I think this will remain one of those things that it's more cost efficient to buy unless you're got a super high end clientele.

Fold Formed Copper Leaf Earrings

Thursday was our last week of metalsmithing class for the year. I try to do things there that I can't do at home due to lack of equipment. One thing I lack is a good vice. Well, it's not like I don't have vices, just not one that will hold metal. :D So I did the folding and hammering on these earrings at class. At home I was able to cut them out and stamp the edges to give them a ripple effect. I really like the way these turned out and I might have to ask Santa Claus for a vice.

Ornate Key Pendant

Continuing my fascination with old keys, I'm trying to get them smaller and smaller. This new one is about 2". For this one I used an 8mm CZ in a snapset and 22 gauge square wire. I think I'm going to try it again in round wire. M
It still needs some work but maybe I can get it to the point where it would make a good tutorial. And next time I'll remember to remove the Sharpie marks before I take the pictures. :D

Another Attempt at the Swirly Stuff

Here's my latest so-so attempt to get the hang of this swirly whorly stuff. On a good day the wire should look like it's flowing naturally but I miss the mark on that most days. Now that silver is predicted to hit $100.00 an ounce in the next year, I think I'll start practicing this in copper. The stone is a big hydro quartz in a madeira citrine color.

The Broken Wing Owl Repair

Remember the owl that I was working on a few weeks ago when I carelessly melted part of his wing off with the torch? I got him out to mess around with the other day along with some thin brass wire and a tourmaline carved leaf and this is what resulted. I guess it's growing on me but I'm still not sure if I'm satisfied with it. What do you think? This can at least be easiliy removed and I could still attempt to solder a patch in there.