SuperSweetSilver

Hoarders Unite January Challenge - Something Blue

2010-02-01T20:37:00.001-06:00

I am a recent member of the Hoarders Unite team on Etsy. This great team is for crafters who tend to hoard supplies. As a team we can find support and inspiration in each other to hopefully use up some of our stock. The challenge for January was to delve into our stash and see if we can make something using the color blue. I took my time and came up with these. The earrings are sterling and apatite and the ring is lapis.

Saturday Blog Showcase - Pulled Pork

2010-01-24T15:17:00.008-06:00

I realize this might not be a healthy dish, but hey, you have to do what you have to do. And I had to make this roast. Another new cut of meat and cooking technique for me. I found this recipe for Pulled Pork Sandwich at Simply Recipes. Oh was it good! I made some adjustments though, I reduced vinegar to 1/2 cup, cooked it for 3 hours instead of 2, and threw in some jalapeno slices meant for nachos. Hey, it's still pickled jalaps. And I didn't have a bay leaf. But it was falling apart good. All I had to do to shred it was squeeze it with my tongs.

I also made french bread and roasted Parmesan and Garlic fries to go with it.

Pulled Pork Sandwich Recipe

Ingredients

1 large onion, chopped
6 garlic cloves, peeled
1 pickled jalapeño pepper, seeded and chopped
2 teaspoons of Chipotle chile powder
1 Tbsp tomato paste
2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
3/4 cup distilled white vinegar
1 teaspoon paprika
1/3 cup ketchup
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 bay leaf
Salt

3 lbs of pork butt shoulder roast, trimmed of excess fat
Hamburger buns

Method
1 Purée all of the sauce ingredients (everything except the bay leaf, the pork and the buns) in a blender until smooth. If you have extra time, marinate the pork in the sauce overnight or for several hours before cooking.
2 Put sauce, bay leaf, and pork into a large pot and add 1 quart of water. Bring mixture to a boil and simmer, covered, turning frequently, for 2 hours or until the meat pulls apart easily with a fork.
3 Remove from heat and cool pork in the sauce. When cool, remove the pork from the sauce and shred into small pieces. Set aside.
4 Reduce the sauce by two thirds. Add the pork back to the sauce. Salt to taste. Remove bay leaf before serving. Serve hot over open-face hamburger buns.
Serves 6 to 8.

Saturday Blog Showcase - Lemony Chickpea Stirfry

2010-01-17T14:57:00.006-06:00

This week I have gone again with 101cookbooks. I bought kale for the Lively Up Yourself Lentil soup I made last week. And I still have kale after making this recipe. It's the kale that never stops. Anyway, before I discovered the Saturday Blog Showcase I was planning on making this chickpea dish (for the second time). It is sooo good. And very versatile. As long as the chickpeas are the star of the dish, you can put whatever suits you or whatever you might have on hand already. Here is the recipe that I have followed and loved.

Lemony Chickpea Stir-fry Recipe

I used Soy Deli Savory Organic Tofu here, but plain is fine too.

    2 tablespoon ghee or extra-virgin olive oil
    fine grain sea salt
    1 small onion or a couple shallots, sliced
    1 cup cooked chickpeas (canned is fine, if you don't want to cook up a pot of dried chickpeas)
    8 ounces extra-firm tofu
    1 cup of chopped kale
    2 small zucchini, chopped
    zest and juice of 1/2 a lemon

Heat 1 tablespoon of the ghee/olive oil In a large skillet over medium-high heat and stir in a big pinch of salt, the onion, and chickpeas. Saute until the chickpeas are deeply golden and crusty. Stir in the tofu and cook just until the tofu is heated through, just a minute or so. Stir in the kale and cook for one minute more. Remove everything from the skillet onto a large plate and set aside. In the same skillet heat the remaining tablespoon of ghee/olive oil, add the zucchini and saute until it starts to take on a bit of color, two or three minutes. Add the chickpea mixture back to the skillet, and remove from heat. Stir in the lemon juice and zest, taste, and season with a bit more salt if needed. Turn out onto a platter and serve family style.

Serves 2 - 4.

The cutest thing I have ever seen

2010-01-13T13:07:00.004-06:00

So sweet your face will MELT!! I first found this Pet Hat - Bear by xmoonbloom. on RealisationCreations blog and I had to share it here on my blog too! If only my cats would allow it, they would be wearing it right now. No joke.

