More than meets the eye

©2019 Barry Smith - Riveted ends of buffalo black horn earrings

I have put the title - more than meets the eye - to this blog post simply because the process of making buffalo horn earrings from a rough bit of buffalo horn involves quite a few steps. And of course there is the added complication of me deciding to make ten pair.

I actually started the work yesterday as it was raining and I couldn't work in the yard. Whereas this morning was relatively fine so I was able to install a set of stairs down towards one of the terraces; and finish the earrings this afternoon.

 A couple of photos of the horning cutting and grinding follow.

©2019 Barry Smith - Sawing the horn in slices

©2019 Barry Smith - Rough cut bits

©2019 Barry Smith - Grinding on the belt sand - tricky - need to watch one's finger tips

Drilling, polishing  and assembling

©2019 Barry Smith - Sets before the drilling 

©2019 Barry Smith - Some drilled bits and one twig like set finished.

And then some photos of the finished earrings.

©2019 Barry Smith - Ten pair of buffalo black horn earrings with solid silver earwires

©2019 Barry Smith - Rectangles on the original rough horn - bit of a contrast.

©2019 Barry Smith - Longish blocky pair

©2019 Barry Smith - Trio of more organic-twiggy earrings

©2019 Barry Smith - Small pairs - about 3cm long drops

©2019 Barry Smith - Variety of length and colour

Time to put a risotto on and have a relaxing evening.