Friday, January 6, 2012

Handful of tiny leaves

OK! So I get a little obsessed at times. Recently I have set myself the challenge of forming tiny leaves that could become earrings. Over the last few months I have been progressively reducing the size - seeing if I could keep the shape and detail without ending up with beaten fingers etc.

I made my smallest pair when demonstrating leaf making with Jeff. Today (being Friday and all) I used time this afternoon to cut, beat, drill and polish another 5 pairs of tiny leaves. In the photo below you can see the 12 leaves fit very easily in the palm of my hand. All the leaves are 25-30mm in length.

Barry Smith © A handfull of tiny metal leaf forms
Fiona took photos of the six pairs of leaves whilst I got the risotto going in the rice cooker - she caught the afternoon setting sun so the photos have a lovely warm aged look about them.

Barry Smith © Tiny curled copper leaves
Barry Smith © Tiny extra curled copper leaves

Barry Smith © Tiny simple brass leaves 

Barry Smith © Tiny brass ans zinc leaves

Barry Smith © Extra thin brass leaves - fractured and torn

Barry Smith © Demo for Jeff leaves - brass - drilled and polished
I did not have the time to add jump rings and wires to the leaves - maybe I will post later on how they look as finished earrings.

18 comments:

  1. barry, I visit often but dont have a lot to say tho I admire your work! the leaves on todays post are delightful, lovely and very attractive. I know they will make very pretty earings !

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  2. your tiny leaves are beautiful - some of my smallest ones are less than 3/4" - a challenge for sure! you have kept all of the beautiful detail... quite lovely...as are the photos...

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  3. Lovely, Barry. As earrings, but also as a little bundle of leaves in your hand.

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  4. they look wonderful Barry. i can see how they might be fiddly to work with, but awesome outcome and wonderfully organic.

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  5. I am quite smitten with these Barry. Keep it up. I'd love a pair and can add the earring bits myself.

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  6. Oh Barry! Love earrings, let me know the price, love the curly ones, would love a pair.

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  7. These are truly precious pieces B - just gorgeous! F

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  8. Well I see you have mastered the smaller versions! Obsessions are a good thing I think. Have you ever thought of those as buttons? They'd be over the top beautiful on a special sweater-jacket-wrap. Being that your making small ones. :)

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  9. I love these...have always liked leaves and earrings and these are perfect.
    Jenni

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  10. These make me wish I had pierced ears-- which I don't -- too chicken.. but I love the fine detail in them.

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  11. Love the leaves, Barry! Excellent work - I absolutely love the extra thin ones.

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  12. Mister B., Precious little treasures these are and what wonderful earrings they will become, just love them!

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  13. LB, MD, VA, TL, JM, P, F, SZQ, J, l, S/R & M - Thanks all for comments - looks like the little one resonate with us all - they have such organics fragile-strong beauty in their own right but will make intriguing earrings (or buttons SZQ?). MD - now you have set me a challenge - to see if my clumsy fingers can make leaves .75 inch long. P&JM - I will talk to you about acquiring a pair. F&M - you use the word precious and that is how they look but are the tiniest scraps of off-cut metal. D it may not be too late for a chicken to get piercings? S/R the thin ones look so like tumbled worn leaves - I even resisted polishing them much. Go well. B

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  14. looks like my mention of liking both the teachin/learning and how much i like the tiny leaves went astray...i do like those little earrings so much!

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  15. Beautiful all, those of zinc, brass, the brass ... all are excellent works of art. A greeting.

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  16. Beautiful all, those of zinc, brass, the brass ... all are excellent works of art. A greeting.

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  17. I'd almost be willing to get pierced ears just to wear these! I was going to use the word "organic" until you used it yourself, B. There is something so natural about them, as if they were actual leaves dipped in liquid metal. Now, let's see how small you can go!

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  18. i especially love the fractured and torn pair ... your leaves are just super real B ...

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Comments are welcomed - it is good to connect with fellow travellers.