Friday 26 October 2012

Happy New Year of Silversmithing Part 2


After the interest shown in my recent mixed metal earrings post I thought I would share another of my creations that I finished at the end of last term at my Silversmithing class. Do you remember the Peas in the Pod I made for my darling daughter for her birthday in March? This has become one of her favourite pieces of jewellery, she was so thrilled with it.

If you have not seen this piece in detail  have a little read here Well I did promise in that post that I would show you the design process behind making the lovely organic pod. As well as making her the peas in the pod I made myself some silver earrings using the same process of fold forming. It is a fun process involving lots of hammering and lots of annealing and it all starts with 2 rectangles of silver sheet. The same process was used for the pod and the earrings with just a difference which part of the form is hammered.



Each piece starts off life as plain flat 8mm silver sheet. For the earrings I cut 2 smaller rectangles.

I marked the middle of each of these with red marker.














I then placed each sheet into a vice at the level of the marked line

















and carefully tapped each piece to fold over using a hide mallet. Once I had a bend in the metal I took it out and continued to tap it flat. Next I cut these flat pieces into a more oval shape using a saw, as shown below.







  Then I started gently tapping just the outside edge of the silver with a flat head hammer, which slowly thins the edge.

As the silver work hardens very quickly when hammering I had to keep annealing (heating to a rosy red using a blow torch) to keep the metal soft and workable.










By just working on the outside edge the metal starts to curve as it thins. Once I was happy with the size I needed to open up the folded metal again. (When I made the pea pod for my daughter's earrings I had to hammer along the folded edge to create a cup rather than a splayed piece).

This was very fiddly indeed!


















I had to use a steel ruler to start this off and then got in with my pliers and slowly pulled the piece open. Again I had to keep annealing the piece to keep it workable.

Finally after lots of gentle pulling my earring began to emerge....















I teased...and teased until they were the shape I was happy with.












I made the leaves more shapely by using a good old permanent marker to curve them over.

Next I needed to make some ear wires so that I could put them through my ears. I wanted them as hanging earrings rather than studs.









I soldered a silver wire to the back to the "leaf" and then bent the wire carefully into shape to form the ear wires.

So are you ready for a Ta Dah moment..

well here they are...and as usual they are just so hard to photograph...this time I used the rim of a cup as even my trusty garlic bulb didn't work as a prop.



I hope you get an idea of them, in real life they are fun and very apt for this time of the year....my silver autumn leaves ;0)

 Now I don't "do" Halloween or autumn type cards so my card challenge today will follow another thread instead. I decided it would be in honour of the upcoming Bond movie which is on general release from next week. I am a huge fan of the James Bond Films and have seen nearly every single one at the cinema. The first one was came out 50 years ago so no, I didn't see the very original ones..I'm not that old ;0) I really think that Daniel Craig is up with Sean Connery as the very best Bond. The latest film is Skyfall and is filmed in London, my favourite city in the world. I watched the coverage on TV of the premier earlier this week and loved seeing the stars on the red carpet. We will be off to see it as soon as it is in our local cinema.

 So what would you associate with James Bond ............................................well of course a

" Martini.................................................shaken not stirred"


Meet Martini Nikki, a fab stamp by my great blogging buddy Kerry from Ladybug Crafts Ink. Yes she is sipping her Martini looking nearly as cool as Daniel Craig.
I coloured her with Promarkers and highlighted her with my Prismacolor pencils. My papers are Nitwits. I added some fun embellies including a Tibetan purse charm from my bag charms stash. The cocktail shaker and glass are buttons. The sentiment is Lili of the Valley.
I would like to enter my card into the following challenges;

Ladybug Crafts Ink I need a "P" This is fun challenge where you need to include as many "Ps" as possible. The "P"s in my card are; Promarkers, Prismacolor pencils, Poodle pooch, purse, pink, paper, patchwork pattern on the paper (LOL I think that just that is 3 Ps!!), punched photo corner (and around the sentiment) Phew....that was a few !
Emerald Faeries Challenge Anything Goes
Passion for Promarkers Pets #172
Papercrafting Journey Ribbon or twine
Stamping for the Weekend anything goes



I have just finished making a rather interesting silver chain at my class this week and I promise I will not leave it so long to write up a post for it and share it with you. It is half term next week and after half term we are "knitting" in all sorts of ways with silver wire...that should be fun.

