DESIGN PROCESS

A little boho, a little rustic, a little chunky, contemporary silver jewelry that makes a quiet statement.

I work primarily with sterling silver using traditional metal-smithing techniques to showcase sparkling, colorful dichroic glass ‘stones’ that I also make and semi-precious stones that catch my eye to create pendants and rings.

All handmade from sterling silver sheet and wire, I hand-saw, hammer, file, solder, smooth and oxidize or polish to a satiny or shiny finish sterling silver. I also cut, stack and fire dichroic, colored and clear art glass in my studio kiln to create the shimmering organic/freeform ‘stones’ used in many of my pendants and rings. Sometimes I use copper for a mixed metal piece, also formed using traditional metal-smithing techniques.

My designs are simple, often accentuating the natural shape and appearance of the stone being featured.  Some pendants have ‘peek-a-boo’ backs so the stone can be admired or light can filter through from the back.

On Fusing Glass. . .

Fusing glass is part of a process of creating objects and jewelry. Cutting and stacking, firing (melting) - sometimes several times - in my kiln is how the 'stones' are made.

Many of the 'stones' or cabochons I create by fusing are then surrounded with sterling silver, fine silver or with silver clay to make striking pendants.

Everything is a process. . .

There's the process of coming up with ideas and designs and then there's the technical process of executing those ideas and designs.  

Glass fusing is a process...

First, glass has to be cut to size. Usually from sheets of glass.

 The cut pieces are cleaned and put into the kiln. Pieces stacked upon other pieces.

After the kiln is finished heating and cooling the pieces are removed from the kiln and rinsed off. These pieces are flat. 

After the initial firing, the glass is either put onto a mold and 'slumped' into it, laid on top of a form and 'draped' over it or, if a small piece it is either kept for future fusing or a bail is added to make into a pendant or earrings, or they could become part of a wind chime. . .  What will these become?  Only time will tell. . .

The result of draping -- patchwork vase / candle holder / centerpiece.

And, this began as the flat patchwork piece in the above photo in the kiln.