Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Ear Posties


How fun!
Creating tiny fine and sterling silver bits of metal, measuring and cutting 1/2" posts, filing them clenched between my thumb and first finger so the end is flat and able to be joined to the metal back. Cutting them off and starting over when the heat melted them and they slumped over, trying desperately to hold still while I held the post up in pliers and concentrated the tiny flame on the join.
Success!
Pickling, tumbling, dipping in the antiquing and brushing with steel wool for that matte glow I adore in silver.

A pair to wear while sleeping is my goal.
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25 comments:

  1. lesleyMarch 23, 2011 at 6:05 AM

    ANd oh so worth the effort! :0)

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  2. EB Bead and Metal Works, LLCMarch 23, 2011 at 6:08 AM

    They look awesome! You have so much more patience than I do!!! Me and soldering don't mix :) They are gorgeous girl!

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  3. MichelleMarch 23, 2011 at 6:23 AM

    Gorgeous! I love them!

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  4. Barbara LewisMarch 23, 2011 at 6:27 AM

    Super cool! So organic ... love 'em!

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  5. Marcie Abney CarrollMarch 23, 2011 at 6:27 AM

    Cute girl, and if I wore earrings....

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  6. AuntieAnnieMarch 23, 2011 at 6:45 AM

    There are wonderful. Just right.

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  7. AliceMarch 23, 2011 at 6:53 AM

    Oh so sweet! These would be great for young girls too! I've got so many things I want to learn, and fusing fine silver is one of them.

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  8. Leeya EngelMarch 23, 2011 at 7:24 AM

    These are so great!

    http://LeeyaEngel.blogspot.com

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  9. stacilouiseMarch 23, 2011 at 7:29 AM

    I love the ones you are holding in the picture...like little squiggly vines reaching for the sun. Very nice. Soldering ear posts are NO easy task. Do you have a tripod? heating from underneath works best so the solder doesn't travel up towards the flame. I have not attempted them myself because they are so very tricky (but I heard that tripods are the key). But you did it!!!
    WELL DONE! I love them.

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  10. GenevieveMarch 23, 2011 at 7:51 AM

    Wonderful, texture-y, little posts!

    Do you have a ring clamp? Makes filing little bits easier on the hands (and finger tips).

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  11. WendyMarch 23, 2011 at 8:04 AM

    These are wonderful. So delicate and yet so textured and interesting.

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  12. Orion DesignsMarch 23, 2011 at 9:46 AM

    They are all adorable. I'll watch for them in your etsy shop :)

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  13. Alice SchmidtMarch 23, 2011 at 10:31 AM

    Very nice :-)

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  14. Evie's Tool EmporiumMarch 23, 2011 at 10:33 AM

    Wonderful! My favorite go to earrings are my small posts that I have enjoyed forever and get the most compliments on!

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  15. Claire MaunsellMarch 23, 2011 at 11:16 AM

    These are so great, perfect posts! I NEVER take my earrings off....
    Am still heavily lusting after all your rings.

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  16. TesoriTrovatiMarch 23, 2011 at 12:11 PM

    Oh, those flowers are so pretty! And those little filed off studs. Brilliant! What would happen if you added some patina to those petals? I love seeing the direction that your journey is taking you!
    Enjoy the day!
    Erin

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  17. Linda LandigMarch 23, 2011 at 10:19 PM

    Love these. I have to admit that when I first saw the title, I misread it as "Ear Pasties". I thought, "I know about the, uh-hum, other pasties, but what's with EAR pasties????" lol!

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  18. Mary HardingMarch 24, 2011 at 3:48 AM

    they are beautiful!!

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  19. Kathy Van KleeckMarch 24, 2011 at 8:10 AM

    Sweet little studs and much too hard to pick a favorite pair!

    My tool for attaching posts - cross-link tweezers with a deep breath to steady my hand.

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  20. UnknownMarch 24, 2011 at 8:22 AM

    You're stylish!

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  21. Gold Charm BraceletMarch 24, 2011 at 1:08 PM

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  22. UnknownMarch 24, 2011 at 7:45 PM

    Love all of these! They are so versatile and perfect for everyday wear. PMC?

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  23. earthlyjewelsMarch 24, 2011 at 8:07 PM

    They're all so cute!

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  24. Pretty ThingsMarch 24, 2011 at 8:26 PM

    OMG I love those.

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  25. AnonymousMarch 24, 2011 at 8:56 PM

    I love these little posts. Very sweet!
    Are they metal clay?
    That's even more of a challenge to solder because of the porosity. If they are PMC, I've had good luck putting dots of PMC Sheet, where I'm I'm going to solder the posts, before I fire them. Just cut the dots of sheet out with a small paper punch.
    (If they are not metal clay.....um...never mind the soldering trick...)

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Thank you for taking the time to read and comment on my blog, it means a lot to me.
Shannon

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