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entanglement — Fossils + silver : Delicate
Published: 2008-01-02 13:39:44 +0000 UTC; Views: 1100; Favourites: 21; Downloads: 17
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Description
New year, new techniques. A little practice and some research has given me a new lease of life in the soldering department:- using a nest of binding wire to support the work
- borax and solid solder
- soaking in vinegar/scrubbing with salt+vinegar to remove discolouration and detritus
- new neat, nifty and lightweight torch
I really love this fossil and silver ring, and intend to remake it incorporating the lessons I've learned. The wire was hard or half-hard, which made it nigh impossible to shape the prongs without distorting the ring. Next time, I'll anneal and hold the work better from the start. All this struggling resulted in the prongs being rather distorted, and the ring not having the alignment and neatness I would like.
I love the delicacy of the piece though, and it constantly catches my eye on my left index finger. Pity I couldn't get a picture to do it justice.
*is very pleased*
Now, I have a few more plans for soldering practice... *plots*
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Comments: 41
Yup! I picked it up from a beach on the 'Jurrasic coast', in the south of England: [link] The shell of the beastie has been replaced by minerals including iron pyrites, which are strong and gold-ish, although they're brittle, and I've sadly broken a couple of pieces recently
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great find. one day i found a similar kind of fossil looking thing, it looked the same as urs but was white and was inprinted in a small rock. i was pretty little when i found it though, and i took it to school to show every1 and they took it of me. 
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Woww! It's so pretty... I always loved ammonites.. And your ring is adorable!
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I like it
If you do this again, you should try to find a piece of ammolite with the same shape. Man, that would look sweet.
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Thanks
That stuff's so gorgeous, but I hear it's really fragile - nice idea though!
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Oops, now i feel almost silly. Im a student of gemmology (of sorts) and still did not consider the fact that the fragile composition of ammolite makes it unsuted for rings. Even though many gem ammolite producers cover their products in thick layers of protecting and stabilizing lacquer, it would still go dull fast due to decreasing surface polish during daily wear.
I guess thats what happens when i let my artistic side disregard my logical one.
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You should see my sketchbooks - it's so often a 'dream team' of materials, techniques, and suchlike that couldn't possibly work 
You could, perhaps, embed it in resin, for example.
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I've never seen such a teeny ammonite! That is such a unique piece - I love it!
(I haven't commented in ages and I'm feeling rather guilty, but just to let you know I think all your stuff is fantastic.)
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Aww, thanks hon *hug* 
I love these ammonites, I'm like a kid when I'm digging around on the beach - you should hear my gleeful squees when I find a good one!
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My bessie mate, would want that as her engagment ring, she's obsessed with ammonites. I've emailed your stuff to her. I love it too, its cool.
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Cool! So glad you like it, and thanks for sending it on! I've got a handful of suitable ammonites left, so if she's interested I can give her details while they last! I'll also be preparing a catalogue shortly, which should include ammonite rings.
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Its really nice stuff. I think its really unique never seen an ammonite ring before.
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I don't think I have either - I've seen various pendants and suchlike, but they're usually halved, polished crystal-filled ones rather than whole pyrite casts, like this one
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Light and elegant with excellent precision and craftsmanship!
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You are so kind! I must confess the photograph does it favours, but the next one will have fewer toolmarks
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Alas I'm always putting my hands through my hair and it catches underneath the fossil, but besides that, I would too
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You have to stop touching your hair! 
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Wow, so delicate
xXx
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This is really a wonderful setting for a nice, organic stone...I'd keep looking at it and smiling if I had one like it. The simple setting really sets off the complex lines of the ammonite. Well done!
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Heh, you've got it in one - I do
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It's tough really - it had to be, the amount I hit it with a hammer
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that is incredibly adorable.
another thing you can do is set up a pickle pot for cleaning. just take a eensy one-person crock pot, fill it with vinegar or lemon juice, and set it on "warm". great for soakin stuff.
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Thank you! It's such a cute teeny-tiny stone...
Cunning plan! My boyfriend can't stand the smell of warm acids though, so I must use my jar and keep the lid on tight
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Oh man, I'm a sucker for spirals and fossil jewelry. I'd love to have a ring like that! So tiny and beautiful! I have an ammonite necklace it could match XD
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I might be putting a catalogue of stuff together - would you like me to prod you when I have it ready? I'll put a note up on my journal anyway when it's ready.
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So cute honey!
Ja - never underestimate the importance of good, equal annealing....
Thanks for the salt + vinegar tip - will try ...
Happy New Year!!!
xx
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Thanks
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