What's Old, is New... Again

I think anyone who makes or creates things has their favorites.  I would have the categories of alright, good and absolutely fantastic.  It happens to me every time I make things.  For example, I will make ten beads and there are all the good ones, couple of clunkers here and there and then the ones that are fantastic.  Your little treasures.

I made this pendant a while ago and thought I had done an interesting darker patina.  At first I kind of liked it and then it just sat there.  It was one that kind of needed something, but I wasn't sure exactly what.  All the pieces go into the velvet zipper case, some find new homes and some wait a bit...

I really didn't want to do too much with this pendant, but I decided to get out the sand paper and steel wool and get to work.  I began the process of removing some of the patina here and there and even got a little generous with the rubbing of the surface to create a whole new look.  What I discovered is that there are some really nice, fine leaf textures that were milled in and the wire work around the edges looked better.

The bail was kind of an experiment and I had it come around like a horse shoe and that meant that it would have to be worn on a cord.  I wanted it that way and I still like how it looks worn on the black cord.  Guess what?  The pendant I really wasn't all that sure about has been hanging around my neck the past three days.  Sometimes you can work on something to the point, where you've ruined it and sometimes you let it sit.  It could sit a day or a month or two.  When you pick it up again, you look at it differently and have a fresh perspective.  I've learned it's alright to try to make what's old, better and in a way, new again.

New Hand Made Sterling Pine Tree Pendant

I completely hand made this pendant in sterling silver.  I milled the sheet, sawed out the tree, soldered the pieces together, engraved and hammered the tree, then completed the intricate wire work.  The wire work looks like a beautiful frame around the pine tree.  I also added links to the chain with sterling beads.  It adds a little interest to the necklace.

I used two pieces of wire and one thinner gauge to connect the silver chain around the outer edge.  It was detailed work and a true challenge to be working with such fine gauge silver and not have the metal bend or kink.  One small kink in the metal  can effect the threading and wrapping.

It takes me several days to work through all the steps up to adding patina and finishing.  I work on something like this, take a break and then work on something else.  It's good to take little breaks here and there because the next time you work on the piece, you are all fresh and ready to go!