Repurposing a bracelet

 

I was given a bracelet that was made from Mexican silver. I had been acquired many years ago; had some memories attached to it; but was not being used; and was also broken in some parts.

After a quick on the spot assessment I indicated to the giftee that I would deconstruct the bracelet and use parts to make earrings and maybe a pendant. I indicated that I would gift a pair or two of the earrings back to the giftee if she wanted to pass the history and memory of the bracelet on.

The opening photo and the two following photos show the 'dismantling' process.

I set aside pieces that would come together as pairs or earrings and a pendant - again in the opening photo. Sharp edges of pieces were filed off and the pieces given a polish. Photos of the assembled pendant and earring appear below.

The earrings and pendant will be for sale. The bracelet has been repurposed and given a new life.

Slight new direction

 

Given we are in the cottage I have been inspired to try to make some solid silver wee cottage earrings - see the initial designs in the sketches below. This work will include quite a bit of delicate sawing with a jewellers saw. Two hand cut cottages on slate are in the opening photo - bit of filing and sanding yet to be done. The wee cottages are about 10-11mm wide.

I needed to mark up the silver with a very fine pen but was not sure what would work - needs to be permanent and not smudge when cutting. I tested a range of pens on one of our stainless steel kitchen knives as you can see below.

In the end I thought Fiona's Uni pin .05 pen below would work best. It did mark up ok but did also smudge a bit. The cutting this time was done at the kitchen table - cutting vee clamped to the table. I think I will try a Copic pen next.

Fiona asked if our kitchen knife would ever be the same - after a bit of a scrub with stainless steel cleaner it was as good as.

Over the next while I will make some stamps out of nails to use to create the windows, doors and texture on the roof - all part of a work in progress????

A master class

 

During the week Fiona and I were fortunate to do a private master class with a renowned local silversmith. We wanted to learn the skill of bezel setting stones. 

Several months ago we had been gifted some polished opal stones. I thought it would be nice if I was able to learn the skills required to turn a couple of the stones into pendants - I thought the first one could be gifted back to the woman who gave us the stones.

You can see the outcome of this class in the opening photo. 

Process-progress images follow - starting with the original stone - about 18mm long.

Calculating the length of the flat soft silver ribbon that would encircle the stone.

Soldering the ribbon of metal to form a circle; ensuring the edges are flat; and testing it over the stone.

Cutting a piece of flat silver plate for the base - photo of Fiona cutting flat silver plate; and soldering the circle of metal to the base plate.

Trimming and then grinding and polishing the dish form that hold the stone when the edges were folded onto the stone.

Obviously there were many more process-progress steps but one forgets to get photos; and of course the professional looking outcome was achieved because of input by the teacher including soldering the ring to the top.  I'm sure Fiona will blog on her work - a ring.

From formal to informal

 

A friend asked if I would convert a formal black freshwater pearl necklace (below) into an informal lariat style necklace. Photos of the completed lariat necklace are above and at the end of the blog post.

The conversion process included: de-stringing the pearls; re-drilling the pearls to increase the hole to 1.5mm to cater for the 1.5mm woven string; super glueing the pearls into place on two slightly offset strings. It was mainly a fiddly task; but good to turn the necklace into something that will now be loved and used. The re-drilling of the pearls always takes precision and care.

The end product is a lighter more open and flexible necklace that can be set to a length that suits the wearer. There are 26 pearls on the lariat.

Feedback was - "absolutely love it- it'll get heaps of wear." 

Slate and timber

Over the last couple of days I have managed to get a bit of time in the workshop. On Saturday I attempted to make a slate (from cottage roof) and silver pendant for Fiona; and today I managed to finish 3 timber vases.

In regard to the pendant I say attempted because the slate was very flakey and shattered when grinding at the end of production. The pendant above was meant to be a third longer in length but I needed to trim the bottom and ended up with a square shaped pendant. I wanted to 'stitch' the slate to reflect some of the work Fiona is doing for her Scotland exhibition.

In the end I made a second pendant with rivets - but even there ran into trouble as a bit broke in the slate so I had to glue a short rivet into that hole - and I only had brass short refits.

The timber vase making today was more successful. I finished the vase made from the found pine offcuts - below.

Made a second one from camphor laurel.

And finished the dark timber vase I started in our course.

I like how the three of the vases look together - each unique in colour and form

Finishing the black freshwater pearl series

 

I was gifted a large string of black freshwater pearls (8-9mm in diameter each) to do what I wanted with them. 

In the end I: gave back a shorter string of pearls that were in the more classic style; made a more informal lariat string for a friend; made a three string set on tiger wire for sale; and have finished using the remaining pearls on earrings and a pendant as seen in the opening photo - also for sale.

Following are photos of the earrings.

The double strand lariat was a bit tricky to make as the friend wanted a particular loop and toggle 'clasp'.

The three string necklace is can be an informal or formal piece.

In keeping with my recent approach I have tried to use all the pearls so they don't just sit around for another day. This means this series is now complete.