Building Earrings

Have you ever wondered what the process looks like in building a pair of earrings? Here are some step by step photos:

                                              The parts and gem stones waiting to be assembled.

                                                                         Assembly

                                                                          Rough Finish

                                                                       Finished Earrings

Men's Ring Sterling Silver and Diamond Celtic Knotwork Dragon/Phoenix

This is a friend's wedding ring.  He lost the first one, which was cast in gold.  I think I like it in silver better.   

This piece was photographed using techniques described by Mariano, a NYC based advertising photgrapher.  Check out his fantastic blog:  Studio Quality Product Photography with a $12 setup

My apoligies to Mariano for not photographing the "set up" as well.  Next time, I promise to show how this was done.  For now, you must rely on my description.  I taped some wax paper over the window in my daughter's bedroom, where direct sunlight was coming in.  Next, I put a couple of bar stools right up next to the window and put a piece of aluminum foil over the stools.  I then took a piece of a cardboard box and covered it with foil as well.  For his shot, Mariano had his foil positioned next to the piece he was photographing.  For my shots, I found that I had to move the foil covered cardboard directly over the piece, which put more light on the designs.  I used my macro setting with the camera set to fast speed.  I love the reflective quality of the foil (dull side up), it is very soft and neutral.   This was so easy to set up and really worked well.  Thanks to Mariano for his fantastic and practical photography tips!

Gold and Diamond Scrollwork Pendant

Does everyone remember the beautiful diamond scrollwork ring Kelly created back in November, the one with over 7 carats of diamonds?  This is the matching pendant.  Cleopatra, look out!

Sterling Silver and China Ring

Sterling Silver Ring set with Antique Floral China

My husband and I love to garden. Our house is 107 years old, and the people who once lived here used the garden as a dumping spot for all their broken plates and dishes. This piece was found under our strawberry patch, and being lovers of beautiful things thought it just had to be set in a ring for others to admire. This handmade silver set with antique floral china ring is a size 7, band is hand hammered and is 5mm wide.

Our business depends on word of mouth. If you like what you see, please, tell your friends!

Available on Etsy:  
http://www.etsy.com/listing/67353570/handmade-silver-ring-with-antique-floral

New Work

Well, Kelly has been super busy these last couple of weeks, which is usually the case this time of year.  Here are some photos of work he has recently completed:

Diamond and gold wedding ring

Tiger's eye heart and pearl pendant

Amethyst spoon pendant

Citrine Spoon Pendant

Hope everyone had a good Turkey day!

Day 43 Bloodstone Cross Sterling Silver Ring

Bloodstone Cross Sterling Silver Ring, size 7. Cross is 12mm wide, $100.00

Call me crazy, but I think this is the perfect Christmas remembrance ring. You have the red and green mix in the bloodstone, coupled with the cross shape.  

Chalcedony, which is found worldwide, is the name for a group of stones made of a microcrystalline or cryptocrystalline variety of quartz. Stones that are members of the chalcedony group include bloodstone, jaspers, agates, dinosaur bone, chrysoprase,chrysocolla, onyx and carnelian amoung others. It is thought to increase vitality, stamina, and endurance and to promote emotional balance and charity while relieving melancholy, fever, gallstones, and eye problems.

Available at our Etsy store:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/61610062/100-rings-100-days-day-43-bloodstone

Day 42 Le Fleur

Le Fleur Lacy Floral Silver Dome Ring set with Deep Red Faceted Garnet, hand sawn. Garnet is 5mm, Ring is 21mm wide, size 7, $130.00

Garnet is January's birthstone, and occurs in every color of the rainbow except for blue. Garnet's powers include healing,strength, and protection, and in earlier times garnets were exchanged as gifts between friends to demonstrate their affection for each other and to insure that they meet again.

Available at our Etsy store:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/61521487/100-rings-100-days-day-42-le-fleur-lacy

Vintage Triple Strand Faux Pearl Bracelet with Beautiful White Crystal Vintage Clasp

 Vintage Triple Strand Faux Pearl Bracelet with Beautiful White Crystal Vintage Clasp, $45.00

Elegant, classy, dressy. We know you desire this bracelet. It's ok, we give you permission. Bracelet is 8 inches around including clasp. Clasp is nickel plated, Faux pearls are glass. No makers mark on the clasp. Beads re-strung by me on silk with sterling silver bead cups. Wouldn't this look great on you for your Christmas party this year?

Available at our Etsy store:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/61186525/vintage-triple-strand-faux-pearl

Vintage Electric Blue Swarosvki Ball Drop Clip Earrings

Vintage Electric Blue Swarosvki Ball Drop Clip Earrings, 1 1/2 inch hanging length. Brass settings, nickel clips, $30.00

My husband's grandmother recently passed away, and let's just say she loved vintage costume jewelry. We went through four drawers full while helping clean out her apartment in Wisconsin. Since we have experience in restoring vintage pieces and we now have a large new colleciton of pieces, we decided to branch out to the vintage jewelry market here at Etsy. Vintage pieces are a wonderful way to be able to wear very beautiful designs affordably.

Available at our Etsy store:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/61185246/vintage-electric-blue-swarosvki-ball

Day 40 is "I'm 50"

Sterling Silver and Rhodolite Garnet Ring, size 7 1/2. This ring is in honor of Molly Shannon and her SNL skit. The ring features two Rhodolite Garnet cabs.  $135.00

Garnet is January's birthstone, and occurs in every color of the rainbow except for blue. Rhodolite is the beautiful pink variety of garnet. Garnet's powers include healing,strength, and protection, and in earlier times garnets were exchanged as gifts between friends to demonstrate their affection for each other and to insure that they meet again.

Available at our Etsy store:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/60885906/100-rings-100-days-day-40-im-50-sterling

100 Rings 100 Days Day 39

Cerillos Turquoise and Rhodolite Garnet Sterling Silver Ring, size 7 1/2. Bigger turquoise piece is 11mm x 9mm, smaller teardrop is 11mm x 6mm. Rhodolite is 5mm x 3.5mm, $155.00

 

Yes, we fell off the wagon a bit but now we are back on track!

The mystic Turquoise (December's Birthstone) seems to blend the clear blue of the sky with the green of the ocean's depths. This potent magic may explain why cultures around the world have revered Turquoise as a holy stone.

Garnet is January's birthstone, and occurs in every color of the rainbow except for blue. Rhodolite is the beautiful pink variety of garnet. Garnet's powers include healing,strength, and protection, and in earlier times garnets were exchanged as gifts between friends to demonstrate their affection for each other and to insure that they meet again.

Avaliable at our Etsy Store:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/60816182/100-rings-100-days-day-39-cerillos

100 Rings 100 Days Day 38

100 Rings 100 Days Day 38 Apple Green Chrysoprase set in 18kyg on Sterling Silver Band, size 7 1/2, $346.00. Chrysoprase is 15mm long, 6 1/2 mm wide.

The gemstone Chrysoprase is an opalescent apple green colored variety of chalcedony (quartz) and is one of the star signs for Gemini. Chrysoprase was used by the Greeks, Romans, and the Egyptians in jewelry and other ornamental objects and because of its semi-opaque green color, it is often mistaken for Imperial jadeite. Chrysoprase is associated with gentleness, soothingness, friendliness, and spiritual protection. It is thought to prevent depression, increase grace and equilibrium and is said to increase fertility.

Available at our Etsy store:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/59674028/100-rings-100-days-day-38-apple-green

100 Rings 100 Days Day 37

Raw Crystal Amethyst Sterling Silver Ring, size 7 1/2, $170.00. Crystal is 17 1/2 mm by 16 1/2 mm.

The birthstone of February, amethyst has always been associated with intense emotion. The story is told that Dionysus, the Greek God of wine, was insulted one day by a mortal. Enraged, he called forth vicious tigers to exact revenge on the next mortal who would cross his path. This individual was, unfortunately, the maiden Amethyst. On her way to pay tribute to the Goddess Diana, the innocent girl suddenly found herself face-to-face with the tigers of the vengeful God. To save her from the beasts, Diana turned Amethyst into a statue of pure crystalline quartz. So beautiful wa the maiden that Dionysus, in sorrow and remorse, wept tears of rich wine over her statue. His tears stained the quartz, thus creating the poetic gem which still bears her name.

