Etsy Giveaway , London Blue Topaz in 14k Gold Filled Studs by Helenes Dreams

"Faceted Peruvian Blue Chalcedony Gemstone
on Sterling Silver Wide Ring Band"

Okay well, I admit it, I have not been the best blogger lately. Somehow just fell off those tracks..and trying to get back on board! So lets start this one off with a bang! I am going to promote my own giveaway...hey why not!

But first, let me tell you what I have been up to lately. For the photo on top, I finally was able to set a few of my chalcedony gemstones. Here is my first wide ring band, hand forged, 1/2 inch wide over 1mm thick ring band with a set peruvian blue or sea foam chalcedony gemstone. It was a challenge getting the bezel to stay on the ring band just right when I was soldering it..NOT easy at least for now.

"Pink Topaz Gemstone in Sterling Silver Tube Bezel Ring"

I have been teaching myself how to set simple round gemstones. Well, since I am a rock fanatic, I need to know more about pointy stones too! So this is one of my first challenges. Here I have created a tube bezel with heavy wall tubing. I bought lots of setting burs and made this ring 5 times before I felt like I finally have it down. The hardest trick for me was learning to solder the shanks on to the sides of the bezel, instead of the bezel being on top of the ring shank. After numerous painful trys..I finally figured it out. I need to recycle a lot of metal..its true. I am now moving on to cushion shape and oval tube settings. Wish me luck.

By the way the trick here is to not have any hard pressure holding the ring shank to the tube bezel and practice!

"London Blue Topaz set in 14 Gold Filled Bezels & Posts"

I have started to seriously work with a bit of gold filled metal now too. Soldering is slightly different with gold filled. It works more like regular gold, but it is very limited in what you create with it. Gold is so expensive right now, that it is almost untouchable for someone who is learning a lot. So, I am practicing with Gold Filled for now. I use boric acid and denatured alcohol with flux to keep firescale from accumulating. I also keep the heat more centralized at the point at which I am working. It does take more time to melt the solder so it seems with gold filled.

Gold filled jewelry is considered lifetime jewelry and it certainly shines up beautifully just like the 14k gold with very little difference at all. I hope to graduate to just gold someday! But for now I am working a few new designs with gold filled and personalized handstamped jewelry ...so please check back!

So now for the giveaway........................


I would like to kindly invite you to visit my shop and check out some of my new designs. In honor of spring season and Mother's Day, I am going to giveaway to one lucky winner, a pair of 6mm Genuine London Blue Topaz Gemstones set in 14k Gold Filled Studs or Post Earrings!

Here is what you have to do to enter this contest:

You do not have to be a blogger to enter.

It is open to World Wide Entries!

PLEASE NOTE: Each entry must be posted separately to count.

1. For one entry please go to my Etsy store, Helenes Dreams and check it out. Come back here to my blog and post a comment on your favorite thing from the shop. Also, please be sure to leave your email address so I can notify you if you are a winner.

2. For a 2nd entry subscribe to my blog by email in the upper left side of my blog. ( I only blog about once a week or so..well I use to!)

3. For a 3rd entry if you would like..follow my blog, or link back to my blog, or blog about this great giveaway! ( You can post this entry if you already follow my blog or link to it. Please post the url link if you blog or twitter about this giveaway.)

4. For a 4th entry ....post this link on your Facebook and invite your friends to a great giveaway!

This giveaway will end on Sunday, April 18th at midnight. A winner will be picked using Random.org. Up to four entries are accepted per person. I will post the winner on Monday, April 19th. The earrings will be sent out to a winner who has claimed their prize within 3 days of being notified...just in time for Mother's Day!

I would like to thank all of you for taking a moment to participate. I greatly appreciate it.

Have a great day!
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Updated April 20th, 2010

Today, the Random.org generator picked lucky entry #149 which is Snowflake07! Yeah! Congratulations to Snowflake07 ! I will be contacting Snowflake07 by email and congratulating them!

Thank you so very much to all of you who have made such kind and wonderful comments and for participating in the giveaway. Please check back, I will be offering another giveaway in May 2010 as well.

Please check in for some new designs soon coming to my shop! I am working on them now!