Recycled Lapis Ring

[stracci2000]

I had this nice lapis for a long time and finally decided to do something with it. It hardly has any pyrite specks, and the color is real nice.

I made this ring with recycled parts. The shank is from a deconstructed ring. I cut an unattractive floating heart pendant in half to create a freeform frame.
Here are some pics I took along the way.

 

[CHRISTY-DANIELLE]

I love lapis! What a creative soul you have! I would love to learn how to make my own jewelry. Did you train with someone?

 

[stracci2000]

I love lapis! What a creative soul you have! I would love to learn how to make my own jewelry. Did you train with someone?

Back in 2003, I met a woman from the Zuni Pueblo, here in NM. She agreed to give me one 3 hr lesson to learn the basics. After that I was on my own. I read lots of books and magazines and asked questions whenever I ran into other silversmiths. And YouTube videos were really educational.
So I've been at it for about 18 years.
I have posted many of my creations here in the Colored Stones forum.

 

[Cinders]

Clever, clever, clever! I love using things in ways that suit me, even if that means deconstructing them along the way.

I really need to face my fear of soldering.

 

[theredspinel]

Stop! Stop inspiring me!

I’m too lazy to get inspired regarding making jewellery, my love is too deep for it - if I fall into the hole I’ll never come back out.

 

[stracci2000]

Stop! Stop inspiring me!

I’m too lazy to get inspired regarding making jewellery, my love is too deep for it - if I fall into the hole I’ll never come back out.

This is why I wanted to learn silversmithing.
Because buying jewelry wasn't enough. I wanted to MAKE it. I had to make it myself, the urge was so great!
As a lifelong jewelry lover, I had a deep desire to learn how to manipulate the metal and make my own designs.
Finding a teacher was easy, as lots of Native jewelers are all over my city. And living in the heart of the Southwest makes it super easy to buy supplies from the stores that sell to Indian jewelers.

 

[theredspinel]

This is why I wanted to learn silversmithing.
Because buying jewelry wasn't enough. I wanted to MAKE it. I had to make it myself, the urge was so great!
As a lifelong jewelry lover, I had a deep desire to learn how to manipulate the metal and make my own designs.
Finding a teacher was easy, as lots of Native jewelers are all over my city. And living in the heart of the Southwest makes it super easy to buy supplies from the stores that sell to Indian jewelers.

What a picture!I do know exactly what you mean… a year or so ago I learnt how to string pearls and that sparked something..

I started watching YouTube videos on how to make jewellery, started learning the jargon.. even went so far as to order some cheap clasps. I was just learning about all the tools (I know what the needle nose (?) pliers are now at least haha) and I stopped short of pressing order on a beginners toolkit!

In my Etsy basket right now (for the past year) Ive had earring hooks and jump rings, gold wire and semi precious gemstones, all ready to be purchased and assembled into earrings. But I havnt pulled the trigger! I had largely “forgotten” about it… until you started posting that is!!
Stop reigniting the fire!