Process
Annette and Barney at the bench in Hermosa Beach, CA 2004
When you are looking at my jewelry you are looking at several processes. First of all, I am creating the colors I use by layering and fusing the glass sheets. I cut out shapes from these colors to use as "stones" for my silver setting work. After the glass is completely finished I then do all the metal work and I create silver bezel cups that hold the glass pieces.
Here are some pictures to illustrate what is going on in the studio...
Here are some pictures to illustrate what is going on in the studio...
 The first step is to build the glass color. I sit at a glass bench and layer opaque, transparent and dichroic glass.
 I use a hand held glass cutter to score the glass and grozing pliers to grab and snap the glass.
 There are many pieces and layers for my Faces.
 I draw on the glass with gold pen to mark the desired shape.
 I cut the glass piece with a diamond covered trim saw.
 I cut up the pieces of glass to get ready to grind.
 I put the pieces back into the kiln to polish the edges. I fire up to 1375.
 I start the metal process by wrapping a bezel (fine silver flat wire) around the glass.
 Soldering the bezel cup.
 I have many trays of glass I've made along the way. I go to these trays when I need a color... or inspiration!
 I lay out the design on my bench while I build the parts.
 Here I am building the flower that will not be set into silver. The top layer has a gold luster fired on the back.
|  I use 1/8" rolled hand made glass sheets from the Bullseye Glass Company from Portland, OR.
 I stack my layers of glass and place them on a prepared ceramic shelf for the first firing in a glass kiln.
Space Balls are pictured here.  I fire the first batch of glass to approximately 1475 degrees F.
 I work on many pieces at the same time.
 Or, I make "tiles" of my color, send them to the glass factory, and have them water jet cut. They "snap" off a spine and I grind the tabs off.
 I grind the edges on a diamond flat lap glass grinder.
 The glass is now ready to be set in silver.
 After I solder the seam of the bezel I prepare a sterling silver sheet to solder it on. I mark the spots I want to stamp.
 After the cup is soldered I trim the edges and then set the glass into the cup.
 Here I am working on some links for a custom necklace.
 A Face necklace for a special order.
 I am cementing the top layer to the bottom. The flower is now ready to be strung with the pearls.
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