Fiona's friend Sue and I will have a bit of a play-day with metal tomorrow. She indicated that she would like to "make something square" by way of jewellery. I had a couple of hours this afternoon so I headed into the studio-garage to test a quick way of cutting a square hole out of some silver-plated copper using a sharp wood chisel.
Anyway the cutting worked - though a bit rustic in look - so I went on to make a layered pendant. The top layer is silver-plated copper from a small tray; the second layer is the side out of a silver-plated EPNS wine coaster; and the base layer is silver-plated EPNS from a small tray again. The chain is stainless steel recycled from salvaged piece of jewellery that resulted in a stash of about 6m of chain of different lengths and gauges.
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| ©2013 Barry Smith - Rustic there layered pendant |
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| ©2013 Barry Smith - Rustic there layered pendant |
Recently whilst cutting a thin strip from the edge of a length of silver-plated EPNS it peeled off in a neat spiral about 1cm in diameter and about 9cm long. This scrap was put aside for later use. Well today was later - so I cut the spiral roughly in half tapered the blunt cut ends; drilled holes for jump rings; and gave it all a grind and polish. Jump rings; a recycled piece of stainless steel chain; and ear-wires by Shannon completed the earrings. The spirals are about 40-45com long.
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| ©2013 Barry Smith - Scrap spiral earrings |
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| ©2013 Barry Smith - Scrap spiral earrings |
It was a good couple of hours; and I think I'm ready to do a bit of creating with Sue tomorrow.
Beautiful designs. The junk in your hands becomes art and beauty.
ReplyDeletebrilliant!
ReplyDeletelove them both...
The pendant is beautiful.... love the layered, stained glass feel to it.
ReplyDeleteSuch tradgedy going on over there - seems there is something horrible one place or another these days.
Deep peace to you.
your squares pendant is so bookish i'm happy just thinking about it!
ReplyDeleteThat's a superb pendant Barry. It's incredible what you can make with so little.
ReplyDelete~b...more wondrous treats for the eye to see!!! my first thought was a book of sorts...i like how the middle piece hangs lower than the front...gives a nice dimension...can't wait see to more...be well and blessing to you~
ReplyDeleteOhhhh the 3 layer piece is exquisite Barry! A Sacred book of wordless prayers. The serendipitous spirals are lovely too.
ReplyDeleteyour multi-layered pendant is wonderful Barry. so creative of you!
ReplyDeleteL, MJ, VA, V, JM, B, R & TL - i really do appreciate the positive reactions - always good to get when one is testing a new idea. L - junk offers me such opportunities - I can risk having a go without thinking I'm wasting costly metal. MJ - thanks. VA - I agree it has almost a Moroccan look. V - books - now you have given me a new idea. JM - The scraps always offer a challenge - I can't bear to toss them away - but what to do? B - I agree the middle leaf just gives a little design jolt. R - sacred books is right - and I'm into making a book intentionally. TL - the layered look just offers such texture and mystery. All - thanks for your comments, create well and be joyfilled. B
ReplyDeleteAnother magical change from scrap to treasure. Such a beautiful pendant, Barry, and definitely bookish.
ReplyDelete