It looks like our cold snap will arrive by tomorrow. We are off to see our daughter and son in law tomorrow and hope to go walking in the New Forest. The colours there are this time of year are stunning. We will need to wrap up warm.  We will no doubt find somewhere to enjoy afternoon tea (and cake of course). Have a lovely  weekend and thanks as always for all your kind visits to Jane's Journal. It's always lovely to see you here.

Keep warm,

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x





44 comments:

  1. Hello dear Jane,

    Friday greetings from freezing Finland! And oh those earrings! Just perfect for autumn, and as I am a magpie in heart, I love that shining silver! Wonderful pieces.

    I am a big fan of Bond too, and I have seen all the movies many times (not in cinema though, mostly in telly), and I like Daniel Graig too even I must say I was a bit hesitant before his first movie. Lovely to see London in the latest movie soon!

    I wish you a wonderful weekend (we do not do Halloween here either), enjoy all the autumn colors in your garden, it should be snowing here soon...

    Yours,
    Mia

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  2. It really is chilly here this afternoon dear Mia but not bad enough for snow. Keep snug and have a wonderful weekend too,
    Jane x

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  3. Beautiful earrings Jane, you have such patience making them. They're very autumnal. :)
    I love your card, especially the cute little cocktail shaker.
    I think Daniel Craig makes a great bond too although my favourite will always be Sean Connery. He was the first Bond I saw at the cinema, it was 'You Only Live Twice' and I was on holiday in the Isle of Man with my parents, probably the end of the sixties!!! Oh dear, how long ago was that!!! I was just a girl though. ;)
    Have a lovely weekend in the New Forest, it is clear bright and very cold here today but now our weather for Sunday is rain and 10 deg, so not so Arctic here after all!
    Happy weekend,
    Vivienne x

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  4. Me too Vivienne, the exact same film and yes I was only a little girl ;0)
    I found Roger Moore fun but just not serious enough!It is very chilly here this afternoon...we will see if we get the first frost. Have a lovely weekend,
    Jane x

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  5. Hi Lovely Jane, I really found this post most interesting and informative. I loved seeing the steps and the result. The earrings are so pretty and simply perfect. It was really fun to see how it all evolved.
    Cold weather is on its way here but first a threat of hurricane (someone)?,first, can't remember at the moment. But I hope you have a great weekend with the newlyweds! New Forest sounds lovely, dress warm!!!
    xoRobin❤

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  6. LoVe the peas in the pod, totally gorgeous!
    Victoria xx

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  7. Love the earrings and what a great card. Thanks for joining us at PFP this week.
    Pinky

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  8. Hi dear Robin, hope that hurricane does not get as far as you. We will wrap up really warm for tomorrow but it should be a great day. Happy weekend,
    Jane x

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  9. You're very kind Victoria ;0)
    Jane x

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  10. Hi Pinky, good to see you back again, thanks for your comments,
    Jane x

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  11. Oh wow youare such a storyteller and I just love to visit and hear what you have been doing, oh I would die for thepea pod!!! oh how beautiful and those earrings are to die for, I adore your card too, you are on multi talented lady you are, they are superb sweetie,hope you are ok and have a wonderful weekend big huggies June xxxxxxxxxxxx

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  12. You're so kind June. My daughter does love her peas in the pod ;0) Can't wait to see the newleyweds tomorrow but the temperature here is plummeting tonight...brr we will be wearing lots of layers. Have a lovely weekend and take care of yourself,
    Jane x

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  13. WOW! Such gorgeous creations!
    Your card is fabulous. I just love that image, your colouring is beautiful and the detailing is wonderful.

