KINETIC PEARL EARRINGS

Hot off my bench are two pair of earrings that I designed with movement in mind. Tiny hinges and loops of sterling silver wire enable each component of the earring to move in different directions as you move.

In addition to movement I played with some subtle design choices. The pair of earrings on the left have the 14k gold filled ball below the potato shaped cultured pearl. The earrings on the right have that same gold ball on the top of the potato pearl.

These earrings are hand-fabricated with attention to detail and loving care by me, in my one person studio. “ Hand-fabricated” means I make all elements in the earring: for example, the marquise shaped wire finding on the bottom the earring . These aren’t factory made shapes that I purchase and assemble together to make an earring. Hand fabrication allows for creative control, quality and freedom when designing and making jewelry pieces.

To keep in touch or for inquires, please contact me from my contact page

https/wwwsoundbeachstudioblogcom/contact-mentact-me or email me at soundbeachstudio.com

Left pair; 14K gold filled ball on bottom. On right the same ball is on top.

MESCALARO JASPER PENDANT

I acquired this magnificent piece of Mescalaro jasper, hand cut by a master lapidary artist. How lucky I am to find this excellent specimen.

In order to feature the beauty and radiant color of this durable stone, I used a minimal sterling silver setting called frame and prong.

It’s my understanding that this jasper is minded mainly in Nevada. Mescalaro jasper is associated with the Apache people. Below is a link that describes their culture.

https://mescaleroapachetribe.com/our-culhttps://mescaleroapachetribe.com/our-culture/#:~:text=The%20Mescalero%20were%20essentially%20nomadic,elk%20hides%20and%20buffalo%20hides.ture/#:~:text=The%20Mescalero%20were%20essentially%20nomadic,elk%20hides%20and%20buffalo%20hides.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jasper

PEARL EARRINGS

Pearls are timeless. I’ve put a spin on the classical look of a pearl stud earring by mounting pearls in a domed sterling silver cup. The AAA quality cultured pearls glow against the silver. The cup gives the post earring a slightly larger profile as compared to a single pearl stud earring.

If you’d like to see them on my Etsy Store, SoundBeachStudio, please click the link below.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/732039394/pearl-stud-earring-pearl-post-earring?

Pearl post earrings in a sterling silver cup.

KESHI PEARL NECKLACE

Faye is modeling a keshi pearl necklace hand knotted on silk with matching keshi pearl earrings.

Keshi pearls are a non-standard variety of cultured pearl that come in a range of shapes. This can include round oval, flat, thin and long as well as other odd shapes. These characteristics make keshi pearls make an excellent choice for modern jewelry.

Keshi pearls grow without a nucleus, therefor they aren’t round. Keshi’s are composed entirely of nacre, the substance mollusks produce in the process of creating pearls. Keshi pearls have a high luster, with many nooks and crannies that reflect the light to show their beautiful overtones to great advantage.

To find out more about these lustrous pearls check out the Kojima Pearl Company blog on keshi pearls.

https://kojimapearl.com/pages/keshi-pearls?_pos=1&_sid=21d26e2c9&_ss=r

If you’d like to see the necklace Faye is modeling please click on the link below to go to my Etsy shop, Sound Beach Studio..

Keshi Necklace

Hand knotted keshi and rice pearl necklace

Photo by Isabel Wissner

Examples of the many shapes, sizes and colors of keshi pearls

TWISTED JEWELRY COLLECTION

My Twisted Wire Collection of sterling silver jewelry includes oxidized, twisted rings.

To create these rings I mill round sterling silver wire into square wire at my rolling mill. This lets me get the very defined square edges on the silver for a ring band or other pieces. These well defined edges are what makes the details for the twists pop in the final piece. Attention to detail is what handmade is all about!

In the final stages I oxidize or blacken the silver ring band. When polished the highlights of the twists show to their best advantage.

Oxidized sterling silver rings for my Twisted Wire Collection of sterling silver jewelry.

FORGED SILVER RING

Forging is the process of altering metal from its original shape with hammers, metal working tools and heat. Once forged, the metal retains its new shape. Blacksmiths for example use forging to create things like horse shoes and other tools.

Forging precious metal is useful process in jewelry design. It can be used to create subtle and Interesting change of plain on a piece of jewley.

I’ve had some fun creating a forged sterling silver ring from some round sterling wire. The front opened ends of this sterling silver ring are somewhat flaired and flattened with hammers while the back of the ring shank is round. It’s an interesting and fun variation on a round ring band.

Forged sterling silver ring

FORGED STERLING BANGLE

Sterling silver “wave” bangle is created with fire (my jewelers torch) and hammer. The process is similar to the blacksmith in the previous post. Forged hammer texture marks create a play of light on the bangle surface. The opened back design makes this bracelet easy to get off and on. It fits snugly just below the wrist so it stays put even while typing on the keyboard. I wear it daily even while sleeping.

Coming soon on my Etsy store, Sound Beach Studio.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/SoundBeachStudio?ref=search_shop_redirect

This bangle doesn’t interfere with typing on the keyboard .

TRIANGLE PENDANT NECKLACE

The clean fresh lines of geometric shaped jewelry are understated and uncluttered. This sweet little triangle nests comfortably in that little notch at the base of your neck, the pre sternal notch.

