This has been our spring break week, so I have had some extra time at the bench. We were going to try to get in some gem mining in North Carolina. A prospector friend of mine had written to tell me of a rock slide that exposed some excellent ruby specimens, but the kids, money, and stuff started conflicting. So, we stayed close by and I got in extra hours at the shop, which is fine with me. I’d rather be at the bench making some of my many sketches come to life. Since Christmas and a freakish after-Christmas spurt of sales, I haven’t gotten my supply back up, and this was an excellent week to get that done.
The first thing finished was a labrodorite ring in sterling. It’s not extremely fancy. Lora has been on me to come up with a product that is quick and affordable for the people who come to see my work but can’t swing the prices. I was reluctant, but after spending the day watching folks come in after a huge drive, I felt a little more motivated. I left all of the hammer marks on these rings, and I lapped out some high-domed labrodorite and iolite cabs to use in them. I don’t make rings often. The problem with rings is that you have to make them a particular size, and customers all have different finger sizes. So, I made up extra flowers with the bezels all ready to be soldered to the shank, so that when someone comes in with different fingers, I can whip up one before their eyes. They get to watch me hammer out a shank and solder it with my German blowpipe. OK, so I have stooped to gimmicks, LOL.
Blossom Ring in Labrodorite; sterling silver
I have also had a few lapidary mishaps this week. I carved some fire agates sent to me by Mark Anderson and Jessica Dow that they mined and blogged on here. The flashes of color and the domes for an optical effect was awesome. I was excited. But, I handed it to my oldest daughter who was assisting me in the studio, and she immediately tripped on the dog on her way to wash off the last pass with cerium oxide. The agate was accelerated to the ground, and pieces went everywhere. So, it goes. Then I was cutting a cab of rhodochrosite for this next ring. It had very cool bands of color, and was reminding me of an Easter egg. But, then it snapped in the dish, while I was drilling the holes to rivet in the rocket. I guessed that it would have snapped when I was riveting in the metal, so I went with a unique slab of this African Tiger Eye.
This ring was made at a size 7. It has been in my sketchbook for a while, but I was never sure about exactly which stones to use with it. But, I think that the exposed areas of the stone from the top and the sides makes for a cosmic ring.
Eye of the Tiger Ring; sterling silver, 22K gold, African tiger eye, and a faceted ruby
I had donated a work to the Rotarians to auction. The work was called Serpent in the Flower, and I am reluctant to make copies of my work, unless something significant is changed in the design. So, I made this one at 3/4th the size, using different stones. I just scaled down the sketch using my scanner and used some Wyoming jade. Wow, this jade was such a pleasure to cut. It is so fibrous yet hard and tough; it molds to a shape very well and takes a polish well. Lora picked up these hand-cut tourmaline beads to add the droplets to the story as well.
Serpent in the Flower Revisited; sterling silver, .999 silver, 22K gold, Shakudo, Wyoming jade, amethyst cab, and faceted rhodolite.
<b>Serpent in the Flower Revisited</b>; sterling silver, .999 silver, 22K gold, Shakudo, Wyoming jade, amethyst cab, and faceted rhodolite.
In all of my work, I try to work in a tension between subconscious sexual symbols; stone in setting, rocket in space, fish in water, or snake in flower. In this design I like the play of colors as well; the violets and greens of the stones and the tourmaline beads. Despite what the lore is behind the stones, the color vibrations of these stones is sexy and exotic. And, this works well with the imagery, in my opinion.
We will try to get to the mine site in North Carolina next weekend.
Thanks for looking :o)
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks Jay,
I started cutting my stones out of necessity. There just aren’t many lapidaries in this area. And, the stones that were showing up at gem shows here were just the same things I see everywhere. They would have hundreds of the same shapes of the same types. I figured using the same stones that everyone else is using, would be just like using pre-made findings. Plus, I like the freedom of designing the whole piece without having to wonder where I will get a stone of a particular cut. It’s just easier to cut it myself; although, my oldest daughter is getting to the point where she can take my sketches and cut it to specs.
You have fun on your vacation next week as well :o)
Hey There! Looks like you were very productive over your Spring Break! Wish I could say the same. These pieces are wonderful, and made even more special by the fact that you’re cutting your own stones. That’s awesome! I took a lapidary class at HCC in North Carolina 7 years ago, and learned tons, but didn’t carry on with it. Wish I had now, as I think it’s awesome what you’re doing. Keep up the good work and have fun mining.
Jay
Thanks Kristin
I am already the silversmith and lapidary in the fishbowl, lol. And, I should visit Alaska. I almost took a teaching position there, until someone explained to me exactly where I was going, LOL. I would prefer to just visit :o) I bet it’s a beautiful place.
Jerry, LOL, I see a whole variety of people come through the shop. And, I am always amazed and humbled by my clients. I do see a large amount of professors, decorators, and various others that wear sandals :oD But, I am just as nice to CPA’s, CEO’s, and GED’s. Hmmm, but maybe it’s the hippies that spend more liberally :o)
Thank you guys for commenting :o)
Nice ring. Flower rings should sell well with old hippies.
Love seeing your work. The rings are great. I really appreciate the hammering in the flower rings — and hey, it’s not a gimmick if it teaches your customer something. And makes him/her appreciate the work that much more. Good luck with the mining expedition. Should visit Alaska.