DuKo Designs

Custom Christmas Rock Star Buckle!

2012-01-05T11:43:00.000-08:00

I've shown this process on my blog before, but the feed back I get from people is always so great, so here I go again. This is how I carve a block of wax into a custom made belt buckle. This particular buckle was given as a Christmas gift to one of the members of a great local band here in Vancouver, BC, The Washboard Union. I started by cutting a slab of wax from a large wax block using a special wax blade on my jewellers saw. Using a cheap file and rasp that I bought years ago at Canadian Tire I then flatten and smooth the slab until I deem it ready for the template. I've re-sized the bands logo on my computer and printed it out to be the exact dimension that I need for the buckle. This to me is by far the hardest step as I'm much better at carving wax or hitting metal with a hammer than I ever will be at using a computer. The very fact that I'm uploading blog posts sometimes boggles my mind! Once I've taped the printed template in place I begin the painstaking process of transferring the image onto the wax, this is done by poking little holes through the image and into the wax using a sharpened scribe. I often have to do this step in a couple sittings due to hand cramping. Once completed, I remove the paper template and begin connecting the dots. The next step involves pulling out a bunch of old dental tools, each one specially modified so that it can reach here, or scrape away wax there, where another one just might not do the job. Again, a few sittings were required to completely remove all the wax from the unwanted negative spaces. If an error occurs I also have an electronic wax pen that can re-add wax where it is needed, allowing me another chance to get it right. I then begin on the finishing details, laying out the back, adding little wax skulls for findings. Modifying them to make a hook to hold the belt. Adding a custom inscription, shaping the edges and adding a border, etc.. etc.. When I'm completely satisfied with my wax it then gets encased in investment material which is sort of like a high tech concrete. It's then put in a kiln, so that all the wax melts away, leaving a perfect void inside the investment in the exact shape of my carving. Using science and the wonders of centrifugal force, molten metal, in this case jewellers bronze is injected into the void. Once cooled, the investment can be broken away revealing our bronze buckle. There is still a great deal of sawing, filing, sanding and polishing that needs to take place before it resembles the buckle shown here in the picture, but this in essence is the process of creating a Custom Christmas Rock Star Buckle!

X-mas studio sale

2011-12-19T11:27:00.000-08:00

This past Saturday D Gallery hosted a Christmas studio sale/ open house for Mindans designs (www.mindans.com) and DuKo designs (www.duko.ca). We pushed back the walls and opened up the entire space to accommodate for the potential of a crazed holiday rush. There was a steady flow of people through out the day, with many people picking up last second holiday gifts. Others were just stopping by to say hello and some people indulged in various little treasures for themselves. Mindan was kind enough to provide some free jewellery gifts to a few pleasantly surprised guests. Snacks consisted of mini quiches and awesome cookies from our favorite neighbors the Kranky cafe (www.facebook.com/KRANKYcafe). Steam whistle generously provided us with delicious ice cold beers and of coarse there was red and white wine, and other various refreshments. As well as fine hand crafted jewellery pieces we also had gorgeous hand made cards for sale, provided by both Aaron Grain and Kelsey Pangborn. There were Christmas tree decorations, made by local artist Jennifer Ettinger, with all proceeds going to Vancouver little league baseball. The room looked great with all the various displays set up and the day ran very smoothly. I'd like to thank everyone who helped us set up and run the show and everyone who stopped by, and of coarse my lovely studio mate Mindan. I had a fantastic day and look forward to the next time D gallery hosts an event. I hope that everyone has a very safe and happy holiday season surrounded by many friends and family, and thank you for reading the DuKo designs blog, until next year.....

Same same but different

2011-11-29T13:57:00.000-08:00

It's common for people to have jewellery sitting in a box that they no longer wear. This occurs for a variety of reasons, it may be that the jewellery piece has fallen out of style or that the owner has just become uninterested or bored with it. Maybe all that is needed is a little modification...? Such was the case with this 18k yellow gold and Platinum ring that I recently took a file and sand paper to. While the ring on the left is unique and interesting, it is also somewhat dated and needed a little tlc to become what my client really wanted. The end result, shown at right is cleaner and simpler, and will stand the test of time with it's much more classic lines and lighter feel.

