I finally made that cuff bracelet.

The piced of sheet Sterling I had was 6 X 3 so I cut a strip of cpper sheeting (22g)to 1.5 X 5 inches.

I then carefully folded the edges of the silver over the copper. I had to do my best to maintain the mirror finish on the silver so I used paper to line the jaws of my pliers I was using to bend the armour. A better method would be to use a bench vise with either paper or wood lining the jaws.

(Next time I'll use my bench-vise, I should be able to find it when we move.)

After I had the sides folded down I cut rounds on the end and folded the end over, then carefully hammered the backside of the silver. I put paper on the benchblock hammered the backside. There are a few variations in the finished side, but overall it still maintains it's bright finish.

I hammered and then bent the cuff, hammered then bent in an effort to let the copper slide inside the silver to bend and to make sure we canbend and smooth the silver.


the finished pictures can be seen at jewelry.xanthakita.com

Order one if you want. I'm only asking $150.00 for each one half down and half on delivery


I also own, or have been instrumental in the following web sites:
jewelry.xanthakita.com
InTheUPstate.net
Adaptivegamer.com
Bags Express
Staged Equals Sold
sKeyPhotography.com

Sorry about the delay

I just got my piece of sheet-silver this morning. My work schedule is killing me. I'm covering for the weekend guy so working 3 weeks straigh without a weekend in the middle...  That's when I usually do jewelry so in  another week I'll be able to do some stuff.

If you have questions please leave comments and I'll be happy to answer as I can.

I also own, or have been instrumental in the following web sites:
10tinydimes.com
InTheUPstate.net
Adaptivegamer.com
Bags Express
Staged Equals Sold
sKeyPhotography.com

Silver Sheet Jewelry

I just ordered some silver sheet it's .925 sterling from Fire Mountain Gems and Beads , mirror finish and I'm going to make a cuff bracelet for a coworker.

I ordered 28 gauge sterling silver, unfortunately anything thicker costs way too much. in order to strengthen the cuff I'll be adding a double strip of copper and then folding the edges of the silver sheet over to make a band 1 inch wide which I'll then shape to the right dimensions for her wrist. I'm afraid I'm going to have to purchase a chasing hammer and a bench block, my improvisations aren't going to work much longer.

This time I'll take pictures I got a new phone with a decent camera for web pictures.

I should get the silver sheet one Wednesday of next week.

I also own, or have been instrumental in the following web sites:
10tinydimes.com
InTheUPstate.net
Adaptivegamer.com
Bags Express
Staged Equals Sold
sKeyPhotography.com

Mental Block

I have hit a mental block. I realize that's pretty bad only 5 blogs in. The issue is that I simply have too many different interests!

I sold a pair of "Square Portal" earrings on eBay. The originals were made from 16gauge wire, I'm making these from 14. It's thicker, but it will show the hammer marks better.

I am also working on a pendant for a necklace it's all squares, once I get it done I'll post a picture.

Useful tip:
No matter what kind of precious metal you are working with, use a good burnisher. I have an agate burnisher, it makes silver look like it just came out of the smelting pot it glows. I used it on my gold wedding band and it shined up to a sheen that looked like new.

Use a burnisher anytime you want a piece to look brand new, even if you have had it for a while.

Be careful burnishing does a bit of compression on the metal and can actually rub off softer metals...

What else? I am looking for plans for a cuff bracelet made from 12 to 14 gauges square wire and 16 and 24 gauge round wire. 

If I can get a decent price for what I need, I have someone interested in commissioning a piece.

I don't have my Etsy site up and running yet. I've been rather busy at work. However I fully intend to take care of that.

Well that's not much but at least there's a helpful hint and maybe I'll come up with something more.

Till next time,

Bink

I also own, or have been instrumental in the following web sites:
10tinydimes.com
InTheUPstate.net
Adaptivegamer.com
Bags Express
Staged Equals Sold
sKeyPhotography.com

My first Art-Clay Silver Project

WoW! I just finished making a ring for my 14 year old son! He hasn't seen it yet. but the artclay silver was fantastic!

