At the Goldsmith’s School I studied at, the second piece that all students created was a pendant. We were asked to come up with a couple of designs, bearing in mind that we would have to cut the pieces out of sheet metal with a jeweller’s saw. Good to see I’ve had the spiral theme going for a long time!
After cutting out the circle for the base layer of the pendant, I stippled it by hammering with a stippling tool (a steel rod with a design carved into one end) all over the metal. Then I cut out the top layer, and soldered it and a a simple cup hook bail on (with some assistance from the teachers!)
I was always very taken with how, out of a room full of people given the same basic brief, so many very different pieces come to life. I’m still pretty fond of this piece, although I don’t wear it very often – perhaps I should get it out!
Not everyone’s cup of tea, I know, but waaaay back when I was doing a casting workshop as part of my silversmithing training, my husband requested a skull.
I carved this one out of wax, and after the casting process, it lived on my bench for a couple of years. Finally, I cleaned it up, and thought about what piece to create with it for the minimalist man who has everything!
A money clip was the answer. This is the only piece I have ever made my husband, and it was a long time coming – but I think he found it worth the wait. This is a one-of-a-kind piece – not only because I made it for a loved one, but because I don’t have the specialist equipment required to do casting. The perfect gift for a metal-loving guitar player!
When I started attending the Goldsmith’s School in Brisbane back in 2005, the first piece that everyone made was a plain half round ring. This is known in the trade as a ‘wedder’ (as it is a basic wedding ring.) The ‘half round’ refers to the profile of the ring.
It is possible to use a rolling mill and roll wire to be half round, which is the easy way to make one of these rings; we started with a thicker, flat piece of metal, shaped it into a ring, then filed and emeried until it was half round – it’s a good way to learn those basic techniques, and also to get an understanding of the complexities of silversmithing.
I made this ring to give to my son at the time – I don’t think it would even fit onto his pinkie finger these days!
I’m amazed to find that three years have passed since I opened The Silver Forge. I finally found what I want to be when I grow up! To be able to send my creations out into the wide world for others to enjoy makes the already zen experience of silversmithing just perfect.
A great big thank you to everyone who visits this website, browses, emails me, buys things; everyone who likes my FaceBook page, likes my posts, comments on them, shares them; everyone who follows me on Instagram, Twitter, and other social media; everyone who subscribes to my newsletter, new release update email, and blog updates; everyone who comes to me with their custom piece requests; everyone who makes donations to my worthy causes, and for all the other forms of love and support you’ve shown; I appreciate each and every one of you ~ thank you all from the bottom of my heart!
I love the challenge of creating custom pieces for my lovely clients; and in between times I love to make new creations for my online shop. I even get time to build the occasional piece for myself!) I am also proud to have supported a number of worthy causes this year – I try to help spread a bit of peace and love in our crazy world, and sometimes the best way to do that is to support others who are making a difference.
As a way of saying thank you to all you lovely people for your ongoing support, I am offering 40% off all drusy pieces until the end of May. Just use coupon code DRUSY40 at the checkout.
As part of the celebrations, I am also giving away two pairs of Czech glass earrings to two lucky winners. All you have to do is to be signed up to receive my monthly newsletter ~ and you can do that here if you’re not already subscribed!
I hope you all have a most excellent month, full of joy and wonder. Thanks again to you all!!
I was approached by a new father, who wanted to have a special piece made for his partner to celebrate the birth of their first child.
The design idea started with the baby’s birthstone, which is garnet, and her mother’s love of water. I provided a few quick sketches, and the lovely dad and I worked together to finalise the design.
The baby’s name is stamped on the back of the pendant, making it the perfect piece to treasure for a lifetime!
For a while now, I’ve been taking random pictures of my workspace. Sometimes I post these on my Instagram page, and sometimes on my FaceBook page; but I thought it was time I posted them here for you to see. Look how clean my workspace was only a few months after I first got my jeweller’s bench set up! Look at that nice new engraving ball.
2 Jul 2013
A year later, and I’ve achieved the more lived in look. All clean work in progress mess of course! I spy the beginnings of the Elementals collection.
24 Jan 2014
As time goes on, storage becomes more of an issue, as you can see by the stacks of boxes full of Czech glass.
That’s a wax stick for stone setting you see there amongst the tools and bits and pieces. I was working on this chrysocolla pendant amongst other things here!
Besser brick is not very exciting, but I brighten up my space with a fabulous piece painted by a three year old, and I love my beautiful Granny’s landscape oil painting of the cliffs at Fairlight – it is calming and inspirational. And yes, I do drink a lot of tea!
I created this pendant for my client Nick using a star sapphire that was his mum’s, which has great emotional value to him. It was previously set in a ring; and then in a bangle which had seen better days.
I was able to free the stone, and send it down to my lovely friend Annaig of Annaig’s Gemstudio to have a little gem-cutting done. Annaig worked her magic and made the back of the stone flat so that I could bezel set it.
I know Nick was really happy with the end result, and so am I – a modern masculine look for a treasured sapphire! Thanks to Annaig, and to another lovely friend, Lisa of Springwood Porcelain, who referred Nick to me!
I do make more petite rings sometimes, and this pink faceted opal cabochon from my small gemstone collection was just perfect for the occasion!
My lovely son asked me to create a ring for a friend of his. Her favourite colour is pink – so what better stone?
I designed the setting to bring the pink opal away from the finger where it might otherwise be lost, but is still small enough for a dainty ring wearer! Love you my son. xx
