Rosea Nigrum Ovalibus

I made this ring a while back, but I thought it could use a little posting of its own. I really enjoy these pink agate stones. They are very striking and really make a statement.

Rosea Nigrum Ovalibus, Daniel Icaza, 2012, Sterling Silver, Fine Silver, Agate  

I have a few more of these stones and I am always excited to see what they will eventually turn into. Just have to wait for the inspiration bug to bite. I hope I catch a fever when I finally do get bitten.

Until next time.

Peace and Love

Silver Spiral Pins

Playing around with my wire inspired me to make some pins. Here are the first four and I hope to make a few more soon. 

Silver Spiral Pin #1 (Double Spiral), Daniel Icaza, 2012, Fine Silver, Sterling Silver

I love spirals and even though they are rather simple they can be very meaningful and can be interpreted in an abundance of ways.

Silver Spiral Pin #2 (Compass), Daniel Icaza, 2012, Fine Silver, Sterling Silver

Each arrangement of spirals inspires me in a different way and those inspirational interpretations are reflected in the names of each piece.

Silver Spiral Pin #3 (Trinity), Daniel Icaza, 2012, Fine Silver, Sterling Silver

From elements to cardinal directions the spiral can represent an infinite variety of ideas as it often represents the infinite in and of itself.

Silver Spiral Pin #4 (Water), Daniel Icaza, 2012, Fine Silver, Sterling Silver

That is all I have to share for now but I will be back again soon with more.

Until next time.

Peace and Love

Fairy Dagger

This is the first knife I ever made in my university blacksmithing class. One of my favorite pieces, as I mentioned in the previous knife post "Dark-Twins" I really enjoyed and miss blacksmithing and I often wonder when I will have the opportunity to blacksmith again. 

Fairy Dagger, Daniel Icaza, 2010, Pattern Welded Steel (Damascus Steel), Copper/Nickle Mokume-Gane, Brass, Cocobolo, Leather, Beads

I have been thinking of a few different small steel/iron projects I could work on, but with all the other things that are going on at the moment, it's more of a fantasy than a real thought.
Maybe I will get the time at some point but for now there are other things to tend to.
Speaking of which I should get back to work.
Until next time.

Peace and Love

Golden Clip

I recently finished another commission in gold for a client.
It can be very difficult to find a good present for a man, particularly in the jewellery department. This gold clip makes a great money clip, tie bar or general accessory which makes it a very versatile gift.

Golden Clip (Tie Bar/Money Clip), Daniel Icaza, 2012, 18k Yellow Gold, 1ct Blue/Green Tourmaline

This is also one of the first pieces I have made since my rolling mill broke so you can notice the wire based construction. Even though there was a materials limitation I am very happy with how the piece turned out and I am really enjoying playing with wire. 

I will have more to share soon.

Until next time.

Peace and Love

Dark Twins

Here are some new pictures I took of some knives I made while studying at the University.

Dark Twins, Daniel Icaza, 2010, Pattern Welded Steel (Damascus Steel), Leather, Beads 

Although there are a few more moral implications in making knives than other objects, I really enjoy blacksmithing and I look forward to the day I can do some more blacksmithing work.

I have a few more "old" knives I plan to share soon and I guess that is all I have to say for now. 

Until next time.

Peace and Love

Flavo Ovalibus Arcus

This is one of my favorite rings from the original batch. Mostly because of the stone. It's difficult to see in the picture, but this Dendritic Quartz stone not only has a beautiful yellow hue running through it, but it also has several rainbow inclusions scattered within it.

Flavo Ovalibus Arcus, Daniel Icaza, 2012, Fine Silver, Sterling Silver, Dendritic Quartz

Sometimes the little imperfections are what truly makes some thing beautiful and unique. That is why I embrace the slight "imperfections" present within my own work. If I need or want something to be "perfect", I wouldn't waste my time trying to fabricate it by hand.

I would design it on a computer and have it printed out. . .
I don't want to go off into a big rant or some huge manifesto to justify this. It is simply my perspective. "Use the right tools, for the right jobs"... If you will. 

I hope you enjoyed my little rant, I will be back with more to share soon. 

Until next time.

Peace and Love

Materials

 Just decieded I would share a few pictures of some of my favorite materials.

A Few Different Types of Quarzt, (Dendritic and Rutilated)

I love working with quartz, even though it is one of the most common minerals on our planet, quartz comes in such a wide range of different colors and combinations I am always fascinated with the unique beauty of each stone.

Pure Gold, Pure Silver, 18k Yellow Gold Settings, Blue Saphires

This was a picture that was taken a while back when I was fabricating one of the commissioned rings. To read a little more and look at the final product follow this link: "Lacrimis Solis"

Pure Gold (24k), Pure Silver,

One last picture I just had to share. I am simply mezmerized by the color of pure gold and silver. It has such a deep and enchanting hue few things can compare.

I will be back with more things to share soon.

Until next time.

Peace and Love

Picta Fenestram

I just finished a new commissioned necklace. I do not have a whole lot to say about it, but I am very happy with how it turned out.

Picta Fenestram, Daniel Icaza, 2012, Fine Silver, Sterling Silver,  Brazilian Agate

The design is a bit of a cross in-between a few necklaces I made in December of 2010.

To view those necklaces please follow this link: "CLICK HERE" 

Picta Fenestram, Daniel Icaza, 2012, Fine Silver, Sterling Silver,  Brazilian Agate

I decided to construct this necklace out of solid wire instead of hollow tubing as I have done a few times in the past. It can some times be desirable to build a chain out of tubing, but I am hoping to start making more solid chains as they are more durable; and since there is no solder seam along the length of the wire, I find it to be more attractive.

