Tag Archives: Wire wrapped jewelry

On The Workbench (9-13-11)

“Orange-aide” Agate wborangecabs

I’ve been slicing some elite Lake Superior Agates that I recently acquired. As you may know “Lakers” are my favorite gemstones. The colors and variety of patterns and types are incredible. This week I cut some amazing stones including one so unusual it defies description.

I would describe it as a wild orange and black atypical “Laker” that is unlike any I’ve ever seen (and I’ve seen a lot of lakers). To me it looks like orange and black paint dabbed haphazardly on it. Bonnie thinks it looks like Mexican fire opal, it has such a depth and bright shimmer. I saved a piece of the stone to prove it is a Lake Superior Agate. That one agate begged me to wrap it, so this is one of my workbench projects this week.

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Orange "lakers" on the bench

As you can see the “orange-aide” agate is really fantastic. I decided on upscale wraps that enhances both cabs, yet does not take away the beauty of this agate. I wrapped both these agates in Argentium sterling and 14/20 gold fill, allowing the use of either a gold or silver chain.
This Lake Superior Agate is so stunning that they allowed me to add a bit of “bling” to the top of the pendant, and not take away from the stone in any way. I have always felt that one should never allow a wire wrap to distract from the gemstone. I see so many wire wrappers that do too much wire and cover up the beauty of the stone.

In many cases these “sculpture” people cover a perfectly good gemstone. Most wire wrappers also buy their stones and do not cut them. In most cases the cabochons are as bad as the wrapping. Check the web if you don’t believe me. OK, I’m off my soapbox for now.

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I hope you appreciate my style and stones. Thanks for checking out my blog. wbfinish11

On the Workbench (August 31, 2011)

My 100th Blog!

Bonnie had a great idea last week that I think will be great fun. She suggested that I show you what is on my workbench. I will show you what I am doing both before making jewelry and after my jewelry is finished.

a 3+ gram Isle Royale greenstone

My first post is a very nice fine-patterned Isle Royale Greenstone that I acquired in Michigan’s U.P. This was a rough nugget that I cut in half. I offer many greenstone cabuchons for sale on my website which folks use to create their own rings and other jewelry. A large stone with a great pattern like this I make into my own wire-wrapped creations.

Here I am making this pendant on the beach at Crystal Lake near Benzonia

Here I am making this gorgeous pendant on the beach at Crystal Lake near Benzonia

I cut it in a designer shape and wrapped it in 14/20 gold fill and Argentium Sterling. I was very pleased with the finished product. You can see this Greenstone pendant on my website along with other chlorastrolite pendants.

A gorgeous Greenstone with included Thomsonite. A winner for sure!

A Luminous Superstar Greenstone with included Thomsonite. A winner for sure!

Ghostbusters

“Ghostbusters” is another pendant of the “Debbie Collection”, one of her earlier purchases. When Halloween time comes around, you often see her showing off how her ghost seems to fly through the air!

My inspiration on this one came as I was cutting slabs from a very unusual Lake Superior Agate. The agate had distinctive eyes as well as some fortification structure with unusual coloration, mostly white but including some yellow, which is quite rare in Lakers. I immediately saw a face on the second slab, and the pattern continued through the next three slices.

I cut a calibrated oval 30X40 mm cab with the eyes in a position showing the face of the ghost. The position of the eyes toward the side of the cab made me think of a flying ghost.

I took this cab to William Holland School of Lapidary Arts in Young Harris, Georgia for an advanced wire wrapping class I was taking. The first incarnation of the ghost came into being at that time. I thought the piece was quite whimsical and artsy. I kept that piece of jewelry around for a couple of years and my wife wore it at Halloween time each year. Debbie was looking through my pendants one day and fell in love with the ghost. By the time she looked at the original piece I had made a second, less extravagant ghost pendant, but Debbie wanted the wild unit I had created at lapidary school. p12600032 I re-wrapped the original ghost simply because my skill level had progressed substantially and I could see some flashier things to do! This is the pendant that Debbie loves.

The ghost appears to be flying rapidly through the air throwing up a trail of smoke. I really enjoyed creating this extra-ordinary apparition.