Bouquet in winter

2010-01-13T08:11:00.000-06:00

I was looking for 3M radial bristle discs for a while. I finally found a nice kit that gives me the different grits that I need, AND it comes with a mandrel for each grit! How cool is that? And the price was right as well. If you are unfamiliar with these tools, they are great for sanding and polishing. The compound is built in, so you don't need compounds or chemicals. Just pick your grit and go! One thing that I have found is that I still like to use my files for cleaning up excess solder and for filing joints. These are more for polishing and finishing. Now I need to get some dust masks. Oops.

If you would like to know where I got them, they are from Santa Fe Jewelers Supply.

Read more about the discs here.

Saturday Blog Showcase

2010-01-10T13:14:00.008-06:00

The Saturday Blog Showcase is where you make recipes found on someone's blog and share it on your own blog. This week it is hosted by Ann of Thibeault's Table and next week's host will be Lori at All That Splatters. Thank you both!

This blog showcase coincides wonderfully with what I planned to do anyway - find and make great, healthy recipes and blog how wonderful, or maybe not so wonderful, the food is.

My first entry - albeit a little late - is Lively Up Yourself Lentil Soup from 101cookbooks, and another recipe, No Time Bread from thekitchn.

Lentils are high in protein, iron, folate, fiber, vitamin B1, and minerals and is considered by Health magazine as one of the five healthiest foods. The only change I made to this recipe was to make a garlic yogurt garnish with garlic powder instead of saffron. I also added some garlic powder to the soup. The soup, paired with the yogurt, and warm, crusty bread, was quite yummy. I think the next time I make this, I am going to add some chipotle peppers to the pot!

Lively Up Yourself Lentil Soup
    2 cups black beluga lentils (or green French lentils), picked over and rinsed
    1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
    1 large onion, chopped
    1 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt
    1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
    2 cups water
    3 cups of a big leafy green (chard, kale, etc), rinsed well, deveined, finely chopped

    Saffron Yogurt
    a pinch of saffron (30-40 threads)
    1 tablespoon boiling water
    two pinches of salt
    1/2 cup 2% Greek Yogurt

Bring 6 cups of water to a boil in a large saucepan, add the lentils, and cook for about 20 minutes, or until tender. Drain and set aside.

While the lentils are cooking, make the saffron yogurt by combining the saffron threads and boiling water in a tiny cup. Let the saffron steep for a few minutes. Now stir the saffron along with the liquid into the yogurt. Mix in the salt and set aside.

Meanwhile, heat the oil in a heavy soup pot over medium heat, then add the onion and salt and saute until tender, a couple minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, lentils, and water and continue cooking for a few more minutes, letting the soup come back up to a simmer. Stir in the chopped greens, and wait another minute. Taste and adjust the seasoning if need be. Ladle into bowls, and serve with a dollop of the saffron yogurt.

    Variations:

    - You can serve it with a poached egg on top,
    - or crunchy, fried shallots,
    - with a drizzle of chive infused cream,
    - or with chunks of tiny pan-fried butternut squash cubes.

    - Make a thicker version by using just a bit of water, and then spoon it over an omelette in the morning.

    - Have some cooked farro or wheat berries around? Toss some in. Millet might be good too.

    - You can finish the soup by adding your favorite spices or spice blends. Smoked paprika, crushed chiles, toasted cumin, would all work nicely.

This bread was a last minute decision to make with the soup. The changes I made with this recipe was to skip the microwave and place the covered dough on the warm, preheated oven as I continued to make the soup. My plan was to let it rise as much as I could on it's own, then put it in the oven right before the soup was ready. It pretty much worked out ok, except I underestimated the level of heat that comes off an oven set to 425 degrees, and one side of the bread started to bake! The taste of the bread is quite yeasty, as noted in the original post. I am mixed about the flavor, but for a recipe that lets you make a loaf in a matter of an hour, this can't be beat.

No-Time Bread
1 loaf

4 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast (two packets)
1 tablespoon sugar
1 1/2 cups water
3 1/2 cups bread flour
1 1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon balsamic vinegar

In the bowl of a heavy-duty stand mixer put the yeast, sugar, and water and let it sit.

Heat the oven to 450°F. Put a Dutch oven (or one of these alternatives) in to warm as the oven heats. Get out your flour, salt, vinegar, spray oil, and anything else you need.

