Hammer Texture Circle Necklace

This necklace has a great rustic feel to it and the circular pendant has a nice weight. It isn't at all dainty.

This necklace took some time to make and a lot of heating and reheating of the sterling silver wire that makes up the circle. It isn't easy to get 10 gauge metal to do exactly what you're telling it to do. The wire was annealed and formed around a round ring mandrel. The ends were soldered closed and it was work hardened in a tumbler with stainless steel shot.

I hammered the circle with a ball peen hammer to give it a nice texture. I made a wire-wrapped bail for the piece from sterling silver wire to keep with the rustic look. I added the pendant to an 18'' sterling silver figure eight chain with a matching lobster clasp and then oxidized the whole piece. I used steel wool to bring up highlights in the pendant and chain.

The pendant measures 1''x1.25'' (including the bail). The circle itself is 1''.

HUGS,
Cait

Dashes and Eights Earrings

These earrings are a new favorite of mine...

Organic circles are cut from 20 gauge sterling silver sheet and textured with lines and eight-like double circles. The circles measure 1/2'' and are oxidized and steel wool finished to bring out the metal's pattern. Clear and bright 6mm faceted round aquamarine beads hang from the bottom of the circles.

The earrings measure 1.5'' from the top of the ear wires and come with clear hypoallergenic ear wire guards so you don't have to worry about losing one of your new treasures.

* I used the term "organic circles" to describe the fact that the circles are not perfectly round. That was a bit too stuffy for my vision for these earrings.

HUGS,
Cait