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neenabengals · Jul 16th, 2009, 05:14 PM

Hi All
Just wanted to share my excitement in my new ring.

For some time now I have wanted to enroll on a silversmithing or jewellery course but I work full time and was struggling to find a course that I could fit around my work commitments.

So I started looking around on the internet and found a website for a jewellery designer in the UK who provides 1:1 jewellery tuition in her studio.

I opted for the weekend (2 day) course (which includes melting down metals, soldering, using the rolling mill, saw blades, files, polishing etc).

My boyfriend and I enrolled together and we decided to make rings.

I decided that I wanted to make a mixed metal ring as I wanted to melt down an old rose gold ring I have, and solder it to silver and I also wanted to learn how to set gems (so I opted to set a ruby in the ring).

So by the end of day one, my ring looked like this (it's the one on the left)

neenabengals · Jul 16th, 2009, 05:16 PM

So I made a thick band of silver on the left part of the ring and then rose gold band on the right hand side (that forms a triangle meeting just over part of the silver band).

As you can see, I havent yet soldered the ring together at the back : )

I was so tired by the end of the first day - pulling gold and silver through a rolling mill is hard work!!!

neenabengals · Jul 16th, 2009, 05:20 PM

And then this is my gorgeous ring (if I do say so myself

) by the end of the 2nd day.

All soldered together, filed down, polished and rouged and set the ruby.

The ring is a mixture of rose gold (polished) and silver (brushed satin finish) with set ruby.

The differences in textures of the polished gold and satin silver really sets the ring off, imho

I have never done anything like this before and was so pleased with how the ring turned out!!!

ahertz · Jul 16th, 2009, 05:26 PM

WOW! Impressive! Do you think you'll go back for more courses?

tresjoliebags · Jul 16th, 2009, 05:31 PM

You're so talented! I've been interested in taking a metal work course for some time --- I'm a wire wrapper so feel limited when I want to do stuff beyond wire. Your gorgeous rings is inspiring me to go out and take a metal class!

neenabengals · Jul 16th, 2009, 06:30 PM

Thank you so much for your kind comments.

I am so pleased with my ring because I have never done anything like this before.

The 1:1 tuition with the teacher really helped because she was able to spend lots of time showing me all the techniques and was on hand whenever i needed guidance or advice.

Yes, I would definitely consider looking at doing more courses.

I had actually finished the ring by about 3pm on the 2nd day and the teacher spent the rest of the afternoon showing me the types of techniques that I could achieve by buying sheet silver at home and using basic tools like a doming block, files, saw blades, hammers etc. At the weekend, I am going to email her and ask for some more information on a good starter kit for me to buy so that I can continue to practise some of the techniques at home.

likeafeather77 · Jul 16th, 2009, 06:49 PM

WOW! I LOVE the ring!!!! I've been thinking of taking a jewelry class for some time now. Now I REALLY want to take one!!!

annemerrick · Jul 16th, 2009, 07:14 PM

You did an amazing job! It is beautiful.....

Golden Touch · Jul 16th, 2009, 07:54 PM

I am so jealous! Well done!

I have been trying to get in to a course 12 week course where I live for many years. However it is full, term to term, with the same lucky people. (I doubt I would like to give up my spot either!)

I have a bag of broken jewellery that I would love to be able to create something with. I usually take it in to the jeweller and get them to make something with it. I have a little "ideas" book with lots of sketches I have done. Ah to dream.

Congrats on your new hobby!

gwmpt1 · Jul 16th, 2009, 08:05 PM

Very cool, you did a great job.

geminisparklers · Jul 16th, 2009, 08:43 PM

Wow, I am impressed with the ring you made! Is this your first time? I have taken quite a no. of jewellery making classes over the last few years but have not tried one that involves soldering, etc cos I saw the students pieces and none were as good as yours!

ame · Jul 16th, 2009, 08:55 PM

That is totally awesome. Beautiful ring, and sounds like a BLAST.

candypants1100 · Jul 16th, 2009, 09:18 PM

that is so awesome! not only is it a good looking ring, but i bet it feels even better knowing that YOU made it! what an inspiration

Kitsunegrl · Jul 16th, 2009, 10:20 PM

Very cool!
Are you going to continue making jewelry?

NurseAnn · Jul 17th, 2009, 01:21 AM

Wow I would really love to do something like that. Your ring turned out amazing and I'll bet you'll love it forever!

