Jewelry Design: Silversmithing

The last couple weeks in my jewelry class I have been working on silversmithing.  Basically, we use a torch to solder the pieces of silver together to make the different pieces of jewelry.

This is the ring I made, we had a long piece of silver that we cut and shaped into the actual ring portion, then we attached the bezel cup and later put in the stone.

This bracelet is made out of the same type of silver, and assembled much the same way just on a much larger scale.

I shaped the loop of this pendent, again out of the same silver, and then soldered it to the back of the bezel cup.

These earrings are my favorite out this set.  I just drew out a pattern on a piece of paper and shaped the silver to match it and attached the bezel cups for the stones to the inside of the design.  All the other pieces we all had to pretty much do the same, but I loved getting to be more creative with these!

I hope you like these, and soon I will have more fun to share from my class!

Jewelry Design: Wire Wrapping (Part 2)

First of all, I want to apologize for my long absence from the blogging world.  It is very sad, but I have been incredibly busy with work, classes, and homework :(

Okay, on to the good stuff!

I have more fun jewelry to show you from my class!!  If you didn't see my first post about my jewelry class, check it out here!

These are both more examples of wire wrapping, this time they are pendants:

This pendent is a wrapped black cabochon, and it matches the rest of the set that I posted pictures of from my first class.

This is a wrapped marble pendant.  The picture does not do this one justice (mostly because I'm not that great of a photographer, but I'm learning slowly but surely).  I like how this one doesn't really have a front or back, it pretty much looks good from any angle.

Well, I promise not to stay away as long this time!  Keep checking back for more pictures from my Jewelry Design class adventures!

Jewelry Design: Wire Wrapping

So in my final semester of college, I pretty much was only lacking elective credits... so what class did I choose?? Metal and Jewelry Design of course!  So be prepared to see a lot of pictures of my projects in the next few months!

Today was our first class and we made a matching set including:

A bracelet . . .

A pair of earrings (with hand made earring hangers) . . .

And a ring!

I was surprised at how much we did in just one class!  They taught us a technique called wire wrapping where we took a thick gauge wire and literally wrapped it around the beads.  It was a lot easier than I expected, and a lot of fun!

I can't wait to see what's in store for us next week!

No-Sew Ribbon Headband

A few months ago I saw some where that you can make your own stretchy headbands with a hair tie, so I thought I would experiment with it and this is what I came up with!

What you will need:

• Wide ribbon (I used a silky, flexible one, but I'm sure pretty much any ribbon with work)
• Elastic hair tie
• Scissors
• Hot glue gun
• Small decorative ribbon (optional)

First cut a piece of your ribbon that will go across your head from just below the back of your ears.  I think mine was about 8 inches long.

Then, cut your hair tie (at the seam if it has one) so that it is a straight piece of elastic. Next, attach one end of your hair tie to one end of your ribbon with a bead of hot glue.

Glue and fold over one side of the ribbon, then the same with the other.  This will help the ribbon to fold neatly, and not curl, when you wear it.

Then repeat these steps on the other side of your ribbon and hair tie. If you don't have any decorative ribbon to wrap around the seams then you are finished!

If you do have small riboon, measure how much you will need by wrapping it around the seam between the ribbon and the hair tie and cut it to size leaving a little extra on the end.  Then put a bead of hot glue down the underside of the ribbon and attach it, folding the raw ends under before you glue them down.

Viola! I really love it, and the elastic hair tie helps it not to slip! I think this has to be my favorite blog project yet, what do you think?