I have a very special Thankful November giveaway for you today—a silver ring made by Blind Pig reader Ed Ammons.
Ed donated the ring for me to giveaway. It’s not the first ring he’s sent to our house. Over the years Ed has made silver rings for almost all of us.
He makes the rings from quarters mostly, but the giveaway ring for today is from a half dollar and it is a size 10 and 1/2.
The coins have to be pure silver for the process to work. As you might guess that means the coins are old. Ed made my ring extra special by using a quarter from 1937, the year Pap was born.
To see how Ed makes these amazing silver rings go here.
Leave a comment on this post to be entered in the giveaway. *Giveaway ends November 28.
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Wow, I have wanted one of these rings for years, ever since I first heard about him making them. I would love to win it but I’ll just be patient and see. Thanks, Tipper and Ed Ammons .
What an amazing craft! Stunning. Mr Ed is mighty generous in this falling world
Thank you for all that you do. You are a credit to your family.
That is a true keepsake and a gift from the heart. My friend’s husband used to make things out of silverplate.They were beautiful.
I have many pieces of silver coin jewelry but I’ve never seen one like this! Most rings have the coin set in a bezel setting but this one is the most unique of all. It is stunning!
It is so kind and generous of you to offer these giveaways, Tipper. God bless you and your family!
I don’t know if there’s a deadline for comments because I’m really late! My granddaddy used to make rings from washers. I’m sure Ed’s rings are special. If I want it I would give it to my husband who loves rings.
I was blessed to receive one of these unique and very special works of art! My ring has my Daddy’s birth year on it. My Daddy is Ken Roper. I would like everyone who has expressed thoughts and concern to know he is doing well. He is getting settled in back at home after a very long 2 month journey. He is improving each day. I’m sure he will be posting comments & stories again soon!
I have large hands and big knuckles. Would proudly made the majestically made ring. Such talent Mr. Ammons. Thank you Tipper for all you do for us with your blog.
What a wonderful keepsake for someone. Have a blessed Thanksgiving with your family.
It’s real thoughtful of Ed to do this. He is a crafty man. It’s nice of you to Tipper. You are one of a kind. Happy Thanksgiving Tipper.
Handmade , a beautiful example of make do that tugs at the heartstrings. It’s a beautiful ring . The story of the why it was made makes it shine all the brighter with some heart glow.
Makes me think of the Holly Williams song
Waiting on June. Happy Thanksgiving all and thank you Ed Ammons for sharing your skill
Thanks for posting this giveaway-it was fascinating to see how Ed fashioned this – I never would have known it was possible. I love old things (I guess that’s good because I’m turning into one faster each year myself!) and I love reading your posts about old time life and culture in Appalachia. All my people are in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee for the most part, but I live in Northern California with my Canadian husband and our 16 year old daughter. I miss my family “back east” and I love the feeling of “home” your posts bring – the ones about dialect and expressions are some of my favorites, as well as any of the music posts and the old time recipes and cooking videos! My Mema Rachel still keeps a garden (with much help – she is 94!) and puts up vegetables in the summertime with my brother’s help. My granddaddy Wayne Heard played steel guitar up till near the end of his life, and Mema told us that he played with the Louvin Bros (before they were famous) as a young man before the two of them married – he chose to marry her rather than go on the road with the Louvins. Thanks for the walks down Memory Lane that your posts and videos provide! Happy Thanksgiving!
Have not worn a ring for years. Broke my wrist at work and when the swelling in my hand went down my knuckles were so swollen that a ring sized big enough to go on was way too big for my finger. Nurse was able to get my wedding band off, but I was never able to wear it again.
I have no idea what my ring size is. I have only ever owned two rings in my life and only one of those was I measured for. I’m thinking a 10 1/2 would be way too big for me so I’d best abstain from the drawing.
As to the defacing currency, I’ve heard that also. But then how do the folks get away with making the penny masher machines? If there is such a law, it is obvious that there is no enforcement.
I’ll say thanks also to Ed for making the ring and donating it. And thanks to you for doing the giveaway. I need to do a giveaway to you. You say we readers are the best but we think you all are. For myself, I would think of having the ring engraved inside with where it came from and the date.
Thanksgiving blessings to you and yours and all the BP&A readers.
What a cool give-away. I remember the post showing how the rings were made. It was so interesting.