Now that the yeast has had a few minutes to bubble up, add 3 cups of the flour as well as the salt and vinegar and beat for several minutes with the paddle. Add the last 1/2 cup of flour and switch to the dough hook and beat for seven minutes. Alternately, knead vigorously for five minutes, or until the dough becomes extremely elastic. This will still be a wet dough, but not goopy. The dough will clear the sides of the bowl but still stick to the bottom

Oil a microwave-safe bowl and transfer the bread dough to it, rolling it in the oil. Cover the bowl with a very wet towel. Cover the whole thing with a dry towel and put in the microwave for 25 seconds.

Let rest in the microwave for about five minutes.

Microwave for another 25 seconds, then remove.

Let rest and rise for another 15 minutes.

Shape into a ball and plop into the preheated pan. Quickly slash the top with a knife. Cover and bake for about 30 minutes, then remove the cover and bake for another 10 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the internal temperature hits 210.

Plan of attack

2010-01-05T20:13:00.003-06:00

I am not sure how long this will last, hopefully I will take to it like some of my other "obsessions" (ahem) and dive in full force, take no prisoners.

One of the items I blogged about that I wanted to do is eat healthier. Big whoop, everyone says it, it's practically the number one New Year's resolution. But a small hiccup in my digestive health this past week has kicked me in the butt. What good is a plan if there is no plan of action? People can say things all day long but when it comes time to do something, how will they?

So, I have come up with a semi plan of attack.

1. Focusing on food (because I mean, come on) I will cook two home cooked meals a week with a featured ingredient. Hopefully it will be seasonal. Not for thinking about it, but my ingredient this week, it seems, is kale. I say that because this idea for a featured ingredient just came up! I want good solid recipes that are good and good tasting. Many recipes have you buy something and you only use a little bit of. So I thought, look for other recipes that use that ingredient. Ha! Genius I wish to be.

2. Go to the sites that have the goods! Ahh, the food.

3. I really like 101cookbooks. I have chosen to begin this challenge with her fabulous vegetarian fare. Here are the recipes I am interested in: Lemony Chickpea Stir-Fry (which I have made once before and it is divine!), Lively Up Yourself Lentil Soup Recipe, and Garlic Soba Noodles.

It has been decided that I will start with the Lentil Soup, since I already have a meal that I planned to make this week, a yummy noodle dish with a cream and wine sauce with chicken fingers to top it off. All homemade. Yup. That's right.

Mystery lines - finished pendant

2010-01-04T21:23:00.001-06:00

The finished pendant with the strange lines (see here). No definitive answers on how that might have happened, but if it keeps happening, I might investigate further. But the lines buffed out and I finished it. Its in the shop.

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T13:38:00.000-06:00

I feel a little obligated to set down a list of hopeful things for myself to do this coming year.

1. eat better - more beans and legumes, leafy greens, fresh, organic fruits and veggies (or as budget allows for organic), whole grains, more grilling and baking and less frying, less meat and processed foods. I think that's it.

2. Try and get to my fitness center more. (Thinking about going does NOT count)

3. Do more home cooking.

Mystery here

2009-12-30T13:53:00.006-06:00

This piece started out as a ring. I had a vision (kind of) that I carried out to completion. In the end I changed it but I'll get to that in a minute. I'm not sure if this is a side affect of firescale, but the silver was clean when it came out of the pickle. Feeling satisfied, I polished it up and put it in the tumbler overnight. In the morning this is what I got:

I couldn't figure out a way to not have drastic reflection on these photos, but you can see the rings. What the heck? After staring at them for a few minutes, I filed the lines out and the top was given a patina. I set the stone.

I put the ring on and admired it. And I didn't like it. I decided to turn it into a necklace.

So, I carefully opened the bezel again and took the stone out. The ring shank came off next. After filing off the solder that was left behind, I put it in the tumbler for an hour. And even after that long the line was beginning to come back, on the top only this time. So, I filed the piece completely, again, and put the patina back on. I put a bail on it and turned it into a pendant (photos soon). Any ideas on what this could be?

Secret love

2009-12-14T22:47:00.002-06:00

Its not often I find myself inspired to such a degree or have a clear idea of what I want my pieces to do. I'm more hands on - lets put this here to see what it looks like, or try it this way and see how it appeals to me. But I think I put together a great little ring with a see through agate. In the shop now!

I originally had three little poke holes on the back. When I put the stone in the setting to see how it looked, those holes were clearly visible. I was like, oh crap! But, strangely, it didn't take me but a few seconds to realize what I had to do. I grabbed my saw and - freehand! - cut around those little holes. Sweetness was born!

Christmas cheer

2009-12-14T18:00:00.002-06:00

I saw this video, actually an animation, about 2 years back when it was hosted on a business website. But since then it has been removed.

