This ring was actually part of module 3. We had to learn how to make a rubber mold of a prototype in order to be able to wax inject, and create copies. This ring was my proto. I successfully made the mold, but have not pulled a successful wax from it. I need to create an extra channel into the rubber to allow the air someplace to go so the wax will flow through the entire mold. Someday.
These two are from an enameling workshop. I keep forgetting to bring home the two others that I made. Need to take pictures of them.
This one was pretty consuming, I don't really know why I did it, other than the end product is AWESOME!! Ahem, right. It's sterling silver. I cut out the dream-catcher design, and then cut out little pieces of copper and hammered the suckers into place. Then I soldered everything so they wouldn't fall out. This little plate was pretty thin, so I decided to bezel set it to give it some integrity. I antiqued the inside to get that black background seen through the silver.
A pair of earrings made to match the above cuff. Again, pierced silver with copper inlaid into the sections.
I got a little obsessed with the whole inlay thing. I made this copper pendent with silver inlay to go with the ring that was a prototype for mold making. Not really meant to be an exact match like with the cuff and earrings above.
So, it's funny the metal used for this piece is actually from waaaaaaaaaaay back when I took my first intro to jewelry making when I lived down in Silver Spring, MD. I had made a cool texture into copper but the sheet was too thin to really do anything about it, so the teacher suggested I solder it to a sheet of silver. Makes it thicker, and then won't get green finger. I never shaped it into anything, I just had this sheet of copper soldered to silver. I kept it not really knowing what to do with it. My most recent visit home to NY I looked at it wondering if I should throw it out. Brought it out to Cali with me instead. Part of my jewelry line in module 4 needed a ring, so, I got rid of the old texture, pierced out a design, bent it into a ring, gave it a new texture and fired it.
I have some familiar pieces next:
Finally made a necklace to go with this pendent. Brought the beads back from NY, and the bead loom on which I 'wove' the necklace.
Simple bead stringing job. Combination of wood, bone, and then the multicolored beads, I'm not really sure what they're made of. But they were recycled from an old necklace, something I believe belonged to my mom (thanks Ima!).
Decided this piece needed a refiring. Look at those awesome colors!!! The photo really doesn't do it justice, they are way cooler in real life.
Another copper piece that got the firing treatment. This guy was project #2 waaaaay back last January. Hard to believe it's that long ago. I re-burnished it; it had oxidized and got ugly. Then applied flame and awesome colors appeared.
So, last but not least, I decided to make a new mezuza for my new apartment. I kinda broke the other one from my last apartment, right after removing it, too. Anyway, it's not perfect in terms of the soldering assembly (which you can't see), but I'm really proud of the design. As long as it hangs on the door without falling off, it's all good:
