Showing posts with label copper jewelry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label copper jewelry. Show all posts

Monday, December 25, 2017

Finished Copper Pick Bracelet


So here is a picture of my finished, pick bracelet on 1.0 mm black leather cord.  Very unique piece indeed!  I decided to go with the slipknot instead of a clasp because I find it just looked really nice this way.  Plus, it can fit a variety of sizes. 



In my previous blog post, I wrote about I hoped to be able to achieve a mirror finish.  I looked it up online and followed instructions and it came out pretty good.  I'm happy with the finish product!

The pick bracelet is an awesome gift idea for the guitar player.  You can purchase this bracelet from my website Bayside Wire Designs

Thursday, August 11, 2016

How to Patina Copper and Sterling Silver



How do you turn a shiny copper ring to a beautiful copper ring covered with a dark patina?

There are different methods, but I use a product called Liver of Sulfur-

Please Beware:  This product has dangerous fumes and should be handled only in a well ventilated area.  Do not handle the product with your hands.  Wear gloves or use tweezers to hold your piece.  Another thing you should know is that it smells of rotten eggs!!  That's right... rotten eggs!!  :)


The pictures below will show you  my method:  

1st thing to do is to clean your piece of jewelry or metal with pickle solution (please don't reach for the pickle jar from your refrigerator).  When I mention pickle solution I mean an acid base mixture used to remove dirt, oil or fire scale.  You can make a basic pickle solution with citric acid which works very well for copper and silver (I'll post an article about it in the future).

*As mentioned previously, make sure to not handle your jewelry with your hands, after you've done pickling it in your acid solution.  The oil from your fingers will interfere with the patina.

Secondly, I use a small Crock Pot (they're quite inexpensive, but I got mine as a bonus when I purchased my large Crock pot for my kitchen).  

I add a bit of water, no more than about 1/2 cup to my crock pot put it on and wait for the water to get hot;

Once water is hot, add a thumbnail size of the Liver of Sulfur to the hot water and stir until it dissolves (use a junk piece of metal to stir);

You can also add 1 tsp of ammonia (I didn't do this thus far, but it's advised to this in order the deepen the patina);

*Dip your piece of metal quickly, rinse it, check to see if the color is to your liking and if not, dip it again and repeat the rinsing process.

You can use a brass brush to sort of polish it up and repeat the dipping and re-polish.

I hope my method was helpful for you beginners out there!








Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Rustic Copper Spotted Bracelets


Finished an order of 4, Rustic Copper Spotted Bracelets with Sterling Silver and
multi leather.  

Although these bracelets have a sturdy clasp on them, I added two slip knots on the leather part.  I find it make sit easier for the customer to size the bracelet perfectly to their wrist size. 

**Just wanted to let all you jewelry makers out there that Fire Mountain Gems is offering 80% off almost 5,000 gems, jewelry and beading supplies!!  Great time to stock up!!!  Click here to go to their site.


Sunday, July 31, 2016

His and Hers Rustic Wedding Bands


My handmade, his and hers copper and sterling silver and copper, rustic wedding bands.  
The silver stripes really gives these rings a beautiful look!



Thursday, June 9, 2016

Latest Project: Abstract Tree Pendant With Filigree Leaves


Latest project that I'm working on:

Copper and Sterling Silver Pendant with tree and leaves.  I'm making a few cutout leaves
and I'll be adding some filigree to fill in the leaves.

I sweat soldered the leaf and the tree to the copper plate.

If you're looking for a custom made piece, contact me.

See more Jewelry Here.

Monday, June 6, 2016

Finished White Oak Leaf Pendant with Acorn



Sometimes, you come up with an idea in your head, transfer it to paper and the actual piece doesn’t always come out exactly as you first imagined it.  But this piece is pretty much what I designed it to be.  
I purposely added the dark, vein-like lines in the leaf by dragging a piece of metal through the molten enamel. Because the copper was slightly exposed, it created oxidization which led to the lines turning black.  It really gives the piece a more rustic look!  I just love playing with oxidization!!  
The Oak Acorn I made from a piece of white oak piece which I carved into a ball which I drilled like a bead.  I made the cap part out of sheet copper, formed, textured and soldered.  I covered the wood with epoxy.
The Acorn lays flat so that it can sit properly when worn.

Friday, May 27, 2016

Acorn Pendant With Oak Tree Remnant



I designed this little acorn to dangle along with an Oak Leaf Pendant I made.  
I made it so that it sits flat.  The whole thing is made of copper sheet which
was cut, formed, textured and soldered together.  
The best way to form a ball shape is with a dapping punch, a block and a hammer.

The wooden bead I made from a piece of an Old Oak Tree.  
I drilled a whole through the wood and through the copper cap (this step is not in the photographs).

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Vintage Beads For Your Beading

Did you ever think of going to an Antique Shop, a flea market or a yard sale to find old pieces of jewelry.  Sometimes, you can find a bag filled with all types of junk jewelry for a few dollars.  Why would you do this, you ask?  Because of the beads, of course!  That's right, I've come across some gorgeous beads by doing this.

The following heart necklace and earrings set is made of fine copper wire which was twisted, turned and linked, antiqued and polished.  The vintage crystals and creamy colored beads fit right in the antiqued copper finish design.

Let the beads talk to you... not in some weird way, lol!  I mean, the style of the beads will give you some direction as far as design goes... they'll definitely help you be inspired!  You'll have so much fun with vintage beads!!!


Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Fall Inspiration Leaf Earrings

I love the fall season!  Every September the leaves put on a showy display in Eastern Canada.  Inspired by their colors, I designed these copper leaf earrings with sterling silver veins.  What a better way to celebrate the fall!  See more info here.  Visit my Etsy Shoppe here

(Notre magasin Etsy est bilingue) - J'aime beaucoup l'automne! Tous les septembres les feuilles resplendissent dans toutes leurs gloires, ici, dans l'est du Canada. Inspirée de leurs couleurs vives, j'ai conçu ces pendants d'oreilles en cuivre avec veines en argent sterling: "feuilles d'automnes." Vive l'automne! Voyez plus de détails ici. Visitez mon magasin Etsy ici.



 

 









 


Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Boho Hippie Tribal Dot Textured Copper Ball chain Necklace 18 inches

My jewelry designs are usually a bit heavier and so I decided to start focusing on smaller pieces that are more delicate and dainty for my customers who prefer the smaller pieces.

This cute little pendant is made of recycled copper which I formed and textured, then I made small little balls from a fine silver wire and welded them to the copper.   I really like how it turned out!!  The bead chain compliments this perfectly!  See it here.  I also made the matching earrings.  See them here.

Note on Fine Silver:  Fine silver is 99.9 pure silver.  The difference with sterling is that sterling silver is .925, which means it's an alloy (with copper- that's the reason sterling tends to oxidize quickly).  Fine Silver keeps it's beautiful sheen and hardly oxidizes at all.

See more of my designs and go here.