METAMORPHOSIS 2019

Who’s ready for year 4 of metamorphosis?! YEAR 4! I’m so flattered and happy that you guys love this project (or are crazy) enough to keep volunteering so that I can keep doing it. Thanks to all of you, I get to be creative and create custom jewellery at a fraction of the price.

Interested in participating? Here are the details:

• You MUST be a referral (friend of a friend of a friend is fine)

• $100 required upfront

• You supply the materials (unless I design something that needs something you don’t have in which I will supply the materials)

• I will take your likes/dislikes into consideration but will make something of my choice

• Turnaround is 6 to 8 weeks

• Whatever I make you and it’s details will be posted on my social media

To apply, please send me photos of the jewellery you would like to use for this project and photos of jewellery you would like to acquire.

Questions? Don’t hesitate to ask!

METAMORPHOSIS 29: Sterling silver, amazonite, and diamond ring

Sterling silver and amazonite ring

I’ve been wanting to make a ring like this for awhile so I was pretty happy that it worked out for this Metamorphosis! I have a bunch of ideas of jewellery I want to make and it’s great when I get to use one of those ideas for this project.

It worked out but it was also a struggle! At first I thought I would make it straight from silver but it wasn’t working out with the methods I was using. Then the stone I ordered didn’t arrive so I had to remake it for another stone. I ended up making a wax setting for the ring which after casting was soldered to a silver band.

This ring was definitely a learning lesson and the next few I make will be easier thanks to the struggles I had making this one.

(photo below is of the Errin’s silver before I melted it to make her ring)

METAMORPHOSIS 28: Yellow gold leaf brooch

Yellow Gold Brooch

I've never made a brooch before so I was looking forward to adding this project to my repertoire!

I accidentally deleted the photo of Margo's bracelet but it looked like the sample below. 

One of the first things I noticed about Margo when I met her is that she always wears interesting matching accessories. And she wears a lot of brooches and makes them look super stylish.

To make her brooch, I melted her gold into a half inch by 6mm ingot. After I rolled it out (to 0.8mm), I started cutting out pieces in the shape of windshields that were then soldered together to create a conical marquise and pear-shape pieces. The windshield-shape is what creates the cone-shape.

Once I had a selection of sizes, I soldered all of them together and added the brooch mechanism which I also mostly made by hand (I purchased the pin catch - the thing on the left that the pin fits into). A little filing and polishing later and the brooch was complete!

METAMORPHOSIS 27

Asymmetrical Dangle Earrings

As soon as Katrina left my office, I knew right away that I was going to make her a pair of asymmetrical earrings! She has short hair and said she most often accessorizes with bold earrings. She mentioned loving the idea of asymmetrical earrings, saying something along the lines of them being like eyebrows: they're sisters, not twins! 

I hadn't made anything like this before so I was excited to get to it! 

Picking the stones was easy. Katrina had mentioned that she would really love some earrings with lapis lazuli. Furthermore, she had a heart-shaped piece of paua shell that I thought would look great with the lapis lazuli. The third stone, lace agate, was easy to pick once I had the other two lined up.

The challenge came in designing the earrings. Do you know how many possible combinations there are for asymmetrical earrings? MILLIONS!

At first I thought I would make the earrings two-toned but then decided to stick with silver so they wouldn't look too busy. I was also going to make them bigger but worried that they might get too heavy. I kept them at about three inches long and pretty light weight so they'd be comfortable for daily use.

I'm really happy with how these earrings turned out (and I think Katrina is too)! Really looking forward to making more of these, especially since I have a bunch of random stones lying around that would be perfect for asymmetrical earrings!

METAMORPHOSIS 26

Gold and Diamond Family Ring

Boy did I stress about this one! Monica had a Pinterest board full of jewellery ideas, which was awesome, but I couldn't pinpoint a specific style. I also didn't want to make another ring but that is the only design that kept coming to mind. (Good thing too because that's what she really wanted and she was convinced I was going to make her bangle! Ha!)

