Tag Archives: fashion

Sterling silver and titanium chenier hinge pendant set with blue quartz

The brief for our seventh project for the course I’m doing this year was to create a piece using chenier hinge as a feature rather than a function.  (Chenier is hollow tubing, in case you weren’t sure!)

Titanium, Blue Quartz and Sterling Silver Pendant

I designed this pendant so that it could be worn both horizontally and vertically.  The six plates rotate around a centre rod. There were a few challenging moments to my usual sadly limited patience during the construction of this piece. Titanium is an interesting but hard metal to work with.. physically hard rather than mentally!  It’s a dull grey colour, and very hard to cut, file and especially drill.  The gorgeous colour is achieved by heating very carefully, so it has to be riveted on rather than soldered.  I added the titanium mainly because I fell in love with the blue quartz bullet stones!!

Titanium, Blue Quartz and Sterling Silver Pendant 2

Once in a while, my fellow students and I agree, you make something that has many challenging stages in it, and many learning experiences. By the end of the process you are pretty over it – so you pop the piece away for a while, and when eventually you bring it out once more, it usually is much more pleasing than you remember!  This is one of these pieces! 🙂

Big Blue Drusy Agate and Sterling Silver Ring

Big Bright Blue Drusy Agate and Sterling Silver Ring

I made this ring for Gracie, my son’s girlfriend, to wear to her Year 12 Formal.  She is such a sweetheart, she deserves a whole handful of beautiful rings!  This one will have to suffice for now.

Large Bright Blue Drusy Agate and Sterling Silver Ring

She chose the stone, and I set it very simply (as always!) and gave it a high polish.

Large Bright Blue Drusy Agate and Sterling Silver Ring

Thanks for the honour, dear Gracie, and have a fantastic night!! 🙂 xx

Sterling Silver and Aquamarine Earrings

Carmen commissioned me to make a pair of earrings for her good friend’s birthday.

Aquamarine and Sterling Silver Earrings

Aquamarine is the ancient birthstone for October, and these milky aquamarines are gorgeous specimens in my opinion!

Aquamarine and Sterling Silver Earrings 

I hope the birthday girl is pleased with them!

Navy Blue Drusy Agate and Sterling Silver Ring

Big Navy Blue Drusy Agate Sterling Silver Ring

I made this drusy agate ring for Leesa. I took it down to her yesterday evening, and she was really thrilled! Navy Blue Drusy Agate and Sterling Silver Ring

Everyone who saw this stone before I set it coveted it, so definitely a good choice, Leesa!

Navy Blue Drusy Agate and Sterling Silver Ring

It’s so lovely when the person for whom you’ve created a piece loves the work you’ve done.  Leesa is keen to have another one, this time in gold, so stay tuned!! 🙂

Large Hammer Forged Sterling Silver Cuff Ring

I made this silver cuff ring for Sarah.

Sterling Silver Cuff Ring

I love the simplicity of her choice of finish!

Sterling Silver Cuff Ring

 

It was great fun to make, with plenty of forging (that’s the hammering kind 🙂 ).

Howlite and Sterling Silver Ring

Howlite Sterling Silver Ring

At last, a piece that I am going to keep for myself!!

Howlite and Sterling Silver Ring

The stone in this ring is howlite, which is most often seen dyed and passed off as turquoise.  I just like it in its natural creamy white form!

Howlite and Sterling Silver Ring

Surprise, surprise, this ring is huge – the stone is four centimetres long.  I like this ring, it’s really nice to wear, compliments most outfits, and it makes me feel happy!!

Moss Agate and Sterling Silver Ring

Nostalgia – Part One

Moss Agate and Sterling Silver Ring

I first started smithing in Canberra in 2005 when I did a short evening course in silver jewellery at Dickson College. The idea of being able to create ‘proper’ jewellery excited me, and I was really thrilled to start learning the processes involved in jewellery making! The first ring I ever made was using a moss agate cabochon – I learned metal bending and soldering, made the shank and the bezel, and set the stone. I was so thrilled!

Moss Agate and Sterling Silver Ring

I gave this ring to my mum. When I look back at it now, I can see plenty of flaws, but I also appreciate it as the starting point of what is proving to be a long and very happy journey!

Two Hearts Pendant

This two heart pendant was the second one I made for my sister.

Two Hearts Sterling Silver Pendant

She and I designed it together.

Two Hearts Sterling Silver Pendant

 

So cute!!

Swirl Ball Cuff Ring

My dear friend Narelle designed this swirl ball cuff ring.

Swirl Ball Cuff Sterling Silver Ring

It was a birthday present for her sister, Trini.

Swirl Ball Cuff Sterling Silver Ring

I love the whole idea, and it was an interesting challenge to make!