My lovely mum came to visit me last year, and as we were looking through all the gemstones I have. I asked her to choose one she liked, and this was it!
I made it into a ring for her, and took it down when I went for a visit.
I love my mum!
Tag Archives: brisbane
Malachite Earrings
My gorgeous client Charmaine has a huge malachite ring I made for her, and she wanted some earrings to match. These malachite gemstones are in my gemstone collection, so I created this pair of earrings to give her.
This was the first time I attempted this particular style of bezel setting, and I’m pretty pleased with the way they turned out!
Dendritic Opal and Sterling Silver Ring
Charmaine, a gorgeous friend of mine, commissioned me to create this piece of dendritic opal from my gemstone collection into a fabulous new statement ring for her.
A person can never have too many Silver Forge rings!
It’s always a pleasure to make something special for someone nice. I feel very lucky to do what I do!
Turquoise and Chrysocolla Cuff Bangle
This cuff bracelet was a one-off remodelling job I did for a lovely client using an old cuff which was precious to her but unfortunately broken. It’s a good reminder to be careful when putting on your cuff bangles not to squeeze or stretch them and over-stress the metal!
The existing stones were (probably) turquoise, and the addition of chrysocolla adds interest and texture to the piece.
It was great working with Juliet, and we discovered quite a few uncanny coincidences that made the experience even more special! Thanks!
Peugeot Lion Rampant Cuff Links
I created these custom sterling silver Peugeot cufflinks for a client for her husband.
I sawed the lion rampant by hand with my jeweller’s saw – I cherish my tools!
Condamine Bell
The Condamine Campdraft Assocation commissioned me to create a custom Condamine bell pendant for their Ladies Draft winner. These bells were traditionally made out of old worn-out sawblades and were worn by cattle. You can read a little more more about them here.
Yes, it even has a clapper!
Charoite Earrings
My lovely client Natasha saw these charoite gemstones in my gemstone collection, and asked me to create a pair of stud earrings to match a ring I made her previously for her mum.
Small and sweet, and a little bit matching. I love them.
Threepenny Cuff Links
A client came to me with two old bracelets made from old threepenny bits. They ranged in date from 1897 to 1940. The bracelets had seen better days, and my client asked if I could take two of the 1917 coins off and create cuff links as a gift for her husband.
It was slightly daunting to be working with 100 year old coins, but the cuff links turned out ok!
smithing – creation of a pair of gemstone and sterling silver earrings
Lots of people like to know the process behind the creations I produce, and I sometimes forget – just because I know how I do this, doesn’t mean everyone does! These lovely dangly gemstone earrings were a wedding gift from my friend and client Natasha to a dear friend of hers.
Natasha found these sparkly amethyst, Rose de France and aquamarine rose cut cabochons in my gemstone collection.
First I shaped the bezels. A bezel is the part that goes around the stone and holds it in place on the piece. I take a strip of silver, bend it into shape with my half round pliers, and solder the join. Once the bezels have been immersed in pickle (an acid solution) to remove the buildup of borax and the oxidisation, I rinse and dry them and hammer them into shape with a mallet on my ring mandrel.
I solder the bezels onto a silver backing plate. After I pickle, file and emery the bezel settings, I check that the stones all fit nicely into their little housings.
Then it’s time to add some links to join the bezels together. I create the links, line them up and solder them on.
I add the ear wires. As always, I am amazed that something that looks so unappealing will soon become something beautiful!
After some more cleaning up, I mount the earrings in sealing wax to hold them still while I set the stones with my engraving ball and chasing hammer.
After yet more emerying and finishing, the earrings are ready to go off to their new home!
In case you want more, I have written before here, here here and here about my processes. Happy reading!
Sterling Silver Rune Ring
I created this ring for a lovely client to give to her mum, who had a similar and much loved ring many years ago.
I love the rune design, so ethereal and still so strong!
