Enjoying my time off work

[misspond]

I'm fortunate to have a term time job even though I no longer work in a college and this week I finally feel as though I've indulged myself in my hobby.

First of all I have been making little stacking rings with pre-made bezel cups - I know they're tricky little beggars to use with stones that don't fit exactly, but they can be coaxed to with a little persuasion from a burnisher. Question was, could I hold a 1.5mm shank in a third hand and add Keum Boo gold? The answer was a slightly tricky yes - fiddly but doable. There's probably an easier way to hold the little shanks so they're firm and if I do it again I'll add the gold before soldering on the bezel cup and not after.


My daughter recently asked me to make her a ring with one of a stash of little tourmaline cabs I bought on a whim - etched the shank, and made the bezel using 1mm fine silver wire as I didn't want a high setting, the cabs are quite low domed and I didn't want to use the usual bezel wire and lift the stone - hammered it a little flatter and attached to the back plate and have created this deliberately imperfect little setting. This was a good practice run as I have a few more of these to use.


Electroforming has fallen by the wayside recently but I needed a big pendant so used a nice big flashy labradorite and my favourite way of texturing, nail art stamps, to create a texture on the back and the surround.


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