Youth Baseball = LOTS of time to make jewelry
If someone were to compare watching baseball to watching paint dry, I wouldn't be surprised. It is a great sport, but pretty slow. A lot of practice pitches, practice swings, balls and strikes and a few hits and runs here and there. Not much activity when you consider the game takes about 2 hours.
I always bring a huge (heavy) bag filled with jewelry supplies and tools. Thank goodness I finally found a lightweight ring mandrel - the steel one combined with all the beads and wires was killing my back.
Silver Spiral Ring with Smoky Quartz
![handmade spiral ring](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwDfQpIwcShIdxWnF_eQTZm-nXmEzFQiTfdcoex0P1-uv7wq-vv4ogZgpV8jA2iLkuY_mFqelFVutgD5G8MCTa4y_EiLy_uM8U15BAnBVqbzPu7l6gBFWT4bgOdCrRT1Z8TIN2MoFcnh3B/s200/SwirlRing.jpg)
![smoky quartz ring](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1A1IXfawL1M/T_Z2w4hWFaI/AAAAAAAAA7E/NMOmRYSa2PU/s200/SwirlRing4.jpg)
The ring was not very comfortable at first (probably due to the shank width), but after wearing it a little while, it feels fabulous. I usually wear the ring on my middle finger.
![wire wrapped gemstone ring](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E2ESWztRhso/T_hAKgWI2YI/AAAAAAAAA7g/gxiyZQnb2qE/s200/SwirlRingBack.jpg)
I made several variations for all of my friends. I made a gold ring that has a straight ring shank in the back. That seems to work better for someone who is more petite. It has a turquoise stone. I also made a silver ring just like this one with a turquoise stone.
And then I lost my Mojo...
Mojo is your magic. These rings were flying off my pliers and mandrel in perfect shape until I tried to make one with a copper shank and gold wire. At first, I never worried about making the spirals even, they just were. The rings sizes either came out right, or I adjusted the bends in the back of the shank.
It was all so easy until I tried using the copper wire. I think I have at least four half finished rings in copper. Once I got the ring shank right, the gold wire I was using to secure the stone broke during the wrapping process. I'll try copper again (after I get my mojo back!)
I like this ring. It seems to be a versatile design!
ReplyDeleteNo doubt, this smoky ring is designed impeccably. I am glad to see this since i was looking for something like this only.
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