craftgrrl | Metalworking and a little bit more

I started a metalworking class a little over a week ago, and I'm in love! I wish I could go to it three times a week instead of just one. (That's not just because my instructor is a hottie either, though it sure doesn't hurt.) I don't post here very often, so I thought it would be fun to share some results.

Yesterday, we completed our first project, a sterling-silver ring. After the first class, it looked like this:

That was after measuring, cutting, shaping, soldering and pickling it. We finished them yesterday, and now it looks like this:

Ooo, it's so sexy. You can see the soldered part towards the left, but I think I did a pretty good job of covering it, considering this is the first piece I've ever made. To achieve the final look, I filed down the pointy edge from my novice soldering, sanded it, added texture with a chasing hammer (yet another reason to love those things), and then put it in a jewelry tumbler. I love it! Action shots:

Oooooooooooooo!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!

I feel so accomplished. We're working on another ring and a silhouette pendant next time. Sooo fun!

And here are three more pieces of jewelry I've made lately: