Category Archives: Interesting Information

Strawberry Quartz

Strawberry Quartz Rough (photo credit Promiseintime)

Strawberry quartz is sagenitic quartz, a transparent colourless quartz containing needlelike crystals, in this case red inclusions of iron oxide.

Strawberry Quartz Pebbles (photo credit Crystal Lovers)

The bright color of genuine strawberry quartz is accentuated by small seedlike inclusions of lepidocrocite and haematite. It is most often found in Russia, Kazakhstan, and Brazil.

Strawberry Quartz Point (photo credit Rob Lavinsky)

Strawberry quartz can be soothing and calming. It apparently enhances intentions of love, gratitude and generosity.

Strawberry Quartz Sphere (photo credit Crystal Cure)

Some people wear Strawberry quartz when trying to attract a soul-mate. Strawberry quartz is thought to assist in bringing balance to the psyche and the emotions.

Strawberry Quartz (photo credit CrystalRocksandGems)

I have a gorgeous little strawberry quartz cabochon available to be made into a ring or pendant – more info on that here.

Tool of the Month – Soldering Torch

One of the most important pieces of equipment a jeweller needs is the soldering torch. I use an LPG gas torch. LPG is a mixture of propane and butane.

Nearly every piece requires some amount of soldering. Soldering is the process of joining two pieces of metal together by heating them, using a material of another similarly coloured and structured alloy metal with a lower melting point than the metal being joined.

There are three types of silver solder commonly used:
Hard solder – the highest melting point of between 745-778⁰C.
Medium solder – melting point of between 720-765⁰C.
Easy solder – the lowest melting point of between 705-723⁰C.

As sterling silver melts at 893⁰C, the solder will reach melting point before the silver and fuse the two pieces together.

Flux is painted onto the surfaces to be soldered to prevent oxidization and firescale and ensure that the solder will fuse to the metal. I use borax, which you can see in the dish at the back of my heat resistant blocks.

Paillons of solder are positioned so that they touch both pieces of metal to be joined. The entire piece is heated evenly with the torch to the melting point of the solder, causing the solder to run and join the pieces of metal together.

Once the metal has cooled, the piece is placed in a sulphuric acid solution (which is known as pickle) until it is a white silver colour to remove any oxide and flux, then it is rinsed in water and dried.

This ring is an example of a piece that required soldering. The ring itself is soldered together at the bottom. The swirls and the balls are all soldered individually to the top of the ring.

One of the many joys of silver is that no matter how many times it is heated, melted, beaten, bent, twisted, cut, it maintains the same qualities and substance, so can be repurposed over and over again. I’m proud to say that the supplier I source my silver from manufacture right here in Australia using reclaimed silver wherever possible, so that no unnecessary mining takes place. This recycled silver is refined and tested to ensure that it is 100% pure sterling silver. The planet thanks us!

Gemstone of the Month – Phosphosiderite

{Phosphosiderite – Image Leon Hupperichs}

The basic elements that make up Phosphosiderite are phosphorus and iron, hence the name.The word Sideros, meaning iron, comes from the Greek language.

{Red Phosphosiderite between violet Strengite – Image Christian Rewitzer}

Phosphosiderite is found mainly in Argentina and Chile, but has also been found in Germany, USA and Portugal. It has a hardness of 3.5-4 on Mohs Scale.

Phosphosiderite and Amethyst Sterling Silver Amorphia Pendant

The shades of purple in Phosphosiderite are supposed to aid in reducing anger, and to assist in calming down the heightened temperament of a person, bringing about a feeling of peacefulness.

It is believed to help heal problems related to the third eye chakra, which is associated with knowledge and perception.

These cabochons above are available to be made into a custom silver piece for you! Let me know if you’re interested.

ABC Brisbane Radio Interview

The lovely Terri Begley from ABC Radio Brisbane contacted me recently, after she read my blog post about the Newmarket Brickworks Chimney. I wrote that post as that lovely chimney has given me inspiration for some pieces (including my smokestack ring above). She asked if I would do an interview with her about it for a segment called ‘Stop The Train’. ‘Stop The Train’ is a local program which takes a passenger’s eye look at some of the great sights there are to see as you travel around Brisbane. It’s well worth a listen, as there are some fascinating places tucked away down the train lines!

I was very flattered, but had to tell Terri that I was totally NOT an authority on the subject – however, Terri wanted to talk to someone who is passionate about the chimney rather than an actual history boffin, so as a total (but enamoured) amateur, I was happy to help. I met Terri at the base of the chimney and we had a chat about what makes it such a special piece of architecture, and why I love it.

