Decisions, decisions.

I finished the carved braid necklace that I was working on, with an exception of it needs juuuusssttt a little more sanding. And by that I mean at least a weeks worth because man that takes so long.  I really like the way it turned out, HOWEVER, it's going to change.  The carved braids are calling for something else--they're just not getting the justice they deserve in this manner.  I have contemplated many different ways, here it goes:


1. Keep it the same way and add focus to the spiculum

2. Turn it upside down and add something to the focal point. Either a big honkin stone, or cast silver braids that would seamlessly transition onto the wood

3. Take the spiculum out completely and reference Victorian Mourning Jewelry more directly, making it into a brooch (probably) or a pendant in this configuration, and adding something to the center.

Knowing me, it'll probably end up the third way.  I can see it having a cameo in the middle, but that seems too obvious to me.  I've had a suggestion of a fist holding the braids like this as well.  I'm so intrigued!

PS: On Saturday I'm looking at and probably taking home a puppy. Look forward to puppy posts! I know I will =]

Valentine's Day Haul and Photos!

I got more tools!!!!!! I love new tools, they're probably one of the best things on earth, next to cafe latte lollipops and sunny, lazy afternoons.  Mark's present to me this Valentine's day just came and I can't be more excited =]

I got a ring sizer, which is always necessary--not just for sizing people's fingers, but also for drawing circles.  There's a mini bench vise, a sharpening stone for my gravers, and a sterling stamp with a bent shank so I can officially mark work metal to be sold.  I need to figure out how I'm going to attach the bench vise to this crappy ikea desk...it's that weird particle board so screwing it in isn't going to work.  I'll probably screw it to a 2x4 and then camp that to the desk, we'll see.

Below is a picture of my piece for Advanced! It's not finished, but it's exciting to see it all come together.  I still need to refine the carvings so they're perfect, file and sand the bejesus out of the spiculim so it's super purrrtttyy, and then attach all the little findings and caps and such.  I've got a lot more work to go! And that doesn't even begin to cover polishing, heh.

Updates and such

So I don't really have any photos to show you all because A: I forgot to bring home one piece and B: I want to finish some others before I bombard you with more photos.  I've been working a lot lately, but not just on projects for school.  To keep myself sane as the semester goes on I've been working on projects for myself--things I've been wanting to make for awhile or just fun projects for me.  It's nice to work on stuff that is more purely technical and without trying to add narrative to it so it fits my thesis.

I forgot my pendant so I don't have a picture of it yet, but I'm glad I FINALLY got it started. The metals majors are all making pendants for a raffle that will support our senior show.  When I have all the info (and the pendants are all made) I'll post it on here so you all can see.  Mine is floral (of course, ha!) and potentially going to be painted! I honestly spent the last bit of money I have until payday on paints.  I forgot how much I love painting, especially mixing colors.  Pics soon!

My carved braid is going well, I started the second one and have some refining and such on the first.  Lets pray I can bend that spiculum, it's giving me so much trouble!

As far as my personal projects go, I am SO excited to post pictures.  I made a stone set ring, very feminine and traditional with my little twist on it.  I carved the setting for what I'm calling the behemoth: it's a 6.25mm lab created ruby.  I know it's not THAT big,  no where near the size of the stone in my Saron ring, but it's pretty friggin awesome.  There are two 3.25mm lab created rubies and two 2mm cz's gypsy set in the band.  I just taught myself how to gypsy set a stone and I'm so excited for it!! I bet you'll be seeing a lot more of that in the future XD

Okay, now that I talked your ears off, I'm going to get off this and relax! Have a good night =]

Super Secret Project Revealed!

I know, I know, it's not Valentines Day, but it's almost become a tradition that I give Mark his presents early so I couldn't really break it this time hehe.  Regardless, here it is! [PS: Sorry for the bad pic!]

[Spinner Ring, Sterling Silver, Elana Jovero 2012]

It's a spinner ring, so the center band spins.  It's actually really complicated to make, which most simple looking jewelry is.  I'm very pleased that I was able to make it right on the first try! Essentially, if I were to get any solder on the center ring it would be ruined and I'd have to start over.  This was a good test on controlling my heat.  The other parts are a sort of matte polish, and the inner, spinning part, as well as the inner ring of the band, are high polish.  I textured the inner ring in the same manner as I do with my woodcarving projects.  Yay!

Another Update:

Here is the silver spiculum for my necklace, which I am supposed to bend by hand. It will not budge.  At all. UGH! We'll have to see if it works later on.  I really like the way it looks with the braid, though I am getting sick of refining the carving....Good thing I have to do another one! Ha! That's why I'm taking lots of breaks to make other projects, that way I don't drive myself too crazy.  I'm really excited to see this one finished, but I am sad its not related to my thesis. Anyways, I've rambled enough. Bye!

Getting closer

AMAZING BLACKWOOD! And super exciting project sketches

I haven't posted in a little while because most of my time right now is dedicated to making various samples, figuring out the logistics and such of the senior show, and my super secret project (don't worry, you only have to wait just a a week and a half more!)  Here are sketches of a new project I'm really excited for.  It's going to be crazy meticulous and super difficult, but hey, the best things are, aren't they?

Below are the two design ideas I came up with.  In both the bottom is a silver spiculum and the two sides are carved braids in blackwood (picture at end of post).  The top one is a torc, so it's entirely solid and non-moving.  It is worn as a collar around the neck.

This version is the one I'm leaning towards, but I'd love anyone's opinion.  This one has silver caps at the ends of the carved braids.  These caps will have links to the spiculum and the chain closure, so it can move around and be more comfortable to wear.  I think this version is more structurally sound than the first.

To aid in my carving process, I made some sculpey braids.  I really like the left one, but want to stick with a simple braid for my first braid carving.

Some studies of the braid:

 Last but not least,the African Blackwood!  It's soooo beautiful.  Joe warned me that this piece has a lot of brown in it, but that's actually why I choose it.  I love that it has these natural brown highlights mixed in with the black, it gives it more dimension. Sorry these are terrible pics, but you can kind of see the color in the bottom photo.  Yay! This board is somewhere around 15 inches I believe, so it'll last me awhile. So excited to start carving into this one =]