Sunday, October 27, 2013

It is finally my favorite season!!

Fall!  Actually, my favorite season is winter.  But, Fall will do!  Although in my neck of the woods, Northern Virginia, the maples have not turned quite as red as I like, it is still full of color...and inspiration!

I purchased a tutorial on Etsy a few weeks ago from Linda Aspenson Bergstrom on how to make leaves from copper.   I sat down at the bench on Saturday and played with some copper sheet - 22 gauge to be specific.  


These are pendant size- oh my, I had so much fun!  After fabricating, I tossed these in a bath of liver of sulfur, buffed, and tumbled.  The copper was gloriously shiny!  But then I added just a touch of golden gilder's paste - I wanted them to resemble the falling leaves in my backyard.


After showing these to my mother, she said those would be pretty smaller, as earrings.  So, back to the bench...


But this time, I skipped the Liver of sulfur.  I colored with the flame from my torch and added the tiniest amount of gilder's paste.  Most of these have the color on just the edges.  I am still experimenting.


The picture above shows the size comparison.  I added a few coats of Permalac to seal in the color.  I have actually made two pairs of earrings already, but the ear wires have to take a tumble before final assembly.

In the meantime, I wanted to use one of the leaves.  So, I whipped up this necklace using ....you guessed it...another link from Cindy Wimmer's new book, The Missing Link!  I was going for whimsical here...not sure if I achieved that exactly, but I still like this chain!

This is a very cool link - looks just like a light bulb!  Cindy had a tutorial  a while back in one of the wire magazines - it was either Step by Step Wire or Easy Wire - for the light bulb clasp.  I have actually used made these clasps before, but it has been awhile.  I couldn't find the tutorial (my magazine collection grows like my bead collection...ugh...I cannot find anything when I want it!).  So, I just followed the link design, but made the clasp in a heavier gauge - 14 gauge.


I wanted to use a copper leaf as a charm, so I made one of the light bulb links in 14 gauge, and strung a sweet little ceramic leaf charm by Karen Totten of Starry Road Studio, and the CUTEST  bronze squirrel charm!  This charm is very special, as it was made by LeAnn Weih of Summers Studio.  LeAnn has been learning the art of Lost Wax Casting - and this is one of her first charms!   I cannot explain this artform and give it justice - suffice it to say it is arduous!  I was - and am - extremely honored to have received this little beauty, which I think completes pendant...don't you?  Thank you again, LeAnn!!


Isn't he adorable!  I strung some tiny little jasper rounds on top of my copper leaf....I believe that little squirrel thinks those are food related!



Yes - again, I stood on a chair with a photography lamp in my left hand, camera in my right, and I am so proud that I did fall off that chair!  (There has GOT to be a better way to take pics of Lolita wearing necklaces...I just do not know what that is yet)!


That was my weekend.  I hope yours was just as wonderful!

Thank you so much for stopping by!

xo
Patti

18 comments:

  1. It's totally gorgeous! I tried that link and I'm not very experienced with 16g and it shows, lol. I need a lot more practice, but I love how this looks and that squirrel is totally charming

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  2. I love that chain, the pendant and the beads look wonderful!

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  3. Perfect! The whole picture says "Autumn"

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  4. Oh, this is so wonderful! I LOVE the leaves and I love the way you colored them. The necklace is so cool! My daughter would love the squirrel charm. I just love what you did, Patti! So, very cool!

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  5. Beautiful Patti,
    I love the leaves and you are doing great with the links from Cindy's book. The necklace is beautiful I love the pendant with all of the little charms and stones.
    I just got Cindy's book a few days ago and I can not wait to try some of her links.
    Therese

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  6. Your leaves are beautiful but then your work always is and the squirrel necklace is super cute, I have been enjoying what you have been making so much so that I have also brought Cindy's new book, thanks for sharing!

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  7. Oh Patti~I just love the light bulb chain! It is fun and different and open. And those leaves are beautiful! I am partial to leaves...much more than flowers. Nice work Patti!

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  8. Patti that is gorgeous. I love fall too and those leaves are wonderful - I am going to have to try that. I recognized LeAnn's squirrel right away - he looks wonderful on the leaf. Your chain is great - love, love the whole piece.

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  9. Girl, you crack me up with your stories! Loving this style link, and I totally think that squirrel is going for the beads. He reminds me of the crazy one from Ice age! Great work on the leaves, they need to be keepers!

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  10. your wire and metal work just amaze me ... how you can get such beautiful deep colors and the luscious sheen to the metal - I could just stare at it all day! Really beautiful necklace

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  11. Patti, I love seeing how you are taking off with your work!! The leaves are so cool. Makes me want to find some time to try new things. That will come this winter for me. But, meanwhile, I am living vicariously through all the new stuff you are doing!

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  12. Patti, this has to be one of my recent favorites for sure! You have outdone yourself with all of the techniques you used in this one piece. Your fabricated leaves are beautiful - WOW! You sure went to town on the pendant size and the smaller leaves for earrings. Your chain is perfect. And look at you - whipped up a coordinating clasp with no problem! I can appreciate the time it took to make this many links (not to mention the oxidizing and polishing process!). I love the addition of LeAnn's squirrel and Karen's little leaf charm.... so many great details all in one necklace. Glad to hear you didn't fall off that chair! The photography is my favorite part and I found myself up on a chair yesterday myself. :-) Oh the things we do in the name of handmade jewelry....

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  13. Your leaves are just beautiful! The chain - and clasp - are perfect, too. Love this necklace - colors, design, everything is super!!

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  14. Patti, I love the leaves. I think you are giving Mother Nature competition! But, your leaves will last forever! This is a beautiful pendant and chain! Love it!

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  15. OMG those leaves are gorgeous. Fall is my favorite time of year as well. The necklace turned out awesome.

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  16. Absolutely wonderful necklace, Patti! Do be careful though! :-)

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  17. I. LOVE. THIS. DESIGN!!!!! The leaf pendants are gorgeous! I think the chain is my favorite! The color you achieve on your metal is absolutely delicious!

    Angi Mullis dj2isme@aol.com

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