Tavia, Posted May 26, 2010
One of the things I love about my job is designing and creating one-of-a-kind custom work for clients. This past Mother's Day was filled with custom orders and I found myself involved with some really interesting projects. I would like to take a moment and share with you the process of making one of these special items, a Mother's Day locket. Made of Sterling Silver, family diamonds, and a little boy's hair, this is one extraordinary locket for one lucky Nana.
1. Start with a design
2. parts for front, back, and lid, as well as the acrylic die that will be used to press the silver sheet into pillow type forms
3. Back of locket-stamped & prepped 4. getting ready for pressing
5. urethane, acrylic die, silver stacked in a "sandwich" & placed in hydrualic press for forming
6. pressure gauge to guide forming 7. back of locket pressed
8. front of locket pressed & window cut 9. Beginning of bezel
10. bezel wall soldered to sheet 11. accents cut and prepped
12. accents and bezel soldered 13. another view
14. scalloped edge cut into bezel wall
15. and 16. binding wire holds parts together for soldering, heat stop protects previous solder seams from flowing again
17. heat stop dried out after soldering 18. lid of locket design
19. design stamped on lid 20. lid formed by press
21. inside message and stone parts
22. inscription pieces soldered to interior of lid
23. settings for stones soldered in place 24. bail soldered on for coil
25. Hinge started on one side 26. Hinge in progress
27. Hinge pin ends balled up 28. hinge complete
29. one end of Catch complete 30. other end of catch
31. Catch complete 32. Dots mark the spots
33. drill holes through settings 34. seats for stones complete
35. locket oxidized
36. Jett Sett holds locket securely while setting stones
37. First family diamond set
38. both family diamonds set & secure
39. a look inside 40. Inserting Noah's hair
41.Acrylic window to set & hold in hair 42.Acrylic window put in place
43. Acrylic window set and complete
44. Locket Finished!
45. A look at the locket open
46.The back of the locket complete
47. Some perspective when worn
48. Locket on and open.
I truly enjoyed making this heirloom locket. A highly involved, process heavy, wearable object honoring the love between a grandson and his Nana. I am honored to have been the creator of such a magnificent piece! I hope you enjoyed seeing the process!
Tavia, Posted April 11, 2010
I had a wonderful time making these matching Adoration Bracelets for a new mommy and her baby. It was fun having the proud daddy help out as we designed these sterling silver and garnet lovelies for his lovelies.
The possibilities are many when desiging heirloom jewelry. The sweet addition of baby's birthstone made these bracelets distinct. And, the special message written by daddy and inscribed on the interior, made them extraordinary.
