Revisiting Wirework

I’ve been working a lot with metal sheet lately and, as I usually do, I’ve become obsessed with my new etching skills.  I thought a break would be in order and decided to bring out some of my older wire work pieces.

Marquise shaped Turquoise and copper – I loved that one!

Ah…they seemed refreshing, lighter and just right for warmer weather.  I so needed a breather! So here are some revisited and redone (the Lapiz necklace is a makeover) oldies.

Wrapped Lapiz on a copper chain

Natural Abalone shell, Agates and copper

Yellow Quartzite and copper wire

Dyed Abalone, Green Turquoise and copper wire

Ok, I’m refreshed for now.  I need to get back to etching and metal sheet to finish an order for a special customer.

Tarot Card Inspired Necklace

Ever since I started etching I can’t seem to do anything else in jewelry.  I’m obsessed with the possibilities of creating mini works of art to wear.  I finally get to draw, letter and doodle again  by creating images on metal.

The finished necklace

The center piece of this necklace was inspired by one of my favorite Tarot card images – the Ace of Pentacles.  I especially like the artwork in the Robin Wood Tarot Deck.

Ace of Pentacles from the Robin Wood Tarot Deck

This was a time consuming, labor intensive, project!  I cut the shape out of metal sheet, filed it all around, punctured tiny holes at either end, drew the pattern I designed on the piece with a Sharpie marker, etched it in Ferric Chloride and cleaned it up.

Etched and cleaned

I dipped it in Liver of Sulfur, sanded it again and finally sealed it with Protec A Clear – two coats.  That was just for the center piece!

After patina with LOS

Of course I had to decide how to design a necklace around it.  I chose 6mm Amethyst beads and wrapped them with copper.  I then attached two rows of these to figure eight links separated by jump rings and spiral links.  The clasp is always a challenge to create as I like to make each one somewhat unique.

finished necklace with clasp

So after making all those links, rings and center focal, I was finally finished.  This was done over a period of two days – my hands and eyes had to take a break.  I like the way it turned out and want to create another piece soon.  I’ll probably keep this one.  The work involved in it would make it pricey anyway.  I know I’ll never get rich this way!!!!

How I designed my etched bracelet

Since my last etched bracelet is reserved for a “potential” customer, I felt the need to make another one.  This one is just one sold piece – I just wanted to etch a design to see how it would turn out.

I usually start by sketching ideas in my cheap, ruled notebook and see what evolves.

Bracelet idea sketches

So with my sharpie marker, I decided to omit the flowers for now and draw just the vines and leaves.  I added some spiral “tendrils” to fill up space and inked the whole design directly onto a piece of copper sheet I had cut to 6 1/4″ long  and 1 1/4″ wide.

Inked in design directly on cut blank

I rounded all the corners by cutting a tiny triangular piece and filing them down smooth,  then prepared a bath with Ferric Chloride using packing tape on the back and letting it sit for about 50 minutes. I  didn’t take a photo before putting it away because I’m paranoid about leaving chemicals around and simply forgot .  We have a curious cat and three dogs (as well as a parrot and a Bearded Dragon).

After rinsing the piece to remove all chemicals, I “sanded” it with #0000 steel wool and dipped it in Liver of Sulfur.  I sanded it again to remove most of the LOS and left just enough patina.

Etched and left with just a little patina

I put the cuff to be on my step mandrel and pounded it carefully with my cheap,  little rubber mallet to shape it into an oval.

Etched cuff on mandrel with mallet

I sealed the bracelet with Protec A Clear – two coats.  And here it is on my daughter’s wrist.

Finished bracelet on my daughter’s wrist

Necklace Makeover and New Etched Bracelet

I made this necklace some time ago but was never happy with the center pendant so I decided to change it.  Now that I can etch (a little) I thought a center pendant of etched copper would be just what it needed.   I was right, I love it now.

Newly redone necklace with etched pendant

The Lapiz beads just seem to pop more now, or maybe it’s just my imagination.   Originally there was a Lapiz drop at the center.

Sorry about the bad photo

I also made this 3 part bracelet with etched panels linked together and  added a wire clasp.

I like the way the cuff turned out.  It’s big and the etching is not very deep but I think it works

More etching madness!!!

I’m having so much fun experimenting with etching,  I know I’m (temporarily) obsessed.   But, I always become obsessed with every new thing I learn.

This time I’m collaborating with my daughter, Sam (of Shinrinart.com) . who can create amazing line drawings.  Sam drew 14 images, some on 1/2″, 24ga copper blanks,  which I then etched, oxidized and all the rest.

Sam’s art, my etching

Sam’s drawing of our dog – Balto inked in

Balto etched in

This is giving me lots of practice.  I’m even coloring the etched images with Gilders’ Paste and color pencils!!!

My Cancer the Crab personalized pendant

I’m thinking of all the other things I can combine with etching……

My First Copper Etching

Yoshino immortalized in copper

I’ve been wanting to try etching on copper for a while so I ordered some Ferric Chloride, got some rubber gloves and baking soda and finally tried it.  I already had some 24ga copper sheet and packing tape.

I didn’t know what I wanted to draw on my sheet but finally decided to try an image of a character from my daughters’ original manga (Japanese graphic novel) series, Ronin Yoshino.  Yoshino is a female Samurai and the series revolves around her adventures.

The cover of Ronin Yoshino Volume 1

I’m better at drawing portraits than other things, so this was a good choice although it wasn’t easy drawing in Sam’s (my daughter) style.  I’m accustomed to color pencils and pastels but I wanted to create the portrait as close to the original as possible or risk offending Sam.

My rendition of Yoshino on the copper sheet

I probably left it in the solution a bit too long and it could have been neater, but overall I think it came out OK.  In any case, Sam loved it.

My first real cold connection with rivets

I’ve been wire wrapping, in my own fashion, for a long time.  I do love wire  and wrapped jewelry in all styles from the more traditional techniques with square wire to the free, loose, messy wraps.  It’s all good.  I believe Dale Cougar Armstrong said that wire wrapping was the first cold connection and of course, she’s right.

I  also love metal work and have been obsessed with it lately.  There’ something so basic about it and simple shapes can have such impact.  So ever since I won that giveaway which included several sheets of 24ga copper sheet, I can’t keep away from it.

By now, I’ve made leaves of different types, flowers and stamped jewelry (another new obsession).  So now I have to learn to rivet or solder in order to connect the different layers of metal  and even though I have the tools and equipment for soldering, I’m still putting off playing with fire.

So riveting it is!  I started with my own spiral wire rivet where I spiraled both sides of the metal pieces hoping they would stay tight and not spin around too much like  this bracelet and some rings and earrings.

Spiral connection

Sometimes, however, I want a clean, simple cold connection and I finally did it!!  I did my first, real cold connection with rivets – Yay!

Flower with bail riveted on the back

I will have to give in someday and play with fire – I want to learn to enamel!!!