Custom Canadian Ring

2011-11-08T21:20:00.000-08:00

This past summer I had the opportunity to design and make a truly unique one of a kind ring. My client brought me a gorgeous Ruby and a vision, the rest was up to me. He wanted a large chunky man's ring in both white and yellow gold with hand engraved details throughout. The project evolved as we went and I was pleased at my clients patients as I required shoulder surgery part way through the job. He opted to wait and have me see the project through to completion rather than have me take it elsewhere to have it finished. Thanks Martin. I carved the main body of the ring out of wax and had it cast in 14k white gold. I added 14k yellow gold details, including a removable stone bezel that I set from behind. By doing this the center stone can be removed for re-sizing or any other work or repairs that may be required in the future. It turns out that this ring is going to be my clients gift to himself for becoming a Canadian citizen, so his choice of what to get hand engraved was only fitting.

slow and steady

2011-10-06T12:13:00.000-07:00

In March of 2009 I posted a blog entitled, "dead things" where I asked for people to donate to me any small skulls that I could cast. I also asked for advice on removing flesh and cleaning skulls. This project has since turned specifically to the collection, cleaning, molding, and casting of birds. I've done some research and learned how to better deal with all the lovely dead birds that everyone has so nicely saved for me. I've been doing this project little by little, and bit by bit, I still have lots of work to do but I've got a pretty good little collection of interesting bird skulls, wings, and talons. I urge you to keep them coming. They can be nicely preserved in a zip lock bag in your freezer ( I like to double bag). Again please, I'm only interested in found birds, I don't want anyone actually killing anything. Please handle these finds with care as birds, especially dead ones, can have disease. I will be turning what I can into pendants and rings and earrings and other such treasures so there may be a reward for those who have donated to this project....

Cuneiform ring

2011-06-03T17:46:00.000-07:00

I was recently contacted by a client who wanted to commission a custom designed ring for a family friend as a high school grad present. I always find it very inspiring when someone comes to me with a project that has a great deal of thought and or meaning
behind it. This particular job contained both. I was informed that the recipient was deeply interested in ancient history, language, and art and that she had completed a school project involving cuneiform symbols. Essentially these were originally pressed into clay tablets as pictograms. Then they were refined to represent the pictograms and became one of the world's first written forms of language. Above are the cuneiform symbols, sounded out phonetically, for the word, "Hope" and this is the message my client wanted on the outside of a custom made sterling silver ring. As you can see, essentially this is a combination of triangles and lines. The cuneiform symbols were originally very uniform as a result of being pressed from the same object, often a reed. I wanted to have a similar result on the ring I made. My client also asked that it have hammer marks to resemble an ancient artifact. I began by carving the general ring size into a block of wax and used my reamer to shave the inside to the exact inside ring diameter. I then measured and marked out the desired
ring thickness and proceeded to remove the excess material. I then went about creating a template for the cuneiform text, I made a small triangle of wax and using an ink stamp pad I proceeded to stamp out the word for hope to the exact scale I needed it on a piece of paper. I wrapped
this paper on my finished wax ring and scribed through the paper and into the wax. Using dental tools I cleaned it all up and prepared my wax for casting. Once cast into sterling silver I filed and sanded the metal before adding the hammer marks that would aid in giving me an ancient look. I patina-ed the ring to add depth to the recessed symbols, and then polished it to a high shine. A personalized message was hand engraved on the inside in Latin and this inspiring piece was ready to be presented to it's new owner.
Happy Graduation Mariel.

Introducing....

2011-04-29T13:55:00.000-07:00

D Gallery is proud to welcome local designer Mindan and her very popular Mindan's designs into the studio and Gallery. For years DuKo Designs has specialized in custom engagement rings and wedding bands and with the addition of Mindan's designs D Gallery is now your one stop jewellery shopping experience for all things bridal. Mindan's sleek and elegant designs are a stunning compliment to that special dress on your big day. Her designs are also very popular as gifts for bridesmaids. Local, handmade, and priced to give exceptional value, all her work can be seen by appointment at D Gallery or on her website www.mindans.com

