Stone Ring Pendant

Instructions

Taking a large piece of rough alabaster I cut it down to a managable size on a bandsaw and using a flexshaft drill a hole in the middle. Then I use a I chisel and hammer and then a rasp until I obtain the round refined shape I want. I drill a hole in the top for the silk cord to go through. Then I finish the shape with wet/dry sandpaper, working under water in a bucket from 400 through 1000 grit sandpaper and then buff it to a high polish with a soft cloth. When stone pendant is finished I string through the hole with the silk cord and about 2 inches up I wrap the cord twice with sterling silver wire. The silk cord is long enough to slip over my head and then tied at the ends with an overhand knot. The sterling silver rings, that I made, are slipped over the silk cord and onto the stone pendant. I always sign my name into the stone using an electric engraver. Taking a large piece of rough alabaster I cut it down to a managable size on a bandsaw and using a flexshaft drill a hole in the middle. Then I use a I chisel and hammer and then a rasp until I obtain the round refined shape I want. I drill a hole in the top for the silk cord to go through. Then I finish the shape with wet/dry sandpaper, working under water in a bucket from 400 through 1000 ...
Read full instructions »

---

Difficulty:

Category: Jewelry

Type of item: Accessory

For: Women

Style: Traditional, Classic

---

Materials

Alabaster, sterling silver, silk cord and moonstones and green onyx in my handcrafted sterling silver rings.

What was your inspiration?

Form meets function. I wanted to design and then craft something beautiful that also had a use. Since I have been working in stone I thought it a good and beautiful medium to work with. My idea was a stone pendant that was beautiful to look at and that could be used to display rings that one wants to take off while working with your hands so as not to damage your rings - either working with crafts, washing dishes, gardening, etc. Then while the rings are on the pendant they become part of its design. To put the rings on the pendant one takes the necklace off and slips the rings down the silk to the stone and onto it. The thicker part of the stone pendant keeps the rings from falling off.

What are you most proud of?

The idea.

What advice would you give someone starting this project?

I took several years of classes in stone carving before adapting it to jewelry with my own methods - so try a stone carving class at a local art school. I started taking silversmithing classes 39 years ago. Again, you can find great silversmithing, metalsmithing classes at local art schools. As with all skill - practice, practice, practice and learn - then adapt your skills to the medium of your choice.