Tag Archives: sterling silver earrings

tassel earrings with silver earwires

The rage right now is tassel earrings, and I love pairing them with handmade silver earwires! Fashion doesn’t usually drive me, but I’ve been in love with the tassel lately. I worked out how to make some using high quality cotton (and sterling silver of course), and I’m pretty pleased with the result. To give the earrings a fresh and fabulous look, I used silver for the earwire, the hanging part at the top, and the wrap around of the tassel.

I made these particular lovelies as gifts for two of my dearest besties in the whole world. I find a constant source of joy in being able to create beautiful things for amazing people!

You can find some tassel earrings with silver earwires in my online shop. Although these earrings have nearly sold out at present, I am getting ready to match another fabulous batch of these in a gorgeous array of colours. I’d also be very happy to make you a pair in any colour you dream of! You have a rainbow of choices available. Let me know what colour tassels your earrings should have by getting in touch with me here; and of course, sterling silver is hypo-allergenic so is perfect for everyone!

History

Tassels have been around for thousands of years. Tassel creators use a wide variety of materials. Throughout history, they’ve appeared as decoration, for religious purposes, and in ceremonial wear. So varied and highly prized were they that in 16th century France an apprenticeship of seven years was required to become a master in the guild of ‘passementiers’. If you’re interested, you can read more a bit more about their history here on Wikipedia. You can also read about them here on Martha Stewart’s website.

Meanwhile, tassels add a great pop of colour to any outfit! They can be a bit of fun for a day at the office, or sleek and beautiful for a night at a party – you get to choose and enjoy them any way you like!

treble clef earrings – Beethoven’s own handwriting

One of my clients, Jake, asked if I could create a pair of treble clef earrings, using Ludwig van Beethoven‘s own handwriting for a template.

What a joyous and fabulous idea! Jake sent me the snippet of handwriting via email. I was able to reference the handwriting while I bent the silver to the same shape.

I was very pleased to oblige, and also to honour Beethoven in this way.

Pearl Earrings

My darling friend Aimee sent me a design concept, and asked me to make her these pearl earrings.

They look fabulous on! Love you Aims. 🙂

sodalite, malachite and silver gum-leaf earrings

There’s a nod to the sky and the sea and the forest in these sodalite, malachite, and silver gum-leaf earrings I created last year for my client George.

As part of the design process, I sent George some pictures of combinations of different gemstones from my available gemstone collection. He chose sodalite and malachite as a lovely combo. We added the gum-leaves for a lovely subtle nature themed earring. George thought they looked great, and they went off to a new home overseas. I’m always so happy when my clients like the pieces I’ve made. It’s always exciting when they’re headed off to various corners of the globe. I have made some well travelled jewels!

Melanite Garnet Stud Earrings

My lovely sister had a birthday recently, and I thought she might need a bit of understated bling – so I made her a pair of melanite garnet stud earrings.Love my sister!

Two Green Gemstones Earrings

To go with the ring from my previous post, my gorgeous client Natasha had me make her a pair of earrings using green gemstones.

The stones are jade and bloodstone (also known as heliotrope.) Fantastic!

Art Nouveau Inspired Silver Earrings

Even though my usual design style is ‘striving for elegant simplicity’, I actually love the Art Noveau period – so in that vein, I designed these earrings for myself.

I’ve been wearing them nearly every day since I finished them. I’ve had quite a few comments and requests, so I may even make some more for my shop!

Sterling Silver Liverpool Football Club Initial Dangle Earrings

I created these earrings for Danni, who must be Liverpool Football Club’s number one fan! Danni wanted some dangling LFC earrings to be as ‘bling!’ and noticeable as possible.

I designed these sterling silver earrings using the initials of the club, and added a silver Czech glass bead at the bottom.

I hope they bring your team luck Danni!! 🙂

First Anniversary Earring Giveaway Winners!

A big congratulations to the lucky winners of The Silver Forge’s first birthday earring giveaway! I’m very glad to announce that Debbie and Rachel were randomly selected to each receive a pair of Silver Forge earrings of their choice.

Debbie chose these:

and Rachel chose these!

Thank you so much to everyone who participated. If you missed out, and you’d still like to get yourself a pair or two, as a valued Silver Forge Blog reader I’d like to offer you an exclusive 20% discount until the 31st May. Head over to the earring section to shop to your heart’s content, and just use HBBLOG20 at checkout. If you’d rather visit my shop on MadeIt or Etsy, let me know and I’ll arrange a 20% discount for you there!

Don’t forget that subscribers to The Silver Forge Newsletter are automatically entered into a draw to win a pair of earrings each month, too! If you haven’t already, you can join the fun here.

Here’s to another peaceful, happy, fulfilling, successful year for us all!

Gorgeousness – Czech Glass Beads

Czech Glass beads (also known as Bohemian Glass or Druk beads) were created in Bohemia as early as 250 BC. Handmade glass beads have been found in graves excavated from the 10th century. In the 13th century, glass factories were opened in the northern mountains. In the 16th century, a cottage industry of glassmakers providing glass beads to the larger jewelry factories began in the Bohemian cities of Jablonec, Stanovsko and Bedrichov.

In the 19th century, no doubt spurred on by the industrial revolution, manufacturers developed special molds and machines to produce pressed-glass beads. Czech bead-making suffered setbacks because of the two World Wars, the Great Depression and Communist rule. Today, the industry has been revived, and Czech bead makers are again among the world leaders in bead manufacturing and exports.

Czech glass beads are available in a variety of colors and finishes. They come in opaque and solids, transparent, metallic and two-tone.

How are these beads are made today? Well, glass cane rods are heated to a molten level and put into a pressing machine. The hot glass is then pressed into molds. A needle is inserted at the same time to produce the thread hole of the bead. After the pressed glass is molded it slowly cools. At this point, the beads are connected by excess glass around the edges. The pressed glass beads are placed into a tumbling cycle that will break off the excess glass. The beads will then be sent through another tumbling process that will smooth out imperfections and polish the beads.

I love working with Czech Glass beads, not only because of the never-ending array of beautiful colours, shapes, sizes and opacities, but because of their fabulous history! I also love that they are glass, which as a natural substance has an elegance and timelessness about it.

At the moment, I’m having to restrain myself from buying a stack more Czech Glass beads to add to my already sizeable stash… willpower!!

Which is your favourite of the Czech glass beads in these pictures? Do you wish The Silver Forge had other colours available? (Encouragement to fulfill my shopping dreams will always be appreciated! 🙂 )

the silver forge

jewellery handcrafted by ruthie gray