Dan Dye Designs

Argentium Sterling Silver Trillium Pin

Springtime brings trilliums to my garden.  I have planted 3 varieties: white, yellow and red.  The flowers last just a few weeks here in the Piedmont of NC.  This silver one will last for generations!

Argentium sterling silver Dragonfly pin

With Springtime in mind, I just finished this dragonfly pin.  I added the texture to the wings by crushing lace into the silver sheet with my rolling mill.

Argentium silver dragonfly pin - sold

This dragonfly pin was a custom order for a friend to give to her mother.  It was interesting to make and I plan to have another one made for my next public show in April at the Lasting Impressions Art & Craft Show.

Argentium sterling silver Gardenia Napkin Ring

This is an argentium silver (.0935 silver) napkin ring that was ordered by a returning customer for his wife.  He specifies a different flower each year & I hand-fabricate it from silver sheet and wire.  They will have a nice heirloom collection for future generations!

Argentium sterling silver Gardenia Napkin Ring

This is an argentium silver (.0935 silver) napkin ring that was ordered by a returning customer for his wife.  He specifies a different flower each year & I hand-fabricate it from silver sheet and wire.  They will have a nice heirloom collection for future generations!

Argentium Sterling Pendant w/ Chrysacola and Sea-turtle Back - sold

This chrysacola cabachon reminded me of the beautiful waters of the Caribbean and inspired me to make a 2-sided pendant that features a sea-turtle on the back.  There is also a swirling tangle of sea-weed around the design that a chain or choker necklace will fit through.

Argentium Sterling Trillium Pin

I have trillium blooming in my garden now in piedmont N.C. and was inspired to make this pin in order to "preserve" one.   Trilliums usually grow in the mountains or in Northern states, but I bought these from a local nursery & they have done well.   This sterling piece can also be used as a pendant with a converter that I made from a piece of sterling tube.  

Argentium Sterling Silver Hibiscus Napkin Ring - custom order

I just finished this realistic hibiscus blossom napkin ring.   The flower petals are .999 fine silver and the stamen, stems and leaf is Argentium Silver.  It will be a new family heirloom!

New turquoise from Santa Fe area

I am back from a trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico where I stayed with friends and visited a favorite small town named Cerrillos. There I buy local turquoise, mined, cut & polished by Andy Brown (pictured).  He laid out an amazing collection of turquoise that he had mined from 4 different areas for me to choose from....my only problem was not buying all the stones!  Now I will be making new jewelry from these stones.  If you see a stone that you want a custom piece made with, please let me know quickly!

Argentium Sterling Silver Trillium Pin - Sold

I have a beautiful white trillium that blooms in a shady spot in my garden every Spring.  While not native to the NC Piedmont, they are plentiful in our mountains.  When I found one available at Niche Gardens in Chapel Hill years ago, I had to buy it.  Trilliums are so named because all its features come in threes, 3 petals, series of 3 leaves, 6 stamen.  I made the 3 petals from .999 fine silver and the 6 stamen are 14K gold.  The rest of the piece are made of .925 Argentium sterling.   This pin was quite challenging to create, but it will last for decades and will become an heirloom to somebody.

Argentium Sterling Silver Dogwood Pin - sold

It is Spring-time in NC and my dogwoods are in bloom.  This is the time of year that inspires me to make one of my dogwood pins.  My challenge is to try to capture all the details of the actual plant.  As with all my work, nothing is cast, all pieces are totally handcrafted from sterling sheet and  wire.  This pin measures just under 5" x 5".

Argentium Sterling Roadrunner bolo

I have a friend who lives in Santa Fe who has an occasional roadrunner visiting on his property.  He and his wife enjoy feeding the local birds, but the roadrunner prefers to find its own food. It  eats insects, lizards, snakes and other small critters that it can run down.  I made this bolo especially for Jim.  It was sculpted "hot", meaning that I made it by pushing red-hot argentium sterling silver around on a ceramic plate with my steel tweezers, shaping and fusing the metal into the bird.   It looks like it was "cast" but it wasn't!  The tips are small snakes made from 12 gauge silver wire, which are wrapped around the desert colored leather braided cord, as if they are climbing up the length. In many parts of the US, a bolo tie may look strange, but in the Southwest, they are quite fashionable!  Needless to say, Jim was delighted!!

Argentium Sterling Silver Calla Lily Necklace - sold!

Springtime will be here soon and in the effort to hurry it along, I have just finished this Calla Lily necklace.  We have them growing in the front yard at our home in Raleigh & I love the beautiful trumpet shape of the bloom.  This piece fits gracefully and comfortably around the neck and will certainly attract attention from all who see it!  --- November 2018 ---  It now belongs to a stylish lady in Charlottesville, Virginia!

