The studio is open...

It seems that you like to watch me work,

to see a creation come to fruition


from a seed of thought through to a wearable jewel.

That is human nature though, isn't it...

to be voyeuristic :-)


I love to see the creative process of other artisans,


so it is my pleasure to share my own with you!

~*~

So, the door to my studio is open...

come on in!

The kettle is boiled


and there is orange cake baking in the oven.


Take a seat over there...


I'm going to sit down at my workbench


and we'll chat as I work...


There is a custom ring to be made,


my *Desert Flower* Ring in a size that is *just right* for someone special :-)  

It starts with a circle...

...which is curved ever so slightly...

...and you're wondering why there is a latex glove sitting in my wooden doming block?


It's so that the metal disc doesn't get wedged into the indentation in the wood (which happens rather too easily!)  The glove helps the disc to pop right out after I've finished hammering ;-)

...my makers mark, stamped and sawed...
(I do have so much fun with these...nearly every mark I make is a different shape!  But that story deserves a post all to itself)

...the components wait patiently to be married together...

...and not forgetting the Flower itself, waiting in the wings...

It's time to solder!  So I crank up the iPod...

...the ring starts to take shape...

...and I remind you that you can never have too many (third) hands! ;-)

And at this point, my two little rugrats come screaming into the studio and everything must be forgotten for an hour or five :-)


Such is life!


Do drop by the studio tomorrow though...


there is a ring to finish,


and more cups of coffee to sip.


Oh, and half an orange cake that we have yet to devour! :-)