D Gallery Opening photos

2011-02-15T15:34:00.001-08:00

I really wasn't sure what to expect, as I've never opened a gallery before. I did my part, the gallery was all set up , my sister's paintings looked amazing. The showcases sparkled with all the shiny pieces I had been laboring over. My new counter-top/ display unit, courtesy of my good friend at Wood Roots Furniture, looked absolutely stunning. I had balloons and a hand made sign out front, all I needed was guests. I didn't have to wait long as a steady flow of people started to stream in and before I knew it we were full and overflowing outside. Everything went very smoothly, I had exceptional help from exceptional people. The Kranky Cafe catered some delicious mini quiches for me. I had wine, and Red Truck delivered me a keg of their finest lager. The time seemed to fly by and before I knew it, it was time to start taking the show down. Thanks everyone that came out to support me. I only wish that I had had more time to visit with everyone. I look forward to doing it again, please let me know if you are an artist interested in doing a show....

2011-02-14T10:19:00.000-08:00

The D Gallery grand opening was a huge success!! I had an amazing afternoon with all the friends and family and clients and well wishers that braved the Vancouver weather to come lend their support. I hope everyone had as much fun as I did. There are some great pictures of the event that I will post here soon....

Opening soon...

2011-02-07T17:53:00.000-08:00

I've been dry-walling and painting, building walls, making signs and applying graphics... Oh ya, and making jewelery! I'm in the last week of what has been a very busy last few months but I'm just about ready. On Saturday February 12th at 1:00 I will be opening the doors of 'D' Gallery!!! Please come for a delicious Red Truck lager or a glass of wine and to view my jewelery as well as the paintings of Lindsey Kyoko Adams.

I can feel the love....

2011-02-04T10:27:00.000-08:00

Please keep sending me photos of your jewelery pieces. Receiving a photo of a ring I've made in my in-box, all set up and cared for, really shows me how special these projects are to my clients... I usually only see a ring like this in a half finished state. As soon as I finish a piece, I photograph it and just like that it is gone. I like remembering it surrounded by sky and ocean much better than how I saw it, surrounded by wax shavings and metal dust....

Wedding photos

2010-11-24T10:49:00.000-08:00

I absolutely love it when I receive photos from my clients of their wedding day. It makes the work I do even more rewarding when I know that I've added to that special day. Keep them coming everyone....

limited edition team logo belt buckles part 2

2010-09-10T16:37:00.001-07:00

Once the logos have been carved into the wax it's time to flip them over and hollow out the back. I hold them up to a light so as to be able to achieve a consistent thickness throughout. I then use my wax pen to add details like the findings to the back, as well as to clean up any nicks in the wax that have occurred in the carving process. These particular buckles were made as gifts and so I also added the recipients names to the back in the wax before I cast them into jewellers bronze (a mixture of sterling silver and copper). Once cast they still need to be filed, sanded and polished as well as have the moving fastener for attaching a leather belt added and hammered in place. I have added a rich dark patina to give them an aged look and provide a dark contrast into the crevices in the background. It's then time to polish them and add leather for photographing. They are being produced, numbered 1 to 50, in a limited edition series that should soon be available for purchase on the web.

Limited edition team logo belt buckles

2010-09-07T17:09:00.000-07:00

I started by modifying these team logos in photoshop. I needed them to be the right dimensions to work as belt buckles, the wings logo is a great example, as normally the wheel is small and most of the logo is a wing. I printed them out to the actual size needed and then set about turning them into 3D waxes for casting. I scribed and then cut the right size and thickness of wax off of my large wax block. The next step was to tape a logo to my piece
of wax and carefully poke holes through the paper into the wax to transfer the logo onto the wax. My hand often cramps up during this step. Once I've poked holes every couple of millimeters around the entire logo, I remove the paper and connect the dots to complete my transfer onto the wax. Then out come the dental tools and so begins the painstaking process of carving my team logo belt buckle in 3D.

lilies brooch

2010-07-09T13:05:00.000-07:00

I was recently commissioned to make a 4oth anniversary sterling silver brooch based on my clients wife's favorite flowers, chocolate lilies. Seeing as how it was their 4oth (ruby) anniversary I had the added task of incorporating rubies into the design. We settled on star rubies due to their uniqueness and the fact that they are most often found as cabochons and would fit my idea of adding them as berries. We over looked the fact that chocolate lilies don't have berries, because what else were we to do?
I carved the brooch out of wax and had it cast into sterling silver.
My client wanted an antique sort of look to the piece, and I was glad that they were willing to spend a little extra to get me to make the findings by hand. I settled on a french catch, two pieces of tubing one that slides inside of the other. The outer tubing is soldered to back of the brooch and a cap or handle is soldered to the end of the inner tubing so that it can't slide out of the outer tube. The catch pin is fabricated from a piece of sterling plate and hammered to give it strength, it is riveted into position once everything else is soldered in place.I added a dark patina before polishing so that the crevices would remain dark. This helped me to achieve an antique sort of look.
The final step was the stone setting, a little hammering and I was ready for a final polish.

Happy Canada Day!!

2010-07-01T09:29:00.000-07:00

DuKo Designs wishes everyone a very happy Canada day. I'll be out of town camping and doing Canadian things like drinking beer, eating maple syrup, paying homage to the beaver, and whatever else it is that we do. Have a great long weekend !!

Remaking a favourite....

2010-06-26T11:09:00.000-07:00

These 14k yellow gold and sterling silver wedding bands were made special order for clients who liked an existing design that I've made a few times in limited quantities.

Having a rubber mold of the design sure does make life easy. First I inject three waxes from my rubber mold. Cast them into sterling silver. I needed to combine two of them together to make one ring large enough for him. Hers only needed minor tweeking to get the proper size. I then got the files out and removed the sterling silver edges.
After making 14k yellow gold square wire, cutting, bending, and joining the pieces into replacement edges, I was ready to solder them in place. Once I was satisfied with the way everything lined up, I filed and sanded the rings until near completion. I applied a dark patina to the silver that would sink into the crevices creating a nice contrast once the rings were given their final polish. (shown below).

Custom Wedding Band : 19k White Gold with Sterling Silver Inlay

2010-06-18T11:30:00.000-07:00

I thought the process of how I created this custom wedding band would be interesting to show on my blog. These photos show some of the techniques I went through, from carving the wax to the patina finish.

It began by carving a man's ring size 8.25 from a wax tube. It was then cast in 19k white gold. This created the frame for the structure of the band.

Sterling silver was inlay-ed into the center which allows for contrasting colors and textures, as the 19k gold is a very hard metal in comparison. The 19k white also doesn't react to the patina I used.

I annealed the ring and added the hammered texture carefully so as not to ruin the shape of the ring with the constant tapping.

I finished the piece to a high polish and then the final patina was added.

The contrast in the two metals through color and hammered texture make it a truly unique design. I was quite pleased with the finished result.

Proud parents

2010-06-04T13:32:00.000-07:00

When my good friend told me that he wanted a rough gold bar with his young daughters name in it to hang on a chain for his wife, I have to admit I didn't know what to make of it. I'm a little more accustom to making much more polished and finished pieces. Luckily, I'm in the business of making sure my clients get what they want. He had all the gold, we just put a blow torch on it and poured a small ingot. Then a few passes through the rolling mill to flatten it out. Solder on some jump rings to hang it on a chain. Rough engraving (what he wanted) is quick and easy too. I'm rather pleased with the results, and there wasn't hours of sanding and polishing either.

Building a "Koru"

2010-05-28T13:58:00.000-07:00

I just put the finishing touches on a neat custom wedding band for a client of mine in San Fransisco. He sent me this image at left of a Koru. I had to Wikipedia "Koru" to find out what sort of custom ring I would be making, the "Wiki" definition goes like this:
The koru (Māori for "bight"or "loop") is a spiral shape based on the shape of a new unfurling silver fern frond and symbolizing new life, growth, strength and peace. It is an integral symbol in Māori art, c arving and tattoos. The circular shape of the koru helps to convey the idea of perpetual movement while the inner coil suggests a return to the point of origin.
After a few emails back and forth of various sketches and designs we settled on the image shown, above at right, and then it was time to get busy making the ring. I made the inner shank from 14k yellow gold, and the outer shank out of 19k white gold (to match his fiances). I used a template printed from the original image he had sent me to trace the Koru onto the 19k stock and pierce out the design with my jewellers saw. After some careful fitting the two bands were in place and I could solder them together. Some filing, sanding and polishing and the ring was complete.

