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.  

RAW52~03

I have a great love of royalty, and by extension, crowns.  I have designed my very own crown.   Set upon a copper heart with sterling silver decoration and a glittering oval of kyanite at its center.

I have been wanting to try a few new things with this RAW project.  So, here we have my first mixed metals piece.  And my first crown!  I think I may be hooked.  Made entirely from my own sketches,  I am proud of this little beauty.

On the back of I have stamped "love & loyal".  The heart of course representing love, and the crown representing loyalty.

I'm hoping to have time to list this baby later tonight!  TGIF!  Have a great evening!  :)

RAW52

A little history first.  Last year, I followed a very creative metalsmith named Tomi.  And, I learned recently that's pronounced like "tommy" not "toe mee".  So, I have had to change her name in my mind, since for most of the year I had thought it would be "toe mee".  Anyway.... :)  She belonged to a flickr group called Ring A Day.   The challenge for the participants was to create a ring a day.  It didn't have to be made of metal, it could be made of anything.  From a full on fabricated silver ring, to a ring of paper.  Just so that you made a ring a day.

Tomi made it to the end.  One of the few from what I understand.  I joined the flickr group last year so I could check out all the rings, but never really got the chance to follow anyone but Tomi since I follow her blog.  And I must say, I really enjoyed seeing her posts every day, and my very favorites of her work are the shadow rings that she does.  They are super cool....

So, Tomi announced some time in December that she was starting a Ring A Week group.  I started toying with the idea right away.  I think I could handle a ring a week.  I really would like to use this project to challenge myself to try some new things.  I already have a list going!

My very first ring completed in the New Year was "Tranquillity".

 A fairly simple setting for this lovely cab of kyanite.

 This stone just spoke "Tranquillity" to me from the moment I touched it.  Calming, soothing, completely serene, and just, tranquil.  I tried to give her a different setting.  The original one was more boxy, a little squared scallops, coined edges.  A little edgier...

 But she just didn't like it.  I could feel that it wasn't right for this stone.

Calm soothing waves, like gentle rippling water was what this stone needed.  And so that is what she got.

My first RAW!!  I am excited to be a part of this group, getting to know other jewelry artists.  It's going to be a lot of fun and I invite you to follow me on my journey!

New Work

New Year, new work.  Even though all of these pieces were started last year, they were finished in the new year!  So here's to 2012!  I still need to take photos of these pieces on, ( the earrings and the necklace).  And then I have a few pairs of trifle earrings I need to get together and photographed, and then I can make a proper update in my Etsy shop to start the year off!

First up is the Tranquillity ring.  A gorgeous hunk of Kyanite, and I am thrilled beyond words that I was able to capture the gorgeous color of this stone in the pictures!  Wheee Hawww!  This silvery blue can conjure up nothing but serene and tranquil thoughts.  :)

This ring doesn't really follow along the same themes as these next two pieces.  It's sort of a transition to bigger things.  You'll see what I mean.  Hopefully by the end of the week....

More Conchas!  This time with a larger hunk of silver, and bezel set turquoise tear drop shaped cabs.  I love these and definitely see more in my future....

And, a New Mexican Fan Necklace.  Yes, I'm still with the wire wrapping of the beads.  I think I am finished with this  for right now.  My carpal tunnel is irritated, and I need a break.  I do so love the fringes of beads though.....

This necklace is designed to be worn long.  And the fringe is so much fun to fiddle with!

So I'm shooting for a proper update in the shop on Tuesday evening.  With New Year's resolutions and all that rot, I too am jumping on the band wagon.  You know the one that goes to the gym regularly, eats better, cooks more nutritious meals for the kids, sets goals and makes them, works on a steady schedule and produces new work every week....you know the one.  :)  Let's see how far I make it before I fall off ;)  Have a fab Monday!  It's going to be a tough one here.  After two weeks of vacation time I am greeting Monday with mixed feelings.  See you again on Tuesday!