Plug in the Pickle!

I'm upstairs blogging, but only for a few minutes because I plugged in the Pickle already… for those not "in the know" Pickle is something that's used after soldering to remove unwanted oxidation & such…  It has to be warmed, so a "pickle pot" (tiny crock pot) is used…

Here are some random pics I've taken lately of projects in process… none done (hence I really need to get downstairs & get busy)… Also some pics are simply items I found inspirational… take it for what it is!

This is a starting piece I had formed for a Pendant (there are earrings as well) that I'd shown a mock-up of previously...

Here are the earrings with the stones getting set...

Here I was working on setting the stones in the Pendant…

The pieces are coming along, but more work is yet to be done… hopefully I can finish these sometime in the next day or two…

This is a rough mock-up for something I'm working on… all I've managed so far is to create the frame, so this is the only picture for now...

Another mock-up, this one even rougher than the previous… I really needed to play with this stone to see what I wanted to do with it… still working on the mock-up, not sure I like where this is going yet.

I know, this isn't jewelry… but I looked at it & thought "filigree ring"… so for now this is simply a source of inspiration...

Whimsical Hearts...

I spent most of the day in the studio yesterday, with some reasonable results (I'm still a novice)…

The first thing I did was repair a few pieces of jewelry for my local Ten Thousand Villages store, I volunteer there & they knew I could solder silver… it's nice to have a practical use for my new skills!

Then I started playing around with some ideas for hearts… after all Valentines Day is approaching fast!!

I have a pancake dies that I can use to cut hearts of two different sizes (the dies were custom made from my hand-cut pieces), I can use these same shapes to make leaves as well (I love dual-purpose)…

So I cut out some Copper hearts, torch-fired some enamel onto them, and created these pieces:

Torch-Fired Enamel on Copper, Sterling Silver jump rings & oval link chain.

Torch-Fired Enamel on Copper, Sterling Silver connectors & ear wires.

Torch-Fired Enamel on Copper, carved Magnesite skull bead,
Sterling Silver wire & figure-8 chain

Torch-Fired Enamel on Copper, Sterling Silver connectors & ear wires,
Sterling Silver figure-8 chain.

It had been quite a while (almost a year) since I'd done any work with Enamel, and I've not done much previously, so it was good to practice this skill - lots of "hiccups" along the way but I'm pleased with the results!!

These pieces make me smile, I hope they make you smile too!!

I really need to make myself read my Camera's User Guide… the photos just don't do the pieces justice!

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Update!!  I was reading my Camera's User Guide ('bout time!!)… and with a little effort got the following pics..

Pink Hearts set #1

Pink Hearts set #2

Hoping I can get better with the pictures over time!!

Current State of the Studio...

I'm still waiting for a couple small bits of this & that, but my Studio is pretty set at this time…

This is my main work area… my bench is getting very full!!

The following are pictures going counter-clockwise around my studio…

Bench - right side: rotary tool & parts, files & pliers & such, various projects underway...

Bench - left side: press, soldering station w/air filtration system… another couple projects underway...

Pegboard & Bookshelf #1: various tools, clamps, etc… drawers with small items (stones & such)...

More storage, I'm recycling old stuff that was sitting around in the basement… Idea board...

More storage, cutter...

Even more storage…

I'm planning on using this area as a studio for more than just jewelry, so the storage is key…

First Commission… Done!

A friend asked me to make these… they stretched my abilities a bit, but they're done!!

I hope she likes them!!

Inspiration...

I've been busy-busy-busy lately… setting up my studio (I'll post about this again soon), mocking up jewelry, toying with the idea of branching out into other artistic ventures (just toying at this time)… so here's what's been inspiring me!!

I've been thinking about playing around with Mosaics… so these are some pics I took at a local tile shop that I liked, and they're giving me food for thought…

Then I noticed this is also the direction my jewelry has been going as well….

This is a mock-up of a piece I plan on doing in Silver with the stones shown...

Also inspiring have been some new stones I picked up at Enchanted Rock Garden (Richfield MN)… The following are the trays I picked stones from...

Final bit of inspiration is coming from something I spotted at my local Tandy Leather store, a dyed stingray skin…

I wanted to capture in pictures the things that are moving/inspiring me to create, I hope you enjoy the pictures!!

We'll see what comes of these in time…