Jul 16th, 2009, 05:16 PM	#2
neenabengals OP Member Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 370	So I made a thick band of silver on the left part of the ring and then rose gold band on the right hand side (that forms a triangle meeting just over part of the silver band). As you can see, I havent yet soldered the ring together at the back : ) I was so tired by the end of the first day - pulling gold and silver through a rolling mill is hard work!!!
neenabengals OP Member Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 370

Jul 16th, 2009, 05:26 PM	#4
ahertz Member Joined: Jul 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 4,251	WOW! Impressive! Do you think you'll go back for more courses?
	__________________

Jul 16th, 2009, 05:31 PM	#5
tresjoliebags Bag bliss... Joined: Jul 2008 Location: California Posts: 1,130	You're so talented! I've been interested in taking a metal work course for some time --- I'm a wire wrapper so feel limited when I want to do stuff beyond wire. Your gorgeous rings is inspiring me to go out and take a metal class!
	__________________ Searching for '07 Jaune RH City

Jul 16th, 2009, 06:30 PM	#6
neenabengals OP Member Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 370	Thank you so much for your kind comments. I am so pleased with my ring because I have never done anything like this before. The 1:1 tuition with the teacher really helped because she was able to spend lots of time showing me all the techniques and was on hand whenever i needed guidance or advice. Yes, I would definitely consider looking at doing more courses. I had actually finished the ring by about 3pm on the 2nd day and the teacher spent the rest of the afternoon showing me the types of techniques that I could achieve by buying sheet silver at home and using basic tools like a doming block, files, saw blades, hammers etc. At the weekend, I am going to email her and ask for some more information on a good starter kit for me to buy so that I can continue to practise some of the techniques at home.
neenabengals OP Member Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 370

Jul 16th, 2009, 07:14 PM	#8
annemerrick Member Joined: Mar 2006 Location: Desperately Seeking Deals Posts: 5,283	You did an amazing job! It is beautiful.....
	__________________ Visit my blog (if you so desire) at: http://desperatelyseekingdeals.blogs...&max-results=2

Jul 16th, 2009, 06:49 PM	#7
likeafeather77 Member Joined: Mar 2006 Location: USA Posts: 3,763	WOW! I LOVE the ring!!!! I've been thinking of taking a jewelry class for some time now. Now I REALLY want to take one!!!

Jul 16th, 2009, 07:54 PM	#9
Golden Touch Member Joined: Oct 2008 Location: Down South... Australia Posts: 197	I am so jealous! Well done! I have been trying to get in to a course 12 week course where I live for many years. However it is full, term to term, with the same lucky people. (I doubt I would like to give up my spot either!) I have a bag of broken jewellery that I would love to be able to create something with. I usually take it in to the jeweller and get them to make something with it. I have a little "ideas" book with lots of sketches I have done. Ah to dream. Congrats on your new hobby!

Jul 16th, 2009, 08:05 PM	#10
gwmpt1 Member Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 207	Very cool, you did a great job.
gwmpt1 Member Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 207	__________________

Jul 16th, 2009, 08:43 PM	#11
geminisparklers Paris, here I come! Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 1,943	Wow, I am impressed with the ring you made! Is this your first time? I have taken quite a no. of jewellery making classes over the last few years but have not tried one that involves soldering, etc cos I saw the students pieces and none were as good as yours!
	__________________ I am in love with Hermes

Jul 16th, 2009, 08:55 PM	#12
ame Member Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,841	That is totally awesome. Beautiful ring, and sounds like a BLAST.
ame Member Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,841	__________________ Despite the high cost of living, it remains popular. I LOVE SEWNSATIONAL! Things I want.... -Balenciaga Twiggy -Anna Corinna Jetsetter/Jetsetter Jr. -More Anna Corinna Mini Citys -Mulberry Mabel -Rebecca Minkoff MA/MAM ...it's good to want things.

Jul 16th, 2009, 09:18 PM	#13
candypants1100 Member Joined: May 2008 Location: candyland Posts: 4,584	that is so awesome! not only is it a good looking ring, but i bet it feels even better knowing that YOU made it! what an inspiration
	__________________ There are some days when I think I'm going to die from an overdose of satisfaction. - Salvador Dali

Jul 16th, 2009, 10:20 PM	#14
Kitsunegrl Cartier in 2009! Joined: Nov 2006 Location: Cajun Country Posts: 7,751	Very cool! Are you going to continue making jewelry?
	__________________ Lorretta

Jul 17th, 2009, 01:21 AM	#15
NurseAnn Member Joined: Apr 2009 Location: Seattle Posts: 155	Wow I would really love to do something like that. Your ring turned out amazing and I'll bet you'll love it forever!

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