After a bit of a hiccup (where this chimney interview was bumped to make way for the momentarily more topical “Stop The Train” piece about the church at Lang Park), the interview went to air yesterday, Monday 1 July. You can hear the ABC Brisbane Podcast of it here. I didn’t even say ‘um’ and ‘ah’ too much!

It was a bit of fun, and I’m glad I took the time to do this, even though my brain’s initial reaction was a shortlived “What? Hey? Um. No way!” I realised it was good to get out of my comfort zone, so I pushed past that ‘no way’ stage, and it was totally cool to share my enthusiasm and (limited) knowledge about such a beautiful old structure. Thanks so much for the opportunity, Terri. Love your work!

Birthstones – Zodiac Birthstones

I have blogged before about birthstones, both birthstones recognised since ancient times, and the more recent traditional list. I thought it was time to look at birthstones in another way: by Zodiac sign. The twelve signs of the zodiac are represented as follows:

Aries – – 21 March – 20 April – Heliotrope (Bloodstone) (also Diamond)

Taurus – 21 April – 21 May – Sapphire (also Aventurine, Amber, Coral, Emerald, Rose Quartz, Turquoise, Azurite)

Gemini – 22 May–21 June – Agate (also Chrysoprase, Citrine, Moonstone, Pearl, White Sapphire)

Cancer – 22 June–22 July – Moonstone (also Emerald, Pearl, Ruby)

Leo – 23 July–22 August – Onyx (also Carnelian, Sardonyx, Golden Topaz, Tourmaline)

Virgo – 23 August–23 September – Carnelian (also Jade, Jasper, Moss Agate, Blue Sapphire)

Libra – 24 September–23 October – Peridot (also Lapis Lazuli, Opal, Chrysolite)

Scorpio – 24 October–22 November – Beryl (also Aquamarine, Coral, Obsidian, Topaz)

Sagittarius – 23 November–21 December – Topaz (also Amethyst, Ruby, Sapphire, Turquoise)

Capricorn – 22 December–20 January – Ruby (also Agate, Garnet, Black Onyx)

Aquarius – 21 January–19 February – Garnet (also Amethyst, Moss Agate, Opal, Sugilite)

Pisces – 20 February–20 March – Amethyst (also Aquamarine, Bloodstone, Jade, Rock Crystal, Sapphire)

So how about a fabulous surprise gift for someone you love, featuring their zodiac birthstone? I’m happy to source the stone of your choice for you. Just let me know!

Tool of the Month – Hammers

The humble hammer. I used to think a hammer was just a hammer, right? But no! There are many different sorts of hammers, with many different purposes. I have a small collection, and I use at least one with just about every piece that I create.

First up, the claw hammer. Great for hammering in and pulling out nails in the carpentry world. I use mine for heavy hammering, such as stamping pieces with my maker’s mark and 925 stamp, or hitting the ends of my doming punches.

Next, my jeweller’s bench hammer. This baby has a flat face and a cross pein. (The pein is the ‘other’ end of the hammer). Great for such things as using with my bench block to harden earring hooks, and with my mandrels to straighten and stretch rings. The pein end is useful for things like curving silver in my swage block for rings like this cuff ring. (Don’t worry, posts on all those other weird tools will be along sooner or later! 🙂 )

Thirdly, my wooden mallet. Great for shaping silver without making it thinner – rounding a ring on my mandrel without making it larger, for instance. (Has not been used as a judge’s gavel -yet!!)

Finally, my favourite hammer, my chasing hammer. This baby is great for setting gemstones, using my engraving ball and a setting punch. (Yep, more on those at a later date, too!!) The handle thins dramatically towards the head of the hammer, making it very whippy and easy on the wrist, which is a nice thing when it can take up to an hour’s hammering to set a stone.

There are lots more jewellery hammers, used for various things like forming, planishing, rivetting etc. These four are the tip of the iceberg.. but they are all I need at the moment for all of my creations. A simple everyday tool, the hammer; but indispensable in the jeweller’s studio!

Picasso Marble

Picasso Marble Polished Pebbles (photo credit Blue Apple)

Picasso Marble was created about 100 million years ago when magma pushed its way through fields of limestone, creating colours and patterns which are similar in appearance to Picasso’s art (hence the name). Most Picasso Marble comes from Utah, USA.

Picasso Marble Rough (photo credit Great Rough)

Picasso marble is believed to strengthen self-control, clarity and stablilty; give total recall of dreams and assist in meditation. It apparently helps expand the mind, and aids in the manifestation of physical and material goals. It is believed to help to heal viral infection.

Picasso Marble Sphere (photo credit Wire Sculpture)

I recently made a pendant using a lovely piece of Picasso Marble I sourced.