I'll write a whole step by step and post a picture of the finished product tonight!




I also own, or have been instrumental in the following web sites:
10tinydimes.com
InTheUPstate.net
Adaptivegamer.com
Bags Express
Staged Equals Sold
sKeyPhotography.com

Art-Clay Silver

I started making a ring with Art-Clay silver... It's fascinating stuff. I'll be sure to post pictures when I finish... ofcourse since it's my first attempt... well, let's not look for any design awards!!!

It is a larg mangs ring (Making it for my 14 year old son to where on his middle finger) size 15.5 when it's done!  I look forward to it drying so I can refine it and smooth polish etc...

I'll let you see it when it's done!

I also own, or have been instrumental in the following web sites:
10tinydimes.com
InTheUPstate.net
Adaptivegamer.com
Bags Express
Staged Equals Sold
sKeyPhotography.com

Sterling Silver wire Jewelry

OK I decided I wanted to make some straight forward sterling silver earrings. 

First, you have to decide what you want, and what will make them different.

Second, design them, sketch doodle whatever.

Third, bend and harden the wire to make your creation!

I can't really tell you how to accomplish the first step, that's sort of the point in making your own design... you get to decide!  I would suggest that you look at the earrings or pendants that others have and consider size angle etc. Other than that, let it be YOUR creation.

To design, I like to use a notebook made of graph paper. (I use the same book for church notes and sermon ideas too.) You can get one at Barnes and Noble, here is the one I use. I like the graph paper because it makes it easy to measure the wire later.

Draw some ideas consider if you want to leave part of the wire round or if you will flatten it. Are you going to add any crystals or beads? You can sketch all of this and then finalize the design right on the graph paper.  

Once you have a set design, what size wire do you want to use?  Personally I like at least 16 gauge wire (Remember the higher the number the smaller the wire)  There are a couple of reasons I like 16 gauge wire. one, it's small enough to bend the way I want it to, two, it's thick

 enough not to bend once I have finished the product. I also like 16 gauge because it's more affordable than thicker wire.  A note here about sterling silver vs fine silver wire. Fine silver wire is .999 silver, almost pure, well basically as pure as it gets. Sterling silver (.925) has some copper in it to give it some strength. Things like earrings, and bracelets need the extra strength of the copper to help hold their shape. 

 Sometimes thicker wire will be better and for some details you need 22 or 24 gauge wire, it's all totally up to you, the designer.

Well, with that note out of the way, I have my design on graph paper, and now the reason I like to use graph paper. count the squares that your work covers.  this design used 30 squares (in this particular paper 5 squares equals 1 inch) so each of my earrings need 6 inches of wire.  As another aside the price for silver varies widely, right now it's about $3.00 per foot for 16 gauge wire. I would stock up if I had some extra cash! 

Cut 6 inches of wire for each earring then using my smooth jawed pliers I bend the wire to match my pattern. If it's not perfect don't fret, you can add some slight tweaks when you are done.  once you have bent the wire to fit the pattern, make sure all of the angles are exactly the way you envisioned them, twist the wire to make sure the earring has the correct amount of twist or is a flat as you require. this is the point where you can make minor corrections. Once you have decided that the earring is your masterpiece... then take the other piece of wire and start bending it.. but don't use the pattern!  What?  No, use the first earring, this is the best way to make certain they are as close to identical as possible. 

OK they are both flat or twisted as you required and have the hoops at the top, make sure that you bend the loop at the top (for the ear hook) so that the earring will hang along the head instead of perpendicular. Also, when you make that hoop at the top bend it so the two earrings are mirror images of each other so it will look more finished.

This is the point where you have to decide if you are going to hammer the wire flat or not. Hammering provides a unique random texture to the wire and it hardens it making it less likely to bend. There are other methods of hardening which I'm still learning. (One involves a tumbler full of steel shot, but I would be careful of that method if you are using a very fine design or if you are using fine silver)

I like to hammer my earrings. This is the point where you would attach any beads, gems or crystals to the earring, normally using a head pin and wire wrapped loop as mentioned in my previous blog.

