Monday, October 8, 2012

Something a little different...

 

 
 I've always admired handmade jewelry. I'm not talking about stringing beads, that IS  handmade jewelry also, and that's the kind of jewelry I usually make, and then add my own handmade lampwork beads, but I'm talking about jewelry made from scratch. Such as hand forged or hand fabricated metal jewelry. Metalsmithing and or wire work.
I took a silversmithing class a few years ago and I really liked it but decided at the time not to get too involved because of the extra expense of tools and equipment that I would need to purchase. I already have so much money tied up in lampworking tools and equipment that I just couldn't justify spending hundreds or even thousands more for metal fabricating. But, I have aquired a few things over the years and I feel like getting just a little more involved in this type of jewelry.
I recently made a set of beads in a neutral color palette, I know, unusual for me, but I really liked how they turned out and thought that they were just screaming to be added to a piece of jewelry with oxidized, hand-forged metal. So... I spent the day, the whole day, working on this fabulous bracelet. It was a very labor intensive project but a labor of love. I totally enjoyed the process and my brain is full of plans for more pieces using this process.


No comments: