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Mixed Metal Earrings

by Jim Osment.
(Brisbane Australia)

I found these hard to photograph, in daylight they really sparkle!

I decided to make a pair of earrings using the same materials that I have been using for my rings and pendants. I haven’t really tried making earrings before but I’ve been looking at some online. I’m getting pretty handy with the silver soldering these days so it was the obvious way to go for me.I don’t know much about how women decide what earring suits which outfit or occasion, but I imagine these might suit smart, modern business or evening wear. Whatever, I’m pretty sure someone will like them.

They were quite simple to make with a piece of nickel-silver sheet,with fairly random copper and brass shapes,but pretty much mirror images of each other. The texture on the silver was just done by hand with the edge of my hammer and the pattern on the brass and copper was done with the ball of a ball pein hammer.

The copper and brass bits were silver soldered on and the whole thing fitted with high quality surgical stainless wires which came supplied with the little copper details.The earrings were then buffed with an electric wire wheel and calico and sisal buffing wheels. I also sometimes use a plastic scotch type buffing / polishing attachment in my electric drill.

Life is too short to polish much by hand!

Come by my blog and website for other cool mixed metal stuff.

Jim Osment
Hammered Hearts

Comments:

Love dangle earrings
by: Leigh

and these are awesome. I bet the picture does not even do them justice.

Stellar Craftsmanship
by: KathieL

Jim – your craftsmanship is stellar. I think your pictures were good. I keep learning. May I suggest that you check out photo tips from Tabletop Studios? I’ve learned so much from them. I love my photobox from them; along with the lights. Also let me share a tip with you that took me several years to learn. Take a picture of your backdrop (example: flowers on craft paper or branch on paper) and photo your jewelry on the picture… Kindly note that I struggled to adjust to the background for a long time… I now spend 9/10’s less time photoing…. Beautiful work! Thank you for sharing!

Mixed Metal Earrings
by: Linda

I love these earrings, they are really nice.I love making jewelry but when it comes to the taking the pictures. I don’t care for it. I have read some tutorials and have gotten a little better though I think, but still don’t care for it. Keep up the great work.
www.MixedKreations.com

Great Earrings
by: Betty

Hi: I love your earring designs. I’ve been thinking of something like this, too, but I planned to make the base part a straight line out of copper and to add just one other piece of metal to each.
These are really nice. Thanks for sharing.
Betty
http;//yessy.com/bettysjewelry

Thanks
by: Jim Osment

Thank you all for all the nice comments and photo tips.The Table top studio thing looks great.I ordered some daylight bulbs and I’m still thinking about the cube thingy.
Also I actually made a sale on my website the other day, which is a first for me. Woohoo!

Organic!
by: Sharon

Very organic and natural looking. I really like this pair and would wear them a lot.