Looking for inspiration for a DIY-project

[twang07]

I am taking jewelry-making classes! Our second project is something that we come up with ourselves. I have many ideas of settings, but not sure what to put into them. Naturally, since this is the first time I'll be really MAKING anything, I don't want anything too pricey, but I still want something simple and wearable. My favorite types of jewelry are earrings and rings. So what I am asking for is inspiration pictures of simple settings, with cheaper stones, and any ideas you guys might have that would be a fun project to make.

My first thought is maybe, a toi et moi ring with CZ and a gem-stone perhaps? Where can I find some nice loose cheaper stones to set? What kind of stones might be easier to set? Any feedback would be great, I am still very novice in my CS education! Maybe I'm being silly and a toi et moi ring is super hard to make! So I am flexible. Thanks in advance!

 

[Rfisher]

Sounds fun!
I'd go for the toi et moi and start out with stones from Fire Mountain Gems and go from there.

 

[chrono]

Wasn’t there someone here who made settings for fun? Actually, a few of them here do, I think.

 

[twang07]

Sounds fun!
I'd go for the toi et moi and start out with stones from Fire Mountain Gems and go from there.

OOOH this seems like a great place to find affordable stones! Thanks!

Wasn’t there someone here who made settings for fun? Actually, a few of them here do, I think.

Haha if you ever remember who, I would love to hear from them!

 

[stracci2000]

Some folks here know that I make my own jewelry.
twang07, are you working in sterling or gold?
Are you casting or soldering?
Cab stones in bezel settings are easy and look good. Stones like turquoise, onyx, agate etc. are all inexpensive and easy to work with.
You will love making your own jewelry! It's addictive!
Here are some examples of my work.

 

[twang07]

According to the class description it seems that it will be silver or gold, and have elements of soldering and casting.

Here's the class I am taking:
https://whaleystudios.com/product/group-classes/

Looking at your creations, I am very excited! It looks beautiful, what methods did you use to create the bezels? I especially love that snake ring!

 

[stracci2000]

I construct my pieces entirely out of sterling sheet and wire. I use very basic methods taught to me by a Native American silversmith.
The bezels are strips of sterling sheet. On this particular ring, the serrated bezel was purchased, but sometimes I cut the bezel into strips with tin snips.
Here is a series of photos taken while I was making a star sapphire ring.

 

[voce]

Saw this LT listing and thought these sapphires are fairly affordable for you to try working with. https://loupetroop.com/listings/loose-stones-colored-gemstone/9-rose-cut-sapphires

 

[twang07]

I construct my pieces entirely out of sterling sheet and wire. I use very basic methods taught to me by a Native American silversmith.
The bezels are strips of sterling sheet. On this particular ring, the serrated bezel was purchased, but sometimes I cut the bezel into strips with tin snips.
Here is a series of photos taken while I was making a star sapphire ring.

Gosh that's gorgeous. Is that a cab? Sorry for sounding very newb, but what is a cab?

 

[twang07]

Saw this LT listing and thought these sapphires are fairly affordable for you to try working with. https://loupetroop.com/listings/loose-stones-colored-gemstone/9-rose-cut-sapphires

I LOVE ROSE CUT! I totally sent a LT msg, hope they get it

 

[stracci2000]

Gosh that's gorgeous. Is that a cab? Sorry for sounding very newb, but what is a cab?

Oh sorry! Cab is short for cabochon. That's a smooth domed stone with a flat bottom.

 

[Bron357]

Oh sorry! Cab is short for cabochon. That's a smooth domed stone with a flat bottom.

Help, help, help.
Where is your Loupe Troop listing, your Etsy shop, your eBay account????
Many many many gems, cabs, weird shapes all over here needing salvation.

 

[stracci2000]

Help, help, help.
Where is your Loupe Troop listing, your Etsy shop, your eBay account????
Many many many gems, cabs, weird shapes all over here needing salvation.

I probably should get an Etsy account. I could give homes to all those wonky cabs!
If only I could make a living doing jewelry. It would be a dream come true.
But it just doesn't pay enough. People don't want to give you what something is worth. Your time, your materials, it all adds up. I've done jewelry shows, and they're OK, but you need lots of inventory, which I don't have right now.
I have a regular job that is a guaranteed paycheck at the end of the week. Not so with jewelry!

 

[twang07]

I probably should get an Etsy account. I could give homes to all those wonky cabs!
If only I could make a living doing jewelry. It would be a dream come true.
But it just doesn't pay enough. People don't want to give you what something is worth. Your time, your materials, it all adds up. I've done jewelry shows, and they're OK, but you need lots of inventory, which I don't have right now.
I have a regular job that is a guaranteed paycheck at the end of the week. Not so with jewelry!