It was so cute I remembered to search for it the following year and found it on Youtube. Hooray for Youtube! The song is White Christmas by Bing Crosby.

First sale!

2009-12-10T22:54:00.001-06:00

I have officially begun my first sale - FREE SHIPPING on all items. I changed the tags and changed the shipping to reflect $0. I hope it goes well, this is the season for sales after all. Wish me luck!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/SuperSweetSilver

bead love

2009-12-09T21:24:00.001-06:00

I found some beautiful stones to play with. They are large and in charge! Oh what showstoppers.

Botswana agate:

Labradorite:

Succor Creek jasper:

A couple of my final projects from class - brass etchings. A couple of peaceful butterflies floating away. I gave them a patina and plan to get some brass chain and make necklaces with them.

Lovely bauble

2009-12-08T18:24:00.001-06:00

New lovely pendant in the shop tonight.

Sweet amethyst and cool labradorite

2009-12-01T22:15:00.000-06:00

I submitted the photo of these little earrings to Craftgawker and they were accepted! I have been submitting some here and there and mostly they get rejected. But this one was number two that was given the green light.

I also submitted these labradorites, but they didn't make it. Something about lighting issues and dull/unsharp image. Oh well, I can work on that.

Return of the Ninja Cat!

2009-11-13T12:52:00.001-06:00

If you haven't seen the Ninja Cat before on YouTube, I recommend it! It is hilarious. So I will include them both here.

Original Ninja Cat:

Return of the Ninja Cat

Good news today

2009-11-12T13:09:00.000-06:00

My sister in law found out today that she is cancer free after two years of battling the stuff. The stress and strain has been unbearable to her family and those who love her. Let's hope it stays away for good!

Trouble brews

2009-11-11T11:40:00.012-06:00

So I finished the agate pendant and right away dove into making another. I chose the rhyolite (on the left). The other is polish flint, to be set at a later date.

And I made the setting, and was just going to cut out a circle on the back to show the great pattern there, when I had a flash of brilliance! (heh)

A rose cutout! Oh it was beautiful! I was in love and so very happy with it. Dreamy sigh. Then I noticed that it had a small gap where solder did not flow on the bezel. So I laid a new piece of solder down, took up my torch, and...

Melted it! Bad sigh.

I had thrown it in my scrap pile so disgusted with myself. Of course it's going to melt, I berated myself. It was a tiny little thin strip of silver! Argh! But I took it out of the pile and maybe, just maybe, I can do something else. Double sigh.

New pendant

2009-11-11T11:40:00.000-06:00

This is a wonderful piece of agate and its setting.

This one just seemed to come alive in my fingers and make itself. I love it when that happens, but it doesn't happen often enough! I put the setting in the tumbler overnight and boy did that make a difference! I don't usually tumble polish, but I am definitely going to do so from now on with settings.

I won a giveaway yay!

2009-11-11T09:00:00.004-06:00

So back in early October I entered a giveaway on a whim. I had seen the shop before - Journalistic Tendencies - and admired her work and never thought I would win but I did! I won! Woot.

So I was contacted and the details were hashed out and I got to choose the papers for the covers of my journal pack. I won one of her regular size journals, a mini journal, a paperweight, and two pencils (which I forgot to include in the pics, sorry! but they are quite eye catching).

I love paper. Love it love it. There is something about a smooth blank page that just thrills me. Maybe its the possibilities in that blank page. Something new and fresh and only you can make something out of it.

The packaging was lovely and everything bundled up tight for their journey to their new home. The little one is black with hot pink grommets and a hot pink flower paper on the inside. The paperweight is sheet music. I love it. Thank you Karina!

Visit Karina's shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/JournalisticTendency
Twitter: http://twitter.com/journalistic

Rods of steel

2009-11-11T08:47:00.001-06:00

So maybe not steel, more like copper and brass. But 1/8 inch thick square and hexagonal rods. Still, that stuff is NOT bending or twisting easily. That is where the torch comes in :) The section that is to be bent is heated and twisted with locking pliers.

This is the hex shape brass. I twisted it in class and then brought it home and wrapped some black Swarovski crystals and bronze freshwater pearls around the middle with copper wire. Heat makes all the difference with those bad boys - turns the rod into butter!

This is the square copper. I wrapped garnets and glass pearls around the middle in the same way as the brass.

I think I will have to get me some thick rods and twist them and bend them. It was quite a lot of fun!

