New Things! New Things!

Sometimes it can be really difficult to sell the things you make...

These are now in the madeit store (click on the link to view the store :)) A couple of resin rings with lux things lining the bottom and another O necklace, this time with a pearl (thankyou Ladyfinger!)

And... it's the day before the Anzac Day long weekend so we're getting very excited that for once I won't be working it and we can spend the weekend together. Well sort of. The boys are off tomorrow for a hair-raising lap in a rally car and some bonding time at the amusement arcade and us girls are free as birds to do whatever we like - hooray!! - then awake early for an Anzac Parade on Sunday and Monday with friends. Blisstastic!!

Have a great long weekend, I know I will!

Ring Making

I finally dragged my ring mandrel out of the dark depths of it's drawer and put it to good use. Here are some pics of the making of my Little Bricks stacking rings (which are for sale in the madeit store :)

This first pic below shows the metal after it's been cut to size and soldered to form the rough rings. I'm starting to file off the rough bits left over from the solder.

After the filing the ring goes onto the mandrel to be whacked into a perfect round shape. I then used the chisel end of the hammer to give it a good texture (also fantastic for taking out any frustrations!).

Then here it is, round but still a bit too rough.

A good rub over with 2 grades of emery paper and some strategic filing marks to pretty it up. I like texture and this is really evident in my jewellery - things need to feel beautiful as well as look beautiful.

Now to cut out the little brick shapes. I have a sheet that I've already patterned with a chasing tool so I measure and cut my shapes, then file them till they're perfect.

Next I have to solder the little bricks to the shanks... apply the flux, light the torch, a bit of fiddly tweezer work and voila!

A quick dip in the pickle to clean off any impurities, a scrub with a wire brush and there you have the finished product - Little Bricks Stacking or Sharing Rings.