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Showing posts with label rustic copper jewelry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rustic copper jewelry. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Sexy Solder

So okay, it's not really sexy; I was looking for an S word! :) But it does make me feel powerful!

I would never have believed I would enjoy anything that had to do with fire, beyond that in a fireplace. But I really do like soldering. It does give me a feeling of power! almost. Makes me feel as if I could build things!

The earrings I have to show you are not what I intended to. The Sterling hoops below are what I planned to share. But when all was said and done, I wasn't happy with them. They're a little too rustic, even for me. I have to do some work on the copper, and then there's something missing. I worked with them trying to add different things here or there and eventually just put them aside. They are my first soldered Sterling pieces. Big Sterling Hippie Hoops is what I envisioned. Who knows where they'll end up.

So I pulled out a pair of copper teardrops I had soldered at the same time. I like making plain shapes, rounds, teardrops, triangles, and soldering a bar across, generally not straight across, on an angle, and the angle may not be the same on each earring. And then I select a group of beads and wrap the daylights out of the bars. The picture below shows a few I've done in the past.

They are challenging to wrap. I have wrapped and re-wrapped and re-wrapped many pieces. Some never to be completed. I used to use wire until it finally occurred to me to try waxed linen! Much kinder to the hands!
hand-forged copper teardrops

The top beads are ceramic by Nadia Karapencheva of Nadia Terra.

Thanks for stopping by! My wishes to you and yours for a year filled with Love & Laughter, Peace & Joy. Happy New Year! And enjoy a little fire!
I'll be back on 01/05/16.

Norbel Marolla
She Flies Again - My Shop on Etsy
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Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Apostle Island Earrings

Apostle Island Earrings

Ever since I moved to Minnesota long ago, one of my favorite places to go for a long weekend getaway is Lake Superior. In three hours I can be on a rocky beach looking for surf tumbled rocks and driftwood, or just soaking up the sun and the cool breeze. One of my special destinations on Lake Superior destinations is the Apostle Islands. They are located off the shore of Bayfield in northern Wisconsin, still a short trip from my home. These islands are special to me for their rugged beauty and peaceful charm, so much so that I have named a recent collection of jewelry for them.

All of the pieces of my Apostle Islands Collection are a blend of hand faceted gemstones with rustic copper components. For this earring design, I formed sticks of hammered and heat patinated copper to blend with aqua fluorite cubes and apatite square cut beads. Simple and rustic, as is the place for which they are named.

Lake Superior Photo by Damon Ewing

Lake Superior has many moods. In August you may find it smooth as glass; visit again in October and you may see its surly side with powerful wind and crashing waves.

The waters of Lake Superior are usually a deep blue, but every day is different and under the right light conditions it can also be a beautiful shade of green.
















Gloria Ewing

Chrysalis Tribal Jewelry
Chrysalis Too on Etsy