04/15/2026
Practicing other new jewelry smithing skills. Took a workshop back in October with in Florence, Italy, on flush setting faceted stones where the stones are inset into the metal and level with the surface. Very tricky because if you mess up drilling the seat the whole piece might need to get tossed into the scrap pile. But I have wanted to add this technique to my designs for a long time, so have lately screwed up my courage to become adept. Yesterday started small, after some practicing, and made these simple asymmetrical sterling post earrings with lab sapphires, 18k gold accents, and traditional Florentine etched striated texture (also learned at workshop).