Dammit, Why Are You So Sexy?

Every time I finish a marriage-of-metals piece, I promise myself that it is the last time. But I am always sucked back in because marriage-of-metals is just so damn sexy!

Just in case you've forgotten (or, you know, never knew to begin with :), marriage-of-metals is a process of combining different metals via solder to create a single sheet of metal. For this piece, I decided I was going to make a flower, so, I cut the silhouette of the flower out of sterling silver. Then I proceeded to fill the silhouette back in with my other metals, in this case copper and nickle silver.

For this process to work properly, the pieces must fit together perfectly, snugly... you are after all making separate pieces of metal into one piece. If the puzzle pieces do not fit together properly, then your solder will pit or there will be gaps in the picture. Nothing ruins a piece of jewelry faster than shoddy craftsmanship, and unfortunately for marriage-of-metals, there are infinite ways to mess it up.

That's why I try to give it up... every time! But I am forever drawn back in by the siren call of sexiness. I swear, every single time I solder a marriage-of-metals picture together and start sanding... when the picture starts to free itself from the puddles of solder used to put it together, I wanna go all "Risky Business" and start dancing around in my underwear. It's just that awesome.

Forget the Passion

Passion Purple from Thompson Enamel, that is.

I can't seem to mast this color. There are a couple rules of thumb when it comes to glass enamels: oranges react with copper and become dingy, reds and some purples react with silver to become dingy.



Case and point, the picture of my balloon pendant that never made it out of "process" and into "finished pieces." That camo-green color at the top of the pedant is actually Passion Purple... and you can tell from my picture of the color sample that Passion Purple is not a yucky green but actually a very nice lavender color.

The way to avoid this reactivity is to lay down a non-reactive enamel underneath so that the reactive color does not touch the metal. However, no matter how much clear enamel I lay down underneath the Passion Purple always turns on me. So touchy!

Moonlight, Light, Light...

This is a custom piece that I am working on for a customer.

I am using her moonstone which I re-purposed from a ring that she no longer wears. And as far as moonstones go, this one is quite nice. It isn't the best cut cabochon in the world, but this moonstone has a brilliant rainbow sheen, quite lovely. So, needless to say, I had to do it justice.

Fabricated, etched, and (eventually) set. She gave me full reign over the design, and I have to admit, I am pleased with it so far.

Current Theme Song

"Secrets" by OneRepublic on Waking Up

I need another story
Something to get off my chest

My life gets kinda boring
Need something that I can confess

Till all my sleeves are stained red
from all the truth that I've said

Come by it honestly I swear
Thought you saw me wink, no
I've been on the brink, so

Tell me what you want to hear
Something that will light those ears
Sick of all the insincere
So I'm gonna give all my secrets away.

Current Theme Song

"The World We Live In" by The Killers on Day and Age

I had a dream that I was falling down
There's no next time, alone
A storm wastes its water on me
But my life was free

Herkimer Enhydro

The Herkimer Enhydro is a very unique piece of quartz... with which I have recently become acquainted.

There are two parts to the name... let's talk about "Herkimer." Simply put, Herkimer is in up-state New York, where there are two mines at which this clear quartz is mined: the Ace of Diamonds (http://www.herkimerdiamonds.com/index.htm), and The Herkimer Diamond Mines (http://www.herkimerdiamond.com/). These mines are professionally mined; however, they also have the unique feature of allowing tourists to visit and prospect for their own stones. Herkimer stones are commercially known as "Herkimer Diamonds," and are even cut and polished for sale and setting, however, their mineral content is closer to that of quartz.

Now, let's talk about "enhydro." Literally speaking, there is water inside the stone. As the stone forms, water is able to enter and exit the quartz until, at some point in the stone's development, the water becomes sealed inside. For a Herkimer to have an enhydro inclusion makes it more rare and more valuable, and the best enhydros even have dirt or air bubbles in the inclusion as well so that it can be classified as a "moving enhydro." The water can actually be seen to move inside the stone.

Metaphysically speaking, the Herkimer diamond is known as the "stone of attunement." It is said to be a good meditation aid and is known to clarify and strengthen dreams.

If you are interested in learning more about Herkimer Diamonds or making a purchase, check out either of these two dealers:
-Sticks 'N' Stones:http: http://www.sticksnstonesonline.com/home
-Inner Vision Crystals: http://www.innervisioncrystals.net/enter.html

(photo from Ebay auction 380340651758 by seller "crystaleyesd")

Current Theme Song

"Grey Sky Eyes" by Carbon Leaf on Indian Summer

You welcome me in
And your veil is so thin
But the mystery continues to grow
You say you must realize
That my grey sky eyes
Neither rain, nor they glow... now you know