Autumn Bouquet Ring

Please come on over to my new website:

Jewelry Making Journal

I've got lots cool new things for you there - including
my videos, a unique tutorial, and Jewelry Business Insider interviews.

See you there!

- Rena Klingenberg

Autumn Bouquet Ring - Tutorial

by Ester Waters
(North Carolina USA)

Never having made a ring, I decided to widen my artistic ability and try my hand at creating one.

First I gathered all the materials I thought I would need:

Freshwater Pearls coin shape
Cloisonne Beads
Swarovski Crystals
Goldfilled wire
Sterling Silver Wire

Second I gathered the tools:

Ring mandrel
Hammer
Metal cutting scissors
Anvil
File
Polishing cloth

Not having any premeditated ideas of how I wanted it to be design or what technique to use, I just allowed my imagination and my hand to dictate the form, pattern and design.

After measuring, cutting, hammering, shaping, filing and polishing the Sterling Silver on the ring mandrel, I strung the Freshwater Pearls, Swarovski Crystals and Cloisonne beads on the goldfilled wire and wire wrap it onto the Sterling Silver shape ring, (size 9).

The process took me 2 1/2 hours to complete.

After seeing the finish project, I name it. AUTUMN BOUQUET

This was my first ring, but it wasn't going to be my last.

Since then I've made 6 more rings, all different in size, shapes and designs.

Ester Waters
Shael Designs
Shael Designs blog

Comments for
Autumn Bouquet Ring - Tutorial

Click here to add your own comments

Autumn Bouquet Ring
by: Rena

This is a beautiful ring, Ester - I love the mixture of pearls and Autumn elements, and of silver and gold.

I also like that the hammered ring band gives the piece a more earthy look - I think of Autumn as a very earthy season.

Thank you so much for sharing this lovely ring with us, as well as how you made it! :)

Beautiful work
by: Lynda

Thank you so much for not only sharing the results of your labor, but the process and materials. It's stunning!

Autumn bouquet
by: Pauline

Absolutely beautiful!

Where is the turorial?
by: Anonymous

It is a lovely ring, but where is the tutorial? I clicked on every link and still can't find it.

Look just like a bouquet of flowers
by: Ruth

Love the Ring...sound like a written tutorial to me

Beautiful!
by: Lorraine/Wired Orchid

I applaud you for stepping out of your comfort zone, Ester! Your first attempt at a ring is marvelous! Great execution and color combo.

Autumn Bouquet Ring - Tutorial
by: Anonymous

I can't find the tutorial, where is it located?

Tutorial
by: Rena

Hi Anonymous, thank you for asking where the tutorial is. Ester's text above outlines her materials, tools, and approach to making this type of ring.

She mentions that "not having any premeditated ideas of how I wanted it to be design or what technique to use, I just allowed my imagination and my hand to dictate the form, pattern and design."

So it's a freeform type of project, where you let the wire and beads flow into a design of their own as you wrap.

As Ester also says above, "after measuring, cutting, hammering, shaping, filing and polishing the Sterling Silver on the ring mandrel, I strung the Freshwater Pearls, Swarovski Crystals and Cloisonne beads on the goldfilled wire and wire wrap it onto the Sterling Silver shape ring."

It's the kind of project where no two rings will ever be alike because of the unplanned, freeform process of adding beads and wrapping wire onto the main ring shank.

Have fun with this project - and we'd love to see the ring(s) you create, inspired by Ester's "bouquet" ring idea!

Beautiful Ring!
by: Maelinde

Ester,

I can't believe that was your first ring. You did beautiful work.

Thank you for sharing your process and materials list.

I love doing free form work as well. You never know where that path will lead.

Ring Base
by: Gail

How did you make the basic ring on the ring mandrel? What size wire did you use? It looks half round. How was the ring held together? Was it soldered? I have only wire wrapped rings, but this one fascinates me and I would like to attempt one like it.
Thanks

Click here to add your own comments