Another of the projects for my goldsmithing course was to create a linked plate bracelet. I seem to be working with a very marine theme these days, and this was no exception:
Using a squid as my inspiration, and seaglass as a finishing touch to the clasp, I thought this bracelet turned out beautifully!
The first project for the goldsmithing course I am doing this year was to design a piece incorporating a bearing seat setting method (a ledge put inside the bezel wall for the stone to sit on), and one or more 12mm or larger stones in either a ring or pendant, with texture. I fell in love with these carnelian cabochons, and had to use them in my piece! Carnelians can be quite brown, but these orange ones are just delicious! I’ve got my eye out for some spessartite garnet cabs which can also be that lovely glowing tangerine colour.
It was a great fun project, both the designing and the making of it! With each project, we have to come up with the concept, do a tech drawing of it, do an art drawing of it, and of course create it. So much fun!
My dear friend Narelle designed this swirl ball cuff ring.
It was a birthday present for her sister, Trini.
I love the whole idea, and it was an interesting challenge to make!
The first time I ever set a teardrop shaped stone was when I made this garnet and silver pendant for my oldest dearest friend.
My teacher helped with the design, and although one of the stones is not very well set, after four years I’m still pleased with the art deco look of this piece!
I created this pendant for my dear friend Morgan some years ago. It was my first foray into creating schnörkels (my teachers have a German heritage, and at school that’s what are these things sometimes known as curlicues!) The gemstone is a piece of eudialyte from North Russia.
Looking back at it, I can see many imperfections. I think we’re all hypercritical of our own work, but this one in particular is very homemade to me. However, Morgan claims to love it still, and imperfections are all part of the learning curve, after all!!
I wonder if everyone looks back on their earlier work with a certain amount of cringeworthiness. Authors, actors, artists, musicians – we’re all putting ourselves out there in some way! Still, I created this with my own two hands (and some metal and stone 🙂 ), and that must be something to be proud of.
Twin hearts.. made for the lovely mummy of twins!!
I wanted these hearts to be a little bit unusual.
For his 16th birthday, I told my son, Liam, that I would custom make him his own ring.
He chose this gorgeous piece of dendritic quartz, which I set in sterling silver for him.
Beautiful and blokey all at the same time!
I made this haematite pendant for Judy, my mother-in-law, as a birthday present.
It’s quite a statement piece!
Smithing jewellery for yourself or for other people is a wonderful thing to do. The process of creation encompasses all kinds of aspects, from daydreaming, art drawing, design; to the more physical metal preparation, sawing, filing, emerying, soldering, hammering, bending. Very zen!
Welcome! The Silver Forge is a small independent business in which I make my unique sterling silver jewellery available to purchase. Handcrafted earrings, rings, pendants; custom bespoke gemstone jewellery commissions are all available.
All my pieces are made entirely by hand using traditional methods and hand tools in my own studio at home. Each piece starts life as a throw of silver, which is turned into either sheet or wire by rolling and/or drawing. From there, anything is possible!
I welcome any enquiries, feedback and constructive criticism – and of course purchases if anything takes your fancy. I am happy to take custom orders for any jewellery in silver or gold you would like made, and I’d be pleased to work with you to create with a design for your dream piece.
My great-great-great grandfather, my great-great uncle and my great-grandfather were blacksmiths, so I like to think that I’m carrying on the family smithing tradition in a small way!