Carrabassett Valley Jewelry: The Design Process

Once the initial idea has taken shape in my mind, I begin to sketch possible variations on graph paper (Image A). For most design sets, I then photograph the design and edit it in Photoshop to get a grey and white template of the proper size. The paper template is cut out and glued in place on the sheet silver (Image B), and I use a jewelers’ saw to cut the outside shape, and file the edges so they are smooth. The grey areas get cut out, so I drill pilot holes in each grey area through which to thread the saw blade and cut out the inside negative space (Image C). After a quick soak in a tub of water, the paper rinses off and the piece is hammered into shape. Most pieces are buffed to a mirror finish, but some are further textured using various hand tools (Image E) to get the desired effect. I use a soft toothbrush with dish detergent and toothpicks to clean the buffing compound from each piece. I then drill any final holes, attach the appropriate findings and initial and date each piece. Voila!