Rings--silver, stones, and more!

I've been working on a lot of rings lately--rings with funky and unusual stones and settings. Sometimes the stone does all the talking. Like this fire agate:

Simply brushed sterling silver shelf around the stone accentuates the cloudy edges and then the pop of the orange y-brown fire and the iridescent green--gorgeous stone!

And who can resist a large turquoise with black spider-webbing?! Oxidized to set off the large silver hammered balls. Everything is over sized and makes a statement in this ring. 

I am highly inspired by Native American and Mexican silversmiths from days of yore and can truly appreciate their skill and craftsmanship. I feel I struck a real Modernist look with this next ring.

It's a large round red agate cabochon that's bezeled in fine silver and off set in the larger circle. The outer edge is heavy square wire that frames the design. The inside is oxidized to set apart the areas of the ring.

Because I often don't repeat ideas or thoughts (sometimes on purpose, sometimes not), I thought I'd use some of the same design elements in another ring, but boy does it have a completely different look and feel.

A 6mm faceted blue topaz gemstone is tube set in the center of a silver bauble field. The background is oxidized to give depth and texture, while the outer square wire creates the same frame as above. I think it's pretty cool!

So many other things are on the bench, including some commissions that I'm finishing up. Lot's more to come!

Happy Easter!

A lovely sunny day to celebrate Easter with family. And happy pansies to help spring along.

And after a road trip to the annual gem and mineral show--this is what I call Easter candy!

Yummy, juicy colors of kyanite, opal, druzy, and jasper stones. They will soon meet with silver and gold and make their way into some new jewelry creations--I'm thinking some gorgeous rings! I can't wait to get back in the studio!

Yes, More Flowers!

I was thinking spring was on its way, but I guess we're in for another round of snow!  Looks like a foot of snow--UGH!!! 
In the meantime, I've been playing with more flowers.  This time they are tiny four-petal flowers--they remind me of forget-me-nots, but still based on the hydrangea idea.  These are clustered along a curly, sterling vine with a 6mm faceted peridot that is tube set in fine silver. 

I also made this pair of earrings along the same idea and design as the pendant.  4mm faceted peridots are also tube set in fine silver and circled with a sterling wire vine and earwires. 

Lots more jewelry coming.  New designs for inventory and lots of commissions too.  Let's hope the weather people are wrong!  But it's a little too early for April Fool's Day!

Commissions

I've been lucky enough to have some commission work to do this winter, so I've split my studio time between creating the commissions and mixing in a new piece for inventory.  Here are some of the completed commissions:

A silver reticulated cuff with balls and silver curves.

 

Reticulated silver earrings to compliment the above cuff. 

Sterling silver clip earrings with 18x25mm black onyx cabochons and 1 3/4 inch double dome beads with stamped pattern.  These are to wear with this:

A three-strand renewed necklace with carved beads, black onyx, and stamped double dome beads.

Another reticulated commission is this cuff--a little thinner with silver balls and a 4mm faceted apatite gemstone:

Isn't that turquoisey color gorgeous?!

Next up--some of the new inventory pieces.