Hi, Jenna Zargon here.
At the age of 35, I took my first jewelry making class and fell in love. As a trained accountant, I needed a creative outlet to relax my brain. The discipline needed for accounting crossed over to handcrafting metal jewelry. At age 40, I took a few years off from accounting to audit jewelry classes at the University of Georgia. Since then, I have taken additional in-person workshops and online classes to strengthen my skills and continue to inspire my creativity.
Thirty-five years later, and after a hiatus of 15 years, it still amazes me that sterling and gold sheet metal and wire can be manipulated just like paper. While working with the metal, time stops and my mind clears. Discovering that I could create something that could exist, function, and have beauty on its own was life altering.
I had always loved wearing jewelry, especially earrings that moved when I shook my head and expressed my personality in some small way. Those are the kind of designs I handcraft, using various shapes, texture elements, and natural semi-precious stones to enhance the design.
The designs are wearable, comfortable, lightweight, and can be worn daily, to the office and elsewhere.
I love to hear how much my designs are appreciated.
Please enjoy.
Jenna
Shapes I use
Much of my designs begin with the Triangle.
All triangles have three sides and three angles, but they come in many different shapes and sizes.
I use straight and curved sides, often together. Also, different textures. I incorporate triangles with Spirals, and Beads.
Triangles, Squares and Diamond Shapes
The triangle is the base of both the square and the diamond.
The Circle is the most basic of shapes. It has no beginning or end. A circle disc can be 2 dimensional or made 3 dimensional, domed and textured.
The Oxidation Process
Oxidation in jewelry is often used to intentionally darken the surface of metals, enhancing the texture and creating contrast, creating depth and highlighting intricate details in the design, making the jewelry more visually striking.
Oxidation, in essence, is a chemical reaction between the jewelry and oxygen. This process leads to the formation of oxides, which can make a piece of jewelry look dull, tarnishing the item.
Sterling Silver, unless Silver or Rodium Plated (which is often done, generally by commercially made jewelry), will ultimately tarnish. Keeping it out in the air will result in oxidation over time.
To reduce the impact, it is best to avoid wearing your jewelry while engaging in strenuous activities and when not in use, to keep the jewelry in a plastic bag or a tarnish free box. That will reduce the likelihood of unwanted oxidation.
gold-filled vs. Gold Plated
Gold-filled jewelry contains a thicker layer of gold (at least 5% by weight) that is pressure-bonded to a base metal, making it more durable and resistant to tarnishing.
In contrast, gold-plated jewelry has a very thin layer of gold (less than 0.05% by
weight) applied over a base metal, which can wear off quickly and may cause skin irritation.