Tag: silver

Throwback Thursday: resin earrings

On By CarynIn Craft

In May of 2013 I was experimenting with circuits and epoxy resin. I made a set of earrings with components striped from a cell phone, epoxy, and sterling silver wire.

Photo description: hand-made, clear epoxy and sterling silver earrings with embedded upcycled phone components

This project did not stand the test of time. The epoxy yellowed and the silver tarnished. I thought I used “non-yellowing” epoxy, but I don’t have a record of the brand or type. I’ve drifted away from epoxy except as an adhesive for this reason.

Photo description: same earrings 12 years later

I have to say that I’m not entirely displeased with the aging of these earrings. The yellow and oxide have a more steampunk look than the newly made earrings. The epoxy is still solid, not cracked or degrading or sticky. I still wear the earrings.

Jewelry repair: teardrop pendant

On By CarynIn Craft

Here is another requested repair from my mother-in-law. This is a pretty nested tear drop design made from several colored loops. Here, the component holding all the loops broke in half.

Photo description: four layer teardrop pendant with broken connecting link (upside down)

Rather than glue the link back together, which surely would have broken again, I crafted a new linkage from twisted square sterling silver wire. I liked the rustic look of the twisted wire, and how it coordinated with the existing loops.

Photo description: looped twisted square sterling silver wire holding the tear drop loops

I did accidentally break the silver colored tear drop, but a little sanding removed the burr and I was able to still use it in the repaired pendant.

Photo description: repaired pendant as it would hang on the chain

Did I remember to take a photo of the pendant on the chain? Sigh, no.

Throwback Thursday: silver buttons

On By CarynIn Craft

I did some experiments in button making in February of 2010, tiny silver buttons for my button-collecting Grandmother. One set fashioned from sterling wire, and the other set from silver clay and cubic zirconia, which can survive the firing temperature of the clay.

Photo description: five silver wire buttons on a square printed card with my tree logo and a superimposed branch with five green circles for the small buttons. There are two looped flower buttons, and three double spiraled buttons made of square wire, twisted square wire, and round wire.
Photo description: five small buttons made from silver clay in the shape of leaves, two with cubic zirconia inserts on a square printed card similar to the other photo.

All the buttons have shank loops for sewing, rather than holes through the buttons. It was a fun project, and I think they came out interesting, although they are mostly for show. They are functional buttons, but not practical buttons.

Throwback Thursday: Silver work

On By CarynIn Craft, throwback

This is another favorite jewelry project I made back in January 2010. I used silver clay, some with cubic zirconia inclusions, to make unique beads, created custom wire elements, small chain link florets, and built links with end caps and beads.

Photo description: custom silver necklace with unique hand made links and custom clasp

This necklace did not do as well in the Fire Mountain Gems contest, which disappointed me because I thought this one displayed more technical skill. In hindsight, that is probably why it didn’t do well, it isn’t something easily duplicated, so wouldn’t advertise their products to the best advantage.

Live and learn.

Throwback Thursday: wire bracelet

On By CarynIn Craft

Today we are looking back to February of 2009 at a fun cuff style wire bracelet I made from thick gauge sterling silver wire. I bent the wire like ribbon candy, then hammered it flat (and kept having to readjust the bends because when you hammer them they want to open up). When I had the waves where I wanted them, I hammered it into a cuff shape around a bracelet mandrel.

Photo description: sterling silver wire bracelet in a squiggle pattern about 1/2” wide

The ends are curled into loops to protect the wearer from the cut ends. This is a fun little project and makes a pretty wrist adornment.