Look what I made today!

[where]

It is of course ironic that as a 'notreallyasub' I have started making silver bdsm style collars. Bit like a spinster creating engagement rings, but anyway...

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4080/4768699720_667cbdac6f_o.jpg

the silver bits are prototypes of fingerprint doo-dahs I'm making

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4102/4768638064_1d42abee09_o.jpg

finding a closure method has been the biggest headache. this is just a piercing pin I have but I've sourced some small padlocks which will be better.

I need to get a decent jig sorted so I can make the the slot on the hasp neater. it's a bit of a mess on this one, but it's a bit too big for me anyway so I'll chop it off and start again.

I'm most proud of the spectacularly neat soldering of the hoop. makes up for the mess at the other end a bit

 

[FloggingMolly]

very cool hon Does it take long?

 

[ultramarineblue]

The implication of the fingerprint on a collar is a nice subtle touch.

 

[HoHoBomb]

very nice

 

[Bette_coquette]

I really like those! They're both beautiful!

 

[Seurat]

. . . . .

 

[sb2009]

i love the first one.

 

[BiBunny]

Are you making them out of sterling silver? If so, I have a question for you!

 

[Lizzie_Borden]

The implication of the fingerprint on a collar is a nice subtle touch.

I rather like that bit too.

 

[Prologue]

I like them both, but I think the second one is especially pretty.

 

[where]

.....

 

[ultramarineblue]

It's fiddly more than anything. The fingerprint rolls are the most fiddly and time consuming now I've eliminated the little oblongy pendants in favour of cast 'pebbles' which will take the fingerprints better. Most of the time is spent on finishing them.






that's what started it off. I had some PMC which I wanted to use to make some findings for silver and playing around with it a bit i made a small pebble with my thumbprint on one side. It looked pretty cool and my Beloved said that it would be nice to have them all round in a necklace. We also thought that these could be saleable. I made the next two pebbles but the problem is that if you want to impress a print into them, then the shape ends up a bit crude, or you have a good shape and you lose the clarity of the print. it meant that each one took hours to construct so not financially viable. Also prints from molds are pretty shallow and weak.

Anyway, I hit on a way of getting the prints on without using a mold, which meant i could make a master pattern for the pebbles and get them cast in sterling and then applying the fingerprint to the inner surface and the decoration or finish to the outer surface was much much less time consuming and so more financially viable (the tiny PMC versions would have had to sell for $120 to be worth making them).

The idea is you always have your loved one's fingerprints pressed against your throat and neck. the pics below show the pattern for the final version and it's much much bigger than the original. the stick on it is a sprue and not part of the
overall design!

What I think is nice about these is that the fingerprint is subtle and not even necessarily visible. most fingerprint jewellery is pretty crude... they look like lumps of clay with a a finger pressed in them, which is basically what they are.

I have an idea for a really wide silver collar with the fingerprints etched on the inside but also looking like they are curling over onto the outside edge. It would be pretty pricey though and I don't know if there is much of a market for something like that.



the pebbles are sterling or britannia (I think that some of them would look good enamelled) and the fingerprint rolls (which are like large tubular beads) are pure silver because I use PMC to make those.

and fire away!

I'm really liking what you're doing. The idea for the wide collar sounds very interesting. I think I like the fingerprint rolls the best because they are so delicate. They really are beautiful.

 

[where]

I'm really liking what you're doing. The idea for the wide collar sounds very interesting. I think I like the fingerprint rolls the best because they are so delicate. They really are beautiful.

I like the rolls because it's not immediately apparent what they are. I'm trying to figure out a way to make them like a ring... maybe by enlarging the original print digitally. First I have to get my fingerprint masturbation ring sorted though

 

[kjaere]

It's beautiful. I love the simplicity and delicacy of it.

 

[BiBunny]

I was just wondering if they're especially heavy. I've been looking at sterling collars for myself (can't wear stainless; fierce nickel allergy). I know the stainless collars are stupid heavy, and I wondered if the silver ones were the same.

I really want a titanium one, but it's nearly $400 for just the collar, AND I'd have to have it shipped from Germany. So probably not going to happen.

