On the Bench Today

I'm fresh out of ham and Easter eggs at this point.  I've been busy but not nearly enough and have no one to blame but myself for not getting more art completed or beads made.  There have been moments in which I could have squeezed that in but didn't.  Shame on me.  Ha, like laying on a guilt trip will help shake me out of it...it's never worked before.  Isn't that the definition of insanity?  Doing the same thing and expecting different results...well, there it is!  What more can I say. 

This is what I have been working on.  Two rings.  One will be large enough to be considered a "statement ring" and will cover two knuckles.  The stone is beautiful - deep and moody like a nebula.  The other ring is smaller and the stone is a natural amber colored drusy.  It's not a flashy drusy but rather a calm one.  I bought it many years ago and loved it's nature.  Maybe it's because it reminds me that even the quiet people of the world can be lions - they just have to "be brave".  I stamped that and sweat soldered it to the back of the band.  Just a little reminder to the world of silent types - a private message that the wearer can run their thumb across.

 

 

And while I was working at the bench someone snuck onto my spot on the couch.  Good thing there are more chairs around the front room. 

 

On The Bench Today

 

I tested the Blue Lace Agate in the setting today and worked the edges down to where I wanted them.  Now it needs a good polish, clean up, and to have that stone set.  Do you like the dental floss?  It's how you test the stone and then you can pull it back out to do some extra cleaning before it's put in permanently and the bezel folded down on it.  I guess I could have used something besides my good mint floss, huh?

 

I also decided on a few other stones and made the bezels to go around them.  Two agate types and a quartz with the flicker of gold inclusions.   The bezel on the far left will use on of the cast sticks from the casting pile above it.  They look awful until they're cleaned but they'll look great soon. Right now the bezels look a little battered up too and things are really dirty from the soldering and all.  

 

Have a great Sunday and stay warm!

On the Bench Today...

Winter has hit - boo hoo.  But it is a great time to work and not feel bad about being at the bench.  I've decided that I ought to start a segment on this blog called, "On the Bench Today".  It would be good to show everyone at least once a month what the heck is sitting there...even if I'm in the middle of the process.  If you have any questions about things please don't be afraid to ask.

I'm getting parts ready to add to a necklace I'm working on...hence the flat rings and the end caps.  The filigree I have cut up is destined for a ring or brooch.

 

A larger view of the bench area.  Above the other goodies I've already described I've a pendant in progress and who knows what else.  I'm always knee deep in things I'm working on....it's a curse (or maybe a blessing) to have so many ideas and only two arms to work with.

 

So what's on your bench today?

Come on - We want to see what you're working on too!