Free Jewelry Giveaway is Over, Winner is Rusty! - Sterling Silver Personalized Ring

Silver Love Wrap Ring by York Avenue Studio



Enter now for a chance to win a new personalized ring just like the one shown above, but with your own words! Customized with words, names and special meaning!  One Lucky Winner of this drawing will receive this ring!  The details on how to enter are below.

Before I list the ways to enter the drawing, I'd like to invite you to read on and see why this personalized ring is so unique and popular.


The Sterling Love bypass ring, the perfect gift as a Friendship ring, Promise ring, birthday or anniversary. Personalized for your special reminder or meaning.
This ring can be customized with any name, word, initial, date, etc. Any message can be stamped on the outside and inside of the band. Upper case as well as cute lower case letters. I also have Greek Uppercase. Perfect for Sorority sisters. You can also request symbols like hearts, heart with wings, stars, etc.

This everyday band looks chic, a little rustic and heartfelt. This is a very comfortable ring that will not catch on clothing and won't ever need to be taken off! The band is slightly adjustable, too




Latitude Longitude Coordinates Ring by York Avenue Studio

This ring is also perfect for Latitude and Longitude, perhaps the location of your first kiss, a special location with friends or family or a vacation spot or maybe an engagement proposal.

This is my original design and I have worked very hard to perfect the process for a nice, weighty elegantly formed ring using the best sterling silver material and traditional metalsmithing techniques.

I find it so amazing how many ways this ring has been personalized. That is why I love making these rings!

Could you think of something special to have written on a ring? A gift for someone close and special or a treasure to keep for yourself? A best friend?  I'd love to hear your ideas. Here is the link to my shop where you can read more and order a ring with your ideas: Love Wrap Ring


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Here is how to enter the drawing for the Free Jewelry Giveaway.  Be sure to leave your contact email in case you win:

1. Follow my blog and comment below that you are a follower. You will be entered if you leave a comment. Current blog followers need to leave a comment to be entered, too.
2. Anyone that mentions the giveaway at checkout when placing an order in my Etsy shop will be entered again for more chances to win.
3. Like my Facebook Page and you will be entered if you leave a comment below. Here is the link:

York Avenue Studio's Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/York-Avenue-Studio-Handcrafted-Gemstone-Jewelry/138653009529987

4. Post on your Facebook about York Avenue Studio, maybe mention the Giveaway or let others know about the Custom Love Wrap Ring. Leave a comment below and you will be entered.

5. If someone mentions you in their comment below, you both will be entered again!

Details of the Giveaway:
This drawing will be done by random.org and is for US residents over the age of 18. Anyone may enter an unlimited amount of times. I will hold the drawing on October 29th which means the last entries must be in before midnight on 10/28/2012. One winner will be randomly selected and I will contact the winner and announce them on my blog. Please be sure that your email contact info is available, either in your comment or privately emailed to me. I must be able to reach the winner by email and confirm that the delivery address is US. The ring for the winner will be made to size and personalized with your own ideas.  The retail value of the ring is $39.60.  I sell these rings in my Etsy shop for $19.80.




Good Luck! I look forward to reading the comments and selecting the winner!
Regards,
Kathy

Bold Copper Weave Stack Ring Tutorial How To

Copper Weave Stack Ring by York Avenue Studio

This statement ring looks like woven rings of bold copper and has an impressive wide band.  Comfortable for ladies as well as gents, this ring is easy to make with a few tools and basic metal skills.  I decided to share my steps in making this ring.  Feel free to make one for yourself.

I start with about 12 inches of copper wire, round 14 gauge.  Flush cut the ends and sand flat.  Place the wire centered on a ring mandrel at the size you want your ring, maybe a little smaller.  The ring will get larger with hammering at the end and you can size it right then.  I’m making this ring a size 8, so I use the size 7 on the mandrel.

I wrap both sections, right and left, around the back of the mandrel, crossing in the middle and stop.  Flip the mandrel so the cross section is facing me, this is now the front.

The wire that is at the bottom that crosses up over the top wire, this will be the first wire to work with.  Continue with this wire around the mandrel along the top edge of the wire back to the front, stopping before reaching the front center. 

I bring the second wire up to cross under the top wire.  The wires will only cross in the front and line up in rows in the back.  The cross overs in the front will alternate.  Continue until you use up the wire, watching for the last completed row where the ends will still meet.  Trim the ends to meet, preferably in the back of the ring.

Using pliers, line up the ends to touch and solder the joint.  I left the solder joint silver, but copper color solder can also be used.  Using a patina or pickle that is contaminated also will “plate” the joint more like copper color.
Return the ring to the mandrel and reform the bands with a rawhide mallet, shape the ring, line up the bands.

