Not sure that’s the best post title but my mind seems to be drawing a blank at the moment!
So, what do I have to show today? Two newish (i.e., new to the website but created a couple months ago) bracelets that couldn’t be more different. Ok, well, maybe they could, but they’re pretty disparate!
Let’s start with some hand-hammered silver leaves and labradorite.
hand-hammered sterling silver leaves interspersed with small labradorite rounds form a bracelet. Rivets and a handcrafted toggle add a touch of industrial chic
The labradorites are small but, boy, they’ve got flash. Mmmmm! I love labradorite. I’m also particularly happy with my little hole-lining tube rivets and my happily-whanged handmade toggle.
Alrighty, looking in the direction of more stone, less metal, may I present Moonlit Sand?
moonstone and pearls with a shell toggle bring to mind the beach in the moonlight
I love the toggle on this. I can’t claim credit for it – I don’t have the skills or the equipment to shape shell like that – but it’s perfect for the feel of the bracelet, don’t you think?
Hope you’re all well! If anyone’s looking to do a jewelry party later this fall, I’m booking for mid-October (i.e., after the baby) and beyond! It’s a great way to get yourself a pretty cool discount on some pretty cool jewelry and, unlike the mainstream jewelry parties, I won’t guilt your friends into hosting parties. Just think about it, ‘kay?
Cheers all!
K2
Love, love, love the tube rivets! I love both bracelets, but the rivets are inspiring me. I’ve done the run-of-the-mill-rivets, but not the tubes yet. Are they very difficult to do? Did you teach yourself or use a tutorial?
Well, sort of a combination, Betsy! I have a book on cold connection that has a tube rivet project in it. I read the tube rivet section and that inspired me. But what really helped was Tim McCreight’s Complete Metalsmith – his section on tube rivets was better explained, I think. If you don’t have that book, I HIGHLY recommend it. It’s the shelf-reference everyone interested in metalsmithing should have. Maybe I’ll do a short post on tube rivets one of these days!
Really Really love those leaves! what did you whack them with. I love the texture it left – kinda crinkly and ripply – like dried leaves. Cool!
Hi TNT, it was just the curved edge of my normal hammer – over and over and over. I started actually with the flat side of my riveting hammer but the straight lines just didn’t look organic enough to me. The more I do this, the more I realize one just can’t have enough hammers.
Gorgeous work my friend! I am drooling heavily over that hammered bracelet…/grin.
Thanks, Kitty! (Don’t drool into the keyboard!
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