Duko Designs Internship with Amanda Lye

2010-05-18T11:57:00.000-07:00

From January to May Duko Designs had an intern, Amanda Lye, from Halifax's Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University. Some things we worked on while Amanda was in the studio included a series of branch and buds, sage leaves and a Japanese maple leaf belt buckle. This included everything from design, fabrication, various mold making techniques, wax injecting and casting multiples. We will soon have a whole new jewellery line with the branch and buds. Here are a few photos of the various process' involved in a few of the pieces we made.

We collected some branches from a storm in January and cast them in jewellers bronze. Then we made designs from the cast branches to include the buckle and hook for the belt buckle and earrings. We fabricated these and then rubber molded the finished designs and had them cast in silver. They were filed, sanded and tumbled along with the sage leaf line. The final step was to patina them to bring out colours such as orange, red and purple.

...having fun

2010-05-11T14:56:00.000-07:00

My studio has been a very busy place since I last updated my blog. As always there has been a steady flow of custom pieces, usually wedding bands and engagement rings, however I've also had the pleasure of creating various other unique jewellery projects. The bracelet pictured at left is actually many of my clients old broken 14k yellow gold bangles, mounted on a large custom sterling cuff. The original bangles held significant sentimental value but needed a change to keep them from breaking over and over again. The new invigorated bracelet holds all the sentiment of the old bangels, yet has the flare and structural quality of a fresh piece. The joy that I witnessed when my client received the finished project reminded me why I really like my job.

2009-09-10T09:42:00.000-07:00

I mean really, who doesn't want a sweet gold tooth? You'll be the talk of the town, impress all your friends, and be seriously blingin' and bad ass. (Made with real dental gold, guaranteed not to turn your gums black.) So don't all call at once, these things take time to make...

Dead things

2009-03-27T10:39:00.000-07:00

Over the years I've done a few projects involving skulls. They seem to be popular so as of late I've been messing around with a few more skull related projects. I'd like to take things a step further and start casting some real skulls. Tiny ones, birds, mice, rats, etc. However I'm not going to go on a small animal killing spree. So I ask for your help, please if you have any small skulls or bones that may be suitable for casting, contact me. All the necessary contact info is on my website. Also any recommendations for removing flesh, fur, and feathers would be greatly appreciated.

recent projects

2009-02-06T17:36:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to add a few pictures of pieces that I've been working on. The first picture is of a recently completed 19k white gold engagement ring with three bezel set sapphires. The second ring is 18k white gold with a central aquamarine surrounded by 12 pave set diamonds. Next I have a set of hers and hers sterling silver bands that were made extra wide and chunky. The fourth picture is of a 14k white gold engagement ring with a Moissenite set between two blue sapphires. My final photo is of a 14k white gold bangle with a satin finish. It has 7 gypsy set diamonds and a bezel set princess cut diamond that functions as the release for the clasp.

Merry Christmas Blog 1 of 3.

2008-12-25T15:42:00.000-08:00

I was very busy with Christmas orders this year. One custom piece that I spent a great deal of time working on was this sterling silver locket that I finished just yesterday, barely in time for the big day today. It's a gift for talented local musician Steve Rio, check out his music if you can, I personally am a big fan.
I started out with a block of wax and after sawing out the rough shape of a heart I started to shape it with files before cutting it in two and beginning to hollow out the center....

Merry and the Ho and Ho!

2008-12-25T15:28:00.000-08:00

...After carving the inner details with small dental tools I used an electric wax pen to clean it up and add the teeth to the gears and sprockets. It was cast into sterling silver and then the process of slimming it down and losing some of it's bulk began. I used files at first, but soon moved on to my grinder and belt sander. I smoothed it out again with some abrasive buff wheels......

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!!!!

2008-12-25T15:23:00.000-08:00

...The process of lining up the center locking mechanism was a tricky one, involving soldering and re-soldering. Followed by a great deal of grinding and fitting until everything was just right. Extra sprockets were riveted in place so that they can actually spin. The center locking pin is hollow so that it can be used for the storage of precious notes or scrolls. The locket was treated with a patina while wrapped in wire to give it an antique ancient feel. When the chain is in place everything is locked up tight and can not be opened. It was a pleasure to bu ild. A real one of a kind piece.

