Research Days and Stacking Rings

I love stacking up handmade rings... the textures and patterns the different shapes and details come together in layers interesting to the eye and joyous to the fingers and mind.  We remember each time and place from which our jewels were collected, the family, friend or lover who gave the rings and all our shared memories and dreams.  Handmade jewelry has soul, feelings and stories that emanate from the silver or gold and fill us with a sense of kinship, creativity and comfort. Reading days are the best days for piling on rings! 

Just sayin' ...

Back to the books! 

xx

Crystal

Handmade sterling silver art jewelry stacking rings by Colorado Artist, Crystal Hartman of Durango Colorado. 

Snowdays and Art Jewelry in the Studio

It is a winter wonderland in Durango Colorado which means excellent days for making in the studio! These are my favorites days carving in wax and creating new designs for the year... And it will be quite a year of the Red Monkey!  

Please enjoy this process picture of carving wax monkeys that will very soon be rings, pendants and earrings! And, stay tuned for updates and jewels to come! 

Happy Snowday! 

xx

Crystal Hartman

Hand carved wax monkey soon to be cast and ready for the Year of he Monkey in the lost wax process by Crystal Hartman in Durango Colorado

The Lost Wax Casting Process

It's late June and I am am busy as a bee carving and casting new jewelry in the studio.  In the lost wax casting process we melt down silver, bronze, gold and pour it into molds.  

...ready to cut and melt pieces of history (sterling silverware) for a new life as artisan jewelry. 

The molds are made of a material called Investment (similar to plaster)  poured in iron flasks around wax trees made from the wax carvings we will cast into jewelry.  

Image of a mold right after silver has been poured in it. 

Each wax carvings is handmade, organically carved and filled with good energy -courage, compassion, bliss and abundance... meditations.  Each casting is a surprise as we see hours and weeks of work turn from fragile beeswax to silver, bronze or gold jewelry, heirloom jewelry that will last for many generations. 

Hand carved, sculptural wax rings... 

Lost Wax Cast sculptural jewelry in recycled sterling silver. 

This summer we will celebrate Carbondale Mountain Fair!  Come and see us July 24 -26, 2015 in Carbondale Colorado :-) 

xx

Crystal Hartman