Picta Fenestram, Daniel Icaza, 2012, Fine Silver, Sterling Silver,  Brazilian Agate

I also got some fancy new jewellery boxes made recently. It is pretty cool, but also a little strange to have boxes with my name and logo on them; I suppose it is just a surreal sort of feeling.

That's all I have to share for now, but I will be back again soon with more.

Until next time.
Peace and Love

Arcos Ovalibus

This is a ring that I made a while ago. I figured I would go ahead and make a post about it as I have not talked about this piece yet. I really love these large obsidian stones unfortunetly I am still try to find the best way to photograph this type of stone. 

Arcos Ovalibus, Daniel Icaza, 2012, Sterling Silver, Fine Silver, Obsidian 

These pictures really don´t do the stone justice. Hopefully this example of a rough cut slab of rainbow obsidian may give you a better idea of how pretty this stone really is.   

Rough Cut Rainbow Obsidian 

I should have some new pieces completed soon, so I will be back with more shortly.

Until next time.

Peace and Love 

Aurea Octo

Here is the most recent ring I have fabricated. Another commission for a client, and as always I am very happy with the end results. It is always a thrill to see how these rings turn out as I usually do not do any drawing or sketching before beginning the construction. It all starts with a picture in my mind...

Aurea Octo, Daniel Icaza, 2012, 18kt Yellow Gold, 10.5ct Ametrine  

I have really enjoyed the opportunity to create a few pieces in gold and I look forward to making a few more commissioned pieces soon. 

Aurea Octo, Daniel Icaza, 2012, 18kt Yellow Gold, 10.5ct Ametrine  

Although I do find it to be a little more nerve-racking to work with gold instead of silver. The more practice I get with the material, the more comfortable I become with the idea.

Aurea Octo, Daniel Icaza, 2012, 18kt Yellow Gold, 10.5ct Ametrine  

I have worked with gold many times before, but I have usually used it as an accent or focal point in the past. Only recently have I had the privilege to be able to start making pieces out of solid gold and not having to worry about the investment.

I guess that is all I have for now, I will be back again soon with more to share.
Until next time.
Peace and Love

Circum Amethistus

This ring was made a while back, but I really loved the way it turned out and wanted to show it off a little more.

Circum Amethistus, Daniel Icaza, 2012, Sterling Silver, Amethyst

I really like the color purple and amethyst crystals are always enchanting. I have a few more pieces of amethyst lying around, I just have to wait for inspiration to strike.
Hope to be back with more soon.

Until next time.

Peace and Love

Broken Tools = Set Backs. . .

One of those things you hear about and hope that will never happen to you. I had a tragedy happen to me the other day. I some how managed to have one of my favorite tools break on me. And I always felt that I couldn't break this tool if I was trying to... 

The rolling mill how it should look... 

I was working on a commission piece that I hope to share soon, when all of a sudden I heard a big CRACK! and my rolling mill came apart into two parts!

The rolling mill and how the handle/"reduction gear  box" broke off. 

Needless to say, I was shocked, surprised, frustrated and sad (quite the roller coaster of emotions). Mostly shocked and surprised. . . I felt like I could cry but, after all it is just a little "spilt milk".

Rolling mill (on left), reduction gear box (on right). In this picture you can see how the roller looks like it sheared off like a twisted wire! 

As you can see from the picture above it looks as though the connecting rod (which is part of the bottom roller) appears to have sheared off like a twisted wire. Never, ever expected anything like this to happen. I have heard plenty of stories of rolling mills breaking before, but never in this way.

Bottom roller (left) and gear assembly (right). 

After disassembling the entire rolling mill I was able to remove the broken part (the bottom roller). Unfortunately the roller broke off inside of the reduction gear box assembly and I have not been able to remove the broken part of the roller from the gear assembly. If anybody out there has any suggestions for how I could get these pieces apart, I would love to get some input.  

Broken bottom roller (on left) and the piece that broke off of the roller stuck in the gear assembly (on right).  

I have already contacted the manufacturer of the rolling mill and will hopefully have the needed parts to repair the mill soon... (Not soon enough though...) In the mean while I am actually quite excited, this set back will force me to be more creative and figure out new ways to fabricate pieces without using sheet metal. I am trying to make this tragedy into a fun challenge for myself. Hopefully it will all work out for the best and I will be sure to make a few posts about how this situation works out.

Be back soon with more.

Until next time.

Peace and Love

World Championship Belt Buckle Competition

I was recently selected to be part of the "First Annual World Championship Belt Buckle Competition"; an online juried competition featuring belt buckle makers from all over the world! 

Although I did not win a ranking it is still a great honor to be selected to participate in the exhibition, as there were hundreds of applications and only 47 finalists selected for the exhibition. 


To view the exhibition and see some really cool belt buckles follow this link: World Championship Belt Buckle Competition or if you happen to be in the area of the Renne Library on the Montana State University campus, the images from this competition will be on display  from 5/12 - 9/12. 


To read a little more about some of my belt buckles that are featured in this exhibition. Please follow this link:
1, 2, Buckle My???

Hopefully I will find the time to create some new belt buckles soon... We shall see how thing go...

Until next time.
Peace and Love

Lacrimis Solis

Recently finished another commissioned piece.

Lacrimis Solis, Daniel Icaza, 2012,  19kt Yellow Gold, 4 x .5ct Blue Sapphire's, 1ct Blue Sapphire

Really happy with this ring. It reminds me of a piece of pirate treasure or something Johnny Depp would wear in a "Disney" movie. 

I usually work with larger stones, but I really did enjoy working with these Sapphire's and the challenge of making smaller settings. Although I have set small stones before it has been a while, but like most things in life it was just like riding a bike.

I have been receiving more and more commissions lately some in silver and a few in gold, so I should have more things to share soon.

Be back soon with more.

Until next time.

Peace and Love