Metals Gallery

Susan May - Tall Ring

Peg Fetter Ring

 Kayo Saito "Swaying Ring"

                                   Meghan O'Rourke  Jali Rings 

                          Joanne Haywood - Blue Bells

                                                                    Sharon Massey Preciousness Necklace                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Meghan O'Rourke  fold out bangles                       

                        Miriam Verbeek Necklace

We started our intro class with a few rings, using basic skills in sawing, annealing, piercing, drilling, riveting and filing.We have learned how to solder, how to clean the metal in warm pickle pot, how to anneal copper until it glows, how to texture with hammers, imprint with a rolling mill and how to etch using asphaltum and PNP blue.  We've used flux and scribes, mallets and ring mandrels, doming blocks and punches, flexshaft motors and firebricks as we began our first project; a tool/jewelry object.  It is due next week and I've got plenty of work yet to do.  But I needed a little inspiration and found lots in the images above.  I love the variety of materials used (crochet and fibers!), the designs, textures and colors.

Inspiring Books: 

Stitched Jewels - Jewelry that's sewn, stuffed, gathered & Frayed by Marthe Le Van

Wrap, Stitch, Fold & Rivet by Mary Hettmansperger

Images from Velvet da Vinci and artist's websites.