Better late than never...
The first Ring a Week Group Challenge was 'Kinetics.' I have fallen behind with my RAW creations but I did finish my kinetic ring for #13.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
RAW 13/52
Ring a Week: Kinetics
Better late than never...
The first Ring a Week Group Challenge was 'Kinetics.' I have fallen behind with my RAW creations but I did finish my kinetic ring for #13.
It is three bands that spin on a larger ring. Fun to play with and it makes a little rattle noise when it is shaken. I like this, it is one that I could wear every day, but it is going into the etsy shop. First new item listed in a while...
Better late than never...
The first Ring a Week Group Challenge was 'Kinetics.' I have fallen behind with my RAW creations but I did finish my kinetic ring for #13.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
RAW 11/52
Ring a Week: week 11--Broken Stone :(
A beautiful round ocean jasper cabochon, cut by Cabbinrough. I tried to set the stone using 12 guage sterling silver prongs, by just hammering the tops to set the stone in place. Wouldn't you know it? the stone broke? I love the proportion of the stone so much, that I requested another. It has arrived, but I have to find the time to set it.
A beautiful round ocean jasper cabochon, cut by Cabbinrough. I tried to set the stone using 12 guage sterling silver prongs, by just hammering the tops to set the stone in place. Wouldn't you know it? the stone broke? I love the proportion of the stone so much, that I requested another. It has arrived, but I have to find the time to set it.
Next up is a more complicated setting with square wire. I am a bit behind in posting, but have a week off, where I can plan out the next few designs and get back on track.
Massart MADE finally open for business!!!
The Massart MADE store had its opening party tonight!!!
| Location | |||||||||
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| About | A retail store featuring work by alumni, students, staff, and faculty!Alumni, faculty, AND STUDENTS are able to submit work to be sold at the store!email Ginger Russell with examples of your work!ginger.russell@massart.edu |
| Description | A retail store featuring work by alumni, students, staff, and faculty (located on the first floor of the Kennedy Building) |
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Sunday, March 6, 2011
RAW 10/52
Ring a Week: Week 10--Jumping on the Drusy Bandwagon...
It seems like everywhere I look lately, I see drusy (or druzy) stones incorporated into jewelry designs. It is either a hot trend right now, or I am only now seeing them because of my recent interest in stones.
What is drusy? Drusys are created when crystals coat the surface of a stone, usually an agate or chalcedony, when gases are trapped inside a cavity of the stone. They can be large and rough, or have a fine, sugar-like appearance and are found in a variety of colors.
I like the white and pale pastel varieties, as they compliment the clean appearance of the brushed silver. When the silver is oxidised, the opal-like luminosity in the white stones is enhanced.
For this week's ring, I have made a rough piece of drusy into a ring by prong setting the stone with square wire. To be honest, I think I will change this to a pendant, I am not sure the stone will survive long as a ring, and it is somewhat uncomfortable to wear.
Here is a pendant I made at the same time as the ring with a pretty oval shaped agate drusy:
This one is going into my etsy shop.
Be sure to check out everyone else's progress in RAW. It is fun and inspiring to follow the progress.
It seems like everywhere I look lately, I see drusy (or druzy) stones incorporated into jewelry designs. It is either a hot trend right now, or I am only now seeing them because of my recent interest in stones.
What is drusy? Drusys are created when crystals coat the surface of a stone, usually an agate or chalcedony, when gases are trapped inside a cavity of the stone. They can be large and rough, or have a fine, sugar-like appearance and are found in a variety of colors.
I like the white and pale pastel varieties, as they compliment the clean appearance of the brushed silver. When the silver is oxidised, the opal-like luminosity in the white stones is enhanced.
For this week's ring, I have made a rough piece of drusy into a ring by prong setting the stone with square wire. To be honest, I think I will change this to a pendant, I am not sure the stone will survive long as a ring, and it is somewhat uncomfortable to wear.
Here is a pendant I made at the same time as the ring with a pretty oval shaped agate drusy:
This one is going into my etsy shop.
Be sure to check out everyone else's progress in RAW. It is fun and inspiring to follow the progress.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
RAW 9/52
Week 9: Beach Stone Blues
Here, in the Northeast, we take our summertime seriously. We are desperately waiting for warmer weather here in Massachusetts, so this week's ring offers a taste---- A stone picked up from a beach and sterling silver prongs. Something to contemplate on these cold days and to remind us that change is coming...
It is my first successful attempt at prong (or is it claw?) setting. This is not a traditional prong setting that you would see on a faceted stone, but made with 1.6 mm sterling square wire. I like that the prongs are really reaching around and gripping the stone. I may give this to my sister, who lives in Colorado and misses living near the coast and her time at the beach.
Here, in the Northeast, we take our summertime seriously. We are desperately waiting for warmer weather here in Massachusetts, so this week's ring offers a taste---- A stone picked up from a beach and sterling silver prongs. Something to contemplate on these cold days and to remind us that change is coming...
It is my first successful attempt at prong (or is it claw?) setting. This is not a traditional prong setting that you would see on a faceted stone, but made with 1.6 mm sterling square wire. I like that the prongs are really reaching around and gripping the stone. I may give this to my sister, who lives in Colorado and misses living near the coast and her time at the beach.
C'mon Summer, hurry up and get here!
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| Old Lyme Shores, CT |
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Etsy Listings
This year, I was accepted to an Etsy team, Etsymetal. It is a group of very skilled metalsmiths and entrepreneurs who have very successful shops on Etsy. It has inspired me to make some real improvements on my shop. I have been on Etsy for a few years, but it has never been a great money maker, and I feel that the few sales I have made were the result of dumb luck...
One of the things I am working on this year is to take my Etsy shop more seriously and try to get noticed in that huge abyss of crafting.I have been working hard photographing and listing some work on Etsy.
Here are some recent listings to the shop:
One of the things I am working on this year is to take my Etsy shop more seriously and try to get noticed in that huge abyss of crafting.I have been working hard photographing and listing some work on Etsy.
Here are some recent listings to the shop:
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| http://www.etsy.com/listing/68748115/polka-dot-ring-in-sterling-silver |
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| http://www.etsy.com/listing/68820196/zigzag-hoops-in-sterling-silver |
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| http://www.etsy.com/listing/68749050/oxidized-sterling-drop-earrings |
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| http://www.etsy.com/listing/68820524/polka-dot-sterling-hoop-earrings |
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| http://www.etsy.com/listing/65534135/baby-dot-hoops |
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| http://www.etsy.com/listing/68552275/simple-sterling-curved-earrings |
What is the secret to get attention on Etsy? Who knows. I know my photography needs help, and I have been trying to make improvements to it. I am determined to figure this out!
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