Argentium Sterling Silver "Secret Garden" Pendant with Pietersite - sold

This is my latest two-sided pendant that features a beautiful Pietersite cabachon from Namibia, Africa. that was cut and polished on both sides by my friend, Chris Whitley.  It can be worn on your choice of a chain or a choker.  The pendant measures about 2" high and hangs from a camouflaged loop at the top.

Argentium Sterling Silver "Secret Garden" Pendant with Pietersite - SOLD!

This Pietersite cabachon was cut and polished on both sides by my friend, Chris Whitley and inspired me to make this reversible pendant.  The stone has a combination of dark blue, black and golden brown hues that shimmer like a cat's eye.  I hand fabricated the individual components and soldered each into it's position.  Then I sawed out the spaces between the flowers and did a thorough 2-stage polish.  The finished pendant is 2" in height.

Sterling Silver Dogwood Pin - SOLD!

It is April in NC and dogwood trees are blooming now.  This always inspires me to make a dogwood pin.  Each one is slightly different in shape and the one that I picked last week to use as my template is different than the flower that is in this photo.  I form my silver flowers from fine (.999) silver & the stems & the leaves are made from sterling (.925) silver.   Note: in July 2015, this pin was bought by a smart husband & he is giving it to his wife for their 25th anniversary!!

Sterling Silver Rose Napkin Ring/Table Decoration

I made this sterling silver napkin ring for my wife, Nancy, as a gift to celebrate Friday the 13th and Valentine's Day 2015.  We had our first date on Friday the 13th in June,1969 and got engaged on Friday the 13th in November, 1970.  Our wedding day was Saturday, August 14, 1971.  Consequently we celebrate every Friday the 13th.  Nancy loves roses and I gave her 13 for our first Valentine's Day together in 1970.  They have long since turned to dust, but this piece will last for generations!

14K gold & Sterling silver hair pin

This hair pin was custom made from Argentium sterling silver and 14K gold for a discriminating young gent to give to his fiancee as an engagement gift.  She is especially fond of sunflowers and their smaller cousins, the daisy.  By asking me to create this special piece, I see a great future for this new couple.

 

Sterling silver Calla Lily table decoration - Sold

This piece was ordered by a husband to give his wife for their 25th wedding anniversary.  It measures 9-1/2" long and weighs almost 3 ounces.  The flower is made from .999 fine silver & the stems and leaves are .925 Argentium silver.  All hand formed & constructed, signed and dated with their anniversary date.

Sterling Silver Rose Pin - Sold

I created this sterling silver rose pin for the lady who loves roses and who wants to have one that will not fade or drop it's petals.  The petals are formed and forged by hand from .999 fine silver sheet and the leaves & stems are made from sterling silver for a realistic appearance.  The pin is about 3" in height and will look stunning on a jacket lapel or pinned to a scarf.

Sterling Silver Necklace with Malachite Pendant - sold

This necklace features a rich green malachite cabachon that my friend, Chris Whitley, cut for me.  He polished both sides, so I created a pendant that can be worn with either side showing.  The "back" features a garden with daisies & lilies.  The piece is made from Argentium Sterling for a lasting shine.

Sterling Silver Phaelanopsis Orchid Pendant - $550 sold

Inspired by a delicate Phaelanopsis orchid, I created this piece from a combination of .999 fine silver and .925 sterling silver.  It can be used as a decorative piece of art on a table and can also be worn on a choker or chain as a pendant.  The flower is held up by a silver wire stem that is attached to a forged leaf.  The sculpted orchid center was textured by compressing the silver into a piece of cotton lace in my rolling mill.  

Sterling Silver Trillium Pin with 14K gold - sold

This beautiful wildflower grows in my garden in North Carolina.  Each Spring the greenery emerges from under a bed of oak and hickory leaves and then produces a single white flower.  As the weeks progress, the flower becomes more and more pink.  Trilliums get their name from the characteristic of producing parts in multiples of three; series of 3 leaves, 3 petals, 6 stamen, etc.  I made this pin with very white .999 fine silver petals and 14K yellow gold for the stamen.

Sterling Silver Reversible Pendant with Picasso Marble - $325 - sold

The "front "side of this interesting piece of Picasso marble resembles a woodland painting in shades of brown, gray and black.  The other side reminded me of the colors found in the Grand Canyon, so I sawed out an image of the convoluted shape found there.  A weathered tree arches over the top to provide a space for your chain or choker.  This unique piece of art will surely spark inquiries and comments from all who see it.

