Stone setting

Last weekend I went to Oslo for another jewellery course - this time I was going to learn how to set stones in jewellery.

Some of the tools needed

I was not sure if this was the right thing for me, as I am not into all these sparkling "bling-bling" jewellery, I am more found of odd bits and pieces like a stone or glass from the beach or steampunk-ish findings. But I do have a need to learn as much as possible about jewellery making (I'm addicted...), and I wanted to meet other people in the same situation - so I decieded to go for it!

Wow, am I glad I did! Not only did I learn to set stones and turn an ordinary jewellery into something extraordinary, I also met some amazing people whom I am looking forward to get to know better.

And the best of it all; I think I am about to fall in love with those tiny sparkling gemstones!

My first try. All stones are CZ, from 1.5 mm up to 6 mm. I did struggle alot with the large ones in the tubes ;)

Amber - difficult to set without damaging the stone

Rose quartz cone in the middle and tiny CZ's in the front

One of the other students in deep concentration....

The course ended on Sunday - and I think I have been dreaming about setting stones every night this week..... Both stones and tools has been ordered, so I'll soon be able to play with this at home :)

Learning new skills

Wow, it's been a whole year since my last post, and of course lot has happened during that year and I will not make you all yawning while I tell you about everything. So I'll skip last year and just tell you about two great weekends in February this year and about VKnO learning new skills.

The first weekend-course I went to was to learn how to transfer digital photos on to fabric. I was looking for a new technique to use on my bags, and I was amazed when I learned how "easy" this was. My head has been producing lot of new products in the weeks after this course - I'm just waiting for the perfect time to get my hands and sewing machine to start producing what my head's already completed ;)

Here's what I made at the course:

- a handbag with photo of my two girls on one side, and on the other side there is a photo of the local nature.

The second weekend-course was held already the weekend after the first one - and the theme for this one was "Sterling silver jewellery with soldering". 20 hours with sawing, forming, soldering, polishing.......wow, it was fun! I really loved to work with silver, and I'm really looking forward to start to make my own jewellery using the newly learned silversmith skills. But, I reccon it will take a while before I can list any of my own silver products in my shop at Etsy of Epla.......I need to practice a lot first ;)

I made myself 3 rings during the course:

I've already started to work on a few projects involving sterling silver - practicing on the techniques and having fun!

....stay tuned for more news from VKnO and my products.....