Sneal Peak!

New Graffiti Rings! Enamel on copper set in sterling silver. These beauties are large and in charge, about the size of a quarter. Each is one of a kind and will be debuting at ACC in February!

Ringing in the New Year!

New rings added to the shop! When they are gone, they're gone! This style is being discontinued in 2010!

Graffiti Cocktail Ring- Limited Time Only!

2009 Graffiti Cocktail Rings! These fun rings will soon be discontinued and replaced with rings set in sterling. Don't miss your chance to snatch up one of these extremely affordable, one of a kind pieces of wearable art! High fire opaque enamels on copper. The copper disc is hammered to a concave cup shape before enameling. The colors are layered creating the "graffiti" effect. Due to the nature of this enameling process, no two pieces are alike. Please allow for subtle (but exciting!) variations. Enameling is a process of fusing powdered glass onto metal at 1500 degrees. While durable, please handle with care and love as your piece is comprised of glass on metal. Chipping can occur to the glass if not careful. Best suggestion is to wear as a cocktail ring or for special occasion wear- not recommended for everyday wear. The enameled disc is appx. 3/4" in diameter. The edges are polished to a copper shine, and a piece of polish cloth is included. The ring shank is adjustable silver plate, one size fits most.
New rings added daily to the shop!

Rings!

New fun cocktail rings! Enamel on copper, the disc is formed to a concave cup. Each one is different, some have added glass for texture. The ring shank is adjustable plated metal, so one size will fit most! A few are listed in the shop now, look for more in weeks to come!

Ring Class- the results...

Here are my two final cast rings. We used the lost wax cast process which was really interesting to learn. First we had to carve a ring out of a block of wax- which I found surprisingly difficult. Up until now we have been working additively, building and engineering rings. This carving threw me for a loop as we were taking away to get the form. The hardest part was getting started, and I just kept having to tell myself that is was only wax. Then we had to "sprue" the wax rings to a "tree" to make the model to pour the plaster investment around. Once that hardens the wax is melted out in the kiln leaving a plaster mold. Metal is melted down till molten, poured into the cast, and voila you have a sterling ring. I have really condensed the description of this process, of course there are many more steps but you get the gist of it. Enjoy!

Ring Class

Last evening was our final critique and for the ring class I've been taking at MICA. I forgot that I promised my dear (translate that to few) readers that I would give updates and post pictures of my work. I managed to keep it together and complete all my assignments- with only one minor melt down and 1 saw blade and finger episode- this is a new record for me. Anyhow, aside from the numerous samples I created in copper, I completed several finished silver pieces. The assignments included forged rings out of wire, stock and tube, cast rings, an unusual stone setting, moving parts ring, and alternative materials.
Here are my results:




I apologize for the lack of detail in the shots, I had to shoot them quickly before they were packed up for our show and end of year party on Thursday! I'll post better pics soon, but wanted to give you all a chance to see what I've been up to.

Barcode Ring

Sterling silver band ring with a hammered line texture. I gave it a patina to blacken the lines. I plan on making a series of these, called "Barcodes," as that's what the pattern reminds me of. Look for them in the shop soon!

Friday Etsy "Ring" Finds

As I was doing my homework for my "All About Rings" class, I thought I'd share a few of my favorites off etsy. Happy Weekend everyone!

Acrylic "shrinky dink" ring by Dillon Designs
White gold and wood ring by Wood Rings

Cast sterling silver tentacle ring by Octopus Me

Flameworked glass ring by Amy Johnson

Electric granulation sterling silver rings by Lake

Scribbling

So it was back to school for me last week, hence the lameness with posting. I was all set to have a heavy duty studio work weekend over the labor day holiday, but alas it wasn't so. We had a teacher depart from the department last year, and lucky me got clean up all the stuff that he left behind. Somehow I pulled my back and neck moving around his leftover heavy boxes of junk, and woke up Saturday in screaming pain and unable to move my head sideways or up and down. So I was forced to rest on one of the most beautiful days this summer, brain dead on muscle relaxers. I did get to watch back to back episodes of "The Sopranos" and be waited on by my patient husband. Anyhow, I didn't get as much work done as I had hoped for in anticipation of Crafty Bastards. AND I found out I got into The D.C. Craft Mafia's Unusual Suspects Holiday Fair! So I've got a lot of work to do. Please forgive me if I am lame with posting for the next couple of weeks, as I adjust to working full time again and frantically try to get work made for the shows.
At any rate, what I did get made were these new rings. I call them Scribble rings because I sort of felt like I was drawing with the wire. They are big, and chunky, and fun, and sparkly, and very much like 70's cocktail rings. The stones are different kinds of quartz, serpentine, and carnelian. They are faceted and translucent so the sparkle and glow. I really quite like them and proud of my self for expanding my repertoire of body ornamentation.
Hopefully I'll get a few into my etsy shop someday! To see more check out my flickr page.


pssstttt- check back on Friday, there maybe a surprise coming, hint, hint!