In my never-ending exploration of new materials and techniques, I’ve begun working with Shibuichi, a Japanese alloy of copper and sterling silver known for the interesting effects that can be accomplished by applying patinas.
A new material, a new earring design. Shibuichi has come to ML Jewelry Designs!
This is my very first Shibuichi project, where I combined a variety of metalworking techniques — texturing, cutting, and doming — to produce domed disc shapes. Once the components were made, I used several metal finishing processes, including tumbling, scrubbing to prepare for the patina, and then applying several coats of a specialized patina, washing and judging the color for the desired effect between each application. Finally, I assembled each earring using sterling silver jump rings and hand-formed sterling ear wires.
What’s interesting about this material, as opposed to my sterling silver earrings, is that the texture pattern appears in a lighter color; normally, my processes for sterling silver make the pattern appear as the darker color.
Although it’s hard to see in this photo, the color of the copper included in this alloy does show through a bit, giving the earrings a somewhat golden hint of color.
You can find these earrings in my online shop or in my booth at Art Shows.
Hand made by jewelry artist Maria Langer in her Malaga WA studio.
Although I’ve been making beaded earrings for years now, I’ve changed things up by adding tube beads and sterling silver bali beads to the mix. Tube beads are long, slender beads, usually between 1/4 and 1/2 inch long; bali beads are flat spacer beads with tiny round bead shapes around their edges. The combination of those beads and the standard round 4mm gemstone beads and 2mm sterling silver beads I use in necklaces make a more interesting and elegant pair of earrings. 
See for yourself! Here are two examples of the five styles currently available: Tibetan Agate, Onyx, and Sterling Silver and Crazy Lace Agate and Sterling silver. I’ve got more styles coming soon.