Sterling Silver Guitar Pick on Leather Cord with Sterling Silver Findings
A good view of the bezel set cabachon gemstones
Wish there were two of me so one could be drawing up the ideas and the other could be working away at the workbench. Heck, I could probably keep a team of people busy with all the ideas floating around above my bed. Here’s just a couple of design sketches to tease you with…
Sterling Silver Multi-Gemstone Necklace and Earring Design Sketches
Side View Amethyst Gemstone Ring in Sterling Silver Basket Setting
I just love how this bracelet came out. I feel like royalty when I’m wearing it. Here’s how it was made… the Reader’s Digest version…
This bracelet was made from scrap sterling left over from several months of jewelry making. The scraps where melted and poured into an ingot mold.
Silver Multicolored Gem Stone Cuff Bracelet
The ingot was then rolled into a sheet using a rolling mill. The sheet of silver was textured with a ball peen hammer. The bracelet was again hammered into a cuff shape using a bracelet mandrel. Bezel settings were soldered to the face of the bracelet and then garnet, amethyst, citrine, ruby, blue topaz, and peridot stones were set. Bezel settings work by compressing the silver around the stone. There is no heat or glue used to hold them in.
Once completed, I didn’t want to part with it… so I kept it for myself. But, I’d be willing to make another if anyone cares to commission one. Due to that hand made nature of this piece, no two will ever be exactly the same. That’s the real beauty in it. And of course the stone colors of your choice could be used. Questions? email: info@silversmyth.com
http://silversmyth.bigcartel.com/product/gemstone-studded-cuff-bracelet
Click above for a link to the shopping cart you can find it in… and to see my other creations.
Thanks for checking it out!
~Julie
Much like Nambe’s award winning designs that are found in museum collections, my Sensual Minimalist designs are stripped down to the essential elements. I’m attracted to slow organic curves and lustrous shine. The silver of this ring looks almost molten.
Leaf Ring, originally uploaded by Silversmyth.
Sensual Minimalistic designs are described as abstract forms that are an experience, not just an object. This ring is not just a thing of beauty but a sensual form, exquisite and when worn is warm to the touch.
The smooth and solid feel of 11 grams of precious sterling silver add to the value of this beautifully carved ring. The interior of the leaf is only partially hollowed out and the widest portion of the ring shank is at the bottom for balance.
Did you ever wonder why jewelers hollow out the backside of rings? For one thing it makes them lighter weight and therefore far less expensive to produce. I love the feel of a solid ring and to run my fingers over it and trace the smooth curves.
This is ring is an Art form to behold and to be worn.
$98.
Cast and Hand Finished Sterling Silver.
Grams vary by ring size.
Size 7 weighs approx. 11 grams. allow two weeks for delivery as each ring is lovingly made to order. Whole, half and quarter sizes.
Intertwined Bubbles, originally uploaded by Silversmyth.
The intertwined bubbles design was created yesterday to be symbolic of marriage.
I was thinking about design in its relationship to writing prose or poetry. The goal when writing is to say the most you can with the fewest words. Writing should be clean and uncluttered.
My husband and I discuss design often. He tells me that poetry is kind of like design in that it’s best when simple, not over-reaching for depth or meaning. It has to happen and not be forced, or at least it has to appear that way.
Here is a poem my husband wrote just before we married in 1998 which I believe to be an excellent example.
When I looked up
the room had turned pink
from the sun’s blinking eyes.
I could smell tea
on a draft from the kitchen
and I listened to the little clinks
as you stirred honey
through the steam,
and the dog clickclicked
across the tile.
After you brought my tea
and re-entered the lives
in your book,
I heard you whisper
that you could feel me
to the ends of your hair.
©1998 Randell Hiltbrunner (Published here with permission.)
(Excuse me, I must go off topic for a moment… but isn’t that the sweetest gift? I love that poem. I have it stored in my jewelry box. It’s as special to me as the treasures I keep beside it. )
So much of the jewelry design I see when shopping online or in stores is cluttered with stones and beads. But my favorite designs to see and wear are simple and classic. His advice on writing and design put into words what I believe about design. My designs should be simple and elegant. Uncluttered and clean. They should make the person wearing them feel confident in wearing a classic look that will not go out of style.
What I like about this circle design that it is versitile enough to compliment any outfit from jeans to an evening dress.
On leather (as shown) this pendant is a great everyday wear item. If you plan to wear it with evening wear I suggest selecting a sterling silver chain in 16, 18, or 20″. The pendant should fall just below the collar bone. On a small person, that’s a 16″ but on most people an 18 or 20″ is better.
Pendant with brown/black cord or varius lengths of sterling silver chain. Your choice of White (Super Premium) Cubic Zirconia, Simulated Aquamarine, Lab-grown Ruby, Natural Yellow Citrine. (See photo of stone colors reminiscent of Andy Warhol’s lithographs and Paypal button below.) $84.
Stone Color Examples
| Stone |
| Necklace Type |
The mini bee has a domed front and back. The front side has two stripes that were made by flattening wire and then soldering them to a flat disk.
The disk was then hammered into a dome shape. Closed rings were made oval by placing closed chain nose pliers into the center and spreading apart.
The wings, antenae and stinger were soldered to the rear of the front disk. A disk was domed and then soldered to the backside to enclose and give it a finished look.
The body of the bee got a brushed finish and the stripes a full shine to accentuate the stripes. The pendant is just larger than the size of a dime. This bee is sweet as honey!
$88. on 18″ Chain, with Sterling Silver Silversmyth tag and arrives in a black satin gift pouch.
Riveted Men’s Ring, originally uploaded by Silversmyth.
This ring is hot. Need I say more?
Okay, just a bit more. This ring is composed of 18 individual components. The outer rings were hand formed and hammered flat. Hefty rivets hold 8 tubes in place. It’s every bit as solid and sturdy as it looks. The outside edge of the rings have a reflective hammered texture.
$197 made to order. The ring shown is a Size 10.5.
Woke up this morning with this design in mind… maybe we all do have muses that whisper in our ears. If I do, mine is an early bird because I tend to get my best ideas right upon waking.
The muse told me to rivet the connection points instead of how I typically attach metal… which is by soldering with a torch. The great thing about riveting is that there’s no heat involved. I will keep this in mind when summer rolls around as the Texas heat (100 degrees for 2 months straight) keeps me indoors as I prefer to solder in my garage space because of the fumes. My riveting tools all remain indoors at my workbench in lovely air conditioned space.
Another great thing about riveting is that it doesn’t turn the metal black like soldering…. so there’s not as much cleanup!
I just love the industrial look of these earrings… they say, “Hey, I’m a girl who likes tools.”
2- 4mm Tube Set Lab Grown Rubies. Earrings 2 inches/5cm. Weight 3.2 grams/.11 ounces each.
This is a custom sterling silver ring with hand engraved text inside and out.
This ring is substantial (3mm tall and 2mm wide.) Lettering can be hand stamped or hand-engraved as shown. The wide radius edges make it super comfortable to wear.
How much would you love to get a custom ring with a special message from a loved one? Feel free to send him/her a link to this page and don’t forget to casually mention your ring size. : )
Plain hammered band $78.
Outside/inside engraving $98.
Engraving inside and out $120.
Silversmyth jewelry handcrafted by Julie Hiltbrunner. Unique and custom designs with classic simplicity in sterling silver. Blog details what has been created in the Silversmyth workshop, Fort Worth events and an occassional story on an an interesting artist... Enjoy!