I’ve fabricated this triangle necklace from sterling silver using what’s called hollow form construction. Hollow form is a method of metal fabrication, it’s one way to give flat metal dimension . The triangle is puffy, thick at the top where it meets the box chain and it tapers down at the bottom.

The sterling silver I use in creating this hand made pendant and all my jewelry is recycled.

If you’d like to see this necklace in my Etsy shop click here.

Sterling silver triangle pendant necklace

KIMONO CORD NECKLACE WITH A CLOISONNÉ PENDANT

Im enjoying working with the beautiful patterns of kimono cord fabric these days. I’ve designed this rayon fabric into a necklace with a cloisonne bead as a pendant. The delicate gold wire lines in the bead are echoed not in color but shape in the kimono cord fabric pattern.

Cloisonee is decorative work in which enamel, glass or gem stones are separated by strip of flattened wire placed edgeways on a metal backing. This decorative work has been practiced in both Japan and China.

Click HERE if you’d like to see this necklace on my Etsy store.

Kimono cord necklace with a barrel closinne bead pendant, and 14K gold bead.

HAIR ORNAMENT

Hair ornaments are great for up-do hair styling. Featured on the left is a a silver inlayed, stamped oxidized copper hair ornament. . Also featured securing an up-do is a sterling silver hammer textured circle.

HANDMADE VERSUS MASS PRODUCED JEWELRY

Handmade pieces of jewelry are unique as the artisan who makes them. These pieces are produced by an artists skill, aesthics and watchful eye therefore handmade pieces can’t be compared to mass produced fabrication. Handmade pieces of jewelry are so unique. All the jewelry you see on my blog is handmade for sheet or wire sterling silver in my one person studio.

The hammer textured cuff I’m wearing here is great worn alone or stacked with thinner bangles. The hand buffed hammer textures worn against black make a bold statement, almost like an animal print. I hand finish this made to order cuff so that the texture develops to just the right pattern.

You can reach me on my contact pager here on my blog to inquire about a custom order.

Hammer Textured Sterling Silver Cuff Bracelet

CZ RING

Cubic zirconia gems are lab created gems that have beautiful sparkle. I’ve created a tube set ring with a 3 mm cubic zirconia that is nestled between two delicate sterling silver round ring shanks. This ring is suitable for an engagement ring.

Click here if you’d like to see it on my Etsy store. Or go to my contact page here on my blog to inquire about a custom order.

Cubic Zirconia tube set in a double shank sterling silver setting.

Tube set CZ ring.

HAMMER TEXTURED HOOP EARRINGS

My newest collection of artisen jewelry includes hammer textured sterling silver hoop earrings. This pair measures 1 1/4”across. Here you see them t at my work bench, waiting for a final polished.

I wear hoops everyday often with bangles or a matching ring.

Click here if you’d like to see them and other pieces from my Hammer Textured Collection at my Etsy Store.

OVAL SEA WEED EARRINGS

Sea weed and sand oxided silver dangle earring are a one of a kind unique earring that I’m loving to make lately. They’re an addition to any contemporary beach jewelry collection.

I collect and process the seaweed I find on the beach, the process it over time. It’s a busy process and nonstop in my one person studio.

Click here to see these earrings on my Etsy store.

Seaweed etched silver dangle earring

BACK AND FRONT VIEW OF SEAWEED IMPRINTED OVAL EARRINGS

ENGRAVED RING

Many years ago a very skilled engraver created a tie tack and embellished it with a beautiful floral design. The engraving work is masterful and elegant.

 I received a commission to transform the domed component of the tie tack into a ring. I carefully took the tie tack apart and created a split shank ring band to mount the oval component onto.

Contact me here if you’d like to inquire about custom work.

A ring I made from an antique tie tack.

NECKLACE COLLECTION FOR THE AUTUMN

Necklaces for the autumn are on their way. One of a kind pendant necklaces include labradorite oxidized pendants, hand cut turquoise clusters on and rose cut carnelian both on handmade chains, just to name a few semi precious gems.

Sign up here to inquire.

WATER RIPPLE DANGLE EARRING

Water ripples in the sea are mesmerizing to watch. When I swim, I love to watch them on the surface of the sea and and at the same time, peek past them to the sandy ocean floor. These one of a kind earrings capture both the surface ripples and sea weed passing under them.

Details include sterling silver oxidized earrings with etched sea weed, polished edges, 925 international sterling silver stamp, wire wrapped ear wires and corrugated bead detail.

Click here to view them on my Etsy store.

VERTICAL BAR PENDANT WITH MIXED METALS

Vertical bar necklaces come in many variations. I fabricated this one of a kind, one inch pendant from distressed sterling silver and three 14 karat gold, graduated balls. The surface softly reflects light as you move.

This sculptural piece coordinates with dress up or dress down and any season. Wear it with gold or silver earrings.

Click here to view this necklace in my Etsy store.

Vertical bar mixed metal necklace is one of a kind.

Sculptural Hoop Earrings

These “wishbone” hoop earrings developed out of a ring shank design I was working on. I was in the process of splitting a ring band in half and it occurred to me that the split wire mimics the shape of a wishbone. I decided to go off plan and let creativity take hold, and adapted the ring into an earring. Sometimes the best creations are spontaneous!

The small bead of orange carnelian is crowned with a silver cap that finishes the bead.

Want more? You can find more here in my online store.

Sculptural Hoop Earring

Hoop earring