I usually start out this way - with a rough concept sketch. Sometimes the design will change if I encounter engineering problems along the way - this one went remarkably smoothly, and not much changed from the final product to the original sketch. The final pick of amethyst crystals! I chiseled them off of a geode and picked out my favorites. Making each custom setting in wax This is the second most stressful step - putting all the individual bezel settings onto the main form. I added some additional details here to enhance the theme of this piece. I took my inspiration from newly budded fern leaves Getting ready to invest the wax and put it in the vacuum chamber: the do or die stage! The finished product! The finished product!