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[afmetalsmith]

I had a reasonably productive weekend here. At last!

I got a lot done on a commission that involves delicate silver etching, and careful piercing and filing. I'm pleased about this, because the etching has been tricky; it's a lot smaller and more detailed than most of the etching I've done, and benefited from a different approach. The piercing etc. wasn't hard exactly; just very precise and fussy.

I also finished a new pair of filigree earrings, and the penultimate one of my first set of "engagement" etc. rings. I got the rather tricky soldering done on the final one, too.

I've been perusing my new copy of the Lark "500 Earrings" book. Cool stuff! There are some approaches to earwires etc. that I really like a lot, and I'm looking forward to adapting them to work with my own designs.

I have also settled on the design elements for my hinged bracelet. I still have to lay out all the links before I can really get started, but that will (mostly) be fun. I figure by the time I've made a bracelet connected entirely with hinges, I'll be pretty good at the things. :)

I've been working on a design for a loop-in-loop, pinched-loop bracelet with stones, to be done as a sort of prototype before I start the necklace version (which may involve some gold links). I think I've settled on what Ineed, so will be placing an order soon.

Comments

[afmetalsmith.livejournal.com]

Loop-in-loop is a very ancient style of chainmaking, wherein one makes all the links separately first, then combines them into a chain. Usually these links are fused- partly because it's easier than soldering for the quantity needed, and partly because that's the Old Way of doing it.

The pinched-loop version is a variation on the basic idea, with the loops pinched to make more circular forms rather than flowing from one curve to the other. I'll post pics when I have them!