Savanna's Pendant - Process Photos

This is a commissioned piece for Savanna.  I visited her in downtown San Francisco on the same day that Vice President Joe Biden decided to come join our party.  Well he was in town for a fundraiser lunch, which of course caused major traffic jams and detours.

Savanna chose this picture type jasper where it looks like someone painted some red blooms across a gray canvas.  So pretty and definitely unique.  With the long rectangular shape of the stone, we decided to reiterate that shape with rectangles and squares.  Placing the toggle clasp in the front not only reflects the organic shape of the brick red inclusions, but also makes it more convenient to wear.  I promised Savanna I will take progress pictures so she can see the step by step process.  Below the photos are some general, less technical descriptions:

From top to bottom and left to right:
1.   raw materials - recycled sterling sheet, recycled fine silver bezel wire, and the jasper cab
2.   measuring and fitting the bezel wire for the stone and solder the ends together
3.   solder the bezel onto a piece of the sterling backing that I cut from the big sheet
4.   I then sawed out part of the back because I want to have the back of the cab showing
5.   here it is, back is cut
6.   I have to keep checking to make sure the stone still fits
7.   and this is how the stone looks from the back
8.   I file the sawn edges smooth - first the inside rectangle on the backing
9.   then I use a larger file for the outside edges
10. cut the decorative square holes
11. drill a hole for a jump ring to later attach the ring part of the toggle clasp, and sand the metal smooth
12. looking from the back
13. toggle and chain attached, patina applied
14. signed the piece and quality stamped it with "STER"
15. all ready to set the stone and pushing the bezel against it
16. voila - finished

Here's a closer look at the finished pendant:

Front 

Back

I will be making her ring next.  She chose a lepidocrocite quartz with faceted top.  Come back in a few days and I will post those process pictures as well.  :)

New Jasper Pendants

Been neglecting this little blog of mine lately.  Now that summer months are almost gone, I'm getting back into the show circuits.  Here are a couple of pendants using some new materials I got recently.  I was immediately captivated by their vibrant yellow and orange striations.  This jasper came from Indonesia.  Aren't they cool?

Right:  Large Oval Jasper Pendant
Left:  X-Large Long Oval Jasper Pendant

The large one (left) is huge, about 2-5/8 inches long.  The shorter one is about 2 inches long.  Both are set in heavy gauge recycled sterling silver for a strong sturdy frame.

New Necklaces

A couple of new necklaces with some Montana Agates that has amazing picturesque coloration.  Since these stones have translucent backgrounds, I left the back and parts of the sides open to allow the most light through but still securely holding the stones.

New Moon Rising

Tahoe Sunset

Long Green Turquoise Pendant Necklace

Green Turquoise Pendant Necklace

This long slender green turquoise (32 x 8 mm) matches the ring I listed in the last post.  It is set the same way, and finished with the same texture on the silver.  The heavy bezel provides such a nice frame to the stone.  Yeah, a bit more silver used but so worth the uniqueness.

Labradorite Necklaces

Finally got a chance to make some new necklaces instead of rings for the Ring A Week challenge.  Two different styles, but both with labradorite which is one of my favorite stones. 

This one is more simple and contemporary.

Contemporary Labradorite Necklace

Vintage Styles Blue Labradorite Pendant Necklace

This one has wire formed scallops around the edges. It has a vintage feel, doesn't it?

Custom Moonstone Necklace

Posting a custom designed necklace for a client who bought my Ring A Week 52/02 Marquise Moonstone Ring.  Thanks, Nicole, for this wonderful collaboration opportunity.

Marquise Moonstone Necklace

Custom Moonstone Necklace, back

New Pendant Necklaces in my Shop

Some new pendant necklaces I posted to my shop, using similar white druzy (or sometimes spelled drusy) agates.  This stone is pure white like sugar or snow that glistens when light hits the different facets of the crystal points.  They are the insides of geodes.  I set them with prongs to let more light through the stones.  The sterling setting is oxdized to a pretty mottled black.  These pendants come with an adjustable black satin cord, 16 to 30 inches long.

Although the stones and the mountings are similar, I saw pierced the sterling backing with different designs.  

You can find these in my shop.

New Pendants

Finally got some time at the bench during the holidays, so I made a few pendants and will be posting them to my website.  Links are below the images.


Reflections, a Landscape Type Jasper

Cripple Creek Jasper, also a type of picture jasper

Storm, Red Creek Jasper

Rhodochrosite

Seasons Greetings



Seafoam Green Druzy Agate Pendant Necklace

  Wishing everyone a joyous holiday season!

Rectangular Pendants

Picked out a few stones from my stash. They are rainbow moonstones, labradorite, and turquoise. Unfortunately, the marquise shaped lab disappeared after dropping onto my floor. Maybe I'll find it, I hope. And then disaster hit the setting for the turquoise on the left. I'll try to fix that pendant next week.

While photographing these pendants, I'm beginning to understand why moonstones got that name. It's like the darker the surrounding, the more vivid the irridescence.

Check out the orange diagonal strip on the moonstone to the left. It is so striking and makes for a very interesting stone. On either side of the stripe are some gorgeous blue and green schiller. The labradorite in the middle is small but has an intense icy blue flash. The smaller moonstone has soft peacock color and a dash of orange. I chose to use a chain with rectangular links to go with the pendant shape.

To see more pictures, click here.