Modern Heirloom® Fine Jewelry

     Sketching helps inspire the mind  Today as I approached the table of many parts,I was beckoned by these lovely little sterling leaf shapes and some silver wire which had been partially forged. They were asking for completion and I was in the mood for a stream of conscious creative session. One of those days where I throw the rigidity of predestined design rules out the window and rely on technique and instinct. Once I have selected my pieces, I begin with sketching to get the creative juices flowing. My intention is not to make these sketches (at least not today) but forging the silver to evolve it's shape  to get my mind working in a general direction to take my pendants in today. Keep in mind my goal...no particular design.   Polishing and cleaning          Feeling inspired, I begin to work.This is the Stream of Conscious part...much like the writing assignment we all know from grade school. My goal is just keep moving and don

I headed to the table yesterday and was greeted by 2 ring blanks screaming to be completed. After all, we originally casted them in 2002. Unbelievable right? Especially considering they were in 14K yellow Gold. You would have thought we'd have used them by now. The good news is...when we originally cast them the gold market was $310 . So we tucked them under our mattress so to speak and they have since quadrupled their value before I even begin. The even better news......I have improved my skills in engraving so much I can really make something of them now.The perfect Blank canvas ready to be primed and painted    For more of the steps involed hit the play button below....    Step one is to clean the blanks.When I found them, they were so old they hardly look like gold and they actually are from the days when we hand carved every wax. So I sand and polish my blanks to a nice clean surface.I find no matter the finish you want in the end...a perfect polish is the best gro

A nother year ends and a new one begins . I t's time to reflect on the accomplishments of 2010 and look to the goals of 2011. I first began blogging with the goal to inspire and teach through which I would inevitably learn. The two go hand in hand after all and it was an honorable goal. Then the day to day demands of our custom jewelry shop take control of our time. This blog sits collecting dust as do many of the pieces we begin in the moments between deadlines and de sign challenges presented us throughout the year. So to begin this year, I am wiping off the dust and collecting the pieces. I am transforming this blog into a bird's eye view into the goldsmithing shop at our Gallery.... Si lver Bonsai Gallery . Rather than try to fit this blog into the spare moments of our daily shop demands, I will be highlighting them for you  project by project.  In turn I still plan to achieve my goal... to inspire an

18K Palladium White Gold , 14K Yellow Gold, Chalcedony , Diamond, And Akoya pearls. Designed by Kathryn Stewart , Crafted by Ben and Kathryn Stewart Our to do list of jewelry making projects has kept us logged into the jewelers bench and I have been unable to write a new article. To fill the gap I will be posting the steps of some of our favorite creations . This Georges Fouquet inspired Necklace is crafted 18K palladium White Gold, 14K Yellow Gold. Set with Chalcedony, Diamonds and accented by akoya pearls. Hand carved and sculpted detail accents the 20+ carat chalcedony centerpiece. Pave' diamonds create a hallow of sparkle aroung the stone.

pictured below:Illustration by Kathryn Holton Stewart www.silverbonsai.com I first discovered the beauty of hand engraving 5 years ago when I came across a class at Blaine Lewis ' New Approach School for Jeweler's . New Approach was introduced to me when Ben, my husband, studied Advanced Stone Setting under Blaine's instruction . The techniques offered and the p hilosophy of the school was so impressive we were hooked. When I spied a course on Hand Engraving I was completely intrigued and had to check it out. Drawing has been a part of my art since I was 8 . To bring illustration to my metalwork was an exciting concept. I signed up immediately and was fortunate to study under Jason Marchiafava. Jason is a third generation Artist and Craftsman by trade. He began his training metalsmithing and stone setting at a very young age under the supervision of Jeweler Tina May Shiele, the head jeweler of his father and grandfathers shop. By the time Jason graduated High School his s

        Art Nouveau design and the metalwork of the early 1900s has fascinated me since the earliest days of my  career.  Observing the detail and intricacy of t he jewelry crafted by artists such as Rene Laliqu e and Georges Fouquet  ,I'm amazed at what they were able to accomplish at that time. Contemplating this, I found myself inspired to  focus on breaking down the techniques of their creations and mastering each individually .  The first technique to practise was something I had stopped using enough in my own work, The art of my jeweler's saw.  I spent the first week of my challenge focused on  one of the first skills I was introduced to at SCAD. Project one in " Intro to Jewelry" in 1993 which taught us about using our jeweler's saw to pierce out a design.  I still remember what I pierced, two little gecko lizards  in a mirrored design. I realized it was time to become reaquainted with my saw and the amazing detail that very tool brought to many of the piec