Exploring New Textures, Again

I recently went to the 

Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen's 

show at Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia.

The Guild shows are consistently wonderful because members must meet and maintain a certain level of mastery in their particular area of craft.

I'm always interested in seeing what other jewelers are creating and was again reminded that most professionals have developed a particular line that can be recognized...

(some fabulous work was seen by Janine DeCresenzo and Heather Stief)

a definite advantage when promoting one's work.

I continue to believe that, when seen as a whole, the body of my work has a degree of cohesiveness,

but individual pieces might not be attributed to me.

This approach does create a marketing challenge,

but I have not been able to deny my interest in exploring new techniques...

like the texturing of these copper discs.

I had cut a few discs, wanting to experiment with texturing.

The plan had been to do some fold-forming,

so the discs were annealed.

As I prepared to get to work, my focus shifted to my dapping block

and ended up with a a texture that calls to mind a lotus seed pod or a lunar landscape.

Once I had a small collection of these lotus/lunar discs,

the brainstorming began.

I have what I think are promising ideas for earrings and bracelets that incorporate the new discs,

but chose to move forward with a necklace.

Three discs, of gradating size, 

were soldered to a base of etched silver nickel

that I had cut with my jeweler's saw.

A bail was formed with pliers

and soldered on to the back

allowing for a clean connection to the woven cable.

Could this be the beginning of a specific line in my jewelry empire?

Possible....

but probably not.