In the end, the ring has three elements: she likes two-toned jewellery, she seemed to like wrap rings, and she likes sentimental pieces. In regards to the latter: the three diamonds represent her husband and sons, and she's the wrap ring, hugging them!

I had to get my dad to help me quite a bit with the yellow gold part of this ring. Instead of making a wax model which would have made my life a lot easier, I decided to make the ring by hand. However, I'm not strong enough to bend gold by hand that's thick enough to contour. After the yellow gold wrap ring was done, I melted the white gold and made a bar that was soldered to the middle of the yellow wrap ring. Then I soldered the white gold settings so the white bar, set the stones, and polished the ring.

After I finished making the ring, I started panicking that I totally missed the mark and that she would hate what I made her. I even called a mutual friend for moral support. I know people sign up for this project expecting a 50% chance that they might hate what I make them, but I would obviously like to aim for 100% satisfaction.

Thankfully, despite my panic, she loved it!

METAMORPHOSIS 25

Yellow Gold and Flush-Set Diamond Ring

It's been over a year since my last Metamorphosis! Back in November when I decided to start Metamorphosis again, I was excited. As my meeting with Sandy approached for #25, I started panicking. I forgot how nerve-racking this project can be!

Thankfully, Metamorphosis 25 came easy. Sandy had a lot of yellow gold and diamonds, and she wanted a new ring that would complement her wedding set. A lot of times, I've gone back and forth between designs. This time, I had a design in mind and it stuck. 

To make Sandy's ring, I started with a wax model. After it was casted, cleaned up, and polished, I sent it to the stone-setter who flush-set (aka gypsy-set) 15 diamonds.

I'm happy with how it turned out and  I think she is too!

METAMORPHOSIS 2017

I've spent the last month thinking about my business goals for 2017 and I've decided that next year I will not be offering the monthly metamorphosis project. I will however, offer Metamorphosis $100. 

This year I've had the pleasure of making 3 Metamorphosis $100's (photos below). Here are the details:

• you can book the service at any time
• the turnaround is approximately 4 weeks
• the cost is $100 which I require upfront
• I will take your likes/dislikes into consideration, but the final product will be a design of my choice
• I will post a before/after photo and include a brief description of my jewellery-making process (here are links to samples: Magda, Beth, Karen)
• referrals only

Interested? Email me at alicia@aagoldsmith.com

Lastly, if you would rather design your own jewellery, I'd be happy to meet with you and quote you on my labour!

METAMORPHOSIS 24: REVEAL

Charm Necklace

I really had no idea what I was going to make Cassie up until a week ago. I just couldn't figure it out. I asked her to send me some photos of jewellery she likes and had decided to make a bracelet based on one of the photos she sent me. Then I started overthinking the bracelet idea and decided to make a charm necklace. I think I took her jewellery out every day for two weeks and nothing came to me until finally one day I realized I could turn some of her rings into charms.

I made the honeycomb by hand. I melted gold, rolled it out, cut out some hexagons and filed down their edges. The yellow gold "C" charm and the diamond setting were from two different rings she had. I took the rings apart, re-engraved the faded "C", retipped the claws on the diamond setting, added some jump rings to both, and voila! 

In case you're wondering about the honeycomb, Cassie's family owns the Honeybee Centre and she is basically my honey-dealer. And yes it would have made more sense for the honeycomb to be in yellow gold, but the "C" charm was yellow so I needed to create more balance. Plus, she mostly wears white metals.

This month's metamorphosis wasn't labour intensive but it sure did take awhile to come up with the idea. And sometimes less really is more: this month's metamorphosis really represents the project as a whole. The goal of metamorphosis is to try and repurpose what people have in the form it's already in. A lot of times I end up melting everything but it's cool when I can find ways to give something old, new life, without totally changing it.