If the size is too small, hammer it larger. I use a steel hammer to make a hammered texture with facets.
Tumble with shot to polish and work harden the ring.  Patina to darken or keep it shiny.  Protect the finish with Ren Wax which also weatherproofs the ring.
The final ring has such smooth lines, nice texture and the pattern is nice for a subtle chic everyday ring.

If you make one, let me know, I'd love to see your photos, too!
Kathy

For another amazing copper ring tutorial, please visit my Etsy shop for the instant download PDF to make a Copper Ball Love Knot Friendship Ring by York Avenue Studio

https://www.etsy.com/listing/83350862/tutorial-pdf-wire-wrapping-copper-ball?ref=shop_home_active_14

The Hunt for the Perfect Opal - Found it!

Genuine Solid Black Opal 14KWhite Gold Ring by York Avenue Studio

Isn’t this the most stunning ring!!  The main gemstone is a solid genuine Black Opal with rare deep blue body!  This beauty was recently custom cut specifically for my customer, whose determination to find the perfect Opal led him to me.  I had the pleasure of working with him on his quest, and ultimately finding his Perfect Opal.  A quest that warrants a post here on my blog to introduce Rich, my secret supplier of Opals.  He is the hero of this story.  If you are interested in gemstones for your jewelry, designers or customers, this is the man to meet!

Rare Deep Blue Bodied Solid Opal Showing Spectacular Play of Color

Genuine Opal gemstones are sought after by collectors and gem enthusiasts all over the world.  Each collector or customer has their own idea of what the perfect Opal looks like.  It’s a matter of preference.  The family of Opals has a broad spectrum of specimens that display rainbows of color in unique patterns.   Some prefer delicate white Opals, some prefer more pinkish or greens, some prefer blues,  big Opals, little Opals, the variety is endless.

Uncut Opal Specimen that was transformed!

I have had the pleasure of working with a secret supplier, my go-to-guy for high quality gems and specifically my main source for genuine Opal.  He isn’t a secret, per se, but I have to admit it is very difficult for me to share this contact for gems.  His name is Rich of Gems of Nirvana, and he has once again become my hero on a recent hunt for the perfect Opal.

A customer contacted me about an Opal ring.  He was determined, very specific about color and I could tell he was a bit worn down on his quest for the Perfect Opal for a ring.  A genuinely wonderful person that I had the opportunity to assist on his quest. 
The Opal  that he sought would be deep dark blue, with play of color , a nice small oval that would compliment a slender hand.  Preferably a solid Opal, if one existed. 
I contacted Rich and described the perfect Opal.  He indeed had some material that fit the description and sent photos.  Yes, that was my guess at what the customer was looking for.  This was not a finished piece and would need to be cut and polished.  I couldn’t wait to show the customer.
He agreed, this was The One!  Rich went to work on the Opal and waiting for the end photos was so thrilling!

Breathtaking after cutting and finishing!

In no time, Rich was sending photos and the Opal was breathtaking!  Rich and I worked out the exact size and shaping to fit a custom 14K White Gold ring setting that was selected by the customer for his Perfect Opal.

14K White Gold Solid Blue Opal Ring by York Avenue Studio

Please comment below about this gorgeous ring!  I’d love to hear what you think!
Rich offers his gems and custom work on his website store at http://www.gemsofnirvana.com/  Make sure you tell him that I sent you!  Visit his store and come back to let me hear your comments!  (Try to keep him "our" secret!)
Kathy

CLOSED - Free Jewelry Giveaway - 100th Follower Celebration Continues

Genuine White Opal and Alexandrite Ring by York Avenue Studio

I'm so excited that my blog has so many followers and I'm about to break the 100 mark!  In anticipation of reaching that milestone, I've offered a 50% discount on my Fine Silver Feather Earrings!  That blog post can be found by clicking here.

To continue the fun, I am also holding a Free Jewelry Giveaway for my Genuine White Opal and Alexandrite Ring!  One lucky winner of my Giveaway will receive this ring absolutely free!

Genuine White Opal and Alexandrite Ring by York Avenue Studio

Rare genuine Alexandrite gemstone accents make this a truly unique Opal ring, not something you will find everywhere. The Alexandrite gems are color changing from green to red when worn in different types of light. The Genuine White Opal has beautiful rainbow flashes of color, which also appear differently with natural light compared to other light sources.

The sterling silver setting has tiny swirls on each side of the main gem that wrap around the accent gems, very nice detail.  Size 7.  Any local jeweler can resize this ring if needed.

The genuine White Opal is 7x5mm, .45ct. Opal is the birthstone for October
The Alexandrite gems are just under 2mm round each and have blue-green color, changing to purple-red. Alexandrite is also a birthstone for June, along with pearl.

Genuine White Opal and Alexandrite Ring by York Avenue Studio

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To enter my Free Jewelry Giveaway, see below and enter as many times as you like!  The winner will be contacted after the random drawing on July 31, 2011 and must be 18 years or older, US or Canada address for shipping.  Previous giveaway winners can win again!

1.  Leave a comment below that you are a follower of my blog, and be sure to click "Follow" on the right column so I can find you in the list.  Followers will only be entered by leaving a comment, not automatically included this time.
2.  Order a pair of Fine Silver Feather Earrings, with or without using the 50% off coupon code - see this blog post for details.  One entry for each pair ordered.
3. Leave a comment below describing something in my Etsy Shop that you like and why.
4. Leave a comment below describing something in my Etsy Shop that you feel needs to be changed.  Be honest, I welcome the critique!
5. Leave a comment below describing my "style of jewelry" in your own words.  This would mean a lot to me to know what you think.
6.  Invite a friend to leave a comment below mentioning you....you will get an extra entry, too!

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Have fun and I am super excited about this Giveaway and hearing from you!!
Kathy

The Story of the Amethyst Ring

Starting out with a memorable 1st gem I ever owned, 10 x 8mm rectangle Smoky Quartz, I’ve taken what I’ve learned by experience and have become very accomplished at selecting gemstones, envisioning just the right settings, getting the stone straight, prongs at the right angles without dents (oh, those first attempts back at the start!), the settings are polished to gleam and the final buff is gorgeous!  Very tedious work and very rewarding.

I’m so passionate about gemstones, their properties, their origins and the history.  So much to learn, too, about finishing precious metals.  I will never get bored of my work and look forward to the moments that I can sit down and start a new project.  I’d love to keep each finished piece, but I’d also feel proud for someone else to choose my jewelry to wear and enjoy.  My items are not like the mass-produced rings out there for sale, no one put their creative energy into focus to make them individually, mine are handcrafted one by one, each piece given 100% focus so it will become a small precious treasure to own and keep for years.
Almost always, there is a little story behind each piece of jewelry that I create.  Something about the gemstone or the setting.  This is the story of the Amethyst Ring:

This night started out pretty much the same as usual, I waited until the baby was asleep to start working.  I had three ring settings that were polished and ready to set gemstones.  I’d been holding the gemstones for a few weeks, waiting for the inspiration on how I wanted to set them.  Once I decided to use antique style rings, I contacted my silversmith to cast the rings and model them after antique settings stumbled upon at estate sales.  Once I received the castings, it took some time to get them filed, sanded, polished and buffed.  Now the rings were ready and so was I, I couldn’t wait to get started!

One of the gemstones was a bright purple Amethyst pear, so pretty!  My oldest daughter has always loved Amethyst, so I thought of her the entire time I was setting the gemstone and finishing the ring.  Being that my daughter is older now and going to college 650 miles away, it didn’t seem likely that she would get to see the ring, and I planned to post the ring on my Etsy website for sale.  But this night, I re-lived some memories of when she was younger and how she would be drawn to the purple gemstone, especially the rougher version rocks or the crystal versions that look like spears.  Once, we had made a trip to the Detroit Science Center and the gift shop sold little bags of rocks, minerals and gemstones. Pretty stones to collect.  The Amethyst was her favorite.  I took some nice photos tonight of the finished ring and started to put my tools away and call it a night.

Just then, my phone rang.  It’s after midnight, so that surprised me.  A bigger surprise was that the call was from my daughter!  Not only was it ironic that she called right while she was on my mind, but she was only 3 hours away and asked if she and her friends could spend the night!  Wow!  I was so excited, no bother at all no matter how late, I got a second wind, and started setting up the pillows and blankets for her to arrive!
As she and her friends settled in, tired from the drive, I took a tiny moment to show her the Amethyst ring photos before we all went to sleep.  In the morning, I had the pleasure of making a huge breakfast for everyone, I made waffles and bacon, my home smelled so great and we all had such a nice visit.  I miss all those times from when the kids were younger and this was such fun!

I took the Amethyst ring from the packet and gave it to my daughter to try on and it fit her.  She was very happy and told me the ring was beautiful and I told her all how she was the one I had on my mind as I was crafting the ring.  How amazing that she would be right with me, in person, out of the blue, that I could present the ring to her as a special gift, just because I love her and know she really loves Amethyst.  It was such a special moment, when just a few hours before there wasn’t even a hint that I would have this opportunity!

As she and her friends headed out with hugs and home-made sandwiches for the road, I had a “mommy” moment to treasure as a wonderful memory with MY daughter.

That makes the Amethyst ring priceless.

My Daughter's Amethyst Ring

Slver Art Clay Bypass Ring by York Avenue Studio



Shooting Star Silver Bypass Ring with Orange Sapphire Fire Opals by York Avenue Studio



Here are some recent photos showing my Bypass Ring project – The Shooting Star with Orange Sapphire and Fire Opals. 

Gemstones are my passion.  I’ve ventured into metal clay so I could create unique settings for my gemstone collection.   Silver Art Clay is a metal clay that contains silver and binder ingredients and is moldable and pliable just like clay.  Once it dries, it can be sanded and filed.  The piece can then be fired in a kiln or torched which burns off the binder material, keeps the shape of the design, and the result is .999 pure silver! 

Amazing and fun and the creation possibilites are endless.

I start each design with a drawing inspired by the gemstones I’ve selected for the project.  My intent is to create a unique setting to showcase each gemstone.

Each project brings on more technical difficulties to overcome, like bending this ring after it was fired instead of wrapping the clay around a mandrel.

1. Wow – really lovely – well done!
   

   Sue of www.somethingxtraspecial.blogspot.com - January 11, 2011 at 6:12 PM
2. Love this Bypass ring!
   

   Anise - January 13, 2011 at 7:17 AM

Texturize with Toys - Silver Metal Clay

Piano Ring by York Avenue Studio

Just imagine trying to take a little sip of water from a gushing fire hose!  That is similar to what I’m experiencing after learning to use Silver Art Clay for designing jewelry.  The design creative juices are overflowing with the possibilites!  Everywhere I look, I find more inspiration for another future project!  If only pmc was sold as Buy One Get One Free!

Tonight’s blog post stems from this new-found “sense” of seeing ordinary items in my surroundings as potential design ideas for metal clay projects.  Specifically, Toys with Textures!  Click the photos for extra close up detail.

Toys with Texture - Examples of kitty fur, play phone bumps and toy bus tire tread and more.....

I spend most of my day playing with my 2 year old son.  His toys have a whole new fascination for me.  I look at them closeup, turn them over and just imagine what the little textures would look like on metal clay!  I picture how these potential stamps could be made into molds.  I’ve even set a few toys out of sight as my own little stash!

Tire tracks would look great as a border or even a statement as if “..you’ve run my heart over..” on a heart pendant!

The even spaced schoolbus windows would set the stage for a cool pattern for a ring band!  Same idea with the toy mini piano keys!  (See top photo for my Piano Ring design, showing the back detail of the mini keys.)

Here is another photo of my Piano Ring, showing the front detail of the ladies version.  Ruby Red Rose laid tenderly atop the keys!

Piano Ring with Ruby Red Rose by York Avenue Studio

Keep searching for textures.  Steampunk looking detail on the bottom of toy cars, firetrucks, robot dogs!
Little detailed push buttons on play phones for adding accents of tiny triangles, bitty hearts, etc.  I even found a tiny heartbeat line design like a hospital monitor which would make a super cute Valentine’s Day item!
Little handprints, little hats, tiny flowers and plants, shoe prints, lines, dots, stars, AMAZING!

More Toys with Texture - Examples of mini piano keys and wings and toy cars

If you are getting some inspiration from these ideas for a metal clay project, go raid the toy room or visit a relative to play!  I would love for anyone to share their photos and ideas of projects in metal clay using found textures from toys!

Even More Toys with Texture - Examples of tiny buttons on a playphone, firetruck tools, flowers and grass

The Piano Ring by York Avenue Studio

The Piano Ring by York Avenue Studio



Piano Ring with Ruby Rose by York Avenue Studio

 I hand forged this tapered silver wide band ring to wrap the design of mini piano keys around your finger. The ladies version has a lovely, red rose tenderly laid across the keyboard. A classic scenario for romance! The mens version has a full circle of piano keys.

This is the perfect gift for a pianist, music lover or a romantic gift for special someone. This is also a thoughtful gift as a Memorial piece to always remember a loved one.

Ruby is the birthstone for July and is also synonymous with Love and Passion. If you would prefer another colored gemstone, contact me. Imagine if the rose was yellow, pink, black, endless possibilites according to your preference!

This ring could also be engraved or stamped with a name or special message on the inside or outside.

About silver metal clay: Metal clay is made up of recycled silver grains mixed with binder ingredients which forms the consistency of clay. The wet clay can be molded and shaped, then dried, fired in a kiln or torched, and the end result is 99.9 pure silver in the exact shape of the design! Because this is pure silver, without any alloy metal , the jewelry may lack the full strength of sterling silver but is a wonderful alternative for those with metal allergies. With care, pure silver jewelry will be treasured for a lifetime. People collect silver dollars, and this pure silver jewelry also makes a wonderful investment or heirloom piece.

Shop for The Piano Ring in my Etsy shop  http://www.yorkavenuestudio.etsy.com/