Last Batch of Completed Projects

This past Saturday was the last class of Metalsmithing Studio at the Lorton Workhouse, taught by Dana Evans.

Midori has been intrigued by fold-forming, so this week she brought in some templates she had made of folded paper flowers, to be made in copper.

She hammered in the veins of the petals, then folded each one in half, hammered the edge, then opened back up and folded the petals downward. Wow!

Midori made 2 flowers, and created center "stamens" which she drilled through the copper and bent and soldered to the back of the flower. She then soldered each flower to a tube in the back for hanging from a chain or pinback. Lastly, she set a marquis-shaped citrine in one of the petals Amazing work, Midori!

Kathi's post earrings feature a modern design of square wire with a faceted cubic zirconia- her first faceted stone-set project- beautiful!!

Nanette made a matching ring to her pendant made last session- the ring shank was a bee-atch to manipulate but she did it and it's beautiful!!

Daphne's gorgeous pendant features a ruby and imperial jasper cabochon. Etched, soldered, and hinged- it's a beautiful piece!

Linda's pendant features a modern expanse of silver with a stone-set and hand-pinned bail. Great work!

Linda's second pendant features a cool shell cabochon and a simple setting.

Evelyn simply set her turquoise- her first stone-set project- beautiful work, simple elegance, and excellent polishing!

Christine's "moon and stars" ring features a glass "dragon's breath" cabochon. Her first stone-set project- great work!!

Angie's earrings feature a cabochon of turquoise to enliven the silver backplate- beautiful!

More Finished Projects

This week we had a few new projects completed... next week is the last week of Metalsmith Studio... ;(

Linda's earrings started life as a single rectangular cabochon which she decided to have cut in half for earrings. She created a bezel for the top, then soldered on a top plate, a tube for hanging the earwire, and created the earwires as well. Everyone in class wanted to wear them home!

This was Rachel's first stone-set project. A beautiful pendant! Great job!!

Angie's pendant was her first double-stone. Complete with her signature stamped border and a cool pinned bail. Great job!

Midori's cool copper piece was fold-formed and then a pink CZ (cubic zirconia) was set within the folds. Awesome job!!

New Completed Projects

Here's some new projects completed this week and last week in Metalsmithing Studio:

Kathi's lapis bead prong-set ring was a hard-earned win! The ring was all but destroyed in a polishing "accident", but Kathi persevered and finished it off beautifully! Awesome job!!

A back view of Kathi's ring.

Gayle's green pendant was etched, bezel-set, connected with jump rings, and the bail was pinned on. Great job!!

Midori used a clear quartz stone with rutiles and cut out a pattern in the back to be able to see through the stone. Brass with a silver bezel and a foldover bail- excellent job!!

Daphne's amazonite stone earrings were first etched and then hinged using soldered tubes and hammered rivets. Handmade earwires, too. Beautiful job!!

Linda's earrings took a while to get the details worked out, but now they complete a set which includes a pendant she made during her first set of classes. Beautiful wrapped looped pearls, too. Awesome job!

Nicky's inventive loop ring took a while to think out the assembly, but once thought-out, it went fast! Snap settings hold the faceted gems which have great movement on the ring. Terrific job!!

Angie's beautiful etched pendant with peridot shows her love of etching and simple, bold designs. Great job!!

Christine, Rachel and Nanette took their first stab at saw-cutting and piercing with a jeweler's saw this week. Heart, hamsa and bird came out great! Christine further textured and refined her heart. Rachel decided to beautifully etch the hamsa with a nail-polish stamp. Nanette did some forming and texturing of her bird on a log. Terrific job, ladies!

This is Rachel's first soldering project. Was going to be earrings, but her instructor screwed up the other one, so now it's a pendant. Thanks a lot, Dana! Great job!!

Evelyn's gorgeous abstract composition was her first soldering project. Came out wowsers!!

This is Christine's first soldering project. Well, second, but first didn't go well so she whipped out this one- great job!!

Nanette's first soldering project came out terrific! A gentle jellyfish includes a pinned bail.

New Completed Projects

This week in Metalsmithing Studio we have a few finished projects:

Nanette finished this project leftover from last session: the gorgeous dragonbreath glass cabochon is set in a silver bezel with wire swirls and frame, and a hand-pinned bail. Great work!

Midori constructed this "bow" ring completely by hand. She etched the surface, folded the side bows and the center bow, then soldered them all together and then to the ring shank. Awesome job!!

Kathi made this amazing copper scoop by forming the bowl with hammers, wood balls and a wood dapping block. The stem was made by fold forming first, then hammering the stem into a cylinder with a forming die. Hand riveted, it has a wonderful patina and is ready to use!

Angie's boulder opal ring has an unusual lower shape but was soldered expertly- great job!

First Projects Done in Winter Metalsmithing Studio

There were a few projects done in only 2 classes (5 left!) at the Workhouse today:

Nicky's earrings encorporated a gorgeous etched and cut tab of sterling silver hanging below "firebreath" glass cabochons- beautiful job!

Angie's peridot ring utilizes one of her favorite techniques- stamping! Nice job!

Christine and Evelyn completed their first projects- these beautiful fused loop chain bracelets. It was a multi-step process and they kept with it and even made their own s-clasps. Great jobs, ladies!!

See you all next time!

Last class until 2012

Sadness- last day of the Fall metalsmithing studio class at the Workhouse. Some great projects got completed though!

Daphne spent much of the session working on this amazing bracelet! Hinged (not easy) and etched and stone-set, it was a job! Terrific work, Daphne!

Here's another view of Daphne's bracelet.

Nicky etched and domed this brass round piece, then set a stone in silver and added a bail. Bold and beautiful!

Midori's pendant was her first faceted stone-set project! She first etched the modern/retro design and then created the bezel and seat for the stone. She rolled the top of the silver to create a channel for a chain, then set the stone. Gorgeous!

Linda created this etched heart keyring for a friend. Great job!

This is also Linda's- a pendant from an etched "cityscape" drawing. Also reminds me of a circuit board. With a pegged-bail. Nice job!

Molly's ring has been the victim of many hours of texturing and manipulation! But it has a great organic, textured flow to it.

Angie's earrings were etched and then dangles were created by creating wire seats for the stones behind the bezels to create a lighter weight piece. Gorgeous stones and great work!

See everyone in January!

One More Week of Class

Lots 'o stuff done today!!

This was Linda's first stone-set project!! She used a high-dome ring and created a bezel for it, soldered it closed and to a base plate, then created a ring of brass to go around the stone and bring out some of the browns. Next she created, soldered and attached the ring shank to the rest of the setting, and tumbled it shiny- gorgeous!!

Angie's beautiful earrings were created using a nail-stamp etching technique. The stones are smoky quartz. Great job!

This was Debbie's first soldering project- making a chain. Every other link was hammered for texture, and the toggle was constructed and soldered on. Will last forever!

Linda also created this- her first etched piece! With a handmade soldered-on bail too! Great job!