This is the last metamorphosis of 2016! Next year I won't be doing monthly metamorphosis' but I will continue to do the project as people sign up for it. Stay-tuned! Interested? Details here.

METAMORPHOSIS 24: INTRO

Volunteer: Cassie G.

Likes: neutrals, organic shapes, simple, silver or white gold, sturdier bracelets, short necklaces, hammered metal, studs or earrings that don't dangle too much

This is my last Metamorphosis of 2016 and I have no idea what I'm going to make....NO IDEA. To make matters worse, I want to have it done by mid-month to avoid the Christmas hustle and bustle. Let's all nervously laugh together!

METAMORPHOSIS 23: REVEAL

Mini ear-climbers

As I mentioned in my intro, I knew what I wanted to make Alice from the very beginning. My biggest issue was picking stones. It took awhile to find small stones in a combination that worked. I originally wanted all of the stones to be the same colour but different shapes, but given the timeline, that wasn't going to work (I would have had to order stones online because my suppliers didn't have the shapes/stones I needed). It took me awhile to find a combination that worked size-wise. I ended up using round faceted hematites, round cabochon emeralds, and pear cabochon moonstones.

Once I had the stones, I bought the settings, soldered them together and voila! 

METAMORPHOSIS 23: INTRO

Volunteer: Alice L.

Likes: neutrals, stud earrings, long necklaces, stackable rings, two-tone jewellery, geometric and organic/natural shapes

I knew what I wanted to make Alice by the end of our meeting. I think I know Alice's style which made it pretty easy to decide. (Watch me totally miss the mark and make something she hates!)

I'm trying something sort of new. Part of it I've done before, another part might be new depending on how the first part turns out. I can tell you for sure that I need to pick a stone or two. Undecided on what colour stones to pick, mostly because it'll depend on what I have and can find.

Guess I better get to it!

METAMORPHOSIS 22: REVEAL

Two-toned X-Rings

A ring for Michelle and her sister!

Michelle had two rings from her parents that she said she would specifically like to use to make something for her and her sister but it didn't have to be for Metamorphosis. When she first told me this, I thought, don't use the rings...let her pick a special design. But as we started chatting about what she likes, etc, I got it into my head that I wanted to make them matching X-shape rings. I figured after a little research, I would think of something else to make her. Then, after our meeting, she sent me some photos of the jewellery she has which included some X and O earrings. It was a sign! She likes x-shapes! I had to make the rings! At the end of the day, she wasn't using her parents' rings so if she didn't like the new ones I made, then they'd go straight back to the bottom of her jewellery box.

After removing the stones and the white gold settings, I melted her gold. After making the bands and soldering them together, I sent them to the stone setter. Between the two rings, there were 18 stones but one of the stones was a tiny bit bigger than the rest so instead of 9 stones per ring, I was going to use 8. My dad suggested that 9 stones would actually look more even on he design so one of the rings would have to have the bigger stone in the middle. So that's what we did! The one with the bigger stone is Michelle's which makes sense because this was her Metamorphosis and she's the big sister!

METAMORPHOSIS 22: INTRO

Volunteer: Michelle S.

Likes: practical, simple, delicate, neutral, mix of white and yellow gold, stud earrings, short necklaces

I knew what I wanted to make Michelle by the end of our meeting. I can't really say much else without giving away too many hints, but...I can say that it's a mix of white and yellow gold! What could it be? Wait and see!

METAMORPHOSIS 21: REVEAL

Stackable Rings

Other than mentioning that she'd like to acquire stackable rings, Irene said she'd like something that represents her family. The amethyst (yellow gold) and peridot (white gold) rings represent her daughters and one day she has the option of giving them their respective rings. The diamond ring is for her husband since the stone is from a ring he gave her. And the twisted wire ring represents Irene: both colour metals bringing everything together!

METAMORPHOSIS 21: INTRO

Volunteer: Irene K.

