Little Surprises

Jewelry Discussion
1

Lately I’ve been thinking about different kinds of little
surprises that I can include into the design of my jewelry
piece. For example, etching or stamping a little design around
the karet or sterling mark. Or maybe a little spot of a
different colored metal in an unusual place. Maybe something a
little humorous.

Just wondering what some of my orchid friends are doing these
days to add little surprises to their pieces?

Cheers

Virginia Lyons
Metalsmith

2

Virginia, I love to add surprises to my pieces!!! I saw-out
pictures or a scene of some sort on the back of my stuff. My 8th
grade home ec. teacher always told us a piece of clothing should
look as good on the inside as it does on the outside! So, I make
my jewelry just as interesting(almost) on the back as the front.

3

Hello Virginia,

I don’t know whether this qualifies as a surprise. About 15
years ago My partner and I built 2 model fine silver tall ships,
the real things were visiting that summer. Before fitting the
decks to the hulls, I engraved the following on the underside;
“we regret to inform you that your warranty is now void”

I hope nobody ever gets to see it though, they were pretty.

4

Hello Virginia, For the past year or so, I have been setting a
one point single cut diamond somewhere hidden on the special
pieces I’ve done. I bought a paper of them for 150.00 per carat.
I never tell the customer and it sometimes takes weeks for them
to notice. Great fun. Tom Arnold

5 
  Just wondering what some of my orchid friends are doing
these days to add little surprises to their pieces?  >>

Virginia, When I was a junior in art school, a fellow student
made a great silver pin. It was the front of an airplane with a
propeller. It had a chain hanging off of it with a little
parachute person at the end. When you turned the propeller, the
parachute person went up and down. It was a cute surprise.
***Kirsten in PA

6

lol Lisa!! That reminds me of what a goldsmith once told me
about scratches on the backs of jewelry pieces. As a student, I
once asked if it was a ok if there were just a few minor
scratches on the back – since they would not show when worn–
but my goldsmith friend said that it matter because “God sees
them”!!

Cheers

Virginia Lyons
metalsmith