Groom doesn't show - bride turns wedding into a party!

2009-11-10T12:58:00.002-06:00

Making the best out of a bad situation. In my own neck of the woods!

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=334846

I'm Twittering!

2009-11-03T16:05:00.001-06:00

Follow me on Twitter! I was kind of not into Twitter purely based on the fact that I didn't really understand it. Oh, I got the 140 characters or less part, but the other details and the interface I didn't like.

But now I do. :)

http://www.twitter.com/suprsweetsilver

Flies as marketing tools- ingenious or gross?

2009-11-02T16:05:00.000-06:00

I found this at Neatorama. At a book fair in Frankfurt a company, whose logo is of a fly, decided to release about 200 flies with little lightweight tags somehow attached to them. The flies weren't harmed, just used as tiny flying bombers of funniness.

Making chain

2009-10-31T14:25:00.001-05:00

These past two weeks in class we have been making chain. Both soldered and unsoldered, or chainmail. I really didn't think that I would enjoy it but I did. There is a certain repetitiveness that relaxes you and in the end you end up with a beautiful piece of work. All those perfectly round (or not round if you prefer to have shaped links) rings combine to present the wearer with a pleasing adornment.My first soldered chain bracelet in copper:

This other chain is called the magic chain, and at first glance it is a somewhat awkward looking bracelet, but if you take it in your hands, and hold one end up and the other down, a link will magically cascade down the spiral. Reverse the chain to see it flow down again. It really is something to see! I want to try and get a video of it. Wait and see!

Snatched right out of my hands!

2009-10-30T12:01:00.005-05:00

Etsy is my favorite, and first, place to shop for goodies. I have found many wonderful things there. In addition to some other great finds I have made recently, I find these gorgeous cabochons and promptly order them. I was so excited about them...

(Oh how I love thee, let me count the ways...)

But then I get a convo saying they had already been sold and somehow didn't get taken out of inventory. What?! How can that possibly happen? So, long story short, I am Googling for these very stones (imperial jasper) because I want them that badly, and I come across a shop (with the same stock minus the aforementioned stones!) on ArtFire.I pull up both stores and view them side by side. Different name, same stuff. Well well well. Somehow didn't get taken out of inventory translation = YOU didn't take them out of inventory.

I wanted to include pics of the stones but I don't think I can. Copyright and all that, and even if I did, I would have to include credits and I am not sure I want to point out this seller.

I am just miffed and had to rant. There are many other great cabs out there in the interwebs. Waiting to come home to me...

So instead, check this out. I will be here drooling over this (not from said seller):

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33407292

I have been blogged!

2009-10-20T13:06:00.001-05:00

A wonderful handbag artist has done a blog post about local talent. I am one of those local talents! She has featured art, handbags, jewelry, bath and body and a few more featured in the post. Check out her blog: http://tapestrydesignstudio.blogspot.com/2009/10/here-they-are_14.html

AND she even submitted a story to Triblocal, a type of user submitted article base of the Chicago Tribune, something I didn't know you could do.
Read it.

Good job Wendi!

Agate is so wonderful

2009-10-20T12:08:00.000-05:00

My second agate pendant! I couldn't resist the pattern of this stone. I set it with some decorative silver balls.

Making rings is so fun...and frustrating

2009-10-14T07:53:00.001-05:00

So I started four rings and only one turned out! I was so disappointed! But here is the new ring that is finished. It is in the shop now.

I call it the Scrying ring.

First cast ring

2009-10-13T18:37:00.000-05:00

We are learning how to cast. This is my first - and last - casting. I'm just not into casting. I like the sheet metal and sawing and soldering and fabricating something out of that raw material. Not wax. No. I tried to shape it into something that I would never be able to easily do out of sheet or wire. That is the point of casting, right?

Trial and error is the phrase of the day

2009-10-13T18:32:00.001-05:00

I chose four different stones to make wonderful rings with. I had visions of four lovely baubles tinkling around in my hand.

But no. I messed up.

Here is what I started with:

The one in the upper left corner is a class project with a wonderfully striped agate. I made a pendant out of that one.

The large black agate on the right turned out really well and I plan on listing it in the shop soon. But I had such high hopes for the others. Oh well. Back to the studio.

New post soon!

2009-10-13T07:40:00.001-05:00

I have been working one four rings - that are not turning out as planned, of course.

I started by picking four stones, made the settings, and then when the time comes for the bands to be put on they go pfft.

Just like that.

