Yes, what I named it. No, this mini collection wasn't really planned. But once I started, it just went on and instead of getting my new site ready, I ended up with all these earrings. Humph.

I rather like working with brass though - pure solid brass, not plated lightweight stuff. An alloy of copper and zinc, brass I usually choose would be bright gold (a.k.a. raw brass) or antiqued (usually treated to protect the patina) bronze. And it's such a joy to team them with bright jewel colours. I do also love the look of verdigris (please note current theme of blog, heh), but I understand not many people would be quite so receptive towards wearing something that's essentially rusty and crusty near their skin. Oh well, maybe in future.

Haven't had the time to do up individual photos or listings yet, but here's a preview of what should be in store soon:


If I don't resurface again this week, happy 2011 to one and all - maybe some of you will be ringing in the new year with Tellurus goodies :D - and thank you so very much for your gracious support!

... as long as I don't hit my fingers, clumsy sod that I am.


Did you know that all Flint Hoops are made to order, so you get a freshly-squeezed set upon purchase? Available in a variety of metals and finishes, and I've customised them up to 3" in diameter too.

Have a great weekend. Despite the scorching sun.

Remember the prototype? I really love these 3D leaf shapes and wish I had more time to form all kinds of different ones. Plus I get to annoy the neighbours - who insist on smoking at their windows, letting their offspring bawl interminably or having renovation at unexpected hours - by hammering away.

I have a couple of designs for earrings and a bracelet but am physically really, really tired after today's yoga (and not enough sleep this week, no thanks to the rowdy mynah gang wars early every morning), so here is the asymmetrical necklace in 14K goldfill and heavily oxidised sterling which I was working on yesterday:


In case you were wondering, the leaves do hold their shape if you press lightly, i.e. you're unlikely to deform them through normal use. But as a general rule of physics, I wouldn't go squashing them violently, especially the larger leaf. I was thinking of making this in antiqued brass as well, but I think it's one of those designs you either like or hate, so I guess I won't push it.

Listed in my online jewellery boutique and Etsy shop.

Geez, not beer. New jewellery and some production notes :)

You've probably seen oxidised sterling silver pieces that have been left fully black and the ones that have been buffed to show highlights. I'd keep the metal fully black if I want to play up colour contrasts with bright gems, but if I want to emphasise textures, I buff the pieces either with steel wool, fine-grit sandpaper or a brass-bristled brush. This lightens the surface as it physically removes the oxidation, while leaving recessed areas dark, so what I call the "dimensionality" of the piece is enhanced:


Anyway, I've been wanting to do these twisted wire hoops and seeing as the Eden Hoops have been quite well-received (in fact I have only 2 pairs left and it'll be some time before I restock those etched hoops), decided to make a similar design using (my precious!) large keishi pearls but with an added cross-cross weave of seed pearls. This also evolved into a bangle, formed with heavier wire. And now there is wire littered over my desk and floor.


They're probably the last things you'll imagine when you think of "pearl earrings" and "pearl bracelet", but I think they're interesting :) Now listed in my Etsy shop.

I've been working with more wire today... need to oxidise later and take pics tomorrow morning :P

I've been feeling rather poorly these past few days, no thanks at all to protracted CNY snacking on all the "heaty" stuff. It's a darned shame that all these foods that are bad for you have to taste so good.

Anyway, I wanted to post new photos I took this morning of the gold Flint Hoops, which I had to rush through before going out on errands. I also discovered that my obssession with having them matching, symmetrical, etc means that I can only produce like 3 pairs per hour! I'm just not cut out for factory-line mass production :P And since I feel like boring you with details, these are the steps that go into the creation of each set.


1. Measure and cut wire, trying to avoid being gouged by the sharp ends.

2. File both ends and form the loops, making sure they are like 98% identical in size/shape and lie perfectly horizontal.

3. Form the hoops around a mandrel, and make the sticking up bits that hooks into the loops. Harder than it sounds to make everything exactly even :\

4. Lay flat and hammer with mallet, which does not flatten the metal, just hardens it. Reshape with pliers if necessary.

5. Hammer skinny edges with flat side of hammer to form the shape and background texture, then hammer skinny edges with pointy side of hammer to make the rough facets.

6. Test opening and closing, polish them up, and feel the lurve!

Here is my Leaf Necklace in a sterling silver and peridot combination for a commissioned order. Well... all I really wanted was just to put the photos side by side for comparison :P They have the exact same measurements - geez I'm so proud of myself for that because you know I usually hate making exact replicas of things because it's HARD! - but different chains. Unfortunately my dSLR was flat outta battery and the late afternoon light was dodgy, so it's a less-than-satisfactory photo.


