Showing posts with label erin jane jewelry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label erin jane jewelry. Show all posts

Friday, December 11, 2009

The making of a Ruffle Ring


I've been making a few Ruffle Rings lately. I love making this ring. Each one is just a little different and I fall in love with each one. Yesterday while making some, I decided to take some process photos. It's harder than I thought! I really have a hard time breaking out of my groove to stop and take a photo. I really admire all those artists out there that do this and share their expertise with other artists. I think it's so fun seeing how people work - like all art, there isn't just one way to do something, so it's fun to see everyone's process - and secondly, I love to pick up some tips. So I hope I can help someone out there! Here's a peek at what it's like to make a Ruffle Ring:

First, I use one of these to hand cut 3 different size discs...







Like this...








Then, I hand form each disc until they are "ruffled" to my liking.






I then take my 3 ruffled discs, flux them, and stack them so that there are several contact points between all the individual ruffles - to insure they all stay firmly together once soldered. I use medium solder and place little pieces of it near all the contact points. Now, it's time to solder! I heat my brick up mostly and then watch for my solder to flow. I throw my perfectly imperfect ruffle into the pickle and make a ring for whatever size my order is for (oops, forgot pictures of that...sorry).

I sand down a little flat spot on my ring, again, for a larger (hence, stronger) contact point for my ruffle. Flux everything. Then, I use my third hand to hold the ring on top of the ruffle, place a piece of easy solder between the band and the ruffle and solder.


Once soldered, my ring looks like this. Yuck, huh? Back to the pickle for cleaning.






Now, it's been pickled and just needs to be finished. I use a radial sanding disc with a pretty high grit to give the ring an all over sanded finish. Because, although I love the ruffle, I don't want it to be too pretty. I like to add a little roughness to it.



And here is the finished product...

Oh, and of course, you can also find it here :)



Thursday, December 10, 2009

A day in the studio feels good

Ahhh, finally I have a full day of jewelry making! Such a great feeling. A full day only because I have a cold and am moving about 30% slower than usual. I have a little cloud in my brain today and I'm trying to listen to fun music to get me moving a little faster. The funny things is...the song I keep listening to is "Sleepyhead" by Passion Pit. Which is actually exactly what I am today. If there was a song called "You have 10,000 things to do today and you're moving really slowly for someone with so much to do" I would be listening to that.

Here's my little pile of goodies going out in the mail tomorrow morning. There's still time to order for Christmas! Plus, that whole free shipping thing I'm offering...get shopping!



As for our household's Christmas prepping update, the house is decorated, the tree is up, the hot cocoa mix is made, the peppermint bark is made, cookies baked...just a few things left to do!



Oh, and this is so sad. Kyra has had these antlers for about 10 years - since her first Christmas, I think. And this is what Lulu did to them today...bad girl.


Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Oh! And new items to share...

Here are a few new things going up in my Etsy shop. I hope to get them all posted tonight. I really want a packed shop in anticipation for the holidays coming up. I will also post my holiday code for discounts and let you know the scoop on that in the coming days...


Friday, October 30, 2009

Weekend Deals on Etsy - Buy one, Get One!

Gosh, I feel so car salesman-y.... But, I am holding a Buy One, Get One Free sale in my Etsy shop this weekend. For every item you buy, you get these earrings free. Just enter "weekend deal" in the "Notes to Seller" during checkout. So, get some holiday shopping done!

There are TONS of Etsy sellers doing the same all weekend long. Click Here for just a sample. You can also search "weekend deals" on the home page and get a ton more results of shop owners offering Buy One, Get One deals.

Have a great weekend!

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

New Goodies!!

I've spent the last couple days making bezels, setting stones, filing, sawing, polishing...Whee! So, here they are....Look for these new goodies in my Etsy Shop in the next couple days. I will hopefully have time to post them super soon. More jewelry tomorrow and a super fun weekend coming up. My mom will be here and it's my sister's birthday, so lots of good stuff coming up!

Oh, and check out the pink Opal ring in the middle...remember that stone?? Oh my gosh, I am in love with it...