Post by Bejewelme on May 31, 2010 21:42:08 GMT -5
Well I have been working this silver metal clay and discovered a new element of taking natural leaves, twigs, etc and turning them into fine silver pieces, basically with many layers the silver takes the impression of the object and burns out upon firing. I took a class at a local bead shop and I have always stayed away from beads, but those swavorki crystals and lamp work beads just got me hooked! Tony is cringing at all my beads now! LOL I love bling. I thought the silver on its own was sort of boring, so you guys will have to let me know what you think. I think you guys were right with the patinas, I have been experimenting with them, and determined that you never get the same result twice no matter what! LOL
Natural Gingko leaves that I painted and turned into a pendant and earrings, with a handmade lamp work bead on the pendant.
Seed pod with turquoise chips
Shell made with a mold-and some of the patina removed.
Under the sea, I loved the rainbow patina I got on this one
Broken Heart!
This was made with left over scraps that were a little brittle so hence the cracks, but I like it.
Verbena Leaf with a rainbow colored patina
A seed pod with a twig bail, I might grind a little more off the twig since one side is much longer???
My favorite, a seed pod that came out witha great blue hue, and I added larimar beads.
Orchid-for my Mom, I added a fancy bail and crystals for her
Earrings
Sunstone-Tony made me this cab and I had 4 balls on this, well 2 came off in the tumbler! Try to find small balls in 2 pounds of SS jewelers shot, LOL. Well I had to pry off one to place at the bottom, but I love this one cause I left it shiny!!!
My favorite! Fran gave me this piece of amozonite she collected and it was gemmy, this is a big piece, so I made the cab and knew I had to try to set it, I broke this piece and fixed it 5 times before it got to the kiln, LOL, but I kept trying! I love this piece! Thank you Fran!!
So back to cabbing! The clay is a lot like traditional silver smithing as far as the bezels, polishing etc. With the clay I have to fire once and the piece shrinks then attach the bezel and fire again, so it is a process, and not exact,as it seems like the shrinkage is always varied, and never to my advantage. The prong setting on the amonzonite was sterling where as this is fine silver, so I have since learned to degild the silver basically torch it and pickel it to remove the copper particles so I should not have the firescale next time, as there are not as many options in fine silver settings as there are in sterling, it was worth it to learn how to incorporate sterling into the pieces.
Amber
Natural Gingko leaves that I painted and turned into a pendant and earrings, with a handmade lamp work bead on the pendant.
Seed pod with turquoise chips
Shell made with a mold-and some of the patina removed.
Under the sea, I loved the rainbow patina I got on this one
Broken Heart!
This was made with left over scraps that were a little brittle so hence the cracks, but I like it.
Verbena Leaf with a rainbow colored patina
A seed pod with a twig bail, I might grind a little more off the twig since one side is much longer???
My favorite, a seed pod that came out witha great blue hue, and I added larimar beads.
Orchid-for my Mom, I added a fancy bail and crystals for her
Earrings
Sunstone-Tony made me this cab and I had 4 balls on this, well 2 came off in the tumbler! Try to find small balls in 2 pounds of SS jewelers shot, LOL. Well I had to pry off one to place at the bottom, but I love this one cause I left it shiny!!!
My favorite! Fran gave me this piece of amozonite she collected and it was gemmy, this is a big piece, so I made the cab and knew I had to try to set it, I broke this piece and fixed it 5 times before it got to the kiln, LOL, but I kept trying! I love this piece! Thank you Fran!!
So back to cabbing! The clay is a lot like traditional silver smithing as far as the bezels, polishing etc. With the clay I have to fire once and the piece shrinks then attach the bezel and fire again, so it is a process, and not exact,as it seems like the shrinkage is always varied, and never to my advantage. The prong setting on the amonzonite was sterling where as this is fine silver, so I have since learned to degild the silver basically torch it and pickel it to remove the copper particles so I should not have the firescale next time, as there are not as many options in fine silver settings as there are in sterling, it was worth it to learn how to incorporate sterling into the pieces.
Amber
Jo