Likes: practical jewellery, classic/vintage, family-oriented, long necklaces, stackable rings, natural/organic shapes

I have two ideas for Irene's metamorphosis and am I'm leaning towards one of them. I'd like to try and use two diamonds from rings her husband gave her that she said she would like incorporated if possible. I also think I might be going two-toned on this one. Guess I better get to it!

METAMORPHOSIS 20: REVEAL

2-way Earrings!

Maria had mentioned wanting earrings so I thought it would be nice to make her some that match an amethyst cocktail ring I had made her a few years ago (similar ring featured below).

I wanted to make some earrings that could be worn two-ways: a simple stud for day wear that could be spruced up by adding a multi-stone jacket.

I hadn't made jackets for earrings before so it was good practise to come up with the technical design. Originally, I had planned for each jacket to have either four or six marquise stones but once I started placing the settings together I realized that three stones per earring was the most balanced.

I'm looking forward to making another pair!

METAMORPHOSIS: KAREN

Amethyst Cuff

I was stumped on this one. I really didn't know what I wanted to make. Karen had said she would like either a ring or bracelet, something that incorporated the amethysts from a jewellery-set, and a piece of jewellery that represented a new start.

I sat down to brainstorm and nothing came to me. I wanted this to be special for her. Karen is going back to art school to follow her dreams so I wanted this to be something that reflected this new beginning.

Normally I hit up pinterest for inspiration but that didn't get me anywhere. I got the idea for this cuff by rummaging through my "silver to melt" bag. Karen mentioned she liked leaves and feathers and what do you know, I had two leaves in that bag. To make them work however, one had to be upside down which took away it's leaf-look. I tried thinking of different ways I could change the design so that both leaves were facing up but, short of making a new leaf, nothing came to me. It finally occured to me that the blank leaf was ok. Karen's starting a new chapter in her life, a blank slate of sorts, so it's fitting that one leaf be blank. And after that realization, it also made sense to use twisted wire: her old and new life coming together.

Thankfully I can report that she loved it!

METAMORPHOSIS 20: INTRO

Volunteer: Maria P.

Likes: jewel tones and cool colours, stackable rings, layered necklaces, cocktail earrings,

When Maria and I first started chatting, I had an idea of what I was going to make her. By the time our meeting was over, I had decided on something else. Sometimes it takes weeks for me to settle on an idea. Sometimes, an idea pops into my head and holds on for dear life.

I don't want to give away any hints but I will say it's something I haven't tried before!

METAMORPHOSIS 19: REVEAL

Cloud Necklace

I knew I wanted to make Meghan something nature-oriented. To get some ideas, I scrolled through her Instagram where she has photos of the spectacular scenic landscapes she's visited on her travels. As you can see by the photos, a lot of them have water, mountains, and clouds. When I noticed all the clouds, I remembered one halloween when Meghan was Grumpy Care Bear. Grumpy Bear has a cloud on it's stomach that rains both water and hearts.

After reminiscing about our care bear halloween, I knew I wanted to make her something blue and white that resembled a cloud. And the best idea I came up with was this necklace!

The trickiest part of making this necklace was setting all the stones. When you solder a bunch of bezel settings together, there isn't a lot of wiggle room to set the stones. I definitely got my dads help for some of the setting (as you can see by the man-hands in the bottom right photo of the making of quartet).

I think this necklace represents Meghan and thankfully, she loves it!

*Note: the top left photo of the inspiration photo quartet is by our friend Alice. Meghan was on the same trip so I figured the photo counted and could be included!

METAMORPHOSIS 19: INTRO

Volunteer: Meghan B.

Profession: Officer, Philanthropy at the BCSPCA 

Likes: neutrals, natural/organic stones, antiques, vintage, feminine details, necklaces

Meghan is the first friend I made in highschool. She is one of the best people I know so I'm pretty excited to make her something. That being said, I'm also terrified. I think I know her style pretty well, but that only adds pressure to this metamorphosis.

I have an idea. I think I really like it. Let's hope it works and that she likes it too!