A client wanted me to make two very special rings with some pieces of White Oak found on her husband's family's farmland. I had never worked with wood for a cabochon before, and so I felt this would be an interesting little project. Have any of you worked with wood in a jewelry application before?
I tested a piece of the wood with poly and I liked the beautiful dark grain it brought out, but I decided to go with resin epoxy instead because I really needed to ensure the wood would be completely sealed in order to protect it from water. Nothing is more annoying than removing a ring every time you wash you hands! Did you ever have one of those rings?
The raw bark all around the wood piece really adds to the overall rustic look! Personally, I love textures, and these rings are a beautiful combination of textures: the lovely lines of the wood grain contrasting with the jagged edges of the bark against the smooth, shiny silver of the metal!
As per my clients request, I made both rings so that they're adjustable in size because she wants to be able to wear them on different fingers; such a clever idea!
I've learned one important lesson with this project: Jewelry is not limited to stones, pearls and beach glass; any material can be used to make jewelry! The key is to think outside the box! Do you have an original idea for a jewelry piece? We'd love to hear it. Please share in the comment box.
