Thursday, January 14, 2010
In yesterday's post, I featured an Ocean Jasper Pendant with a setting highlighted with asymmetrical flowers. I liked those flowers so much, I thought they would make wonderful little post earrings.
These earrings are quite small - only about 6-8 mm across - which make them great for everyday wear. But what I like best about them is that their symmetrical, whimsical feel. (For some more pictures of them, click here.)
Now excuse me because I'm going to change the subject.
This weekend I was reading a jewelry making magazine with a how-to article I thought would be fun to try. (It explained how to use rivets to make cold connections, a new technique I had been wanting to try for a while.)
The materials list was short and since it used copper, I figured it would be a pretty inexpensive experiment in jewelry making.
But then I noticed there was another list, a list of needed supplies.
For the simple pendant, the supply list was amazingly extensive. I added it up and the supplies totaled more than $500!!!
Just for fun, I decided to add up how much in supplies it cost me to make the post earrings above.
Disc cutters for cutting circles to make the flowers: $130
Metal shears (good ones) for trimming the silver : $60
Dapping block to dome the flowers: $50
A stamp to make the circle inside the flower: $10
Misc tools and supplies to solder the silver and posts (these are the cheapo versions): $70
Jewelry tumbler to harden and shine up the earrings: $100
Misc supplies to finish, oxidize, and polish up the metal: $30
Grand total: $450
Wow. Pretty mind-boggling, isn't it.
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That and I always ask for power tools for Christmas. ;-)
The new earrings are adorable, by the way.
I know that with photography. I had a great SLR from college, but the costs of film and processing where starting to really pile up, let alone the costs for darkroom space when I could get it. But the cost of moving to a digital SLR made me feel faint for quite a while before I finally took the plunge.
And now I'm eying studio lights...le sigh!
Those are some sweet earrings, though.
BTW, just want everyone to know that I wasn't complaining about how much I would charge for an item like this. That wasn't the point of this post.
Creating are is a journey.
It's interesting to sit back and think about all the effort and experience that goes into creating.
And then realizing how far you've gone to get there.