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I am still amazed from class. The rings above are examples of what I did in class. You could say, ‘No big deal,’ pretty standard issue jewelry…but… The princess cut ~ hardest stone to set without breaking a corner off. I did it in less than a half an hour without sweating it and made perfect little places for the corners and the pavilion. The round setting… hmmm… never use a setting bur! What! Never use a setting bur, never. It’s a set up for failure and complications. I did not use one. It went perfectly in less than 15 minutes. The channel setting: less than 25 minutes: unreal for me and it’s solid as a rock, every stone. Thanks Gerry.

This is practice I have left to do. The top ring I am holding is a ‘flush’ or ‘gypsy’ set ring. I did the first two stones with caution. I went and talked to my instructor, Gerry. Perfect. Not going anywhere. I could not believe it. I actually can’t wait to set the rest of them. It was such a pleasure. How can I tell you how to do it? I can’t. You have to see him. It’s a second by second decision of troubleshooting before you get into trouble and remove too much metal and make a mistake. Big thing is stop using your burs. They are deceiving you. I thought when I went into this class I would be taking exact measurements with a digital calipers. NEVER USED THEM ONE TIME! NEVER MEASURED ANYTHING NOT EVEN ONCE. Could not believe it. The settings left over are a cluster setting: bottom right… I have done those before and they are pretty easy. The other settings are heavy bezel settings and they are easier than the gypsy setting but pretty similar in technique. I just worked on what I knew was a challenge for me and these others I know I can do easily ~ Especially now.

Very crude picture of Gerry’s Guiness Book of World Record Poker Chip. I got to hold it! It is a replica in plated sterling silver. He does not travel with the real thing. 17, one carat diamonds travel around the outside rim of the poker chip. The 8 is circled by pink diamonds. 22 K Pink Gold and valued at $450,000. It was fun to hold the replica. He is actually going to fill the space in by the #7 and #8 with pave set diamonds as well… must be nice to be a casino! Wow.

Made this today. It was fun. Made another zillion things today. Freezing outside. What else is there to do? Necklace reminds me of Summer! Where did it go?

Link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/169175178/turquoise-sterling-silver-stone-necklace?

How come it took me so long to put this feather sideways! I like it even better this way.

Link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/169189679/sterling-feather-necklace-handmade?

This was fun as well and little crazier. The chain attachment that you can barely see in this picture is interesting. Never seen it before myself but I am sure it exists as there are no original ideas, especially in jewelry making. The chain is attached with double pieces of tubing on a sliding piece of silver.

Link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/169175806/turquoise-sterling-silver-stone-necklace?

This is my good friend Lissa from Silver Waves Jewelry. We are out at a local Mexican Restaurant called El Sarpe. She sang beautifully in Spanish with the waitress…. What a fun night after class – many of the class students came and Gerry our instructor as well. Some of my own family members showed up too, kids and all. We had a huge table. Great food as always.

I have 50 more pictures to show you including the making of a hollow cube. I will save it until next time. See you soon in Depere Nov. 30th at East Depere High School.