RAW52-12

I know, I know.  It's been so long since you've seen a RAW or THAW post that you started to think I'd given up entirely right?  :)

I have not given up, I am just grossly behind.  

This is entry number 12, and this is week 15.  I'm going to try to knock out a couple of smallish rings (perilously low on silver!).  I'm thinking of trying out some adjustable ring shanks.  I've got a couple of ideas on how to make that happen, but it will take some finagling..

So, without further ado...

Kyanite Quatrefoil

I got these cabs in the mail the day before yesterday, and originally had other plans for them...

But, I decided yesterday to just sit down with them and work.  

I am naturally a planner and usually have a pretty good idea of what I'm going to do when I sit down to work.  The problem with that is that I spend more time thinking and planning than I do working!

So, it all just sort of came together and here we have the quatrefoil kyanite ring.  

I am really digging this shape right now.  

I also used the same shape here:

This ring came together quite smoothly.  I wonder how much of it had to do with not planning every single step to death? 

Have a great Friday!  I know I will....hopefully I'll be back with a few other newies later.  

by the sea

I have dithered long enough. I have let my fear of working with large stones keep me from working with the gorgeous stones I have been collecting for several months now...so I decided to test the waters. Dip my toes in, if you will. And guess what I found? The water is warm, and inviting. The deepest of deep blues. I found my courage, it was waiting for me...by the sea.

Set oh so simply, but this stone doesn't need anything fancy.  It sings loud enough on it's own...It can be found here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/61291968/by-the-sea-apatite-and-sterlingring

A new feature!

Being a beginner at metalsmithing, I am bound to make some mistakes huh? I am learning so much just by jumping in and making jewelry. Take these two rings for example. They are both beautiful, and they are good enough to wear! They don't need to be stuffed in the back of the drawer somewhere. But, they each have a little flaw that will not allow the perfectionist in me to try to sell them as 100% perfect.

So, I have decided to offer my slightly flawed pieces here on my blog for the price of materials only. I am hoping to give some of you out there a chance to own a piece of artisan jewelry made with quality material, and give myself the opportunity to make beautiful new pieces and hopefully less mistakes!

Even though these pieces are being sold as is, I will not try to sell anything that I think will fall apart, or the stone will come out. I just feel that they are big enough problems that they need to disclosed.

So, to the right of this post, you will find these two rings listed. If you click on the photos, you will be directed to Flickr to view more photos. If you decide to purchase, just click on the "Buy Now" button.

Thank you for your continued support! My customers mean the world to me!

I've been doing some metalsmithing.....

This is my 2nd fully metalsmithed ring. The stone is dumorterite. It is a dark blue with black flecks in it. My husband and daughter both said they didn't think the stone was very pretty. But I like it. I liked it when I first bought the stone, and I still like it now. I have always loved navy blue, and the darkness of this stone drew me in right away.

Anyone recognize the setting? Yep, Bali style daisy spacers. I gotta say that I have been inspired by JJ of RosyRevolver on Etsy and Tess of NovaofSweden on Etsy. I am really new to metalsmithing, but these ladies use of commercial findings in metalsmithing have opened up my mind to the uses of the materials I have on hand. I actually had these in the destash pile to sell in my supply shop, but like I said, these ladies have inspired me to think of other uses for beads and bead caps in other ways.



And this is, you guessed it, my 3rd metalsmithed ring. I wanted to give myself a challenge with this ring. Making a bezel on a curved surface. The stone is Turquoise, mined in my home state of Nevada near Tonapah. I love this stone. The little smattering of matrix in the bottom half looks like a close up on a birds eye view of a peninsula and a string of islands surrounded by the clearest blue green water you've ever seen.

You'll also see in the last photo a little mountain range with the sun rising (or setting?) behind it with my initials stamped below. I am experimenting with a maker's mark. I think I will settle on this for now (get it? Ruby Mountain....Amy Nicole? :)), until I have an extra few hundred lying around to have a custom stamp designed. Yes! They cost that much! It will probably take me forever to decide on a design for one anyway.

I've been busy making ear wires and head pins from copper and brass for RubyMtnBeads. I'm making them in shiny finish, and antiqued. I've been antiquing them a dark brown and then throwing them in the tumbler to give them the loveliest sheen. I'm going to try to get them listed tonight at Etsy and ArtFire. I'm also going to list some bulk wire that I've given that same gorgeous patina for those who would like to use it in wire wrapping, making your own ear wires, head pins, or whatever!

My first fully metalsmithed ring..

I have a million and one things to do after being gone all weekend at my beginning metalsmithing class. I want to tell all about it, I just don't have the time right now. That, and I'm trying to absorb everything. All I can say is that our instructor turned everything I ever thought I knew about metalsmithing on it's ear.

So, very quickly, I took a couple of photos of my masterpiece.


The stone is.....Carnelian. Surprise, surprise. I am so drawn to carnelian these days, I just can't seem to get away from it, so I will enjoy it until the next stone obsession comes along.

This ring is big. And pretty heavy. I feel it weighing my hand down as I type. I suspect the weight will take some getting used to since I don't usually wear big rings. But I am so proud. I learned so much. I have even more to contemplate. More soon.