Recent Finished Projects

Well, this week, a lot of rings got done- take a look:

Midori's spinner ring consisted of a textured inner band, oxidized and buffed, and an outer band that she designed, pierced, saw-cut, stamped, soldered, blackened, and buffed. Fabulous work, Midori! Great craftsmanship!

Here is another view of Midori's spinner ring. The inner band was flared in order to keep the outer band on and able to spin.

Nicky out-did herself with this gorgeous spinner ring! This time, instead of flaring the ends of the ring, Nicky wanted to employ soldered end-rings to keep her inner spinner rings on. Not a foolproof method, but she did a great job and it looks like a million bucks!

Gayle managed to get this simply-set opal ring AND a spinner ring done (oops- sorry- forgot to snap the spinner ring!!) Sometimes simple is better- especially for a modern look with a beautiful stone. Great job, Gayle!

Here's some new projects completed from LAST week!

Angie's ring was etched using PNP paper and then a gorgeous labradorite was set in a bezel, soldered on top, and a ring shank (after forming) was soldered to the bottom. Great job!

Nicky's gorgeous earrings featured a bezel-set green quartz, with panels of textured silver connected by jump rings, and a hand-made earwire. Beautiful job!

This was Linda's first soldering project- what a beauty! She hung a pearl from the bottom, and spent many times getting all the components to solder just right. Next step is to connect it to a chain. Way to go!

Gayle's stone-set pendant was very time-consuming- she measured and re-measured the wire frames around the stone and the whole pendant, and then soldered many times to make sure the solder flowed all around the exterior. A bail was added, stone set, buffed up, and ready to wear. Great job!

See you all next week!

New Projects Completed This Week

This week we had lots of new projects completed!

Linnea was on a Viking Knit Mission this week and has completed LOTS of new chains- how addictive!!

She also had time in class to make a fused loop-in-loop chain in sterling- with matching earrings and handmade s-clasp too!

Angie's loop in loop suite is also very well-done!

Molly's Jasper Ring was done simply and elegantly to accent the pattern in the stone.

Angie's Jasper Earrings have a great unique shape with hand-stamping. Great job!!

Fab job everyone!!

Chain Making Class- Viking Knit

This week the students finished up their first chain- a Viking Knit. Made out of fine silver and finished with sterling endcaps and wire s-clasps:

Angie decided to oxidize her bracelet to bring out the beautiful weave pattern in the knit.

Linnea opted not to oxidize in this elegant double-stitched knit.

Debbie's knit was single-stitched- it gives it a real lacy feel.

Great job everyone!!

End of Summer Session

Today marked the final class in the summer session of Dana Evans' metalsmithing class at the Workhouse Art Center in Lorton, VA.

This ring by Gwen encorporated a Peruvian blue opal in a handmade bezel setting. She created her own design that was etched into the silver, then created the ring shank, soldered them all together, and called it done. Great work!

Gwen also created this pendant with an acid-etched tabbed front and tube ensemble that also included some etching. Gorgeous piece!

Angie's gorgeous ring featured a handmade bezel with stamping around the edge. Another great job!

Barbara soldered these large earrings many times before the bezels were completely soldered around and onto the copper. Worth the effort and difficulty of working with copper. Awesome job!!

These earrings by Gayle were her first stone-set project! She designed, cut, and bezel-set the turquoises. Great job!!

Daphne's malachite ring features a background of acid-etched silver. Very complimentary and stunning!

This is a particularly beautiful etched seahorse by Molly. I have a feeling there are more to come??!

Fab job everyone!!

More Summer Projects Complete

Only one more week of class this summer, but the students have gotten a lot accomplished!

Monique etched this gorgeous flower and then added the bezel-set glass opal in the center. Magnifique!

Barbara etched and then tried again and again and again to solder the bezel onto this large piece of copper- finally did it with the aid of a trinket kiln- good work!

Angie's earrings encorporate a bezel-set pair of labradorites along with some gorgeous stamping- great job!

Monique created this bezel last session, but completed the bead mosaic and grouted it this week. Beautiful!!

Finally, Monique created this tri-metal piece that was hammered, pierced, and joined. A great modern design!

Awesome work everyone!!

Week 3- Metalsmithing Studio- Summer Session

We're more than halfway through the summer session at the Workhouse, and we have some gorgeous projects!

This is a set of stack rings by Gwen. Her first stone-set project, too! She created and soldered the bezel for the pearl, and soldered it to a base plate. Then she measured, cut and soldered the ring shank, and soldered that to the back of the bezel. She also created another one to add to the stack. Polished and stone set, they're ready to wear!

These gorgeous feather earrings are by Gayle. She designed the pair, created a template and cut out the silver, textured it, soldered on the earwire, formed them, oxidized and buffed them, and then called them done! Great job!

Daphne's large double pendant was a challenge because of the size of the stones. Soldering the bezels closed alone was an exercise! But she perservered, got the job done, and those stones are the star of this piece. Good work!

These striking earrings by Angie feature lovely oval turquoise cabochons, set in a bezel and soldered onto a 1/2 moon-shaped piece of sterling that's been stamped with a radiating design. They were then oxidized and polished, and earwires created. Nice job, Angie!

Summer session- Metalsmithing I and 2

Well, it's week 2 and we already have finished projects!

This turquoise ring by Angie is her first stone-set piece! She measured, cut and soldered the bezel closed, then soldered it to the base, created and soldered the ring shank, stamped the design around the border, buffed it, oxidized it, tumble-shined it, and finally- raised and set the stone! Great work!

These are Marie's earrings made by the fold-over chain method. She cut, fused, hammered and bent them into submission!

Gayle's bracelet also used the fold-over chain method- same gauge and wire length as Marie's but totally different aesthetic result!

Nice job everyone!!