Rustic Look Earrings

Hammering metal and wrapping wire have kept me busy lately. 

I then put them all together to make these earrings. 

I decorated some of the hammered brass dangles 

with bits of letters and wrapped wire bits. 

Then I worked on this group

I call them the 'Rusted and Worn' group

They are made from old pieces of metal strapping. 

I collected the super rusted strip of metal from an old partially built structure

that was taken down a few years ago.  

I collected the partially rusted and worn piece of metal strapping

 from someone that was going to take it to the landfill.  

I guess some people would say I made these earrings out of garbage,

but I think of it as using reclaimed metal.

I cut the worn and rusted metal into various shapes and filed the edges smooth. 

I then added some wire wrapped squiggly bits to the top 

and an occasional bead or hammered metal to finish them off. 

I used the super rusted metal in a similar way, 

but removed the top layer of rust first. 

Both types of metals were sealed with Renaissance Wax Polish.

I hung all of these earrings on sterling silver ear wires. 

I do think it distracts from the look, but lots of people have sensitive ears 

and sterling silver was the only wire I knew of 

that would not bother people when they wore them. 

But then my blogging friend Norma told me about these ear wires

that she wears that would match the style of my earrings

and are comfortable for people with sensitive ears.
She even sent me a couple of pairs to try out!

How fortunate I am to have friends like Norma!

I will be placing an order for these and change out the sterling silver earring wires very soon!  

You can read about other earring creations here 

UPDATE - I have finally updated my etsy shop and included some of my earrings there. 

Experimentation

I have a long list of things under the heading

"Things To Try"

I find the list grows longer  more quickly than I manage to try things.  

Making beads has been on this list for some time, 

and this week I  decided to try my hand at making polymer clay beads. 

As I have never worked with clay before, I purchased a tutorial from  

The Blue Bottle Tree, 

and started to play. 

I have created a few pair of earrings.....

and as is often the case for me, 

this experimenting has triggered many other creative ideas,

and sent me off in other jewelry making directions.  

So much fun..... so little time!

Whimsical Circle Creations

What fun I have had creating this jewelry.

Necklaces with one or two circles 

that may or may not

 be adorned with a small brass decoration 

to create these whimsical rustic necklaces.

I have been trying for days to take pictures of them

 but there is not a lot of daylight lately.

I came home from work at lunch time today 

to try and get the most daylight I could to take some pictures.

Even then it was a struggle, as there wasn't much natural light coming in my windows.

But I did what I could.

Most of the necklaces are adorned with a bee 

or a dragonfly or a flower or a bird

But some of them were just left as circles.

I do love circles.

As well as a few more of my hand forged copper circle necklaces 

and earrings.

A number of these circle creations have made it into my Etsy shop.

Blacksmith Jewelry

In October I went to visit my sister in Nova Scotia.

Besides having a wonderful visit with her and her family and the farmyard animals

We spent many wonderful hours together in her blacksmith shop.

(Her husband builds these wonderful cement dome building - and built her one to create in)

Her 'Smithy' (as she affectionately calls it)

is a wonderful place to spend time in.

Here I am heating up some copper and ready to do some pounding

(note my very small hammer!)

I hammered many copper rings while I was there.....

And when I got home made earrings

and necklaces.

My sister though,

wields a much bigger hammer

and bends much heavier pieces of metal.

She creates hardware for doors (see the dome smithy image), many different styles of hooks

as well as hangers for signs..... she also created the beautiful sign to go on this hanger.

But while I was visiting she worked mostly on jewelry

And what a beautiful collection she made.  

I do hope to go again next year!

In case you would like to see more of her creations, you can visit her at

Hilltop Forge Blacksmithing