Darn so this won't be a way out of the standard 9-5 huh. Just kidding! But I am very excited to learn how to make bands. I am quite bands obsessed, would be nice to fabricate my own if I ever developed enough talent. At least for fun!

 

[stracci2000]

Darn so this won't be a way out of the standard 9-5 huh. Just kidding! But I am very excited to learn how to make bands. I am quite bands obsessed, would be nice to fabricate my own if I ever developed enough talent. At least for fun!

Bands are super easy! And then you can add little stones, and make stack rings.
I hope you like it enough to buy your own equipment and start working at home. That's what I did. I burned a lot of silver and cracked a lot of stones, but I kept at it. Practice makes perfect. LOL!

 

[twang07]

Sooo I got the 9 rosecut sapphires and I have a 6.5ish mm CZ unsure what to do. Looking for feedback on what would be least challenging? And how to group stones, so many stones! They are all so cute.
Here are some ideas:

Five stone with CZ and various sapphires.


Three stone with sapphires



Five stone with just sapphires...

Not sure what's easier.

Toi et moi with only sapphires or with a CZ and sapphire..


The sapphires range from max 6x4 to 5.6x4

 

[Arkteia]

If I had any dexterity, I'd buy several Welo opals, one can get them inexpensively, and make silver-backed cabs, interspersing them with some beads from Indian necklaces, one can purchase them on Ebay.

Or get some (I have, in fact) extra pearls from a necklace and make long earrings. Two or three, on chains or wires. This is easy. Many sites carry finishings.

 

[stracci2000]

Working with such tiny stones may be a challenge for your very first project.
I think a larger cabochon stone would be the best for a beginner.
If you must use the sapphires, I would suggest a simple bezel stack ring with just one of the sapphires.
I'm sure the instructors will help you decide on the best design. Make some sketches, and bring them with you. Good luck!

 

[twang07]

So my class ended! It was a lot of fun soldering and experiencing the fire. The entire class consumed me 2 failed bands (one lost on the polishing machine, flew off was never to be found ). Remaking that ring but messing it up as i was making the wire thinner (unwearable).

My last 3 classes were focused on making a 3 stone ring with the CZ and rose cuts. It was crazy! I formed a ring, cut a hole for a prong setting component to solder in between the joints of my formed ring (WHY?!) and then soldering on two side pieces, that went on crooked, but oh well (first-time problems). I was setting the stones when on the last stone, for the last prong I TORE IT OFF. Heartbreak. I managed a wire solution, but now class is done

This is my finished ...broken product! I quite like it, just means I have to be super careful to not lose my stone... Maybe make it symmetric on both sides, haha who knows. I had a lot of fun! Thank for sharing your thoughts.

 

[natasha-cupcake]

I think you did pretty good job. Keep at it--you will definitely improve. I took one beginner metal smith class and am signed up for a second intermediate one, and a stone setting class. I can't wait to go. It's so satisfying to create something that (in my case!) almost resembles jewelry. Here's a pic of the pathetic stuff I created practicing beginning techniques, including using a jeweler's saw, cutting out shapes with a die cutter, stamping, soldering, forming wires and using etching tools. It was a blast, although I won't be quitting my day job any time soon! What you created looks a lot better than what I came up with!

 

[voce]

@twang07 @natasha-cupcake thanks for sharing your projects. I think they look adorable!

 

[stracci2000]

A valiant effort! Now you know how much work goes into the jewelry making process.
As I said, small stones in prong settings are tough!
And I have had rings fly across the room, too. And I have broken prongs as well. It's all part of the learning process.
I hope you can persue this and keep making jewelry!

 

[twang07]

I think you did pretty good job. Keep at it--you will definitely improve. I took one beginner metal smith class and am signed up for a second intermediate one, and a stone setting class. I can't wait to go. It's so satisfying to create something that (in my case!) almost resembles jewelry. Here's a pic of the pathetic stuff I created practicing beginning techniques, including using a jeweler's saw, cutting out shapes with a die cutter, stamping, soldering, forming wires and using etching tools. It was a blast, although I won't be quitting my day job any time soon! What you created looks a lot better than what I came up with!

That totally looks like jewelry and I think it looks awesome!

@twang07 @natasha-cupcake thanks for sharing your projects. I think they look adorable!

A valiant effort! Now you know how much work goes into the jewelry making process.
As I said, small stones in prong settings are tough!
And I have had rings fly across the room, too. And I have broken prongs as well. It's all part of the learning process.
I hope you can persue this and keep making jewelry!

Thank you both so much. I did enjoy it very much, especially all things FIRE! I hope to back soon there's still many more of those stones heh.

 

[lambskin]

WOW!