Remember this post? It features a pendant I made while in class at Volcano Arts back in April. Now that I have my new miniature jeweler's bench and a small drill press, I decided there were no more excuses -- I had to start actually making some things.
Starting with the same design featured in that blog post, I made 2 more pendants. For this first one, I etched a piece of brass and free-cut a circle-ish shape. Because most of the brass is hidden, you can't see the gorgeous leaf pattern that I etched. The black layer is a ready-made circle of anodized aluminum I found in my stash. The center piece is sterling silver that I stamped with the letter "S" around the edges. The 3 layers are held together with a rivet I made from 14 ga copper wire. The bail is also copper, with a sterling rivet to attach it to the pendant.
The bottom layer of the next pendant is a piece of copper from a sheet that I patinated (about 4 years ago -- I still have plenty of it left!) with an ammonia and salt concoction that I learned from Linda & Opie O'Brien's book Metal Discovery Workshop. The middle layer is another piece of anodized aluminum that matches the aqua patina below it very nicely. The center is a copper circle that I stamped. The rivets and the bail are also copper.
This last piece is one I started while still in class 2 months ago. All of the complex sawing was done in class, without a plan for how I would finish it. This is sort of a no-no, as I've been taught to have a plan (thanks Christine!). Having a plan ensures that all of the steps are completed in the proper order. I can't tell you how important this is in a metalsmithing project. Because of my lack of planning, I ended up with plenty of scratches that could have been avoided, and stupid time-wasting work-arounds.
Taking that into consideration, I think the piece turned out great! I'm especially proud of the back, where I can show off my improved riveting skills:
I am so pleased with all of my pieces ~~ *pats self on back*
Starting with the same design featured in that blog post, I made 2 more pendants. For this first one, I etched a piece of brass and free-cut a circle-ish shape. Because most of the brass is hidden, you can't see the gorgeous leaf pattern that I etched. The black layer is a ready-made circle of anodized aluminum I found in my stash. The center piece is sterling silver that I stamped with the letter "S" around the edges. The 3 layers are held together with a rivet I made from 14 ga copper wire. The bail is also copper, with a sterling rivet to attach it to the pendant.
The bottom layer of the next pendant is a piece of copper from a sheet that I patinated (about 4 years ago -- I still have plenty of it left!) with an ammonia and salt concoction that I learned from Linda & Opie O'Brien's book Metal Discovery Workshop. The middle layer is another piece of anodized aluminum that matches the aqua patina below it very nicely. The center is a copper circle that I stamped. The rivets and the bail are also copper.
This last piece is one I started while still in class 2 months ago. All of the complex sawing was done in class, without a plan for how I would finish it. This is sort of a no-no, as I've been taught to have a plan (thanks Christine!). Having a plan ensures that all of the steps are completed in the proper order. I can't tell you how important this is in a metalsmithing project. Because of my lack of planning, I ended up with plenty of scratches that could have been avoided, and stupid time-wasting work-arounds.
Taking that into consideration, I think the piece turned out great! I'm especially proud of the back, where I can show off my improved riveting skills:
I am so pleased with all of my pieces ~~ *pats self on back*