I can work with wood to make things but I don’t have the patience for that kind of work. My patience is limited except for fishing and watching children play.
We recently moved off “my” mountain on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia to Nashville, TN–to be near our dear grandsons. It was definitely a God-move as I’m able to do the virtual learning with the five-year-old, and we love being here to build those grandparent/grandchildren relationships. But I do miss the mountain sunrises. This blog is my link to the mountains’ call to my soul. Thank you, Tipper.
This is a very interesting project. David said he made one, way back when but lost it along the way. I just love hand made projects. Thank you so much for sharing this post from Ed Ammons. It is the simple things in life that makes it all worthwhile.
Very interesting. Very well explained. Have a blessed Thanksgiving and thanks again for all your posts.
When Ed shared his ring making talent on here several years ago, I found a silver quarter and thought about trying to make one for myself. I haven’t found the nerve to try it yet! A size 10.5 would probably be too big for me but I remember how to fix that. When a girl is ‘going steady’, she wears her boyfriend’s much bigger ring. I have wrapped the bottom with tape and even wrapped angora around them to make them fit.
Yes, Shirl, we really fixed up those rings, didn’t we! Brushed the angora yarn we had wrapped around the band of class rings to make it fluffy to show off ! Some wrapped dental floss around the oversized ring then painted the floss w/nail polish.
Tipper does a great job bringing back memories!
Ed so generous to share his talent & product.
The blind pig is my only current link to the mountains. So for now I’m stuck in Florida but I hope to return to Peachtree where I spent my summers as a youth. Keep up the good work.
That is so creative. Anything homemade tops store bought. I have ugly work hands and don’t usually wear rings. Tehehe.
Tipper, I would like to try to make a ring and give one to my autistic grandson. He loves rings.
I would like to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving.
“Hey- has anybody seen my sweet Gypsy rose? She’s got rings on her fingers and bells on her toes.” A silversmith has extra love and attention to the fine details he forged plus it’s an art of passion and craftsmanship. What a sweet gift this would be for a gentleman. I humbly decline being in the running for the ring but best wishes all BP& A folks!!!
Handmade and homemade are always the most precious. How generous! Thankful for my BPA family; may you all be richly blessed.
What an awesome gift and an amazing talent to share with others!! God Bless all of yall and Happy Blessed Thanksgiving!!
Thanks for writing about such a great crafting idea. Making handmade items are my passion, yet this is something I’ve never seen done before. I’m looking forward to trying it myself. I also grew up thinking the destruction of coins were illegal. Lol. I’m not sure where I heard that information. I’m currently unemployed due to my husband and I moving recently back to my hometown in TN from MA. This would be a nice surprise gift for him this Christmas. Thanks for sharing your life experiences through your blog. I so enjoy your stories. ~Thanks, Susan
What a beautiful gift for Blind Pig readers!
What a fascinating project. I would love to own this ring and pass on to my granddaughter. I find that creating jewelry from simple items is amazing. At one time, people created bracelets from silver spoons. Thanks for sharing the lesson!
Tipper,
I can remember when the older people would warn against making rings out of coins or even drilling a hole through a coin because they, older people, thought it was violating a federal law by defacing the coin. Wonder if any of your other readers ever heard that same concern from anyone?
Some people wore a coin or a coin ring on a chain as a necklace.
I am not posting this as a chance on winning the ring. It is much too large for my finger.
My dad had earrings made from dimes for us girls dated the year we were born. My mother a lovely silver dollar pendant from her birth year. We just left Hayesville yesterday to come home. Even in winter I am so at peace there
That’s so cool!
You are a true treasure. I’d love some day to visit your part of America. Thanks for introducing the Foxfire museum. I purchased a rug from them and I love it, well made. Have a happy Thanksgiving from Texas.
This is so cool. I have lg knuckles so this would fit me! Have an awesome Thanksgiving!✝️
That’s very nice of you Ed to donate one of your beautiful rings. You’ve been a loyal follower of The Blind Pig…I guess from the beginning. I think this is the first man sized ring that I’ve seen from you. Thanks for the ring and for your loyal support!
In 1966 when I first met my husband, he wore a ring he’d made from a quarter. Somewhere along the way, it was lost. I’d love to have a ring made from a half-dollar to give him for Christmas.
Thank you so much for posting Ed Ammons technique for making that beautiful ring
My dear Morher was also born in 1937
Apparently it was one of God’s best years for making parents