Sterling Silver Daisy Flower Napkin Ring - Custom order

These pictures are of a custom napkin ring that I made for a very special lady.  It weighs almost 3 ounces and was constructed from a combination of .999 fine silver and .925 sterling silver.  I can create a special flower napkin ring and estimate a cost upon request.

Sterling Silver Coconut Palm Tree Swizzle Stick

I made this sterling silver custom swizzle stick for my favorite Tiki Bar bartender, Brian.  He is a Florida native who can stir up a wonderful cocktail of rum and fresh juices.  The stick measures about 10 inches high and does a great job of stirring the drink from the bottom up when you flip it over and rotate the stem between your hands.  Sometimes I create a special piece just because I enjoy making it!

Sterling Silver Rose ring - sold

I made this ring for a husband to give his wife for their 25th anniversary this year.  I crafted the blossom from .999 silver and the ring and leaves from .925 sterling silver.   This is one rose which will last forever!

Sterling Silver bracelet with Picasso Marble - sold

The pattern of this Picasso Marble remind me of bare winter branches, which inspired a bracelet composed of sterling silver limbs.  The  talented painter and my good friend, Susan Dahlin Bashford, bought it at a recent show where we were both displaying our works.

Sterling Silver Black-eyed Susan Pin with Chocolate Pearls - sold

I made this pin for a special customer who orders one each year to give his wife for Christmas.  The seeds form in the center of the flower in the dark brown/black button.

Jack-in-the-Pulpit sterling silver table decoration

  I created this Jack-in-the-Pulpit table decoration to pay homage to the beauty of Spring.  I have one of these interesting plants growing in my garden and look forward each year to it's emergence up through the leaves and pine needles.  This one-of-a-kind piece stands 7-1/2" high and weighs 5-1/4 Troy ounces of combined sterling and fine silver. As with all my pieces, I hand fabricated it from solid silver wire and sheet.  It is now in a private collection, but I can make a similar one upon request.

Japanese Maple sterling silver napkin ring - available upon request

I captured the delicate beauty of the Japanese maple leaves and winged seeds on this unique napkin ring.  It includes a small leaf "foot" that will keep the ring upright, even without a napkin in place, so it can be displayed as you like.

Sterling Silver Japanese Torii Gate choker and Stromatolite pendant - $425 -sold

When I saw the beautiful details of this natural fossil Stromatolite cabochon stone, it reminded me of a landscape in Japan.  You can see a pond in the foreground, a stand of trees in the middle and mountains in the back.  There is a flock of birds flying on the left side.  I crafted additional details on the back to accentuate the stone, including a footbridge, evergreen trees and clouds.  The pendant can be worn with either side showing.

"Wampum shell" beach landscape pendant - $185 - sold

This piece of Quoahog clam "Wampum shell" is set so it can be worn with either side showing.   One side features a seascape view of seagrass covered sand-dunes with the ocean in the distance.  The natural colors of the shell capture the beautiful hues of the sunset over the water.

Sterling Silver Holly pin with Carnelian beads - $225

This holly pin features 4 natural 8mm carnelian beads at the center.  It will add a striking look to your holiday wardrobe.  It measures ~ 3-1/4" from point to point of the holly leaves.

Sterling Silver Pendant with Picasso jasper - $225 -sold

The unique pattern of this stone made me think of a woodland scene in the "Lake Country".  The arching trees join at the top so the pendant can be worn with either side showing on your choker or chain.  Total pendant measures ~ 1-3/4"x3-1/2".

Sterling Silver "Night Garden" Pendant with Petersite - $275 - sold

The combination of ochre brown, black and blue reminded me of a night sky, so I created this pendant to feature it.  The blue areas tend to flash as the pendant moves.  It can be worn on a choker or chain.

Sterling Silver Pin with jasper - $145 - sold

The beautiful blending of purple, blue and dark gray hues in this stone reminded me of Portuguese Man-of-War animals that I see washed up on our coast.  They float along on the ocean's surface, with their tentacles hanging down to capture small fish.  This unusual pin measures almost 4" in length.

Sterling silver pin with Atlantic whelk - $175- sold

   I have always taken much of my inspiration from the shapes that I see in Nature.  The graceful curves and spirals of seashells is especially appealing to me.  I found this grayish white whelk shell on the beach at Emerald Isle, NC this summer and decided to incorporate it in a pin. After I polished the shell, it now looks more like a piece of porcelain.  The pin measures about 4' in length.

Sterling Silver Christmas Camellia pin- $375 - sold

   This camellia blooms each year around Christmas and is a beautiful rich red color with an explosion of bright yellow stamen at the center.  I picked a nice bloom early in December to use as my example because later flowers grow smaller and smaller.

