Circles :: Ring A Week No. 20

For my twentieth piece in the Ring A Week challenge, I've cut and soldered fourteen tiny sterling silver circles, forming them into a ring. I've oxidized the ring and hand finished it to enhance the dimension and texture. The ring reminds me of scales, or armor.

Serendipity :: Ring A Week No. 19

Serendipity is one of my favorite words. For my nineteenth ring in the Ring A Week challenge, I've created this sterling silver ring with the word "serendipity" encircling it. I've handwritten and then hand cut the word using my jeweler's handsaw, allowing the ascenders and descenders of several letters to extend slightly beyond the band. I've oxidized the outside of the ring only and I love the contrast between outside and inside.

Calico Lace Ring: Ring A Week No. 18

When I first got this calico lace agate cabochon I didn't know what I'd make with it but I knew I couldn't hide the back of this stone; the backside is as gorgeous as the front. The stone also features a small translucent pool, allowing light to pass through its depths. I love the dimension and the small white orbs visible within the frosty pool.

I chose to use this stone in my eighteenth Ring A Week piece. I wanted to keep as much of the two sides of the stone visible as possible so I have given it a bezel setting, cutting a large opening in the sterling seat to frame the back of the stone, and soldering the sterling shank to the edges of the frame. Below are progress shots of the ring before setting the stone:


I really like the open back of this piece and the stone's secret window, hidden when worn but fun to take off and hold up to the light.

Anticlastic Form :: Ring A Week No. 17

As I strive to catch up with the Ring A Week challenge, I've made this simple wrap ring using my new sinusoidal stake to create the ring's anticlastic form. I then gave the ring a rustic, hammered texture, which I regret. I think it looked much nicer with a smoother finish and I wish I had at least taken photos before texturing its surface. I look forward to trying again....

Stacking Trio :: Ring A Week No. 16

I had a wonderful time last weekend exhibiting at the Indiana Artisan Marketplace, followed by a mini-vacation in Michigan earlier this week. These events have put me a bit behind with the Ring A Week challenge, but I am now finding time to catch up. For my sixteenth challenge piece I've created a trio of stacking rings. Two are sterling silver and the third is copper. I like the simple, modern lines of these rings and the soft contrast provided by the brushed copper ring sandwiched between the two silver rings.

Curl Ring: Ring A Week No. 15

I've been busy this week, preparing for the Indiana Artisan Marketplace, and did not have much time to devote to my latest Ring A Week design. This was a simple, quickly-created piece but I like its lines and can imagine revisiting and revising this design using a thicker gauge of silver. Now I'll get back to my show prep!

Vine Ring :: Ring A Week No. 14

This week, I made a ring featuring my vine motif. The vine design was etched into sterling silver and I then carefully cut around portions of the delicate vine above and below band lines. As with many of my pieces, I've oxidized this ring to provide contrast and highlight the design. I made the first ring featuring this motif last fall, which you can see below. I chose to cut the first ring quite differently, leaving wide, angled margins around the etched vine, which achieves a very different effect. I was pleasantly surprised by how delicate the new ring looks.