Silver Dandelion Cuff

When I originally made this cuff, I created the design by simply drawing freehand directly on to the silver. Then, I could be loose and and draw intuitively with a sharpie pen. However this cuff is being made for an order, so I need to keep as close as possible to the original picture posted on the web. When  I can meet with the person who is buying the cuff, I discuss any design changes they would like, and various heights etc. for the bracelet.

Fortunately, I remembered to take a photo of the first cuff before I formed it, so this photo, scaled to size, is what I am using as a template. 

I begin by punching in the dots as markers, and then set about inscribing the design.

When I am happy with all the markings, I blacken the inscriptions, and then carefully, using a very fine sandpaper 600 grit, remove the excess, and create a nice clean finish on the silver.

It takes time and care to form the silver in to the cuff. The sheet is hammered around the mandrel till the desired size is acheived. Obviously, if I try to work to fast, or get impatient, (which happens...), I can mar the surface with an ugly dent mark which may take a very, very long time to remove.

When formed, the cuff is tumbled in a rock tumbler with steel shot for a few hours This "work hardens" the silver, making it firmer, and less likely to deform and take on scratches. A last gently sanding to create a matte finish, and the cuff is ready to be worn and enjoyed!

Recycled Sprite soda can buckel

I had a lot of fun today playing with some old soda cans. Instead of the usual leather I add to my buckles for colour, I thought it would be fun to recycle some cans and see what I could come up with. I found I still needed to use the nickel for strength, but that the tin has a lovely vibrancy and rich color.

I rather like this oak tree which has a portion of a Sprite can behind the nickel. I love how it blends from blue to green, and the bubbles on the can look like light passing through the leaves.

Can't wait to try some more, and think I will try using cork next.

Making the Madrone Tree Pendant

This pendant is inspired by the native madrone trees which grow here in the Santa Cruz Mountains. A popular pendant, I am frequenly asked how it is created, so I thought it would be fun to explain a little about the process.

I begin with a flat sheet of 24ga sterling silver. If I am planing to put some gold accents on the pendant later, I would use fine silver here. With the aid of a rolling mill, a stencil is used to imboss an impression on what will be the interior of the pendant. I cut a new stencil of the background trees for each pendant, as it will be torn by the great pressure exerted by mill. Also, it is nice to have each a little different.

With a disc cutter, one inch circles are cut from the sterling silver sheet. The silver is sandwiched between the steel, and the disc punched out when whacked with the hammer. This it a great tool, fun to use and perfect circles every time.

A drawing of my design is glued to the silver, and small holes are pierced so I can use the saw blade to remove the silver between the branches.

The blade used to saw the silver is quite tiny, only .008" thick. This part of the process requires my greatest concentration. It's so easy to stray off line, but worst of all, these delicate blades break very easily.

I have learned that I must relax and let the saw move through the metal smoothly. Any tension or abrupt turns will cause the blade to snap, and it is very frustrating to replace the blade and set up the work again frequently. I've also discovered too much coffee in the morning does not help at this point of the day!

I carefully file the silver to clean any rough edges and form the metal. This is where I can have fun giving each tree it's unique character.  No matter how often I make this pendant, no two trees ever turn out identical.

I sand and burnish the branches to smooth out the  surface, and enhance the contrast between the leaves and the trunks of the trees.

A block of wood which has perfect hemispherical indentations of various sizes, called a dapping block, is used to curve the discs into concave domes. 

The metal is supported in the wood, and hit repeatedly while rotated in the block.

The interior edges of the front and back are sanded to ensure a close fit. Solder will not fill in any gaps or spaces, so the fit has to be perfect. A flux is painted on and allow to dry and tiny pieces of hard solder are placed where needed. These will be heated and melted in place. Then the silver is placed in a pickle bath (mild acid) to clean, before the two parts are soldered together. This is known as sweat soldering.

 

Unlike welding, the silver piece has to reach a uniform temperature  before the solder will melt and flow. I use the highest temperature, "hard" solder,  for the first join, 1475 F, then reduce the temperature on each successive solder, so that the previous solder does not turn fluid again.  

The resulting pendant.

Running Pendant

The running pendant I am presently working on is particularly special to me. I am please to be making it for a client of the Many Hands Gallery in Capitola. This lady has purchased others, and gives them as gifts to her running friends. I hear she inscribes their times on the pendants.

I enjoy this a great deal, as I first made this pendant for some friends who convinced me I could run the Wharf to Wharf in Santa Cruz, and then encouraged me to run the Big Sur Half Marathon in 2009. Having never participated in any sport other then hiking, this for me was a marvelous accomplishment. I gave the pendants to my friends at dinner the night before, in thanks for the encouragement, fun and sweat we had shared during the training. I have always felt this is a pendant that is earned. We have run a few more half marathons since, and I love what running has brought to my life, serenity, courage, confidence, new friends, and frequently, new jewelry design ideas!

Shinny New Blog

It’s a beautiful day here on the hill, January, a time when we should be hunkered down in the worst of out rainy season. Instead, the sun is shining, the temperature is warm and all is still. An inspiring day to begin a new project, for a new year.

In response to requests for information on what handmade jewelry I am designing and making these days, I resolved this year to create a blog. I hope to showcase here new jewelry items, and how my pieces are inspired, designed and made. Three words, the process sounds so organized and simple. Oh that it were so! I have realized the sometime the simplest pieces can be heartbreakingly annoying, and what I anticipate to be a difficult day, to be the most satisfying. But as they say, even a bad day in the studio, is better then the best day in the office! And I do really enjoy my time in the workroom.

My Studio Space   

    

Designed by the previous homeowners as a passive solar room to heat the house in winter, it’s a long glass walled structured which runs along the south and west corner of our home. Freezing on a winter morning, and stiflingly hot on a summer’s day, I nevertheless love this space. And it’s mine, all mine.  No one else bothers with it, and I can create to my hearts content out here without having to clean up any of my tools. My bench runs along the window, so I have great light, and a lovely view of the trees and garden. It is also pleasantly quiet; I can hear just the birds and animals. (Except when my lads are home from school and playing in the house, then I can hear when I need to quickly reenter to avert the next crisis!)