Field of Clovers

This is my final piece for the completion of my BTech degree. Based on 4 leaf clovers, like my Clover ring, I think this might be my best piece yet (she said modestly).


These were the various size templates I used to bend up the framework for the clovers.

Each clover was made from 4 individual leaves. Initially, my plan was to just have the leaves soldered to each other but it became necessary to have the rings in the center. Otherwise the shape of the clover looked wrong.

Power of a Woman Part Deux

Garnets are my birthstone and the colour red is often associated with passion and power. According to the website Squidoo, the colour red can increase enthusiasm, stimulate energy, encourage action and confidence, and offer a sense of protection from fears and anxiety.
This ties in so accurately with what I'm trying to achieve with my jewellery.

Power of a Woman

These images are of the completed filigree elements of my new piece, based on the Erickson Beamon neck piece.

Individual domed filigree elements

Triquetra Flower

It is made with sterling silver frame wire and fine silver filler wires. A wire, with a ball melted on the end, was threaded through the middle and soldered from the back as shown below.

This was then cut off and cleaned up. I used the following chains, with various round links, to echo the roundness of the string of the garnet beads I'm using.

Layered Chains

Coco Chanel may have been the first person to introduce layered chains as a trend. She was a fashion icon that influenced the use of mixing both real and faux jewels.
In the 1980's, a young singer by the name Madonna once again created interest in this trend.
And, once again, in the last few years, there has been a resurgence of this trend, shown in both the media and filtering down to fashion stores such as Truworths, Foschini, Edgars, Mr Price etc.

Ibo Silver

Off the coast of Northern Mozambique lies Ibo Island, which our lecturers visited. On their return, they taught us the technique which became known to our jewellery department as "Ibo Silver." The technique consists of fusing thin pieces of silver to jump rings, to create new links that can be joined to form various pieces of jewellery.The jump rings are usually arranged in 4's, to form a square but I decided to use 3. Worked out well for 2 reasons. Firstly, it echoed the 3-sided shape of the triquetra, and secondly, created an interesting pattern when linked to form the chain of the Hip-Hop Diva Neckpiece.

Triquetra Earrings

Of all the filigree pieces I've made, these have to have been the simplest. Based on the Triquetra symbol, for which my blog is named, they are bold, yet delicate and feminine.

Aspiring Apothecary?

On a trip to Singapore, I bought this stone pestle and mortar at Chinatown, purely for decorative purposes. Came in handy, though. My recent batch of flux was rougher than usual, so I now grind it down in this. I find that the finer the flux the better it mixes with the filed solder, which then flows better.