Happy Holidays!!

2008-12-15T10:01:00.000-08:00

The holiday season is upon us and business has been booming. I haven't had much extra time on my hands, so I've been un-able to update my blog. Seeing as how most of the projects I'm working on are surprises for various people for Christmas, I won't be able to show any works in progress until the new year, at which time they will be completed anyways. So I thought I'd spend a moment to show everyone my gorgeous Christmas Cactus. I picked this little beauty up for free off of Craigslist last spring, the lady who gave it to me told me that it was unhealthy and it had never bloomed. I did a little reading in my amazing home plant book that my Mom gave me for Christmas a few years back, and found out a few tricks for helping it bloom. First and foremost, if you want your Christmas Cactus to bloom in December you must start thinking about making that happen sometime in July. They need to spend a month or two outside during the summer, and then be brought inside before it gets cold. Seems to do the trick. I hope everyone has a very happy holiday season. I need to get back to the bench......

Old Gold

2008-11-17T15:28:00.000-08:00

Some people seem to feel that buying jewellery is an expensive proposition. However many of those same people have a jewellery box full of old unwanted and never worn rings, single earrings with no matches, and necklaces that are kinked or busted. That is gold people! Gold = money. I melt down this stuff to make new jewellery that you will want to wear. If you have enough of it, I can be paid in gold too. Here's some photos of a project I did for a good friend of mine. That's his Dad's old wedding band, along with a pretty mean eagle pendant and another pendant he no longer wore. Just add fire, pour into an appropriate sized mold frame, and presto you have what we call an ingot (gold bar). Fast forward from there a few more steps and we have a brand new ring. A ring I might add that said zero dollars next to the word gold on the invoice. So have a look, ask your Mom what she has in her jewellery box. An old sentimental piece that isn't worn can be reborn as something new that can again be treasured and passed down to the next generation to wear or melt as they see fit.

repairs, re-sizing, and re........

2008-11-13T13:44:00.000-08:00

I've never really advertised it, but I do repair work and re-sizing of rings. I get some gorgeous old pieces that were a great Grandmothers or have some other storied p ast. This is part of the reason I've never advertised this aspect of my work. It can be really nerve-racking putting a blow torch to something that, in essence, is priceless. But it has to be done, no accidents have been had, and (knock on wood ) hopefully it stays that way. I've never thought to photograph any of the amazing antiques that have passed through my work shop, because they weren't my creations. However, this blog gives me a new medium that isn't my official portfolio (website) to show a few such piec es. Times have changed in the world of jewellery, I stamp my work with 18k, 14k, 92.5 (for sterling silver), and so on, as well as either DuKo or my logo (the D in the diamond). But a hundred years ago the markings inside a ring could be much more elaborate. I took this piece to be appraised for my client and the marking s inside (copied down on paper behind the piece) dated the ring and gave us some additi onal interesting information. Pick through your old jewellery, it's not too expensive to have a ring re-sized to fit you. Appraisals are also cheap, you may be sitting on a small fortune, find out some interesting family history or come across a "hidden gem".

Tops Off!

2008-11-10T15:07:00.000-08:00

My good friend Trevor has been instrumental in helping me with my marketing. He built my website and has helped me with innumerable computer issues. Here's his boat "Tops Off", we all benefit from Trev having a boat. Summer's wouldn't be the same with out him. I made tracings from a picture, then transferred them onto a block of wax and carved his boat into 3D. After that it was cast into jewellers bronze (a mixture of silver and copper), filed, sanded and polished. Combined with a custom leather belt, made courtesy of Rivitid designs (notice the spray from the wake) and you have a birthday gift/ thank you belt deserving of a man like Trev. Thanks again T!

Inaugural blog...??

2008-11-10T10:44:00.000-08:00

Hello, hello, DuKo designs is attempting to get with the times... Special thanks to my good friend Gordon, who has finally taught me what a blog is. I plan to enter some photos and info on various DuKo happenings and projects. I'll hopefully add some stories or background information about some of the custom pieces that I turn out. Wish me luck, I may also grab one of my hammers and smash the whole computer (I've thought about it before). Check back, see how I do...... Have a great day!