What is it about rings that is so appealing? Over the winter break, I sat down in my studio thinking that maybe I'd make ONE ring, but somehow I stayed glued to my chair and made six! As a designer, there's something appealing about making a one-of-a-kind item on a very small scale. As someone who wear rings, I think at least part of their appeal is that you wear them on a place that's easily visible (unlike earrings, which you can't see unless you look in a mirror). They're also perfect for winter when you're covered up in long-sleeved turtleneck sweaters and only your hands are visible.
River Rocks in Jewelry
I've always liked using river rocks in my jewelry, as you can see from some of my necklaces, bracelets, and earrings below. These are smooth rocks slowly polished by the water over time. The colors range from tan and beige (some speckled, some solid) to darker gray and black. They all have rounded edges, but some are oval, while others are almost triangular in shape. The holes are not necessarily perfectly in the middle of the stone, which gives them a playful quality. The rocks are all surprisingly lightweight and their smoothness makes them fun to touch when worn. There's just something irresistible about using a little bit of a natural element in your jewelry. You know that you have something unique. You can't just go and order Mother Nature to create a rock that's the exact shape, size, color, and texture that you've dreamed up in your head.
The Rings
Each river rock ring uses a unique stone attached to a copper-plated hammered band. I normally make adjustable rings that can be easily resized, but these are not adjustable. The bands shrunk a little during the construction process, so they're not neat-and-tidy whole sizes. This makes them even more individualistic. How often do you find rings in half or three-quarter sizes? (As someone who wears a half-size, I can tell you that it's not very common!) These rings are on the small side (the smallest is just under a size 5 and the largest around a 6 1/2), making them perfect for tweens, teens, and those with smaller fingers. They're fun to wear. I'm definitely the type of person who fiddles with my jewelry when I'm in a meeting or sitting in a waiting room and these rings fit the bill with being fun to touch and twist around on your finger.