Brooch - foil

Taking the positive experience making the egg shell brooch, I was curious what would happen with the foil from the Hershey kisses with Valentine colors - red and pink.  The E6000 glue wasn't working - it was like rubber cement and way too globby as I worked with it. The super glue was much better. After my fingers had one coating of super glue, my finger tips were hard and made it easier to pat the additional foil pieces. Problem -- the glue made the foil color lift and transfer to my fingers, so I had to dab carefully while the glue was wet. Once the glue dried, I could continue working.

The other challenge was making the accompanying stick pin. There were 4 failures attempting to solder the piano wire (steel) to the copper (not enough surface connection), Solution - I hammered the steel end for a flat and wider surface.  I reused the brooches center disc to create the pin's end bead.

     Copper 22g, piano wire 20g
     Copper disc 1/2" inside dia, 1" outside dia.
     Hershey kisses foil (silver, red, pink) 

Ovals in the Round Necklace

I've been working on this necklace for about 2 weeks, in addition to other quicker projects as posted. In essence, there were days when I made a completed item and finished a few of the individual necklace oval links.

The steps include -

1. punch discs,
2. roll into ovals, 
3. create arch longways & then hammer anticlastic around the edge. 
4. Drill hole in one end and drill a depression in the other which will accept a soldered post. 
5. Solder the posts (1 1/8" long)
6. but do not pickle (leave the heat induced red). 
7. Apply several coats of wax, buffed in-between coats. 
8. Assemble, curling the post in the back into a swirl.

Copper - 23 disc, 18-19"
Natural torch patina

Knuckle Ring - Leaves

Inspired by a Black Hills Gold Ring I saw on tv, I created this one.

I soldered the back of the ring, formed it, then soldered the leaves, carefully balancing each one on the charcoal block, using Hard and Easy solder. The plus side of putting the leaves on last -- I could cut the wire to length after it was formed when I could decide where the stems would fall on the finger.

Next time -  I'll try soldering the leaves on first, then solder the ring together, followed by forming it. For this however, I'll have to make sure I have the length of wire just right before starting.

     Nickel Silver, Copper, 18 g., adjustable size 7-9
     Silver plated, heat patina, Renaissance Wax

Nutmeg Pendant

After grating some nutmeg (from a trip to Grenada some time ago), I noticed the beautiful speckled pattern.  My first attempt to slice a slab off only resulted in crumbled pieces. So I decided to leave the 'nut' with what was left (semi-whole). It was encased with Renaissance Wax and then Turtle wax to prevent aging and deterioration.

Be My Forever Valentine

A tie-tac for my forever love - my husband John. Made from the Curly Willow branch from our front yard.

Forever Valentine Tie Tac / wood, copper
silver plate, Crimson acrylic paint

Wire People

This design is from ArtJewelryMag.com.  It is slightly kinetic and I can't help smiling when I see it. :0)

Radiating

A radiating design pendant / charm.  Starting with 22 g copper, roll printed using paper towel, heat treated and sealed with Renaissance Wax. The heat treatment shows more yellow with hints of blue. Bail is 18g NuGold.