;
Jewelry is made from semi-precious stones, generally chalcedony (agate or jasper), fossils and petrified wood. The settings (findings) are of bronze or Argentium silver which does not tarnish as quickly as traditional sterling silver. The bronze is unfinished and will patina over time. Some items I have chemically treated to give patina. Depending on one's taste, maintenance will require occasional buffing with a soft cloth or polishing with silver/brass polish if a brighter finish is desired. The hard to reach spaces are intended to be left patinated to reveal the contours.
|
Woodwork is made from hardwood solids or veneer. Finish is generally either oil-base stain, ammonia fumed (white oak & mahogany) or natural. I apply a wax (clear or tinted) over the wood as the final polish. Maintenance will require only an occasional application of clear paste wax - like every five to ten years.
I have had the good fortune to have made new friends in Denton who have a family-owned ranch west of here. They allow me to collect oak and mesquite wood from their woods, which I utilize in my woodworking projects. |