Fun on a budget - Turquoise garnets and amethysts

[innerkitten]

I've been having a lot of fun collecting turquoise, garnets and amethysts. Mostly I figure I'll use them in class. I already made one of the sleeping beauty turquoise cabs into a pendant and now I want to make earrings and a ring to match. I'd like to make the lighter amethysts rounds into stud earrings and a rhodolite three stone ring at some point. The larger rhodolite I'm thinking a chunky guy style ring.

 

[innerkitten]

Turquoise.

 

[innerkitten]

I love the size of this one. It's nearly 4 carats. Nice and chunky and the dark areas don't bother me.

 

[GemFever]

Nice! Are you taking a jewelry making class? Fun!

 

[innerkitten]

Yes. I've been taking one for a while now. It's so much fun! I like the ring in your picture BTW.

 

[minousbijoux]

Excellent. It will be wonderful to watch as you improve in your metalsmithing. I look forward to seeing what you do with all your stones.

 

[chrono]

Wow....you did a good job on a stone that isn't symmetrical. How are the classes coming along? How do you feel about your rate of progress? Was it easier/harder than you initially thought?

 

[innerkitten]

Wow....you did a good job on a stone that isn't symmetrical. How are the classes coming along? How do you feel about your rate of progress? Was it easier/harder than you initially thought?

Hey Chrono! Class is great but I wish I had more time for it. My rate of progress is slow based on the amount of time I've been taking classes because I only go once a week for three hours. But I'm good as bezels, I can do very basic prongs and I've even done a little wax casting. I think I could set a stone in a pre fabricated setting too if I wanted. As long as it wasn't too complicated.

I'm doing pretty basic stuff so it's not too hard for me just time consuming and it takes practice. I could happily take jewelry classes for the rest of my life.

 

[movie zombie]

well, done, IK!

rhodies tend to be dark.

where are you taking your classes at?

i tend to prefer bezels to prongs....not always complete bezels, obviously, as my avatar attests. perhaps your garnet could be semi-bezeled?

 

[innerkitten]

A semi bezel is a very good idea actually! I've never tried that before.

I'm taking classes at this place http://scintillantstudio.com/index.php.. I did try the classes through SF Park and Rec once but prefer Scintillant

 

[chrono]

IN,
Thanks for your response. I remember your mentioning trying out the class a while back and wondered how it is going for you.