P.S. these make great gifts! Customise one with your friend's or loved one's birthstone! And you get to choose your hardware (14k goldfill, bright or oxidised sterling silver)! :)

Here's something I don't do very often (in fact, I can't remember doing it at all) - a sneak preview :P

As usual, I had a list of items to make but promptly got sidetracked and hammered out a couple of asymmetrical leaf motifs from some leftover wire. One of them I brushed for a satin finish, which I then regretted because it didn't go so well with shiny chain and findings, the other I left, well, shiny. There is a little peridot rondelle nestled in the bail, and of course this can be substituted for any other birthstone or favourite gem. I'm still not 100% satisfied with this figaro chain as I think it's a bit too fussy for the design, but it's the only fine goldfilled chain I have around right now. Nevertheless, I think this necklace would make a really sweet and special gift. So... what with the weather being as unpredictable as it is these days, I was really quite frustrated at the alternating glare and cloudiness and subsequently horrible photos that I gave up trying for today. I guess I do need to tackle the list of other to-do's after all :(

Every once in a (long) while, I literally break out the eggs and oxidise some stuff. Yes, I gave up on liver of sulphur a long time ago because it just doesn't keep in this humid climate, and is basically quite an unpleasant chemical to use and have to dispose of. But, I love how a dark patina can enhance the dimensionality of simple shapes.

So, inspired by something I spotted on Friday, I made these little Plasma Earrings from my stock of Thai Karen hilltribe fine silver hammered hoops - which are wonderfully irregular and organic so that each pair, each earring even, is unique. Wired them onto U-shaped earwires then sanded, blackened and sanded the lot again. I think they're lovely and sooo versatile. I'm definitely keeping a set! Shall post model shots later if I'm so inclined.


And here are my Grunge Hoops, new batch and new photos. I could never really properly capture the rustic facets on my Flint or Grunge Hoops because the hammered surface is on the skinny edge, so it's an ongoing exercise in creative prop use. Sigh. But, I think I've become better friends with my macro lens now so these are much better than the initial ones:


These are all listed in my online jewellery boutique as well as my Etsy shop. Do remember that the cutoff date for international shipments to arrive in time for Christmas Eve is this Friday, December 5th, and December 19th for local deliveries.

How time does fly. Happy December - a month of both merrymaking and reflection - to one and all!

I have been obsessing over simple shapes of late. And I love the visual and tactile appeal of brushed metal. So here are my itty bitty Lisse Hoops in all their 19mm glory. I cannot begin to explain the versatility of simple hammered hoops. I'll admit that the smaller they are, the harder to put on, but then, you might not want to take them off in the first place :)

Here's a jewellery pet peeve I never knew I had: when people mix 14k goldfill and 22-24k vermeil, goldfill and brass, or sterling silver and pewter components. On the same piece.

Sure, it's nice when you mix metals for a contrasting difference, but with these combinations, it's like looking at two different shades of turquoise instead of looking at turquoise and blue. I feel really uncomfortable when things are almost the same but not quite. What's more, these different metals are going to oxidise at different rates and change the look of your jewellery.

Is it so hard to find a matching component?? I just don't get it.

This is something I've been wanting to do all week - giving my textured hoops a patina. After filing and hammering, I sanded them with 1000 grit paper, oxidised them, then sanded some more and finally lightly polished them by hand. I just love how the facets and twists have been given such striking definition!


Unfortunately for me, I've tried and just cannot wear oxidised silver. Apart from causing some slight itching and flaking after a few days, the patina in contact with my ears wears right off. Anyway, here are some of the charms I did to go along with them:


So it would seem my collection of hoops is complete (for now):

Flint Hoops - hammered sterling silver and 14K goldfill

Twirl Hoops - twisted sterling silver and 14K goldfill

Grunge Hoops - oxidised hammered and twisted sterling silver

Yay :)

So excited! I made more hoops today!


These were formed from 14K goldfilled wire, 18ga for the hammered ones and 20ga for the twisted ones. I love the facets on the hammered ones, and I actually do spend quite a bit of time bashing away at them with different hammers first on the sides to get them hard, then on the curves to give them some texture. Then it's a bit more whacking and reshaping on the sides before they're finally satisfactory. Classic gold hoops but I do try to make them different. They'll be in my shop soon.

I also practically tortured my eyes trying to shoot photos today (did some other sterling hoops as well) in the dying light; by about 5pm it was getting really difficult. Guess I'll continue tomorrow...

So the advantage of being able to create my own jewellery is that I am able to make exactly what I want - most of the time anyway. And, finally having gotten over my phobia of hoops or long earrings getting caught in stuff and being ripped out, I have been wanting hammered hoops.

While there is already a plethora of these things out there, I actually want the hammered bit to be facing up and not to the side, if you know what I mean. Plus, I don't want 2-piece earrings that require the itty bitty backing to stay secure. Couldn't find anything I liked, so...