    Thank you for taking part in the Stampin' for the weekend Challenge

    Sue

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  14. Hi Jane! I love your earrings! I'm not a 'bling bling' person so these are just my style! Shiny but fun, too! Great idea to make silver leaves! I couldn't guess how they are made; interesting to see the process.
    James Bond - everyone has a favourite actor and I feel that Roger Moore was the 'real' one. I started Bonds with him even have seen all of them. Strange but I liked Timothy D. who made only one movie.
    Wishing you wonderful weekend! x Teje

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  15. Good morning Teje, they are really fun earrings to wear and catch the light beautifully. Interesting to hear that Roger Moore was your favourite Bond ;0) I can't wait to see the new film,
    Jane x

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  16. Your jewellery is fabulous Jane, you're so clever! Love your card too. Great image and papers, and the details are all perfect. Thanks for joining in at PFP hun :o) Hugs, Lisa x

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  17. WOW - I'm still stuck on your silversmithing - AMAZING!!!

    Love the card; great colors, great layers!

    Thanks for joining us at Ladybug Crafts Ink!!

    ~Michele

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  18. Lovely card and fabulous embellisments too! Thank you for playing along with us on the PFP Challenge & good luck. Jane x

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  19. So beautiful! I really love how you do the step by step photos. I can almost hear your hammer tapping away :)

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  20. Thanks so much Lisa ;0)
    Jane x

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  21. Thanks Michele I really enjoy my silversmithing ;0)
    Jane x

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  22. From one Jane to another Jane..hi great to see you here,
    Jane x

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  23. It took lots of tapping Linda ;0) Have a great weekend,
    Jane x

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  24. Hi Jane, I was glad to see the pea pod necklace again, I think it's just brilliant and what a great gift for your daughter! I am excited about my precious metal clay workshop next Saturday! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  25. Enjoy metal clay Teresa it's such a fun medium to work with,
    Jane x

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  26. I enjoyed your earring-making tutorial. That's one process that I haven't had much experience with.

    Our New England Patriots had a great football game in London on Sunday---I suppose few people in England really follow american football, but it looked like the stadium was full.

    Thanks for stopping by my blog this week! Hope your week is less wet and wild as ours!

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  27. I loved the silver pea pod you made Jane, and this post was very interesting! You are very good at planning out the step by step pictures too. Hope you have a happy week!
    Helen x

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  28. Hi Jane, my family are all avid football supporters so no american footie fans that I know ;o) Stay safe with that dreadful storm.
    Jane x

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  29. Hi Helen, I have a day crafting tomorrow AND Thursday so a very happy week for me ;0)
    Jane x

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  30. Hi Jane...I love the first pic ...your Peas in the Pod is just beautiful..you are so clever and it will always be treasured by your daughter!
    Yes, I think Daniel Craig and Sean Connery are definitely the best Bonds but I can never be sure what the films are actually about when I watch them although they are definitely entertaining!...xx
    P.S Martini Nikki is fab!

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  31. Yes Susan I think the plot is secondary to the fun ;-) Martin Nikki is great to use.....never looks too stressed. Jane x

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  32. Love those earrings and love your card. Great image and design and adore your embellishments.
    Thanks for joining us this week at Passion for Promarkers
    Eileen x

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  33. Hi Jane, what a fabulous post! I really enjoy reading your jewellery process posts and the final earrings are very lovely.

    I don't really do Halloween either, but the boys are very keen so I kind of get forced into it. I'm making a bit of an effort, but I do feel a bit grumpy about it, if I'm honest.

    Hope you are having a lovely week.

    Bethx

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  34. What an interesting process! Thanks for sharing this, Jane. I just heard Adele on the radio today singing her song from the latest Bond movie.

    Happy Creating.....
    Anne
    PlumCreek22
    etsy

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  35. I enjoy your process posts too Beth....as a non sewer it's great to see how it is done ;0)
    Jane x

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  36. I love all the Bond themes Anne...very evocative. Keep warm,
    Jane x

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  37. Love your colours and colouring here Jane - gorgeous!
    Thanks for playing along with your P's with the Ladybugs this week at LCI and good luck
    Hugs Laurie xx

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  38. Thank you for sharing your work Jane...very interesting!!
    Debi

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  39. Hi Laurie, it was a challenge which made me smile (and need a P LOL)
    Jane x

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  40. Thanks for visiting Deb and your kind comment,
    Jane x

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  41. This is fabulous! Love the image!!! Thanks for joining us at PCJ for our Riboon and Twine challenge! HUgsxx

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Jane x