Follow along as we show you how to make an ocean jasper cabochon ring. Tools & materials used for Ocean Jasper Cabochon Ring Project project: Materials: 20 gauge Silver Sheet 1/2 round Wire for the Ring Band (we used decorative ring band  ) bezel strip (we used serrated bezel  ) Easy, medium and hard silver solder Cabochon    Any half round wire between 12g and 6g will be good for rings depending on the size of the stone and the desired look of the band. Keep in mind, the higher the number the thinner the wire.  Tools: Ring Sizers Calipers Fine tip sharpie Nippers Jewelry Saw Flat nose pliers and or Miter Jig Wire cutters  Wubber bail pliers .  The Wubber 7 & 9mm bail making pliers are a favorite around the studio. Steel Block Rawhide or Nylon Hammer Ring Mandrel Ring Clamp Bech Pin Flex Shaft Polishing Wheels: Yellow, Red and Blue Radial Discs Silicone wheels fine and medium grit Bezel Rocker or Bezel Pusher Burnishing ...

Today we are going over all the steps for you to be able to make your own french ear wires. This is something you can do when you’re not feeling inspired creatively, but still want (or need!) to be in the studio and productive. Sometimes we don’t feel especially creative, but pushing through with a project like making and stockpiling a bunch of ear-wires helps us get into the right frame of mind for our next design. And, when you are in a creativity frenzy, you'll have all the ear-wires your jewelry needs and deserves.  So here is our quick video on the process we use to make our own ear-wires. ...

I was interviewed this week by Kendra from the Downtown Devil about DIY culture in Phoenix. There are some really cool businesses I have never heard of in the article. Check out the post here. I think I have some exploring to do. How about you?...

I had the chance to speak with Jay Whaley on Metalsmith Bench Talk LIVE this weekend at the SNAG conference. Here it is if you're interested in listening! We talk about Harold Studio, where it came from and where it's going. The whole session is great! My interview starts at the 36:35 mark. ...

We have a new and fun Make and Take earring workshop at the studio! Learn how to drill holes, roll out different shapes from the disc cutter and have them enameled with color to create your very own pair of earrings in this 1.5 hour workshop! The best part is that it's only $38. We offer the Make and Takes on Fridays and Saturdays so call or email to setup a time to make them today! Also, if you're interested in an in depth class on enameling, we have one coming up in June with Michelle Startzman! What do you think?...

We've got a new workshop coming! These earrings have a lot of movement and versatility. This is an example of what they can look like one way... And here is a different look on the back! What do you think? If you like the earrings, they'll be available as a diy in the coming weeks so keep a lookout for them!...

Learn how to make these teardrop earrings and take them home with you in our new workshop! It's 1.5 hours, $25 and perfect for ages 13+. We're offering it now on Fridays between the hours of 12-6 and Saturdays from 10-3. All materials are included!...

We just had a couple of ladies that came in to make Resin Pendants at the studio recently. They also happened to bring in a couple of their own keepsakes to trap inside the pendant including an old Star of David that was part of a necklace one of them didn't wear anymore. It has now been transformed with a new look! What do you think? Do you have anything you'd like to wear again with a bit of a change?...

The studio will now be open Fridays from 12-8pm in addition to our regular hours! So please stop by and say hello! We will be offering the resin pendant workshop during this time frame as well. The resin pendant workshop is a great time for anyone! Perfect as a mother/daughter activity or offered as a valentines day gift, it's hard to go wrong with something you make that looks so good!...

We've been having a lot of people come to the studio to make resin pendants recently. Resin allows you to trap a keepsake inside something like a pendant forever under a clear glassy surface. We have things like watch parts and crystals to fill the pendants with, but anything can be used really; a picture, saying or even seashells. The resin pendants are a fun thing to make in groups for birthdays or a Friday night out. And that's just what happened for the group that came in and made these lovely pieces! Resin pendants are a fun way to create something you can wear that reflects your own style and artistry....

With the ingot made from the recycled silver, I next proceed to draw it down to the size I want and while doing so, lengthen my wire considerably! I start off by rolling the wire through the wire section of the rolling mill. I generally pass it through between 2 and 3 times before I anneal the metal again. If this isn't done, the metal WILL crack and start to flake off. I've learned through experience that it isn't worth it trying to pass the metal through "just one more time".  After rolling the metal down to about the diameter I want, I move to the draw plate because the wire section of the rolling mill made the wire diamond shaped and I want circular wire. Note: While the rolling mill isn't necessary to drawing down wire, it will make everything go MUCH faster. As in, shaving off as much as an hour or more of your time. But, if you don't have a rolling mill, don't live in Phoenix where you can visit Harold Studio and use ours, or...

Using a mixture of 1 part Alum spice to 2 parts water. It works quickest if you heat the solution up(I use my studio crock pot). After about 30 minutes the drill bit should be completely gone! Alum is a spice commonly found in grocery stores. The great thing about using alum is that it is natural and safe. Something you can use to spice up your food as well as create jewelry? That's a no brainer to me. ...

Metal prices are very expensive right now and I have more scrap metal than I know what to do with. So today I made some sterling silver wire at the studio. What you need to make your own wire is a crucible, ingot mold(mine is a reversible so I can do sheet as well), torch and draw plate. First step is to choke the torch(acetylene) by wrapping your hand around the turn on valve so that no oxygen can come out. This creates a sooty substance which floats out of the torch. I use the soot to coat the inside of the ingot where I plan on pouring my silver. You will know if you are choking the torch right if black substance starts coming off the flame and if the flame is mostly yellow(as opposed to blue). Secure the ingot so that the wire will be even by tapping the top of it with a hammer after you have tightened the two ends together. Then heat up the ingot. This secures that when you pour in the metal it will not splatter back at you out of shock from going to molten ho...