The cut ends wire of wire are verrrry sharp - you know what a klutz I am - and cutting must be my next most hated activity to filing. A few pierces and scrapes and lotsa shaping and hammering later, these emerged:


I'm quite happy with how they turned out, considering it's my first time making hoops. These measure 1" and were formed from 20ga wire so they're a skinny 1mm wide. They're for myself though. I have a couple of others coming up in twisted wire and a slightly thicker gauge. Just imagine what they'll look like after being oxidised and polished... yum :)

So, do you wear hoops? Would you purchase something like these?

Made from more supplies that have been languishing away - I recently realised I hadn't touched my brass findings for a long time and that the brass-based items in my shop had been depleted. Also, I happen to have too much Swarovski crystal lying around from previous impulse buys. Fortunately, the two pair well together. I thought so, anyways, when I made these last Thursday. Swarovski crystal has rich colour and faceting that make for guaranteed perfect sparkles every time, unlike natural gemstones which can occasionally be irregular and lacklustre. Antiqued brass lends old-world charm and enhances the richness with a comforting and earthy warmth.


From L-R, top to bottom:

Vernal Vestige - In addition to the Swarovskis and brass, I have a small stash of vintage beads I've been wondering about (I've kind of stopped collecting them already). I'd used these lucite flowers in a couple of necklaces but the large 18mm size always put me off. But they are really quite pretty, with 3D detail and a luminous wax-like appearance. So I tried to streamline them a bit by adding a splash of Pacific Blue Opal and attaching a briolette. One-of-a-kind because I don't have any more lucite roses.

Panopeia - Indicolite must be my favourite Swarovski shade. It's a gorgeous teal-ish blue whose tone I find suits antiqued brass/gold colours pretty well. Randomly bundled up in a mass of complementary blue, green and bronze shades, dangling from those versatile hammered hoops I love. I certainly hope the earrings bring to mind the sea's broad panorama and whose nereid they were named after! One-of-a-kind because I don't think I can exactly replicate the placement of the dangles...

Nesaie - Never thought I'd buy AB-finish crystal because they were always too iridescent for me, but I had to for a custom order. The good thing about them, I suppose, it they add a really big punch in terms of sparkle because those facets are extra reflective. Featured also are the last Peridot cubes from when I was making Absinthe. Named for the nereid of the islands, largely because of the lush green and blues, and the AB colours reflecting the diversity of island life. One-of-a-kind because I don't think I can exactly replicate the placement of the dangles...

Muguet - Another hoop-and-dangle ensemble. I always prefer the doodad placed below the hoop as it makes for a more elongated and universally flattering shape. Imagine a person with a round face wearing hoops that face forward... sigh. I do try to make my designs wearable!

And there you have it. Proof that I subconsciously work in collection/group-based phases after all. Aaaargh...

Recent personal upheavals kind of forced me out of my comfort zone when it came to creating... I found myself experimenting with mixed metals, something I normally don't do (and face it, it doesn't really work unless it's really all about the metal, and I'm not a metalsmith).

I also gave a bit of thought about releasing jewellery in small groups or collections, and although it got me excited in terms of themes, I still don't think it's something for me. I guess I'm too fickle-minded to be able to keep it up. It would become too much like a regular day-job, having to constantly think of what to do next and how to make them all gel together. Urgh.

Anyway, here are some of the recent metallic pieces I listed:


From L-R, top to bottom:

Pebbles - The minute I saw these hilltribe fine silver ovals, I knew they had to be in a bracelet. It would be bright, shiny, simple and classic. The only twist was that I would be using goldfilled wire and giving them extra thick wraps so that they'd stand out as design elements on their own.

Flounce - My penchant for putting together contrasts led me to imagine a busy, flouncy cluster of stuff below these sleek hilltribe fine silver what... elongated bicones? I dunno, I think they're cute... I also have a penchant for satin-finish beads because they just look so modern.

Paillette - I had these goldfilled discs for the longest time ever, they were languishing away, together with the rest of my 14kGF supplies, in a rarely-used and rarely-stocked box. Finally I thought to hell with it and I would pair them with my new black spinel rondelles. I have never used black spinel before, and they are so cool... hardness of 8, super sparkle due to high reflectance, and never dyed or treated.

Spangle - I made one side of this and it was only a few days later when I completed the other earring. I don't really like wire-coiling, especially with oxidised metal, it makes my fingers sooo black... Lots of talented artists work in shiny and oxidised metals, but I don't think I've seen anyone doing gold over blackened sterling. Just thought I'd do something different because I like to be ;)

That's it for now. I will be trying to avoid working on weekends, but it's really hard not to work nights. That's when, after I've finished with the day's creations (if any!), photography or yoga classes, I get to sit down and prep photos and listings and decide what to buy next. It was also a long time since I updated my Flickr stream... go figure. I still have a few pieces unlisted... thinking of what to do with them...

Have a good weekend, all!