One turned out pretty well and I polished it up and set the stone. I'll have pics soon.

I brake for sugar cookies

2009-09-30T14:12:00.004-05:00

I posted a link to this recipe on my FaceBook fanpage, and thought I should put it here as well.

If you are on a diet, counting calories, or generally watching your diet, perhaps you should point your eyeballs elsewhere for this post. This is one of those comforting, rich cookies that practically melt in your mouth. An easy recipe and the cookies always turn out.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/The-Best-Rolled-Sugar-Cookies/Detail.aspx

Obama or Obamabot?

2009-09-29T18:33:00.004-05:00

I can't believe it! Is our President a robot?? "Barack Obamas amazingly consistent smile".

Says Vimeo:
"Ladies and gentlemen, your President is a robot. Or a wax sculpture. Maybe a cardboard cutout. All I know is no human being has a photo smile this amazingly consistent.

On Wednesday, the Obamas hosted a reception at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, during which they stood for 130 photographs with visiting foreign dignitaries in town for the UN meeting. The President has exactly the same smile in every single shot. See for yourself — the pictures are up on the State Department’s flickr (link below). And, of course, compressed into 20 seconds for your viewing pleasure."

Barack Obama's amazingly consistent smile from Eric Spiegelman on Vimeo.

ring tutorial!

2009-09-27T17:48:00.010-05:00

I am excited - this is my first ring tutorial, having just learned how to make these rings myself. They are super easy and fun! Let's go. And ignore my dry fingers.

First, some 16 gauge sterling wire. I have half hard here. The completed rings are hardened further simply by working them and hammering them, and you can feel safe they will hold up to normal wear.

A heat source.

Tools. Hammers, needle files.

As I do not yet have a proper ring mandrel, I use these large bolts that I purchased from a hardware store :) This particular bolt will make a size 7 ring with the 16 gauge wire. I believe it is a half inch bolt.

Flux.

Solder chips.

For my pickle, I have seen that using simple vinegar and salt work just as good as hydrochloric acid (yikes). I will be showing how to use these later.

Baking soda to neutralize the vinegar.

Polishing papers.

To start, coil the wire around your mandrel about three or more turns, enough to get as many rings as you need.

I did two, as I have one that I already made and I need to complete the trio. Cut the rings using either flush cutters or a saw.

If you are using flush cutters, you will probably need to file the ends to smooth out the burs.

Just after cutting, before filing.

After filing.

To get the ends to meet the correct way, bend your wire back and forth

and gently push in so the ends move past each other.

and continue the bending until the ends can be snapped together.

Make sure the ends meet flush, otherwise the solder will not flow over the join.

Bad:

Good:

Next, apply flux to the joint with a clean fine tip paint brush.

Then with the brush or your solder pick, pick up a chip of solder.

and place it on the joint.

The rings are ready to be soldered. Light up your flame source.

Take your flame and moving in constant circles, heat the rings until you see the flux melt and turn clear and the solder flows.

Done! The joint is soldered.

Now is the time to pickle. As I just started soldering, I do not have a dedicated pickle pot yet. I use two little glass jars and discard after I am done. Vinegar stinks after all. But it is worth it to use an all natural, and SAFE pickle.

In one jar, put a splash of vinegar, about a third to a quarter cup works for me. As long as there is enough to dissolve the salt and cover your silver. Heat the vinegar for about 15 seconds in the microwave. Put enough salt to cover the bottom of the jar so the vinegar turns milky. Stir it up until the salt is dissolved. In another jar dissolve some baking soda in about a half cup of water.

Place your soldered rings in the vinegar.

And wait for the magic..

When the rings are silver again, take them out and put them in the rinse.

They don't need to stay in for long, just a quick dip should do it. Dry them off with a paper towel.

So now we have to file the excess solder and clean up the join.

Take out the half round needle file and begin to file gently and sparingly until the ring is smooth again. Use the half round side to file inside the ring.

At this point the rings might be a little out of whack, so put them back on the mandrel and hammer them with a rubber or plastic mallet until they are nice and round again. Put them on a bench block and hammer with the mallet until they don't wobble anymore.

Put them back on the mandrel and hammer with your chasing hammer to texture.

Finish with the polishing papers.