Available at our Etsy Store:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/59599815/100-rings-100-days-day-37-raw-crystal

100 Rings 100 Days Day 36

Blue Topaz Sterling Silver Ring, size 7 1/2. 

 

Blue topaz is December's birthstone, and the name topaz comes from the Sanskrit and means fire.During the Middle Ages topaz was thought to heal both physical and mental disorders and prevent death.The Greeks believed it had power to increase strength and to make its wearer invisible while the Romans believed it had power to improve eyesight. The Egyptians wore it as an amulet to protect them from injury.

Available at our Etsy Store:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/58559128/100-rings-100-days-day-36-blue-topaz

100 Rings 100 Days Day 35

Moss Feldspar Sterling Silver Ring, size 7 1/2.

 

 

Minerals in the feldspar group are found in many places throughout the world, in pegmatites, even meteorites, and pass through all rock and ore-forming processes: igneous, metamorphic, hydrothermal and sedimentary, yet only rarely do they occur as gemstones. Feldspars are the most diversified and the most extensively investigated minerals on earth, though they only recently commanded the attention they deserve. The feldspar family includes moonstone, labradorite and amazonite, and were worn by anyone taking a chance to ensure success.

Avaliable at our Etsy store:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/58558204/100-rings-100-days-day-35-moss-feldspar

100 Rings 100 Days Day 34

100 Rings 100 Days Day 34 Ruby Cabochon Hand Carved Sterling Silver Ring, size 7 1/2.

 

 

The "king of gems," ruby is one of the world's oldest and most revered gemstones. It is also one of the rarest. The mineral Chromium is responsible for the gems beautiful red color. The birthstone of July, its fiery crimson color caused many civilizations to associate it with passion, love and romance.

Available at our online Etsy store:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/58556877/100-rings-100-days-day-34-ruby-cabochon

100 Rings 100 Days Day 33

100 Rings 100 Days Day 33 Deep Pink Rhodolite Garnet Sterling Silver Ring, size 7 1/2. Rhodolite is a 9mm 2.5ct stone.

No one, it's been said, can resist a woman wearing pink. This positive hue enhances not only the energy of its wearer, but also attracts the attention and energy of others.

Garnet is January's birthstone, and occurs in every color of the rainbow except for blue. Rhodolite is the beautiful pink variety of garnet. Garnet's powers include healing,strength, and protection, and in earlier times garnets were exchanged as gifts between friends to demonstrate their affection for each other and to insure that they meet again.

Available at our online Etsy store:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/58555715/100-rings-100-days-day-33-deep-pink

100 Rings 100 Days Day 32

100 Rings 100 Days Blue Green Chrysocolla Sterling Silver Ring, size 7 1/2. Band features polka dots.

The gemstone Chrysocolla is often confused with turquoise. It is a copper bearing mineral found wherever copper deposits occur especially in areas of the southwestern USA, Chili, Zaire, Australia, France and England. Chrysocolla is associated with tranquility and peace, intuition, patience, and unconditional love. It is thought to offer gentle and soothing qualities.

This ring available at our Etsy store:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/58554335/100-rings-100-days-day-32-blue-green

100 Rings 100 Days Day 31

Sterling Silver Spiral Rattle Ring set with Pink Tourmaline

Hand carved details on bezel with a bead inside so ring makes sound. Size 7 1/2.No one, it's been said, can resist a woman wearing pink. This positive hue enhances not only the energy of its wearer, but also attracts the attention and energy of others.

Avaliable now at our Etsy store:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/58454077/100-rings-100-days-day-31-sterling

100 Rings 100 Days Day 30

Quartz Sterling Silver Ring

Day 30 Ring is not for sale.  Actually it is a present for someone's birthday.  So, Kelly and I were visiting a particular person, and like we always do we pick up rocks wherever we go.  This particular rock happened to be in this person's driveway.  Kelly says "Oh my gosh, look at this rock, isn't it beautiful?"  Reply "You go ahead and keep it if you like it so much" (said sarcastically).  So Kelly brought it home, cut it, and indeed it is a georgeous stone with beautiful banding.  So he set it in a ring, and she is getting it for her birthday with a little note that says "Remember this rock?"  So there.