"After the stones are cut then sketches are made.
Working it out on paper is important before the
forging of silver and gold begins. You need to know
exactly what you're going to be doing because
sometimes things cannot be undone and when you're
working with gold everything has to be precise.
Making jewelry with precious metal in sheet and
wire form is called hand fabrication."
An acetylene torch is used with flux and various
solders for the welding of silver and gold
"I'm soldering 14k gold and sterling silver
together to make earrings and a bracelet in my
landscape series."
As an oil painter for many years as well as a jewelry artist Marilyn Mack knows the value
in doing a sketch before starting the work. It is one of her favorite aspects of the design process.
Return to "Into Arizona"
Return to Stone Cutting
Return to Ingredients
Design and
Fabrication
Sterling silver and 14k yellow gold sheet, bezel
and wire are the basic precious metals that I use
in my work. The tools you see below are the same
simple hand tools that I have been using for the
past three decades. The torch at right is a basic
acetylene set up.
The supplies and simple tools that bring it all together