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.

Erickson Beamon

Erickson Beamon is a collaboration between Karen Erickson and Vicki Beamon. They create designer fashion jewellery which is, as Beamon states:"not designed to look real- we create fantasies."
The neck piece pictured here has a similar feel to the piece I'm working on at the moment. It has a definite costume jewellery look to it, with the chunky chains and the crystal detail. I think my piece needs to feel slightly more delicate to emphasise the nature of filigree.

Continuing with the "layered chains" trend, I'm using the flower element from my Hip-Hop Diva Neckpiece. I also intend on incorporating a string of garnet beads to add colour.

More About The Clover Ring

This was the modification I did to the appliqued clover design for the basket of the ring. It was pierced and domed and the final product is shown here.
I've been told this alone would make a pretty ring, with maybe a stone set in it.

Now Can I Have My luck?

It's been a long time in the making, but it's finally done! Woo-hoo! Learned a valuable lesson with this ring. Realised the setting needs to be added after all the filigree is completed. It was twice as difficult getting the solder to flow towards the center. Well, live and learn!

Clover Basket

I came to the realisation that, as it is, the piece will lie 2 flat on the hand, so I'm going to bend the petals downwards slightly. In doing so, the actual clover will need to sit higher on the shank, necessitating a basket. I want to pierce a modified version of the image above for the basket.

At last! The Nightmare is Over!

The filigree on this piece gave me endless problems. I have been using thinner wire for my recent projects and it's taking a while to get used to soldering it. As a result, I had a few melted mishaps and on 1 occasion, the entire piece was literally stuck to my soldering block and caused an entire section to yanked out! But now it's done and needs to be put on a shank.

Flavours Exhibition

Have just now realised that I haven't posted any pictures of the jewellery I created for the Flavours Exhibition.Completed this bangle eventually. Was a bit of nightmare to manufacture, as the individual squares kept coming apart as I was bending it up. Worked it all out in the end! The little flowers on the sides are actually screws, the idea being that the perspex could be interchangeable, perhaps in different colours!
This is, by far, my favourite piece to date! I based it on the trend of wearing layered chains, but, of course, with a filigree twist!
The flowers on either side are identical. They're actually larger versions of my earrings. I call this my Hip-Hop Diva Neckpiece! Definitely Diva-licious!

A Happy Accident!

I began the filigree work, using the pattern shown above. At first, I partially soldered each section, as it was completed, but, then, put it down to lack of interest or,dare I say it, laziness, I started getting overconfident. As a consequence, (not unexpected) a slip of my hand caused all of the wires to pop out! Of course, this caused me to throw my hands in the air in frustration and down tools for a period so I could lie in bed, with the covers over my head, in a state of depression!
Well, not really! But I did stop and rethink! I decided that I needed to add more large wires, creating smaller sections of filigree.
Played around a bit. Above was my first idea, which followed on from the filigree pattern I was creating. Eventually settled on the pattern below, as it was more interesting! As this pattern stands, this in itself would make an interesting piece. But on with the filigree!
P.S Please forgive the first picture. It was taken with my cell phone, very badly!

Finally! A Beginning!

Finally had the motivation to begin! This is the framework for the clover, which I have decided is going to be 1 of my fabulously over-sized rings! Excitement beginning to set in!

Change Is Constant

I knew I wanted a use a stone for this piece and this stone is perfect! It is a colour changing obsidian. On the left, the obsidian is a pinky-brown in natural light, whereas under fluorescent light, it is quite green, as seen on the right!
For me, this stone aptly symbolises the transience of life: ever changing, never stagnant, surprises at every turn! While my 4 leaf clover is meant to bring good luck, luck also moves in cycles and is unpredictable! Change,truly, is the only constant!

Fortuitous Valentine

Quite unexpectedly, this year, I received a bouquet of red roses for Valentines Day. The arrangement came in a metre tall black vase and on the side of the vase was stuck these 3 mirror hearts. (Sadly, it was an empty gesture, so I didn't take a photo of the arrangement!) Didn't think much of the hearts at the time until...
When I began manufacture of my 4 leaf clover, I realised the hearts were the perfect template to bend the wire around, to create each leaf! Looked like I was off to a lucky start!

The Best Is Yet To Come?

4 Leaf Clover

There's been quite a bit of turmoil in my life recently and I began thinking of signs or symbols representative of the way forward for me. I thought of the 4 leaf clover, which is commonly associated with luck (and Lord knows I need some!), and started thinking about how I could translate it into a piece of jewellery. Still working on design ideas!

I further found out that each leaflet represents faith, love, hope and luck respectively! Things that everyone could use in abundance! Can"t wait to see what develops!

Iron-on Badge

I find this iron-on badge somewhat reminiscent of filigree and has put some definite ideas into my head! Stay tuned!

I Have Jewellery (Almost)!!

I had actually forgotten to post about these earrings. They were started in March, and have been finished for a while, but I hadn't gotten around to taking the photos.

This bangle is still a work in progress. I like the overall impression, but I had problems with solder joins while bending it up. I decided to cast the frameworks for the elements to overcome this. The perspex is a bit stark against the delicate elements, and needs to be filed and, maybe, made thinner.

Funny story! I was in my bathroom the other day, when I realised that this is part of a tile! I guess it manifested itself in my subconscious, and voila!, it's found its way into my jewellery.

South African Flowers

I recently came across these flowers, native to South Africa, that I find quite similar to the element I am currently working with.

ROMULEAS

The Romulea Cruciata grows on sandstone and granite slopes and rocks.

The ixia is often given as a gift on happy occasions.

My element consists of two identical pieces riveted together. There's potential for so many different pieces that I still to need to translate to paper. First, though, I'm making a pair of drop earrings. Should be finished tomorrow, so stay tuned!

AMARYLLIS

The Amaryllis is also known as the Belladonna Lily or naked ladies because of it's tall stems and precious flowers.
I'm wondering how to use this flower in my jewellery because I think it's gorgeous!