Whew! Definitely worth it!

comments problem solved

2009-09-27T15:37:00.001-05:00

I have turned off word verification for my blog. I hadn't realized that there was an issue with the captcha box. This template I am using does not allow enough margin space, apparently. So comment away!

the design process gets in the way sometimes

2009-09-25T19:18:00.006-05:00

The bottom two had originally intended to be a pair of earrings. They had been cut together off the coil. Then I soldered them closed. I wasn't quite sure how I wanted them to look, these new earrings, I was waiting for inspiration to strike. But then I looked at them and wondered if they would fit on my finger. They fit like a dream! Ok, that did it. They were officially rings.

I couldn't have just the two, so I made another. The third ring is of a thicker gauge wire, not entirely sure why I did that, and a slightly smaller fit. I will try and make a matching third for the first two, and a matching pair for the other. But again, that is OK lol! I love these little rings.

My first ring

2009-09-25T19:06:00.003-05:00

Yay! Finally after many hours and many redos - my first completed ring:

The stone is an agate, and according to one of the rock people in my class, is a tube agate. I love agate.

And then if you look closer on this photo,

that end of the bezel was not coming together, and it is still messed up, thanks to the sterling balls. If I had known, or really realized, that soldering the balls that close to the bezel would harden and "set" the bezel wall, I would have put some more space. So now I will have to forever see that little mistake. I may fidget with it later with a burnisher, but for now that's okay, there's a lot more to do!

My furball

2009-09-19T22:26:00.004-05:00

My Siamese moggy (mix) rescue kitty. My husband was walking by their play room when he saw this:

Cats love their warm, lazy sunbeams. He especially loves to lay on his back for belly rubs. I grabbed the camera and couldn't resist my chunky shy boy.

stunning work of nature

2009-09-19T22:18:00.003-05:00

Sometimes you wake up in the morning and something unexpected shakes the fog from your mind. Whether it is the neighbor's huge furry rabbits with long floppy ears that got out from their pen and are looking at you through your sliding glass doors, or this work of art here:

New silver cutting kit and silver just came in

2009-09-19T22:12:00.003-05:00

So I found a great kit for cutting silver - it has a jeweler's saw, size 2 blades, files, shears, bench pin, lube, and a piece of practice copper. It saved me a lot of trouble finding all these separate items. Instead they were all offered as a kit for a very reasonable price. I am very anxious to try it out! I had also ordered bezel wire, sheet silver, and solder (and some other findings that I was out of) and both orders arrived on the same day! How cool is that? Now all I need is the stone order to come in.

My first ring (sort of) and a recipe!

2009-09-17T08:44:00.011-05:00

Well, my first ring did not work out for me. It is not ruined or anything but I was hoping to have it finished so I could bring it home with me! But it is my first one after all.

I am trying to place decorative balls of silver around the bezel, and the first time I tried to solder them, I think there was too much flux and the heating wasn't right. I could still see the little chips of solder. So before I had a chance to try again, class was up.

But I have this recipe that I found on Allrecipes.com (my fave place) for Spooky Witches Fingers! It is a shortbread cookie with almond slices for the fingernails and raspberry jam. I brought these to my work last year and everyone loved them! The jam is really good on these - when they come out of the oven it is chewy and moist. Not what you would expect jelly to taste like. Delicious!

Spooky Witches Fingers

Lookee here

2009-09-15T20:32:00.007-05:00

My first stone setting!! I loved making this pendant. I wish I could have taken some pics of the process, but I actually made this in class last night (it needs to go back to get a grade) and I couldn't resist taking it home, putting a chain on it and showing it off! I wanted to complement the curving lines of the stones, and found a tulip shape. It doesn't say "Autumn" but who cares!

I can solder!

2009-09-12T20:04:00.007-05:00

Beginning my metalsmithing class this fall, these are two of the assignments that I had to do. Soldering. The yin yang is brass and copper. The heart is copper.

The yin yang was originally much larger, but the ends where they joined did not turn out so well, I had some issues with the solder and there was too large a gap to overcome. So I ground the whole thing down. Then I wasn't happy with the face, the way the solder line showed, so I sanded it down to a smooth face. I am quite happy with the way it turned out!

I want to blog

2009-09-09T10:17:00.008-05:00

It has been all summer since I last posted! Wow. I plan on keeping up to date, I can't let down my two followers after all! (Hi!) I feel like a traitor - all the times I went into stores and saw holiday (any kind) merchandise going up months in advance, I despised it. Now I have to do the same thing! You have to be ready for the seasons before they arrive. I usually enjoy the seasons as they arrive and gently observe it around me. Now I have to think three months in advance. That means that I should already be in winter. Blah. Check out Fish Bones.

I can't wait for summer...