I have one other piece in stock at the moment. I love the gorgeous striations and the subtle colours!

If you like this and and you’d like to have it set in a ring or a pendant, let me know!

Newmarket Brickworks Chimney

My fascination with constructions in Brisbane continues! Not far from our house, and in the grounds of Flipside where my younger son and I go to learn circus skills, this divine brick chimney is all that is left of the brickworks which stood in Newmarket from 1912 to 1987. As a rare example of a load bearing chimney stack, it was allowed to survive when the Brisbane Brick Company was demolished, and is now heritage listed.

The chimney stands 50 metres tall, and when you look at it now, you can see where the opening to it has been bricked in. It is a remnant of an industry which struggled to survive in a timber-dominated building market. The brickworks was originally set up by a frustrated group of builders and architects who were unable to find good quality bricks nearby. It used the Hoffman kiln method of brick making. (If you’re interested to read more, there is a fabulous blog post on the history of Brisbane bricks here.)

(photo credit Trevor Bunning)

Mr Anderson, former Manager of Newmarket Brickworks, was the works foreman for the construction of St Andrew’s Church in Brisbane (pictured above), and he sourced the bricks from his old firm. The brickworks also supplied brick to the University of Queensland. During the war it was occupied by the Defence Force to make uniforms and other army equipment.

There are brickmakers in the distant past of my husband’s family, pioneers who came from England to Adelaide in the 1800s, and as I researched them I could only imagine what hard and yet satisfying work it must have been! I had given thought to bricklayers, but not to the people (and methods) that created the bricks themselves.

My photo doesn’t really do this beautiful chimney justice; it is a magnificent creation, built the way things used to be, with much care and attention to aesthetic detail. It was part of my inspiration for this ring, and the one below. I fell in love with this chimney the first time I laid eyes on it, although I had no idea what it was at the time, and still each time I see it it gladdens my heart.

Blacksmithing

When I first started silversmithing, I hadn’t made the connection, but I came to realise that I had become part of a family tradition of shaping metal with hammers and fire. There have been smiths in my family since the 1830s. My great-grandfather, great-great-uncle, and great-great-great-grandfather were all village blacksmiths in tiny villages in Kent and Sussex, England.

Great-Great-Uncle Bill Horton working in the forge c 1900 – Brede, Sussex, England

My grandmother, who is now 97, remembers her dad working at his forge first in Guestling Thorne, then in Icklesham, Sussex, making horseshoes and farming implements. He made the gates for Rambledown House in West Chiltington, West Sussex, where my Great-Auntie worked, which I believe may still be there.

Trivet made by Great-Granddad Robert Horton

Great-Granddad also made this gorgeous trivet (I presume for my Great-Granny), a horseshoe with little boots as the legs, which is one of my most treasured possessions.

Hook made by me

A few years ago, I did a weekend blacksmithing workshop at the railway yards in Ipswich. The first thing I smithed was this hook, and I am very proud of it. Building the forge fire using coke, maintaining it, heating the straight iron rod to red hot, and hammering it with a big hammer on a huge anvil was very exciting. I had to adjust to the idea that the metal had to be glowing red, as if you heat silver to that state, it means it’s melting! Although I got covered in black coke dust, and was pretty worn out by the end of the weekend, it was immensely satisfying and something that I mean to do again some day.

I wonder what my great-great-great-grandfather would have thought of my endeavours? I hope he would have been pleased!

Motor Neurone Disease Association Week

One of my fellow MadeIt sellers, Belinda from Studio Astratta, recently lost her Dad to Motor Neurone Disease (MND). She is raising funds this month to assist the Motor Neurone Disease Association of Queensland to provide essential equipment, care and support to people and their carers living with MND. These support services are crucial to enable people with MND to remain active for the longest possible time.

MND is a group of related diseases affecting the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. These nerves are known as motor neurones. As the nerves become damaged the muscles they control weaken and waste.

The muscles first affected tend to be those in the hands, feet or mouth and throat, depending on what type of disease it is. MND does not generally affect the senses, so sight, smell, touch and hearing remain intact, as do the sphincter muscles that control the bladder and bowel. Other areas that are not usually affected are sexual function and intellect. MND is not contagious.

Motor neurone disease is a progressive, life limiting disease and the rate of progression varies greatly from one person to another. There is currently no cure for this disease.

For the rest of May, The Silver Forge will donate 10% of all sales to the Motor Neurone Disease Association of Queensland via Belinda’s fundraising page at Everyday Hero. Do what you can to help this worthy cause by purchasing yourself a little something from The Silver Forge shop, or by going to the Everyday Hero page and making a donation directly.

the silver forge

jewellery handcrafted by ruthie gray