A client emailed me to ask if I could help her with a costume jewellery piece she loved that had deteriorated and could no longer be worn.
As she could’t replace the piece, and it had been created in a cheap base metal, I was happy to replicate it for her in sterling silver.
Now it should last forever. Ah, the joys of working with precious metal!
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!
23 Jul 2012
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.
28 Feb 2014
Here you can see my jump ring winder… and I think those are parts of this bracelet and ring combination piece.
03 May 2014
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!
15 May 2014
More joy, and more pieces in the works.. including this peacock blue round drusy ring, and this stormy blue oval one. That’s my ring sizing equipment in the top left hand corner.
19 Sep 2014
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
It’s always a joy packaging up some Silver Forge earrings to send up to the lovely Gatakers Artspace in Maryborough. Gatakers is a community artspace which displays the work of local and regional artists and craftspeople ~ they are at 311 Kent Street, Maryborough. If you’re in the area, stop by, enjoy the gallery, and find my pieces in Gatakers shop. Thanks to the great staff there!
After seeing a mohave green turquoise ring I created for another client, Karen fell in love and wanted one of her very own!
I was able to source another mojave green turquoise cabochon, and create this ring.
Thanks, Karen – it’s a stunner!
One of my dearest old school friends asked if I could create a bangle for his daughter’s 16th birthday.
He sent me a sketch of what he wanted, and described the ocean feel he was looking for in the stones.
This piece was truly a pleasure to create, it just flowed together beautifully. Happy birthday, Sophie! xx