Mokume Gane

Hello!

It has been a busy week and boy am I tired but I wanted to update this as I truly enjoy doing it.

I am going to talk a bit about one of my favorite materials to work with - mokume gane. I first saw it in one of my jewelry magazine and I was HOOKED!  It is such a fascinating metal as no two pieces are alike.  In addition, there are so many different metals which can be used to create mokume gane.

Mokume is a mixed metal laminate with a distinctive pattern.  Mokume is a Japanese term and it comes from late 1600's - 1800's when the Samuri sword was transitioned from being  tool for fighting to a symbol of the warrier class.  Mokume gane translates into a wood grain metal.  The lamination process involves many layers, sometimes, 10-30 layers of copper, gold, sterling, and platinum between steel blocks and heating them in a kiln allowing the layers to fuse not melt.  The billet is them forged and rolled to the desiured thickness.  The patterns are created by hand carving down through the layers.

That is a background on this fascinating metal.  I have worked with two patterns, random and river and have only worked with Sterling silver and copper.  I have attached my latest ring which was created with Mokume gane.  Enjoy!

Until next time...

Resin Jewelry/Loss of a Friend

Hello!

Hope everyone is doing well on this first day of Spring!  It is a bit chilly here and partly cloudy but I am NOT complaining! 

Piper is at her first dog show in KY and she took the point yesterday - YEAH. She also took the point again today!!!  I love my dogs:)

Well over the past week I learned how to create resin jewelry. It was a huge hit - all of the pieces I created were sold.  It is a really fun, ecomonical way to wear fun, colorful jewelry!  I started out using base metal or metal which is coated with silver, however, I am going to work my way up to Sterling! 

Resin is really fun as it acts like a picture frame for your subject.  So far I have worked with paper and beach glass.  I would like to start adding things to my pieces, beads, stones, etc but I seem to like the simplicity of the fun patterns on the paper.  Stay tuned.

I am going to put my resin pieces in my Etsy store only so check them out: http://www.jewelrybyfrancine.etsy.com/.

I have also attached a picture.  

I also wanted to take a moment to reflect on a old friend who died this week - Sharon Pullar.  Sharon was just a wonderful, carefree person.  I do not think she ever had a care in the world.  They found her body in her home this week we do not yet know how she died. 

While I have not kept in touch with Sharon over the past 25 years, looking at pictures posted on FB bring back all of the HS memories we had.  As someone posted on FB yesterday, heaven is now laughing.  How true.  RIP Sharon Pullar - I will miss you:)

Until next time...

March!

Hello -

With the arrival of March I cannot help but think of spring and warmer weather.  However, in Ohio we are not out of the woods just yet! 

The birthstone for March is aquamarine. What a pretty color stone and it comes in so many different colors.  I have attached a link which tell us quite a bit about this gemstome.

http://www.about-birthstones.com/marchbirthstone.html

I have one piece created out of aquamarine and it displays the different colors which are available.  I  call this Cotton Candy! 

Some great news!  Don Basch Jewelrys in Macedonia is going to carry my Love Tags!  I am working on putting together a display now.  Will keep you apprised.

Have a great week all. Until next time...