Enamel Leaf Pendant Test

Enameled Leaf Pendant Test: 

I’m working on a leaf pendant and wanted to run a test before enameling the actual leaf, so I made this little copper leaf and applied the enamel and it turned out pretty good! 

I'm loving the way the black formed all around the perimeter of the leaf, the center and the smaller crackles near the tip.  To some this might seem like a non-successful test because of the black.  But I’m the type of artist who most of the time prefers my results to be different!  If you’re like me and you would like to a achieve this look add less of the enameling powder before you fire it so that the copper will oxidize and will show up as black in any portion where there is less enamel (you gotta love copper!)

In order to make the center vein running through the leaf, I used a fine, stainless steel rod and dragged it through the molten enamel while holding my torch in the other hand… 

I loved this project!  So much fun!

Bayside Wire Designs

Metal Forming White Oak Leaf Pendant

This project is coming along wonderfully!  Overall I really love the Oak leaf so far!

It still needs a few finishing touches such as rounding out the tips and a couple of 

inside corners before adding the enamel finish.

I will soon be starting the copper Acorn dangle.  

Factoid, White Oak:  The White Oak tree is a large tree than can reach up to 100 feet tall.  

The trunk can span up to 4-feet across.

Copper Oak Leaf Pendant Progress

Another custom Oak leaf pendant in progress!  This one is a copper leaf

overlay on sterling silver plate.  I just added a bit of texture to

give the leaf a bit of depth.  I still have lots of work to do on

the pendant, but so far I'm quite happy with how it's looking.

I hope the customer will like it as well...  

This is what is left to do: 

* make a bail and solder it to the sterling silver plate;

*sweat solder the copper leaf to the plate;

*make a bezel, solder it to plate;

*prepare the stone (which will be super special with an awesome little story attached).

Stay tuned for the end results!!

Oak Leaf Pendant in Progress

I am working on another custom order necklace:  Oak leaf pendant on chain. 

I made a template of a leaf, traced it on copper sheet and cut it out, sanded and shaped it.

I love the look of the leaf as it is (the finish I mean).  I achieved this by annealing and lightly sanding the leaf.  Unfortunately, I will not be keeping the look for this project.  We're going for something much cleaner and shinier.  You'll need to stay tuned for the end results!

After doing all of this work, I realized I had to make the smaller version of the leaf... and I needed to cut down the size.  Not a big deal, but it gave me a bit more work.  

I'll have to post the smaller leaf so you can see the new, smaller version.

Happy Crafting all!