This week I've been messing with copper clay. I once used the silver clay but as the cost of silver started to escalate, making sizeable charms and pendants just became prohibitive. The bronze clay fits much better with my antique bronze phase, but up until recently, it had to be fired in a kiln. So when I saw a starter kit with both bronze and copper clay which could be fired with a gas torch - well, that was my birthday present sorted!
Of course, if you know me well, then you know it's not my birthday yet, so technically the pack should be hidden somewhere unopened. But I never was any good at waiting...This little heart pendant is my first creation and a collaboration. Not wishing to set the house or district on fire, I persuaded my lovely hubby to operate the gas torch for me. He did a splendid job - no-one's hair was even singed and I'm quite pleased with how it turned out. Here it's set on a chain made of mobius flower links and chocolate pearls. As I don't do copper jewellery very often, all the findings had to be hand made from wire, so this is really a labour of love. But there is a lot of satisfaction in thinking that the whole thing started life as a lump of clay, some copper wire and some pearls!
Hope you like the necklace and if you're in the UK are having a lovely extended Bank Holiday weekend.
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That's a truly lovely piece. I love metal clay pieces as handmade jewellery, as they feel all the more unique, and I love the fact that you've hand made all the findings too- makes it extra special!
ReplyDeleteI love it - glad no hair was singed in the process!! x
ReplyDeleteFlip me, that's gorgeous. Never heard of that clay before or firing with a gas torch, sounds fun!
ReplyDeleteWow that looks amazing! And definitely a little different to the stuff you see normally x
ReplyDeleteA really pretty piece, lovely, well done
ReplyDeleteWow - you are so clever. I love it.
ReplyDeleteLove it! Well done to your hubby too! I have seen lots of pictures of clay jewellery but never seen/held in real life - is it light in weight? (I keep thinking back to the clay we got at school and how heavy that was!) Mich :)
ReplyDeleteMich,
DeleteThanks for your lovely comments. The clay is quite light and warm when you're working with it, but when it's fired it gets the heaviness of metal and the coldness.
Alison x
Beautiful heart and with the detail just perfect
ReplyDeleteooo, that is pretty!
ReplyDeleteIt looks lovely, very smart. Glad 'nobody was harmed during the process'.... Hope you have a good week.
ReplyDeletebeautiful
ReplyDeleteVery pretty, well done to you both, it's great that it can be done without a kiln, I love the chain too, I can tell that a lot of hard work has gone into this piece.
ReplyDeleteJan x
Very nice - love all your new work - sorry, not been around much but do see your work on facebook - so keeping up with all your lovely makes.
ReplyDeleteCopper jewellery is much underated but it has a long history and can look very special if designed well.
ReplyDeleteHi
ReplyDeleteI like your jewellery and the way you use the leaf as a background is a great idea.
Blessing Janet
Have awarded you the versatile blogger award - go to my blog for the rules and to pick up the award. Love reading your blog posts.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for that - a real honour :-)
DeleteAlison x