Peridot and Sterling Silver Pendant

Last Updated on Thursday, 12 January 2012 08:55 Written by John Atwell Rasmussen Thursday, 12 January 2012 08:55

I was thinking and decided to try a twisted wire project.  I took three strands of 18 gauge round soft copper wire and twisted them together into one strand.  Showing this to my wife, she said, why don’t you use silver.  I would like something done with this in silver.  I took three strands of 21 gauge square half hard sterling silver wire and twisted them in a similar manner.  When I show this to Debora, she asked what I was going to do and I replied that I was thinking of a twisted drop with a stone set in the bottom loop.  She asked to select the stone, and she selected a 6 mm round peridot.  That set the size and shape of the stone and setting.

The twisted wire was formed into the basic shape, then the top was wrapped with 21 gauge half round Argentium sterling silver wire to form the bail.  A precast head was soldered into the loop with hard silver solder.  The entire piece was then pickled, hand polished and tumbled to a high gloss polish.  The prongs were notched with a square fine file, and the peridot was set into the silver setting.  We have a finished pendant:

These last to views are from the back and the extreme left side.  Overall, the effect of the twisted wire accents the entire design.

Myriad Design

Last Updated on Sunday, 3 July 2011 07:25 Written by MyriadDesign Sunday, 3 July 2011 07:25

I am new to Handmade Artists Shop and the Forum blog.   So I though I would give all of  you  a short blog to start off by, providing my links to where I sell and what forums I belong to:

Handmade Artists’ Shop:  http://handmadeartistsshop.com/shop/MyriadDesign

Etsy:http://www.etsy.com/people/Myriaddesignjewelry?ref=si_pr

Blogspot: http://myriaddesignblog.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Myriad_Design-Artisan-Crafted-Jewelry-and-more/211888015504463

Artisan Jewelry Designers: http://artisanjewelrydesigners.ning.com/profile/LindaEkblad

Twitter: http://twitter.com/myriad_design

Check these sites out to find out a little more about me, what I sell and my interests.  I am glad to be a part of another Artists’ forum.

Myriad Design Jewelry

Necklaces, Necklaces, Necklaces

Last Updated on Saturday, 21 May 2011 03:57 Written by John Atwell Rasmussen Saturday, 21 May 2011 03:55

For the recent past, I have been almost exclusively making pendants and necklaces.  The most recent have involved beading, silversmithing, stone setting, lapidary, design and several other techniques.  This pendant was inspired by the rock crystal cabochon that is the focal spot of the pendant.  It is internally flawless.  Using sheet Sterling Silver, I sawed the back of the pendant in an outline of the tear shape of the cabochon.  Then adding a 4 prong head for an accent stone, I set the cabochon with fine silver bezel wire.  A 6 mm faceted Citrine was added as the accent stone at the top of the cabochon.

The next two, the last finished this morning, were crafted from prismatic beads in the shop inventory.  The first was made with copper goldstone beads and copper chain and findings.  The second was crafted from specular hematite beads using brass plated steel wire and findings to complete the necklace.

Today, one of my friends will be coming over to the shop to begin his journey toward gems and jewelry.  He is young and wants to begin learning.  So today he will start learning about gems and their properties.  With temperatures predicted in the 90s this weekend, I will enjoy staying inside to work in the shop at my bench.