The marriage of metals pendant is going well. I cleaned up the gross solder and uneven tops tonight, so now they look presentable. There is still more sanding to do, but I will likely wait to do that until right before I attach the crown - which I still have to build.

The black stone is faceted onyx, but you wouldn't know that from these photos.

Here's the drawing I worked from to cut out the pieces of nickel and sterling silver. Graph paper makes everything easier, as do protractors, compasses and rulers. So glad I paid attention in geometry.

Both parts are backed with sterling, so that when worn the nickel pieces won't have contact with the skin. Though I'm thinking the wings won't be flat, instead I'll solder them at slight angles. Either way, it makes the back look better, and strengthens the whole piece.

Tomorrow: make the crown for the Rhodolite Garnet!

The Accomplishment of the Week

I built a crown. From scratch. Attempt #1 melted. Attempt #2 worked!

Now I have to make it fit down into the pendant, and solder that...without melting anything. Slightly stressful, but quite exciting if it works. I also got my chain today, so this hopefully will be finished and fancy by the end of next week.

(I was too lazy to set up decent lighting, so it is dim.)

I have yet to decide if I want to have the secondary stone in a bezel below the citrine. I'm thinking it will be skipped. Decision has to be made before the citrine is set, so we'll see in a few days.

Internet ridiculousness

So, I'm in the process of developing a Facebook Fan Page for my jewelry creations. If you are so inclined, you may become a fan:

Kathlyn Kremer on Facebook

(End self-promotion)

This weekend I finish the "batwax", it cast up perfectly, so I guess it's no longer a batwax. I always cross my fingers and toes when I let the centrifuge go. I have yet to get an incomplete casting though. I think the centrifuge is far more reliable than the vacuum from school, however the centrifuge at school was a bit terrifying. I'm sure most of my former classmates would agree.

It's the Batwax! Ok, really, I just couldn't come up with a better name for it. This is getting cast this week. I'm thinking this will be a one of a kind necklace - I'll solder chain to it at the very end. Getting it light enough has been interesting...it probably could still be lighter, but I'll deal with that when I start cleaning up the metal.

The stone is a cushion-cut checkerboard top citrine. I think it will work well. I may incorporate another stone or two, but haven't decided yet. Sometimes it's nice to make things up as you go.

Switching Gears

I am on a huge pendant kick, I don't know why. I used to be designing rings like crazy, but that has changed recently. I think I came up with five doable designs in one night, and they all use different techniques. I found that it's easier to draw up a design in a larger scale, and then shrink it to the actual size. It seems to get more of the kinks out, since I have to draw it a couple extra times.

I have a few stones heading my way this week, and depending on costs I might just order some gold. These are the stones, I have pretty solid ideas for 2 of the 4 so far.

Sunset Padparadscha Sapphire


Kiwi Topaz

Rhodolite Garnet

Mozambique Garnet

Will be interesting to see how the stones look in person. I'm still trying to hunt down a big round stone for one of the designs I came up with the other night. I suppose it would be better to start making the ones for which I already have stones.

So, I checked out this International Gem and Jewelry Show that is/was at the state fairgrounds this weekend. I had no idea what to really expect going into it, other than:

1. It might be super-tacky
2. It might be a great resource for loose stones/beads
3. It might be a waste of $7 and time

I found out:

1. It was full of middle aged and older ladies
2. Mom said it felt like Vegas
3. I have ridiculously expensive taste in beads - one strand I looked at was $150 (at 50% off, yeah.)
4. There is a great local resource for cabochons and unusual stones - bought a great piece of rutilated quartz...but I'll get to that in a bit.
5. There are a kajillion beads out there. Seriously.

So, overall it was worth going. I'm currently in the process of designing a pendant around this piece of rutilated quartz. I actually think I might do a sterling/14K yellow gold combination, since the rutiles have a slight golden color.

I feel like I want to do some one of a kind pieces for a while. Doing multiples is challenging and good practice of specific skills, but it doesn't seem to flex my design muscles enough. I feel like people appreciate unique jewelry pieces, too - at least I do.

I've added another deadline besides the Fall art crawl, which is good. I need to have deadlines otherwise I feel like I'll never get anything finished. A friend and fellow artist wants to have a jewelry party with my stuff in the Fall. It should be fun and hopefully I'll have things that will interest the people. Wine and excellent food will be involved, so no matter what it'll be a good time.

Took a Break

Well, I did not mean to take an entire month off. But somehow it happened?

I have been working on some drawings and designs for some new items, and I still have the pod earrings sitting half-finished on my bench. My job has been going pretty well, business seemed to pick up once the weather started to resemble Spring.

I finally have all my finished items up on Etsy, will be interesting to see how that pans out. I also just put in an application at a local bead store. Maybe I'll get some weekend hours to help finances, plus a discount on beads. Just have to keep trying different things, I suppose. Something will stick eventually.