Fall Photoshoot

Oh, man. It's October, indeed. An unmistakable fall zing is beginning to saturate the air. I rang in the new season by slow dancing in my kitchen with Ben to the song "Harvest Moon" by Neil Young.

I've also started watching Season 2 of Walking Dead and am feeling the need to cocoon with books and video games. I'm also sensing boots, sweaters, pumpkin everything, and soup. Did I mention I bought a slow cooker recently? Fall is ON.

I've also started a Knuckle Kiss Facebook page, which you should check out during your coffee break! Holler!

You'll see photos I took with some lovely friends, Rocio and Rebecca, natural beauties who were kind enough to model some new jewelry for me this past weekend. Rebecca convinced me to take the photos on her iphone with an app called VSCO. Sadly, I'm stuck in 2003 when it comes to cellphones (Remember your flip phone? Well, I STILL have one!). Since hers did such a great job, I decided my next upgrade will be an iphone 5. So easy to use and so much better than my little point and shoot.

Here are some pics from the photoshoot. These pieces will be for sale in my etsy shop. 

xox,
Angela

Delicate Double-Finger Rings

I'm back with some new work to share: two-finger rings!

This style generally reminds me of brass knuckles, heaviness, constriction, and a machined look. So when I set out to make my own double rings, I wanted to temper the toughness with a little tenderness. 

My rings are handcrafted from thin sterling silver wire and are, in my humble opinion, surprisingly light and easy to wear. I like to think they're a sweeter, daintier, more organic take on the double-finger ring.

Some pics...

I plan to have some double-finger rings for sale in my etsy shop, which I'll be opening some time in November! Finally!

XO,
Angela

My Handmade Wedding Band

I'm back after months of wedding planning and crafting! Whew! I'M MARRIED! WHAT?!

The big day was August 4th--a lovely day shared with the loveliest people in our lives. And though we had a great time during our wedding and our honeymoon (Maui!), I'm thrilled to be back in my studio as a Mrs. instead of a Miss.

Before I post any of my new work, it seems fitting to share the story of my and my husband's (it's still very novel to say husband) wedding bands. Here's a shot from our wedding:

photo by Holly Feral

From the start, we both knew we wanted handmade rings. Something simple and classic, but with  subtle uniqueness.

And, of course, we wanted something affordable. So we went with sterling silver--a hardy, trusty metal--and 14k gold. I lined the interiors of both rings with 14k bezel wire. Bezel wire, if you didn't know, is a very thin strip of metal typically used for setting stones. I found it worked well as a cheaper, very effective way to create a two-tone design.

Our rings have beveled edges, so to play up the design, I also added a thin strip of 14k on the exterior of my ring, around the largest circumference.

We wanted our rings engraved with the date and the initials of our first names, so we took them to Fred Meyer's jewelry department. It's a decent option if you're not looking for specialty script and need engraving on the cheap.

After engraving, I oxidized my ring to create more of a contrast between the gold and silver. In the photo above, you can kind of see that contrast.

Some closeups of the engraving inside my ring: 

The two photos above show a slight oxidation on the sterling silver (I took the dark oxidation off). Still can't decide which I like better--the slight grey, or the dark, gunmetal look.

You'll notice this post is missing detailed images of Ben's ring. That's because he lost the ring on our second day in Maui! And I foolishly didn't take pics of it before our wedding day.

Losing or misplacing rings early on in a marriage seems to be common among a few married guys I know, so I guess I don't feel too bad about it. Ben, however, was pretty devastated. He ended up buying a cheap sterling silver ring during our trip (which I've been calling his "training ring"). I think I'll let him wear that one awhile before I make him a replacement. :)

We like to think of Ben's lost ring as an offering to the ocean. Really, the ring couldn't have disappeared in a more beautiful place, in the ocean off Ka'anapali Beach in Maui:

More Soon,
Angela xo

I was in a Fallow State

What happened to me?

Street Side, Beach Side Show and Tell

I finally made a home for some treasures that I found on the street and at the beach. Here are a couple of rings made with steel washers (rusted and worn just so); a delicate white sea glass necklace; a hefty pendant featuring a flat Jasper bead.  I set each element with fine silver bezel wire. 

They're a happy little family.

I love pairing brass and silver; I think it gives some pieces a little more interest and dimension.

Texture! And negative space!

I made the larger washer ring with a brass backing and ring shank that I cut and formed from sheet and wire. For the smaller ring, I used sterling silver all around, except for a sliver of brass filling the slit at one o'clock.

Flea Market Follow Up & Other Shout Outs

I hate to say it, but I need (want) to get a smart phone. If I had one, then you'd be looking at pictures from the Punk Rock Fleamarket instead of just reading text. This is not to say that text is insufficient. I love text. My livelihood depends on it, and I pretty much want to marry it...

Punk Rock Flea Market

It's June but the Seattle sky still weeps. Luckily, the forecast predicts a steamy 75 degrees this coming Saturday. I'll be selling some jewelry and gently worn apparel and shoes at the Punk Rock Flea Market in Belltown! It'll be my first time selling my wares. Wish me luck and come check it out for yourself if you're in Seattle.

For a dollar entry, you'll get to cruise myriad merch from 80+ vendors, listen to some bands, and sip on a mid-day drink (or two or three) from the onsite bar. Entry fees will be donated to the Low Income Housing Institute.

And here are some new sterling silver pieces I'll be selling at the event:

Slight but sweet sterling studs.