Here are some new earrings from my Agate Series, featuring flameworked glass discs that I made using soda lime glass.
The glass discs were made off-mandrel using a few different glasses, all with a cOE 104 (soft glass). I used 8 different colours and traditional glassblowing techniques, adapted to a small scale, to create the marbled effect.
After they were annealed in the kiln, I coldworked them on a flat lap and polished them with diamond grit and cerium oxide, so they are flat and have a buttery smooth finish. Then I drilled holes for the silver rivets.
Here is a similar disc before coldworking:
The settings for the discs are hand made from sterling silver and 18K gold. I hand forged and soldered the earrings using hammers, files, a saw, Flexshaft and a small micro torch.
This was all an experiment and a totally different approach for me but it was really fun and has got me thinking about a whole new collection. Happily, these sold very quickly :-)
Here is a video of the process.....