Playing with Fire

Have so enjoyed soldering and  making earrings, rings and my own pendants.  I have had bezel wire well over a year before attempting metalsmithing beyond closing circles, as shown in my previous post,  and like a pyromaniac, I can't stop, it is so much fun...for more pics of my work check us out on our facebook page and "like" us if you like at http://www.facebook.com/innerearthjewelry . 

Tiger's Eye ring will be for myself as I do need to have my own jewelry to wear, right.
Both the turquoise and moonstone cabochons were going to be pendants, but decided
to make a moonstone ring instead, decisions, decisions.

This round turquoise was made into a pendant and almost finished as we type, will be
posting necklace on FB page soon, and not the same cab as in last picture.

The Next Step...


First getting back to blogging on a regular basis....and next step... what seems to be a natural progression for alot of handmade jewelers, from beading, to wire wrapping, making ear wires, headpins, bead caps, jump rings, pmc, sawing to soldering...my first two rings, made convientantly, in my size...I've bought books and read how to's and had bezel wire for ever...so, what I've learned...any suggestions, tips, critiques from seasoned or first time metalsmiths...would love to hear....

Ring #1on left:  thought round stone would be easier, 20mm.  Thought I'd go all out and
stamp on the bezel, says: enjoy life.  My thoughts and mis-steps, bezel too tall, is hard to burnish, now I
read fine silver is softer and easier to push.  Also,  this is what a beautiful blue Sodalite
stone looks like after it gets over heated.  I kept working on the bezel and knocked one
side of the band undone, so I re-soldered the bottom and ruined the stone.  Ring #2: Milk
Quartz, this time I cut the bezel down, I think that was better but the band is not straight.
Lots to learn, filing seams, bezel sizing, sizing the ring bands and placement,...but, oh
what fun!!!!...anyway, I got myself a couple of rings!