  The petals are made of 20 ga. .999 fine silver and the stems, stamen and leaves are made of sterling wire and sheet.  This piece measures ~2-3/4" by 3-1/2" and is totally hand-hammered and fabricated.

  This beautiful piece was commissioned by a collector, but I can make a similar one upon request.  Price will vary, depending upon the precious metals market.

Sterling Silver Bell - Custom order

This special sterling silver bell features 2 honeysuckle vines that start on either side and then twine around each other as they reach the top.  I designed it to commemorate the 25th wedding anniversary of two friends.  It has a rich tone befitting the rich life they enjoy with each other.  Similar heirloom pieces can be ordered for special events in your life.

Sterling Silver Hummingbird with Nest - $725

I fabricated this sterling silver treasure by cutting and fitting individual pieces of wire and sheet and soldering them together.  The bird has almost 20 different components to its construction.  It stands guard over a nest which resembles the one that hummingbirds make from moss, feather down and spiderwebs.  It measures ~ 4"x5" and 3" high.

Sterling Silver Oak Tree Pin - sold

The old oak trees in my yard inspired this beautiful pin.  It was not cast, but rather I crafted it by fusing melted silver together. I worked it with steel tweezers to texture the trunk and leaves while the metal was molten.  This one measures 2-1/2"x2-3/4".  Available by custom order.

Sterling Silver Japanese Maple Tongs - $275

I originally made a pair of these for a friend who loves items with an Asian style.  She wanted them to use for serving ice, but they could be used for serving sugar cubes, lemon wedges and many other things.  They measure 6 inches in length.

Custom Sterling silver Carolina jasmine vine necklace - $475 - Sold

One of my very unique designs, based on a beautiful flowering vine that blooms in my garden for several summer months.  This necklace drapes comfortably around the back of the neck.  The blossoms are .999 fine silver and the leaves and stems are Sterling silver.  This one has gone home with a happy customer, but I can make a similar one for you upon request.  Cost will vary with the silver market price.

Sterling silver Dogwood Pin - Sold - $525

The dogwood is a flowering tree that I look forward to seeing each year in early Spring.  As it's snowy white blooms are seen all across my state, it is obvious why it was officially recognized as the North Carolina State Flower in 1941.   I am inspired and challenged by it's simple beauty as I try to capture the details of it's form. 

I make several of these pins in the Spring, when the dogwood trees are in bloom in my yard, so I can pick a blossom to use as a template.  This one has petals made from .999 fine silver and leaves & stems of sterling silver.  It measures 3" x 3".

There are photos of the construction of this piece here.

Sterling silver Trillium Flower Pin - $325

The Trillium is a favorite flower of mine that is found growing wild in the NC mountains in the Spring. It ranges from brilliant white, to yellow, to deep red in color. The parts of the plant grow in "threes"; three petals, six stamen, series of 3 leaves on the stem. As with all of my flowers, I hand-fabricate all the parts of the flower. The petals and leaves are sawn out of 20ga. sheet and then textured with "chasing" tools and hammers. Then I solder the parts together with 2 solders that melt at 1325 & 1250 degrees F. Finally, I hand polish with 2 polishing compounds and buffs. This pin can also be worn on a chain or choker as a pendant. It is about 3" on a side.

Sterling silver Phalaenopsis orchid Pin - sold

This petals and buds of this orchid are made from fine silver (.999) and the stems are made from sterling silver. I bought a potted live flower to use as my pattern so I could better capture the details of the real bloom. I combined the overlapping hammered smooth texture for some of the petals with a mill rolled lacy texture on others. This pin measures 3"x4".

Sterling silver Nautilus Necklace - $425

I designed this necklace over 15 years ago while enjoying a beach vacation. My original sketch was more oval shaped, but as I was making it, I realized that a question mark shape would follow the spiraling lines of the shell better. It fits comfortably around the back of the neck.  The piece is about 9-1/2" long.

Necklace with Azurite/Turquoise and Sterling silver Leaves - Sold

When I found this beautiful stone with its blend of black, blue and green colors, it made me think of a garden at night. That was the inspiration for the draping leaves and the "secret garden" that I hand-sawed into the sterling back plate so the colors of the stone could show through. This pendant can be worn on a chain or choker with either side showing. This offers two different looks in one striking piece.

Japanese maple sterling silver pin - Contact for special order

I picked a branch from a tree in my yard to use as a template for this pin.  The seed "wings" form during the summer and help the tree disburse its seeds more widely.

Sterling Silver teaspoon rests - $90 each

These can help keep your tablecloth clean while dining and look great scattered around with greenery or candles as part of a table centerpiece.  Hand wrought from Sterling silver.