Tutorials by K S Jewellery Designs

Tutorials by K S Jewellery Designs
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Tuesday, 23 July 2013

Framed Flower Pendants

Regular followers of my blog will know how I love including flower designs in my jewellery and keep returning to this theme over and over again!  Over the years I have also created a lot of 'framed' jewellery.  I think originally I included a frame to add strength to a piece but I have grown to love the feeling of encircling shapes.  For me, it feels like a frame can 'complete' the design.  So... following those loves and principles, it seemed only natural to frame one of my flower designs.

I have started a 'Framed Flower' range of pendants and here are the first three I have created with variations of number of petals, double petals and different textures/finishes:


If you would like to see more photos and details about each pendant, please follow these links to my online shops:
Etsy: www.etsy.com/uk/shop/KSJewelleryDesigns
Folksy: http://folksy.com/shops/KSJewelleryDesigns
Posted by K S Jewellery Designs at 11:52

9 comments:

  1. Cinnamon Jewellery23 July 2013 at 16:22

    They look really lovely Kristen. I think I'd struggle keeping everything in position while I was soldering them!

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    1. K S Jewellery Designs23 July 2013 at 19:28

      Thank you Tracy, it's not the pieces I struggle to keep in place, but the solder chips! Just when I finally think I've got them where I want them, I come in with the heat and one jumps off like a jumping flea! I think it's moving towards the heat. So I have to turn the torch off, replace the solder chip, pick up the other solder chips I have then just knocked off and put them back... etc, etc... and then start again! It can sometimes take several attempts to finish a piece. I do solder different parts in order, systematically with different solder (hard to extra easy) but I am considering solder paste. Do you have any experience with that?

      I was going to comment on your latest blog post as it did make me smile. I too seem to want to make small fiddly things and wish I liked big and chunky so it would be easier, but I don't! Your new earrings are great, by the way, and I really like the ones with the little hearts.

      All the best
      Kristin :)

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  2. Cinnamon Jewellery24 July 2013 at 09:17

    Yes I need to convert myself to big and chunky to make my life easier!
    I have used paste solder but I don't really get on with it. It just seems to burn up or become a blob that won't flow properly when I use it. Lots of people love it and it does make life easier for some jobs so it might be worth trying.

    I have the same problem with solder moving about when you heat the flux! It's annoying but as I get more confident I can leave the torch on and reposition it (sometimes). If the design allows it I hammer the piece of solder so it's flat and tuck it underneath things so it stays put when the flux bubbles.

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    1. K S Jewellery Designs24 July 2013 at 14:15

      Thanks Tracy for the useful advice. As solder paste is quite expensive, I might wait and try it at my class when it starts back in September. I like that idea about hammering solder to fit in the gap. I should have tried that with my latest piece - a four prong ring - very very fiddly!
      Cheers
      Kristin :)

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    2. littlecherryhill29 July 2013 at 02:52

      I have just read the comments above Kristin, one method for soldering that works for me, is to apply the flux and heat it first - before adding the solder. Let it all bubble up and start to glass up and then I put my torch aside and then apply the solder and reheat till the solder flows. It's not perfect, but it means I do spend less time reapplying the solder in the end anyway.

      Delete
    3. K S Jewellery Designs29 July 2013 at 21:00

      Thanks LCH - all suggestions gratefully received! I sometimes do that and if I'm quick enough the solder chip sticks to the hot flux but more time than not, I'm too slow and everything has cooled down whilst I fiddle about. Practise, practise, practise! (Or should that be 'practiCe? I always get confused!)
      Kristin :)

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  3. Unknown26 July 2013 at 07:15

    Hi Kristin, I've used paste before, but with mixed success. I tend to use solder wire now instead of chips, and so you can just hold the end of a piece of solder wire where you want the solder to flow. Works pretty well for me. (got a huge reel of the stuff, so you're welcome to borrow a bit to see if you get on with it!)

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    1. K S Jewellery Designs29 July 2013 at 21:02

      Thanks Becky, I might take you up on that. I would love to come and see you in action with it, so maybe we could arrange another coffee once the kids are back at school. Hope you're having a good summer break so far.
      Kristin :)

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  4. Unknown30 July 2013 at 20:49

    Oh Gawd the pressure of having someone watching!!!! Yes, lets arrange something in the autumn.

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