Mary Lu Wason Studio Art Jewelry
  • Shop
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Rings
  • Necklaces
  • Earrings
  • Boxes

Sketching Jewelry Designs

4/29/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
April Dawn - A sterling silver ring designs with black diamonds, amethyst and peridot stones.
I usually sketch jewelry ideas with a regular pencil and paper in a sketchbook. That can be bulky when I'm going someplace. I always take my iPad though, so I decided to try a sketching app.

I love this app called Paper 53 from fiftythree.com

Read More
0 Comments

A Jeweler's Studio - Designer Mary Lu Wason

12/10/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
Here's the space where I create. Let me take you for a tour.
Picture
Shown above is my jeweler's bench. It's where 90% of the work happens. Next to it is the soldering station with a fume extractor above the charcoal block. The table is an old sewing machine cabinet with ceramic tiles placed on top. My torch is next to it. Notice on the right my dvd and cd collection. I watch dvds on the portable player on the bench, while I'm doing the more mundane parts of the work.
Picture
The studio is divided in half - one side for design and paperwork - the other for tools and bench. The antique desk has been with me for most of my life. I wrote poetry on it when I was a teen. Now it is where I sketch design ideas. I gave up using it for decades when it was too small for a computer. Now I can slip my iPad into the shelf, so it's back in daily use. 
Picture
There's my muse up on the wall. He's a great reminder that if you follow your passion, the world will catch up to you sooner or later. I also have my pantograph engraver here and pegboards in antique frames to hang tools and wires.
Picture
I bought barely any new furniture for my studio. This antique dresser fits well beneath an extra kitchen island formica top. I use this area for cleaning, etching and other messy procedures.
Picture
When I'm sitting at my bench, I can spin around and use my rolling mill, dapping blocks or other hammering tools. They are on a little vintage school desk, which are perfect bases for workshop tools. The clear acrylic box can go into my bench so that dirty, dusty grinding is contained. There's an additonal desk for wax work or laptop work. 
As you can see, I have everything I need, in a small space. My next need is some bright paint on the walls along with some inspirational artwork. 
Do you have a picture of your workspace online? Please share! I'd love to see it.
0 Comments

A Jeweler's Water Torch HydroFlux Welder in Action

10/17/2013

0 Comments

 
As promised, here's a short video of my new water torch in action. 
You can learn more about it in my previous blog post, where I explained why I'm excited about this new tool in my studio.
If you'd like more detailed information on what it's like to set the torch up, see my videos 1-7 on utube (shown below).
The final video (8 of 8) shows me actually using the torch.
What was your most recent tool purchase? Is it as fun as you thought it would be? Let me know.

Thanks for stopping by!
0 Comments

A Jeweler's Water Torch - New tool in the studio

10/13/2013

0 Comments

 
There are three things that are essential for me to do any work as a jeweler. The flexshaft, the bench and the torch. 
The type of torch, for a jeweler, can dictate limitations in metal and form. Some torches don't get hot enough for certain metals and some torches don't provide enough control for certain forms. The torch I had was limited for both. 
After considering it for years, I recently bought a water torch. It's a unique type of torch and not at all common for Jeweler's, although it is becoming more used because of safety issues. Most jewelers use torches that require a gas in a pressurized canister. Many also use oxygen tanks, to get a hotter flame. 
The water torch doesn't need stored gas, because it creates the gas itself. Using electricity, it breaks the bonds of oxygen and hydrogen which creates a gas. The gas is created, on demand. It's so safe that the hoses to the flame are plastic tubing, similar to tubes to the ice-maker on a refrigerator. I like that there are no dangerous stored gases in the studio. 
Here's a picture of my torch. It's a Hydroflux Welder from Okai.  I had an opportunity to visit the factory, which is in Union, New Jersey. The people there were so incredibly nice. That, plus the fact that the torch is (New) JerseyMade, just like me and my jewelry, makes it extra special. 

Picture
In my next post, I'll show the torch in action. For those who care, I'll share videos of the steps I went through to set the torch up.

The takeaway is, I now have more power, a hotter flame and less limitations  to make new designs! I'm so excited to take the work to the next level. This new torch will make it possible.
0 Comments

The Jeweler's Saw - Tools Tuesday

9/4/2012

0 Comments

 
My humble little Jeweler's saw is the most used of all my tools. Most of the jewelry I make starts out as a sheet of metal. I transform it into jewelry forms with the Jeweler's saw.

