Some Great Fun

Last Updated on Wednesday, 16 November 2011 08:10 Written by John Atwell Rasmussen Wednesday, 16 November 2011 08:06

These projects turned out so well, I can’t resist showing them.  A couple weeks ago I cut 8 beryl cabochons, some aquamarine, some emerald.  The aquas have made two pendants.  Here is the second:

JR Aquamarine Pendant

Freeform cabochon aquamarine weighing 43 carats in a Sterling silver wire frame accented with glass beads.  The pendant is about 3 inches high

Also did some playing with copper wire, here is that resulting bracelet:

AK Woven Copper Bracelet

12 gauge dead soft round copper wire woven into this 8 inch  cuff bracelet.  After weaving the three wires the bracelet was flattened with hammer and anvil to make a single thickness presentation.

Everyone have a great Thanksgiving.

John

Celebrate the Equinox

Last Updated on Wednesday, 5 October 2011 06:15 Written by John Atwell Rasmussen Wednesday, 5 October 2011 06:15

The Autumnal Equinox has just occurred and the fall season has officially begun. With the advent of this season my creative muse has taken on a new vigor. Starting with the original form of silver smithing — wire wrapping, I made a pendant with a cobalt colored druzy agate in the center of the wire frame.

In another working idea, I took some 20 gauge square half hard copper wire and wound it on a 3 mm mandrel to make jump rings. These were cut from the mandrel with a jeweler’s saw, then put together to make the chain for this necklace. A dichroic glass pendant that accents the copper color in the chain hangs along the necklace.

Please excuse the quality of my photographs. I enjoyed making these pieces, and am continuing in my creation of custom work.

Advancing My Art

Last Updated on Monday, 8 August 2011 10:38 Written by John Atwell Rasmussen Monday, 8 August 2011 10:38

The shop continues, Debora is doing the bead work, she keeps very busy and her work is fantastic.  She labors over each bracelet, anklet, pair of earrings and necklace.  She has great ability to create and design this work.  She loves creating pieces that have a great combination of colors.  While she continues her work, I have been able to concentrate on my lapidary and metalsmithing pursuits.  Over the years, I have acquired multiple sets of split rings, so I did a little chain work, and copper smithing to make a necklace that is at least not only beautiful, but unique.

In addition to the necklace, I have been able to complete a commissioned piece for a geologist.  He wanted a bracelet (17 cm in length) made with Sterling Silver, that shows a cross bedded fluvial environment.  This is the background for the bracelet. The foreground is a river that is meandering.  The 10 gauge round wire shows the river, and also is the wave uncomformity in the cross-section.  In the slow inner portion of the meanders, rough diamonds were placed.  These were set with prongs and a ledge cut into the round wire.  Each of the rock strata were physically patterned, then patinated with Liver of Sulfur to create colors for different sections.  See thumbnail above.  Click on the thumbnails to see a full sized image.

Final item for this edition of my blog is a combination project.  While in Helen, GA, Debora and I went to a fee mine and bought several geodes.  I cut them into slices, them strung them from a crescent of brass to make a wind chime.  Also did a little polishing.  Here it is: