Free Jewelry Giveaway (Expired) - Silver & Gold Maple Leaf Earrings

Fine Silver and Gold Maple Leaf Earrings by York Avenue Studio

Enter now for a chance to win the earrings shown above!  The details on how to enter are below.

Fine silver tiny Maple leaf earrings with 14K gold filled ear wires. I used real Maple leaves as the mold for the fine silver to capture the tiny detail. The silver and gold contrast adds to the organic look of these nature inspired earrings.  These are delicate, lightweight and very comfortable.

Tiny Maple Leaves Silver and Gold by York Avenue Studio

I used Art Clay Silver overlay paste and literally painted the leaves with silver. After firing at 1200 degrees, the leaves are now .999 fine silver. I soldered the 14K gold filled wire with gold solder to the silver leaves. These have been tumbled with steel shot for over an hour and are sturdy, yet light and dangle so sweetly with a very nice shine.

Fine Silver Maple Leaves with 14K Gold Filled Ear Wires

Before I list the ways to enter the drawing for the Silver and Gold earrings, I'd like to introduce you to my favorite item that I offer in my shop:  The Silver Love Wrap Ring with Custom Words Names and Special Meaning.

$15 Little Love Wrap Ring by York Avenue Studio

Above is the smaller version of the Love Wrap Ring without custom words.  I use heavy 12 gauge sterling silver to create these handstamped rings one by one.  Perfect to say I Love You to someone special. 

Below, is the Original Love Wrap Ring:




Silver Love Wrap Ring by York Avenue Studio

 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 and stars.

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.

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?  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:

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 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.  Unlimited times a person may enter.  I will hold the drawing on July 23rd which means the last entries must be in before midnight on 7/22/2012.  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 earrings in the photos are the exact pair that will be sent.  The retail value of the earrings is $50.00.

Tiny Maple Silver and Gold Earrings by York Avenue Studio

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

2012 Spring/Summer Collection Revealed!

Trident Earrings by York Avenue Studio

Here is my 2012 Spring/Summer Collection!  This is a special collection because I combined Silver and Gold with genuine gemstones, focusing on the colors of Red White and Blue and incorporating lots of detail while keeping the items small and also affordable.

Tiny Maple Earrings by York Avenue Studio

Silver metal clay opens up so many possibilities for designs.  I love using real leaves to capture tiny details using the actual leaves as the mold.

Maple Seed Earrings by York Avenue Studio

I love the contrast of color between Silver and Gold.  Some designs have 14K yellow Gold and I've used 14K Gold Filled for others.

Horse Shoe Earrings by York Avenue Studio

Each design has tiny detail, like this Horse Shoe with the handstamped textures.

Gold Pear Hoop Earrings by York Avenue Studio

The gemstones in this collection include Freshwater Pearls, Turquoise, Garnet, Red Jasper and Crystal Quartz.

Herkimer Diamond Ring by York Avenue Studio

My signature design style is rustic and shabby chic, and I love to take a minimalist approach to interpret themes of Nature.

Super Long Necklace and Earring Set by York Avenue Studio

I've enjoyed showing my 2012 Spring/Summer Collection to you!  Let me know what you think!

Turquoise and Red Earrings by York Avenue Studio

Metal Clay Ring Fired Flat

Here are some photos as I work on a project.  This is a ring top made with Art Clay Silver.  I have yet to complete this ring, but wanted to share some of the steps I've done so far.  This ring was fired flat and then bent to shape!  I'll post follow up photos as I progress. 

The blue mold was made from a copper metal clay model that I formed earlier.  The original drawing was made first in polymer clay, a mold made, then copper in that mold.  I used a two part Megamold compound from Cool Tools to make this mold from the copper model.  Shown in the photo is a bit of silver metal clay that has been kneaded under plastic wrap ready to use and my Silicone glove hand lotion as a release agent so the clay won't stick in the mold.

I pressed the metal clay into the mold and let it dry.  Once dry, it came right out and I sanded and filed the piece.

Here is the piece still in the sanding stage.  I use a dry paint brush to brush the clay sand off so I can see the detail better.  The plastic tub with the lid is my slip jar, a recycled baby food container!

This is as far as I wanted to go with the sanding.  The delicate structure will be stronger after firing and safer to refine the details.  Two holes where I will set gems, the middle space is for a bezel setting.

Nice orange glow as I torch fired the piece.

Cooling off on the firebrick.

Tumbled for an hour in steel shot, water and dish soap.  This work hardens the silver and polishes. 

I dapped the piece lightly using a curved wooden block to dome it a start the curve shape.  The ring top was made flat, however, the design is for the top to curve along the top of a size 5 ring.  I used my torch to anneal and heat up the silver again until it glowed a bit and then let it cool until I could touch it.  I hammered with a rawhide mallet against a wood mandrel, then switched to my steel mandrel for the final curve shape.

Ring top resting on my size 5 finger, nice curve.  Perfect for the ring band to connect.

Next, I will be using syringe, overlay paste, bezel and prong settings, pattern wire........more updates to come!

Vote for your Favorite!

Umbrella Ring Silver Spinner by York Avenue Studio

The Metal Clay Heads team on Etsy is holding another vote.  The Challenge theme is Geometric with Movement.  I've entered my Umbrella Spinner Ring made with fine silver and a heavy copper ring band for the handle.  Visit the following blog to vote!

http://metalclayheads.blogspot.com/2012/03/geometrics-challenge.html

Umbrella Ring Silver Spinner by York Avenue Studio

Candy Tin Roses

Valentine’s Day held a hidden surprise inside my box of chocolate!  Just like Forest Gump, you never know what your gonna get…….

This lovely tin had soft roses raised on the lid.  I turned it over and saw with my metal clay eyes, Rose Molds!

After taking a bit of left over clay and kneading it with a drop or two of water, it was perfect for pressing into one of the rose shapes.  I used a little silicone hand lotion on the lid and the clay came right off the mold, shaped so softly like a rose.

With just a bit of sanding and after firing with a torch, I had a gorgeous fine silver rose with delicate detail and curves that were smooth.
I burnished a tiny spot on the back to solder on a bail.  The bail is handmade from sterling wire, stamped with “love”.

This necklace is so feminine and brings to mind something that a bride would wear on her honeymoon!  I crocheted wire with glass beads to make the chain, which ends with a few inches of Rollo chain behind the neck for comfort.

Like is like a box of chocolates!

Silver Overlay Paste - This stuff is Magic

Silver Overlay Paste has so many uses and I haven’t explored them all yet.  I have had the chance to use it for embedding sterling in metal clay as well as use it for “soldering” pieces together.  Here are my notes.

Embedding Sterling in Metal Clay

I have been successful at embedding sterling silver in Art Clay Silver using the slow dry low fire clay formula.  Using a torch, carefully watching the color of the orange glow in the sterling, it is possible to incorporate sterling into metal clay designs.   Now, I’ve discovered Silver Overlay Paste which gives even better results with such a strong bond allowing me to make the most complex designs yet.

Overlay paste is not regular paste and it is not oil paste.
Regular paste can be mixed at home by adding water to fresh clay (or dried clay that has been crushed) to dilute the clay to a paste, thick or thin.
Oil paste can also be mixed at home by adding essential oil (like lavender) to regular paste.

Here are only some uses for these pastes:

Regular Paste - use it on fresh or dried clay, not yet fired.  Paint leaves, fill molds, many uses.
Oil Paste - use it to join fired clay to fresh or fired clay.  Must be fired at full temp for full time.
Overlay Paste - specifically formulated to fire at lower temp, 1200 degrees.  Great on ceramic, porcelain, and the first point of contact between any objects embedded in clay.  Very friendly to torch users.

I use two different methods for embedding sterling depending on if I am using the overlay paste or not.

Without Overlay Paste:
The sterling will need to be “gripped” by the clay so I make sure the part that is going into the clay has a bend, a loop, or I hack it up a little with a file or cutters.  This gives the clay something to grab onto as it fires and shrinks around the sterling.  I also torch the sterling to get it to a deep gray black color, then pickle the piece back to silvery color.  I use a little regular paste on the part that is going into the clay and push it into the clay and let it dry.

With Overlay Paste:
I torch the sterling, pickle.  Paint or dab the overlay paste on the sterling that will be attached and press it in place. Both methods might require a little filing or sanding before firing.  Both methods can be torched, and watching the color in the sterling has been key.  Sterling has a melting point somewhere around 1650 degrees.  If you have ever balled the end of a wire, for an earring perhaps, you’ve seen the salmon color turn to bright orange as the end balls.  That color will assist you when torching, as you do not want to get to the bright orange color and melt your sterling.  You also want to keep the temperature hot enough to properly sinter the metal clay.  If careful, it can be done!

Here is an example of sterling embedded without overlay paste.  This is my Bird Nest Mothers Ring.  I embed the prong settings and the ring band into the fresh clay, let it dry and torch.

Here is an example of sterling embedded with overlay paste.  This ring has 8 joins which means 8 places that needed two parts to join together.  I used a metal clay heart for the ring top that was fired alone first.  I then made a bezel with sterling gallery wire, not joining the seam.  I used overlay paste to attached the heart to the top of the gallery wire, overlay paste on the bezel seam, overlay paste on the bottom of the gallery wire and embedded that into a rolled out piece of clay.  I trimmed the clay around the bezel, outside and inside, let it dry and fired it all together.  From this point, no solder was used.  I was free to solder the ring band and prong settings, as well as resize the ring band using solder, no worries that it would collapse from the heat.

Overlay Paste Can Be Used Like Solder and Unlike Solder

This overlay paste is very much like soldering, because it joins pieces together.  It has a bright silver color, better than silver solder. 

It is very different in that is has to dry first, but it can fill gaps, it holds pieces together as they join like glue, no worries about undoing previous joins.  No flux used and the pieces don’t have to be perfectly flush to join.  The list goes on.  The overlay paste works best with joining larger surfaces and may not work well on tiny spots.  For example, resizing a ring only requires the tiniest join, best done with solder.  My heart ring top had a continuous line of overlay paste which bonded perfectly to the sterling bezel wire.
For anyone that is learning to solder, this overlay paste is something that I recommend you consider to learn, too!

Overlay paste is amazing, strong, and versatile.  I am hoping that this post will give other metal clay artists a fresh look at something that might have been overlooked before as “just another paste”.

New! Fall/Winter 2011 Collection Revealed

Dream Cloud Ring with Citrine by York Avenue Studio

I'm so happy to show off my latest line of designs!  This collection is all about genuine gemstones and bold silver settings.  This Dream Cloud Ring has puffy swirls that showcase the delicate colored Citrine.  I've added blue hues with a patina to the prong setting, which reflect thru the stone, very unique!

Dream Cloud Ring by York Avenue Studio

Each design is completely fabricated in my studio by hand giving me the freedom to customize the design according to customer preference of gemstone, ring size, etc.

Genuine White Opal Heart Earrings by York Avenue Studio

My goal was to produce genuine gemstone jewelry that is affordable and durable.  The design style for this collection is Shabby Chic and Rustic.

Pearl Engagement Ring by York Avenue Studio

The gemstones I've included in this series are delicate and light, with Pearls, Opals, Citrine.

Pearl Silver Ring by York Avenue Studio

This collection includes matching earrings and rings.

Pearl Silver Earrings by York Avenue Studio

I love working with Silver Art Clay and Sterling Silver.  Every design in my collection for Fall/Winter 2011 is made with precious metal and genuine gems!

Steampunk Silver Heart Ring by York Avenue Studio

The entire collection is available in my shop on Etsy.  Custom orders are always welcome! 

Sterling Hoop Earrings by York Avenue Studio

Each piece is priced at a great value for fine silver and gemstone jewelry.

Spider Web Ring by York Avenue Studio

I'd love to hear your comments and which piece you like and why! 
Thanks for looking and sharing this big reveal moment with me!
Kathy