First, I either measure out a design or print it and glue to the sheet.

Sometimes, I then need to drill starting holes, so I can thread the saw blade through and cut out an inner space.

You can see in this example of a copper cuff with a Celtic knot design, most of the work is the sawing.

It takes time and patience to do this. There are a lot of jeweler tools and techniques that attempt to minimize the amount of sawing. I don't use most of them.

Sawing is my favorite part of the day. It forces me to slow down a bit and think about what I'm creating. This is when I send good thoughts to who ever will wear the piece. Time seems to stand still. I watch the grains of metal flow up as the blade moves down. I am aware that jewelers before me, for thousands of years, have used a similar tool in the same way. I feel a wonderful connection. There is a peace and satisfaction that comes in the process of creating. For me, I most often experience peace while using my humble Jeweler's saw.

I hope some of that peace flows to you, when you wear a piece I've created.

I'll tell you more about the cuff in these pictures in my next blog post.
Picture
0 Comments

Jeweler's Rolling Mill - Tools Tuesday Blog Series

8/28/2012

2 Comments

 
Picture
Mini Jeweler's Rolling Mill now in my studio
Have you ever used a penny machine? That old fashioned, gear driven machine that squashes a coin into an elongated souvenir? If so, you've used a version of a jeweler's rolling mill. A mini rolling mill is the latest addition to my jewelry studio.

Picture
Sterling Silver "X Marks the Spot" made by Rolling Mill. Bronze X made by etching.
The cool thing about making jewelry is that there is always more than one way to perform a task, to get to a similar end result. I've been getting by for several years without a rolling mill, but I finally bought a mini, to make my tasks go a bit quicker. I still intend on saving up for a full size top of the line Durston mill...someday..to make everything even quicker and easier.

Anyway, above are two examples of how I've put an X onto metal. (I use these in my Pirate Tides Jewelry Collection.) The bronze X was created using etching acid. The sterling silver Xs were made with my new Rolling Mill. I used the bronze X that I had etched, and pressed it with annealed silver, so the etching was transferred to the silver. This is how your penny comes out with "Souvenir of ..." on it. 
Picture
Side view of Rolling Mill, a manual, gear driven tool for the Jeweler and metalsmith.
Don't let the image fool you. Even though it's a machine, it is still hand powered. My strength and adjustment of the gears is needed to perform the tasks. This is true with most "machines" in the studio jewelers shop. Come back next Tuesday and I'll tell you about another tool in my studio. 

This post is the first in a series, titled Tools Tuesday. On most Tuesdays, I will share some pictures and information on the tools I use to create the jewelry I make for you. 
2 Comments

    Blog Home

    Follow my blog with Bloglovin
    Picture

    Mary Lu Wason

    is a studio jeweler. Here she shares the inspirations, discoveries and process of creating her art jewelry collections.

    @PirateTides on Instagram

    Instagram

    Subscribe

    Follow on Bloglovin

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Art
    Beach Glass
    Beach Walks Collection
    Bio
    Bones Of The Sea Collection
    Brooch A Day 2013
    Celtic
    Coins
    Collage Pendants
    Crochet
    Cross
    Custom
    Enamel
    Exhibits
    Feedback
    Found Objects
    Gifts
    Hollywood
    #how-to
    Inspirations
    Jersey Shore
    Metal Sky Jewelry Collection
    Misc.
    Museums
    New York
    Nyc
    Opals
    Pendant
    Pins
    Pirate Collection
    Pirates
    Pirate Tides
    Press
    Ring A Day
    Ring A Week
    Ring A Week Raw
    Ring A Week - RAW
    Sea Glass
    Shells
    Symbols
    Tada365
    Tools
    Tools Tuesday
    Wearing Of The Green

    Archives

    April 2018
    November 2017
    December 2015
    November 2015
    July 2015
    April 2015
    January 2015
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    May 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011

SHOP BY COLLECTIONS
Sea
Sky
Soul
Street

SHOP BY TYPE
Rings
Earrings
Necklaces
Boxes

About Mary Lu 

Bio
Find
Contact
Mailing List

Orders

Payments, Shipping, Policy
Form to Send Sizes, etc.
Testimonials

More

Blog
Ring a Day 2010
Bookmark and Share All images copyright Mary Lu Wason
  • Shop
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Rings
  • Necklaces
  • Earrings
  • Boxes