Making Roman jewelry means learning metalsmithing, and I’ve been bitten HARD by that bug. I just set up a mini-studio in my garage so I can practice without traveling across town to Fjorlief’s studio on those rare days when our schedules are compatible.
For the past six months I’ve been agonizing about period methods. Letting go of that after Athenaeum was wonderfully freeing.
One of my long-term goals is to duplicate this bracelet, which will require soldering (I’ve got the basics already), dapping (shaping hemispheres from flat sheet metal), and die striking, casting or repousse (for the shells).
Here’s my first attempt at dapping. It was super fun!
Stay tuned for more bumbling adventures! 🙂
Yesterday was the first – but certainly not the last – An Tir Athenaeum. It was an Arts & Sciences “display for comments” event. Basically I signed up for a table, put out my jewelry and papers, and had enlightening chats with people all day, 
Phallic images were very popular in Ancient Rome to ward off the evil eye and generally be protective. These gold rings (British Museum collection) are child-sized. I made 2 silver rings (for Drusa and myself) and some charms. I wrote a paper on this topic a few years ago and bring a hard copy to events. It’s the one paper I don’t post online. 🙂
Most of the first ceremony is here: 
Every Late Republican bride should have a new 
I also have a white linen tunica recta to wear under it. See you at Egils!
Last August, I was escaping the summer heat by walking in an air-conditioned mall one day and realized I was surrounded by Roman memes (in the original sense of the word).
ROMANA SUM 