Playing with Mixed Metals

To the left a piece made by Jima. Bottom gem is Botswana agate from Africa polished by Jima. Small stones are pink moonstone, blue agate and orange coral. Metals are a mixture of silver & gold. To the right is a pendant with Mendocino abalone shell in sterling silver created by Carlie





Carlie's earrings to the left are a mixture of silver, copper and gold set with abalone shell and amethyst, a combination she has done several times. Jima's bead is one he calls a ripple disc because of the center copper undulations. Other metals are silver and brass. The black dome on the outside is textured silver that is heated with a torch to turn it black.

 We've been enjoying making
asymetrical earrings and have
had a very good response from
customers. We've made them
for some years but are making
 more than ever currently and
I expect that will continue.
Carlie made the ones on the
left. Silver copper & gold with
lapis lazuli from Afghanistan &
Brazilian amethyst. The bottom
parts are on hinges so they swing
freely.










Jima Made these earrings. They are
brass riveted to an under layer of copper
that has been roller printed from a
pattern sheet of nickel silver that
Jima made. The copper has been gently
heated to give it that colored patina. The
moon and star are of sterling silver. Carlie
makes great ear wires, she makes many
more earrings than Jima so he trades her
parts that he makes for ear wires to put
on his earrings. A bartering system between
adjacent work benches.

Below are two pieces featuring abalone shell, the one on the right created by Carlie utilizing a
piece of Mendocino abalone found, cut and polished by Jima The pendant is silver, copper and
gold set also with a fresh water button pearl and a labradorite. On the left is a butterfly mandala
piece made by Jima last year with a brass butterfly shape riveted onto a silver pierced form
backed by a piece of copper that has been stamped with a small chisel and colored with heat.
It is set with paua shell, a specie of abalone that live in the waters of New Zealand.