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Fine Silver Menagerie Stacking Rings

by Marcia Southwick.
(Santa Fe, New Mexico USA)

This series of stacking rings grew out of an instinct towards collage. I’m a writer and was a university professor of poetry writing for years, and collage is one of processes I work with.

I was experimenting with creating tiny molds, for images to layer onto flat pieces, when the idea of making them into stacking rings occurred.

I fused rings out of .999 fine silver wire, 12 gauge. Then I made the cabochons out of PMC, dried and sanded them, and fired them with a butane torch.

I then added clay slip to the bottoms of the cabochon with a layer of extra clay to attach it to the ring, then fired the cabochon to the ring.

I brass brushed the rings, oxidized them, sanded them, and machine tumbled them for strength and shine.

What I learned from this chance experience is that I can use the principles of collage I learned in writing and apply them to designing more innovative jewelry. What fun!

Marcia Southwick
B.BOLD Jewelry for Boomer Girls

Comments:

Each Tells A Story
by: SterlingCrystal

I think these are fantastic. It is as if each one tells its own story, a past or a future, and by putting them together you can create a story of your own.

I also appreciate that you have detailed how you created the rings – I am always curious as to what gauge of wire people use to create things.

Thanks for sharing!

Sam Ryder
SterlingCrystal
www.sterlingcrystal.etsy.com

Thanks
by: Marcia

Sam– Thanks so much for your comments. It’s nice to know that someone understands what I’m trying to do. I appreciate it!–Marcia

Great Idea!
by: Lisa W.

I love the idea of collage in jewelry! It’s something I never thought of. I think this is a GREAT “niche” idea, and something that you can use as a conversation starter with your customers. You can expand upon the collage/story connection if you sell on the web, or display ring combinations with matching poems in a show booth as a conversation piece. It may help to sell your pieces, and may also invite customers to create their own stories. I can even envision tagging or carding rings with a few words that might evoke the story of that ring, to help customers create combinations.

I think you have a winning idea, and a lovely product – much luck with it!