 

[ultramarineblue]

I like the rolls because it's not immediately apparent what they are. I'm trying to figure out a way to make them like a ring... maybe by enlarging the original print digitally. First I have to get my fingerprint masturbation ring sorted though

They are definitely something I would want. About how big are they?

 

[CaresseDArcy]

I like the rolls because it's not immediately apparent what they are. I'm trying to figure out a way to make them like a ring... maybe by enlarging the original print digitally. First I have to get my fingerprint masturbation ring sorted though

I am pretty new around here and though I love reading the threads, I don't often post. So I hope you don't mind me dropping in

I had to say I am very intrigued with your work. Especially being decidedly inept at jewlery making myself Lol. They are very pretty and I love the fingerprint idea you've come up with! As you said, they aren't overtly apparant unlike most fingerprint items you see. Yours are very elegant and I could see these being something alot of people would like.

I hope you keep us posted so we know when we can place our orders

 

[Vixandra]

Those are gorgeous! I like the idea of the thumbprint collar, its charming in a "she's marked as mine alone" kind of way.

There is an elegant simplicity to them, could even be used as an every-day collar.

 

[where]

It's beautiful. I love the simplicity and delicacy of it.

thank you!

I was just wondering if they're especially heavy. I've been looking at sterling collars for myself (can't wear stainless; fierce nickel allergy). I know the stainless collars are stupid heavy, and I wondered if the silver ones were the same.

I really want a titanium one, but it's nearly $400 for just the collar, AND I'd have to have it shipped from Germany. So probably not going to happen.

The thin sterling collar is pretty light, but each of the 'pebbles' is going to be fairly weighty. I'm thinking that the pebbles can be bought like charms, so you may start with one and then get another for each anniversary/birthday/whatever. With 10 (one for each digit print) it's gonna be pretty hefty, but with one - three it's wearable (I was wearing it with the bronze pattern pebble, plus all 4 of the silver and bronze prototypes and whilst you knew it was there, it was alright for all day use).

The only think about this silver one is it may not stand up to heavy play. I am intending to test this out very soon, though.

They are definitely something I would want. About how big are they?

the pebbles are about 27mm x 15mm widening to 18mm. The collar is as big as you want it. The hasp style is made to measure very precisely, but there is one which fastens with a chain which is more forgiving.

I am pretty new around here and though I love reading the threads, I don't often post. So I hope you don't mind me dropping in

I had to say I am very intrigued with your work. Especially being decidedly inept at jewlery making myself Lol. They are very pretty and I love the fingerprint idea you've come up with! As you said, they aren't overtly apparant unlike most fingerprint items you see. Yours are very elegant and I could see these being something alot of people would like.

I hope you keep us posted so we know when we can place our orders

Hi, welcome to lit and thanks for the kind comments! I'm hoping to be up and running in about a month.

Those are gorgeous! I like the idea of the thumbprint collar, its charming in a "she's marked as mine alone" kind of way.

There is an elegant simplicity to them, could even be used as an every-day collar.

mmmm yeah... I do have a thing for having my neck grasped tightly. I'm wondering how tight I can make the wide one and it still be safe.

here's a market research question. I'm going to be offering collars with a padlockable hasp fitting and also a simple chain link clasp fitting. I toyed with the idea of screw down collars, but have safety concerns about them in case of accident. what other kinds of closures do you think would be suitable/acceptable on a BDSM collar?

For the wide collar I'm experimenting with using something like two hinge butts held together by a silver or gold barbel. It's undo-able but hopefully looks seamless. I'm just wondering if using something from body piercing is the right thing to use.

 

[MasterPhoenix]

Great work!

BEst of luck with your business...

Perhaps I'll have a use for one at some point, and will place an order myself.

 

[where]

Great work!

BEst of luck with your business...

Perhaps I'll have a use for one at some point, and will place an order myself.

Thank you! maybe I should have a discount scheme for bdsm forum members!

anyway my assay registration went off today (birmingham, so cool, it's an anchor mark) and the castings went off as well. I've made three experimental pieces in wax, two bangles and a cock ring (or baby's bangle as I told them!) so it's a bit touch and go if it works. if they do.... they are going to be amazing! So excited!