Connecting Forged Jewelry - Part 2

Cold connected bangles with copper rivets by Hammerhead Designs

Playing with fire is fun but not everyone can or should be lighting up a torch in their home / studio. This is where cold connections become useful for joining metal. These are exemplary images of how to design great pieces of jewelry with out soldering. The bangles above by Hammer Head Designs are forged and riveted closed with handmade copper rivets. Riveting is not only ideal for connecting together metal, but for other materials that can not be heated with a torch such as wood.

                                                                                                                                  

Wadestone and Glass Works bangles

                                                                   

The bangles above by Wadestone and Glass Works are connected by commercially manufactured miniature nuts and bolts. These tiny screws are not only functional but serve as a decorative focal point. You just need to drill the correct size hole in order to join the forged ends of the bangles together by screwing the nuts and bolts together tightly.

                                                                   

                                                                                                       

Wire-wrapping creates opportunities to not only connect elements but enhance a design when used skillfully. This forged horse shoe necklace, found on Pinterest, is connected to the chain by coils of wire that are not just decorative but functional as well.                                                                                                      

                                                                                                       

Necklace by Sophie Hughes

                                                                                                       

Jump rings are great for joining together metal that has holes or bars to connect to. In order to create the holes you will need a metal hole punch or a drill. I love this necklace by Sophie Hughes. She has forged and rolled decorative metal bars that are connected to a chain. I can only assume there is a bar or hole inside the tubes to connect the chain with jump rings.

Ring found on Erie Basin

The focal point on this forged and oxidized ring by Erie Basin serves as a closure as well. Featuring how a piece comes together by planning your design around a folded tab closure is a great way to join metal without soldering.

                                                                                                 

Forged sterling silver with leather by Donna Veverka

                                                                                                       

This cuff by Donna Veverka really opened my eyes to creative new ways of forging and connecting without soldering. The bars are made from heavy gauge round wires that are forged flat in the center. The round wire on the ends are then looped to wrap around leather, framing and holding the forged bars in place. Absolutely brilliant!

If you're interested in learning more about jewelry design, we encourage you to explore the Sheffield School, New York, NY. Sheffield began as an Interior Design school in 1985, and then expanded our course offerings to train people in other design-related fields, including Feng Shui, Wedding and Event Planning, and Jewelry Design. With thousands of active students and more than 50,000 graduates, Sheffield has trained more design professionals than any school in the world.

Request a free Sheffield School catalog describing our distance education courses.

Subscribe to the Sheffield Designer newsletter.

4 Favorite Contemporary Bridal Gowns that Look Vintage

Nostalgic looks are dominating many of today's weddings, and we're pleased to report that brides, grooms, and attendants don't only have to shop vintage (although that remains a great option). Some designers are embracing the look and feel of vintage and are coming up with some smashing examples of romantic, nostalgic bridalwear. A great example is the "Eden" gown (top photo) from designer Jenny Packham. Here are four of our favorite nostalgic contemporary gowns; click on each photo to see other shots from the weddings in which these lovely gowns were featured.

Above: A dramatic open-backed, lacey gown by Monique Lhuillier.

Above: The soft flowing vintage look of a bridal dress by Jenny Packham.

Above: The gown by Carol Hannah features lots of hand-cut lace detailing.

Thanks to 100 Layer Cake for their beautiful photographs, posts, and wedding and event inspiration. 100 Layer Cake is a unique, comprehensive wedding and event planning resource for and by thoughtful, crafty modern women. Their vendors, projects, weddings, resources, sponsors, and marketplace are hand-picked and thoroughly researched with the hope that every single one is a truly unique addition to both your wedding and your planning process. Visit the 100 Layer Cake website today.

 Sheffield School began as an Interior Design school in 1985, and then expanded our course offerings to train people in other design-related fields, including Feng Shui, Wedding and Event Planning, and Jewelry Design. With thousands of active students and more than 50,000 graduates, Sheffield has trained more design professionals than any school in the world.

Request a free Sheffield School catalog describing our distance education courses.

Subscribe to the Sheffield Designer newsletter.

Are You Buying New Bath Towels This Month? (Think White Sales!)

There are still January White Sales, with bedding and bath linens going on sale during the month, but it's not such an obsession any more with homeowners. We actually wish it were, as it was always a great tradition. It was nice to have an annual "trigger" or prompt to get us to change out something in our homes.

Fresh bedding and bath towels are a great way to add a necessary jolt to a bedroom and bath - but today, let's get obsessed with bath towels! Here are some of our favorites, and perhaps this post will prod you into action this year. Replace some fading, fraying towels with fresh ones! Click on each photo for more product information.

 Sheffield School began as an Interior Design school in 1985, and then expanded our course offerings to train people in other design-related fields, including Feng Shui, Wedding and Event Planning, and Jewelry Design. With thousands of active students and more than 50,000 graduates, Sheffield has trained more design professionals than any school in the world.

Request a free Sheffield School catalog describing our distance education courses.

Subscribe to the Sheffield Designer newsletter.

We Love This New Kitchen Cooking and Decor Concept

This new futuristic appliance concept is brilliant, and I wholeheartedly support what Whirlpool would like to create around its new Fireplace product. A table that functions as a cooking, warming, and chilling surface in the center is below a smart light-hood combination that controls the air and humidity. You can bring any meal to the table and gather everyone around for conversation. At a party, drinks stay chilled or tea and coffee stays piping hot.

Click here for more information on Fireplace, and enjoy the concept video. This is a product that's been shown around the world for the past two years, and has now been introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show. It would be a gas to have one in our house, if Whirlpool ever decides to move beyond their futuristic concept and hit the production button. This is exactly the way contemporary families eat and entertain.

 Sheffield School began as an Interior Design school in 1985, and then expanded our course offerings to train people in other design-related fields, including Feng Shui, Wedding and Event Planning, and Jewelry Design. With thousands of active students and more than 50,000 graduates, Sheffield has trained more design professionals than any school in the world.

Request a free Sheffield School catalog describing our distance education courses.

Subscribe to the Sheffield Designer newsletter.

Colorful Modular Storage

(Dahlia Floor Cube, courtesy of Drift Studio)

If you’re tired of staring at – maybe even using - those brown storage cubes that are everywhere, then take a look at these colorful cubes. Drift Studio designed a fresh interpretation of those ubiquitous cubes using fun patterns.

You start with a panel of a pattern from their collection and then you can build different configurations of furniture according to your desire and needs. Above is their simplest piece – a cube with the beautiful Dahlia pattern. You can add legs or wheels if you want portability. 

(NYC 4 Up, courtesy of Drift Studio)You can build up the cubes, two on top of two, and create a small armoire such as their NYC 4 Up with a map of lower Manhattan.  They also have a Chicago and Los Angeles version. A mix of open and closed cubes creates a larger display case, as in Level 3.

(Level 3, courtesy of Drift Studio)

Interested in learning more about furniture? Take a look at Sheffield School's Complete Course in Interior Design. At Sheffield, you'll learn how to transform a space, create color schemes, and select furniture, lighting, and accessories.