metalsmithing

Here is the final piece from my studio last weekend – a large, stunning labradorite cabochon. I learned the prong setting from an online course by Lucy Walker Jewelry. This setting technique has gotten quicker ...

It seems that I prefer to work very large or very small. This weekend I did a little bit of both. I just love the depth and sparkle of this small cloud-shaped moss kyanite. I ...

I usually think of turquoise of a summery stone … but this one sings of winter to me. I’m absolutely smitten with this White Lavender turquoise. I’m really enjoying the new Liver of Sulphur I ...

In the past few weeks, I’ve been grouping my (zillion!) cabs into a series of small seasonal collections.

I am getting ready to try flush settings again, this time with a 4 mm stone. In order to avoid having to layer sheet metal, I bought one thicker sheet. 12 gauge is heavy – ...

I love the brown paper and leafy ribbon, but I’m going replace the butterfly ribbon next time. And I finally settled on a dark green for the gift bags inside.

I didn’t metalsmith last weekend, and my shop was a bit of an explosion when I went out there today. I put some music on and cleaned up my workbench, and then I decided to ...

I think I may have a tool addiction. Send help?! Check out this yumminess from @buffalo_rutland_co , which arrived in the mail today. This a new hammer along with some shot plates, which I want ...

I started the weekend with no clear projects in mind, so I did a little sawing of copper shapes again. I can’t believe how quickly the year has gone – the passing of the seasons ...

This weekend I made a few pendants to support a charity auction at work.

Gotta love the amazing blue flash in the labradorite. This attempt went more quickly – and was definitely much easier – when I followed the instructions! I learned a ton of new techniques for both ...

I started Lucy Walker’s prong setting class, and I’ve learned so much already. I’m attempting to set the beautiful labradorite pictured above.

I had much better luck with flush setting today!

The ‘octopus setting’ is basically a series of textured jump rings (little circles of wire) sitting on top of the ring band. Every jump ring has to be made the correct size for the gems, ...

In order to learn how to flush set stones, I bought some cubic zirconia (CZs). These are man-made stones so they are not super expensive, but still beautiful. I shared them here and in my ...

Before dinner last night, I snuck out to my shop in the garage and finished setting this ring that I started last weekend. I am really happy with how it turned out, though in reality ...