Last but not least, attach the ear hooks, and have someone try the earrings on. make sure they hang evenly, etc.  And you are done!  

Congrats you have made your first pair of wire-wrap sterling silver earrings.

I also own, or have been instrumental in the following web sites:

http://www.nettesquiltfabrics.com - Hand dyed and pre-printed quilt fabrics
http://www.10tinydimes.com - A radical internet advertising site... underdevelopment but hope to have up by the middle of the year.
http://www.intheupstate.net Look at things in the "Up" state!
http://www.adaptivegamer.com - Gamers can have lives too!
http://www.bagsexpresssc.info - Fashion bags and accessories (brick and mortar store in Haywood Mall)
http://www.stagedequalssold.info - Home Staging... check it out!
http://www.skeyphotography.com - Up and coming photographer... watch the work she does.

Getting Started Making Jewelry

When I first decided to make some jewelry I had no idea what all could be involved. I am still learning, but I'm happy to share my learning experience with you.  I discovered a long time ago, that it's better to have someone who knows just a little more than you trying to explain how to do something... they still remember what it's like to not know at all.

Ok, first there are some tools that you really need in order to make jewelry

1. A pair of smooth jawed pliers (they won't scratch metal
2. A pair of round jaw pliers (to bend and make loops)
3. A pair of wire cutters

Here are some examples.

The picture also shows a pair of wire crimpers... these can be very handy, particularly if you start making neclaces and bracelets.

A good pair of cutters are worth their weight in gold. Get some heavy duty side cutters for memory wire and some angle cutters for head pins and soft wire.

The first jewelry I made was a pair of earrings. I don't have a picture of them... though I'll try to find some. Anyhow I had some turquise from Jerusalem, 8mm beads, and I  purchased some

small silver beads for spacers.

You start out with a sterling silver headpin, something like this:

Put a small silver bead on your showcase bead in some combination.. I put on a small silver, a turquiose, another small silver another turquoise, then a small silver on top.

Make up two that are identicle in layout, hold them to an ear and look at them. DON'T Bend the head pin yet... Once you have them exactly the way you want, then you are redy to make the loop at the top of the head-pin.

Grasp the pin about a quarter inch above the top bead with the round nose pliers, and wrap the wire around the pliar jaw. then carefully and neatly twist the wire around itself. 

Here is an example, they don't have anyhting on the body of the wire, but you can see clearly how to make the loop.  Once this is donw take your premade wire earloops (Preferably either sterling silver or hypo-allergenic and put them on the loop.

Presto your first piece of home-made jewelry.

The most importatnt thing to remember, in my opinion, when you are making jewelry, is have fun! What's the point of doing it if it's just labor? Make what you want and what you like.  Once you put it in the market place someone will purchase it.

My next post is going to be about using Sterling Silver Wire to make earrings with a twist!

oh, a piece of advice, find a local bead store, there will be someone there who can answer your questions, and they always like to see what new people are doing.

I also own, or have been instrumental in the following web sites:
http://www.10tinydimes.com
http://www.intheupstate.net
http://www.adaptivegamer.com
http://www.bagsexpresssc.info
http://www.stagedequalssold.info
http://www.skeyphotography.com

Making Jewelry

My name is Jonathan, but you can call me Bink.

On a recent trip to Israel, I purchased some eilat stones (very pretty blue/green composite stones made of all sorts of semi-prescious material.

When I came home I decided to make some ear-rings for my wife, and it all snowballed from there.

I'm currently in the process of setting up an etsy.com site to sell my jewelry designs.

I have been doing some wire-wrapping in sterling silver wire, and recently purchased some art-clay silver. This stuff is going to be so cool. I'll tell you al about it when I get it..

This is my first entry so I'm working on getting pictures arranged etc.

Some of the things I want to talk about on this blog are:
1. Where to get supplies.
2. Using old jewelry to make new pieces
3. Desiging with Sterling Silver Wire
4. Using Art-Clay Silver to create whole pieces and findings for other jewelery.

I hope you enjoy!