42/52 Modern Medieval Cluster Ring

I'm liking this one - it's slightly too big for me though (maybe I should just make all rings my size in case I want to keep them!). Still, I think I will be making more in this style so next time... ;)

I made one large stone ring earlier in this challenge, but this ring is by far the biggest stone set ring I've ever made!! It is silver and the centre stone is a 6mm amethyst CZ. The surrounding stones are 4mm lab rubies and lab sapphires.

 

Whilst it is large it actually seems to sit quite nicely. I know I could wear it no problem (if it was a smidgen smaller)! In fact I'm wearing it as I type and the stones are super sparkly and catching the light :)

I've called this a Modern Medieval Cluster Ring. I was aiming for a medieval/tudor-ish sort of look - did I succeed?? I used one of my own textures around the ring band and on the back of the stone setting.

I have two more challenge pieces nearly finished so there'll be more posts in the next few days...and part 2 of Japan! :D

Have fun!

Joy

30/52 Claricity

A while ago I bought a couple of little carved fluorite bowls from my local stone shop in Hastings - Stonecorner. 

Actually it is rather dangerous me going anywhere near that shop as I always seem to come away with things I didn't go in for!! :)

Anyway...the plan was to make a stand for each bowl, and this week I've made the first one. Well that isn't quite true, last week I started making the first one for the other bowl, and then managed to break it before it was finished!! So that one is back to the drawing board!!

The stand is fine silver, made using Art Clay Silver, and I wanted a slightly rustic aged look to it. I was trying for a medieval feel - not sure if I succeeded, but I do like the result. The little bowl sit nicely on the top of the stand.

The fluorite bowl measures 42mm x 48mm and is 18mm high. The silver stand is 42mm high. To try to give a sense of scale I took a photo of me holding the bowl next to the stand :)

I made the three legs of the stand curved at each end and then adjusted the shape of the top prongs after firing so the bowl sat safely. Of course I forgot to photograph it before I did that!

As well as the twisted 'rope' of silver holding the legs together there is a tiny silver ball set on each side of it. This gives extra strength as well as a design detail :)

I really enjoyed making this, it is always fun to do something non-jewellery.

Now I need to start the second - again!! :)

Have fun!

Joy x

Modern Medieval Earrings

So, yesterday I showed you some colourful things!

These are my new design, a range I am calling Modern Medieval.

Here is a WIP shot of the pieces made in fine silver clay waiting to be fired in the kiln at 820C.

  

As they fire for an hour or so the binders which were added the the powdered silver burn away, the pieces shrink a little and I am left with pure fine silver. 

Here they are fresh out of the kiln (cooled first of course!) :)

At this point the silver looks white and the next stage is to polish them up to nice and shiney, and then enamel them.

Until finally we have lovely earrings!!

One pair just had to be rainbow!! 

 

 

The lovely red and black of these have a real Gothic feel.

 

And this pair have 24k gold dots around the edges, and wonderful green and blue enamel. I called these Pretty as a Peacock!

 

These earrings are now up for sale on my website and also in my Etsy shop.

I am really happy with this new style and Im working on matching pendants and also lockets.

I'd love to know what you think of them!

Thanks for reading...

and have fun!

Joy x

Long Time - No Blog!

I've been a really bad blogger!

I kept thinking 'I must blog' but somehow never got around to it - it has been a hectic year!

And yes, it is a year!! Today I decided to go get started again, and guess what, then I saw it was exactly a year since I last posted!!

To be fair it is not totally all my fault, blogger seems so unresponsive that just posting this today has become a major struggle and I have had to change browser to do it.

Still, enough of the excuses. I shall now be blogging again!! YAY!!!

So here is a bit of colour to start with - 

I'll tell you about these in my next post ;) 

 

Meanwhile...

have fun!

Joy x

Bird a Month 5/12 - Medieval Bird Locket

OK, so if you have been reading my blog recently my Bird a Month for May will not be too much of a surprise to you!

Here he is, my tiny little bird in the Medieval Bird Locket.

He sits inside the closed locket as a hidden secret for you to reveal...

... or he flies free under the locket when it is being worn, depending on how the mood takes you :)

I have started work on another hinged locket.

This one will be enamelled as well, so watch this space... ;-)