New texture plates
It’s been months, but I finally got around to bolting my rolling mill table down to the concrete floor. One of my favorite techniques. 💕
Making
Work in progress
I made a few more open shank rings last weekend. It’s amazing to me how much faster (and more neatly!) I’m producing things than I was at the beginning of the summer.
Flush setting practice
Flush setting is a technique where you embed the stone in metal so it is – wait for it – flush with the surface of the metal. It’s typically done with smaller stones so the ...
Sapphires
Gradually working up the courage and skill to work with smaller stones and gems. These are 4 mm sapphires from @rosecutselect. I am equally thrilled and terrified to set them! Stay tuned …
More texture plates
More homemade steel texture plates. The vinyl resist is off, though I have to remove the rust. I can’t wait to try them!
Testing textures
Just finished testing some more steel texture plates.
Vinyl resist
Last winter I put my first vinyl resist on steel plate, but it was too cold to work with the chemicals outside, and too dangerous to have them in the house. So, these plates have ...
Playing with patterns
Last winter I patterned these four pre-cut copper discs in a rolling mill. Yummy, right?! I *really* want to do basse taille (an enameling technique where you reveal some of the metal) on them, but ...
Patterning metal
I have been inspired by and super curious about patterning metal since I first started taking classes at @LillStreet last year. Here is a steel plate that I bought last season, along with a pair of earrings ...
Workshop improvements
Even with layers of cold weather gear on, around Halloween last year it got too cold for me to do any more metalsmithing in the garage. I was feeling really discouraged about it, and not ...
Homemade jump rings
One of the many things I love about metalsmithing is that I have Beginner’s Mind – I have no illusions about my level of mastery. I derive so much pleasure in learning how to use ...
Texture plates
I’ve been wanting to etching steel plates so I can make my own patterns on metal. The technique I’m using here is one that I learned from a Leslie Villareal YouTube video. I like the ...
Die-cut hearts
Over the winter I have been exploring some new crafts. These are photos of a few cards I made with a new die-cut machine. It’s the same paper and pattern, combined in three different ways.
Sawing practice
Finally getting around to posting this. It’s another piece I did to practice my sawing. Lots of imperfections but I still enjoyed the process! Trying to decide whether I’m going to do it again in ...
Augustus Rose
I’ve been spending hours surfing Pinterest, looking for inspiration – especially simple ways to add a bail to a pendant. Along the way I found an archival scan of a jewelry making book by Augustus ...
Ruby chrosite pendant
I’ve been researching and practicing different bail techniques. Setting this ruby chrosite was just barely within reach but I’m pretty happy with how it turned out.
Beadie dreams
Some time ago I wrote a post about the beadwork I do for fun. As I’ve mentioned in my health-related posts, I’m working a reduced schedule at the moment, which has afforded me a bit ...
Beadiful constraints
Once a year I host a UX All Hands meeting, where we bring the global team together for learning, knowledge exchange, planning, and team building. Because the team is growing so fast, we do need ...