2009-02-12T10:23:00.008-06:00

This new piece is my call to summer. Where are you?! Even though I have not been to a beach in a really long time, I can recall what it was like to walk on soft, warm sand, to hear the waves, to see the color of a blue sea (or ocean). It was very nice. So, I made this little beauty as an homage to summer and sand. To find out more about this pendant necklace, visit my shop at http://supersweetsilver.etsy.com. Right now Blogger is having technical difficulties, and I can't upload the image, so to see this necklace I guess you can go to my shop.

A new necklace!

2009-02-07T12:55:00.008-06:00

I have been finally able to get photos of my necklaces. I have a few new earrings, but I want to start expanding my offerings. For this necklace I used one of the four prehnite stones that I had ordered. Since of the four I bought only two were matching for earrings (for my first sale! see below), the other two naturally lent themselves to single pendant status. I paired the prehnite with peridot to bring out the green in the prehnite, and a moonstone. I thought about keeping this one for myself, but thought I would offer it on etsy otherwise my husband would think I am not working, just working on things for myself. Ahem, me? Never.

New smokey quartz

2009-01-10T18:57:00.006-06:00

I wanted to use these beads for the longest time. They are smoky, or smokey, quartz pumpkin beads. At first they look like glass they are so smooth. They are so simply wrapped that I needed to do a little something else. So I made the ear wire with a scroll. As I was bending the wire it kind of twisted a little. I stopped and instead of straightening it, I twisted it a little more. I liked the effect! Subtle, it adds a little something, I think. These are in the shop now!

My first sale!!

2009-01-02T19:08:00.004-06:00

I am so very ecstatic today because I made my first sale! My prehnite damsel earrings are going to be going to another home. I really like these earrings a lot and can't wait to make more. I will ship tomorrow to the lucky person who wanted them. YAY!

Sea blue earrings

2008-12-31T13:50:00.013-06:00

I made these earrings a while ago but "lost" them - I won't go into it. But I knew I had to make them again. I ordered these beads with no intention of putting them together for a pair of earrings - I just liked them. And when the time came that I wanted to use them they just came together. I love it when that happens. I added these to my etsy shop.

New earrings and first Etsy listings!

2008-12-29T14:09:00.019-06:00

I finally listed some of my earrings on Etsy! (supersweetsilver.etsy.com) This is a big step for me because it is the first time I have gone public. Does selling to my workmates count? I don't know.

So, I had these earrings in mind for a while that I wanted to make. I loved the way the smooth prehnite just seemed to glow. So I had made one wrapped bead and put it together and just couldn't seem to find time to do the other.
Finally, maybe a month or two, later I got around to doing the mate of the one I had made. Lovely! But, as I was taking the photos just today, look what I found...

One was longer than the other! Of course, thinking about it, I discovered that the one I had made a while ago was the longer one, on the right. Had my wrapping skills changed that much?
So, now I have to wrap one of the other beads I purchased in this set (I bought a set of four of these) and replace the longer one. But that's okay, it won't go to waste!

Ice Day!

2008-12-19T07:32:00.006-06:00

An ice storm came through last night and this morning the roads were solid sheets of ice! But this afternoon the temps were milder and the day is actually kind of nice. Good day to get some work done. I opened my Etsy store on December 11 and have yet to list something. I am just kind busy lately and am kind of struggling with policies and all. I've also been browsing the forums for good tips and info. Hopefully soon!
;)

Typical...

2008-12-17T21:01:00.006-06:00

This is Amber. My shelter rescue kitty. She is about 7 now. Need I say more?

Happy Holidays!

2008-12-17T20:13:00.005-06:00

This is my first post! I have had a couple of other blogs, but nothing with the aim of getting my name out there. A lot of people will tell you that a blog is a good idea to communicate with people, but one blog in particular I have really enjoyed inspired me to get one going for real.
I do and I don't like this time of year. I don't like:
1. The cold 2. The fact that it gets dark so early 3. Shoveling 4. Shoveling your car off in 10 degree weather with below zero wind chills
I am sure there more. I LIKE:
1. Christmas songs 2. Putting up our tree 3. Wrapping presents 4. Getting all warm and snuggly with my honey 5. Watching the twinkling lights on the tree 6. Bows and ribbon
I am sure there are more :)
Some of my favorite Christmas CD's:
1. Jewel - Joy: A Holiday Collection 2. The Coolest Christmas - Roy Orbison Pretty Paper is my fave 3. Christmas with Perry Como 4. Traditional type songs, pretty much