Three Silver Angels

Three angel images I have chosen for the "Angel Tags" (pendants) were transferred from photographs and etched into sterling silver. These tags have fixed sterling chains with simple hooks.  Some of the halftones of the statues and the sky resulted in textures on the metal surfaces.  I included a sun/highlight on the tags and on my first image, in the middle, I included a botanical accent.

Getting Real

Last June I felt it was important to sit down and figure out what I wanted to accomplish at my bench.  In doing so, I came up with a list of things that I felt were important to me - a list of what I believe jewelry should and can be:

Jewelry should be easy to wear, compliment the body, have a deeper significance beyond the first glance, should be loved by it's wearer.  Jewelry can reflect personal ideas through design or symbols, can be (and certainly is) influenced by history or current climate, can be worn 24/7 - even in the shower!.  Jewelry does not have to be made by using a difficult technique.  Handcrafted jewelry should be unique, well made, have a signature, be sought after, and last an eternity - be enduring.

My First Piece of Jewelry...

For as long as I can remember, I have loved jewelry... looking at it, wearing it, buying it, and now making it. I believe the the best part of jewelry is the significance behind it.

This silver pin was given to me by my Grandmother when I was 4 years old.  I walked around her house with it and lost it. I was crushed.  We hunted all over for it, and finally found it stepped into the inside doormat of the porch... it had become bent and twisted, but I still loved it.  I value it because of this story and, most importantly, because my Grandmother had given it to ME. 

My Father bought me jewelry, especially items that he knew I had seen and made comments about.  When traveling I buy jewelry... and I get to remember my trips every time I wear it.

Both my Grandmother and Mother loved and collected jewelry, and shared that love and appreciation of it with me.

Sunday at the Studio!

Nothing much more fun than Friday at the studio...except maybe a Sunday - when we are all working.  Nice.  I am focused on figuring out PNP paper and photo transfer.  I think my main problem is making sure that the silver is super clean and slightly rough to accept the transfer.  I am interested in making an angel pendant...have wanted to for a long time.  I think that the etched figure is the way to go.  However, the practice piece I made (for myself to test-drive) may not look like an angel unless you have that idea to begin with.  Luckily, I have several other images that I will work with, hoping to come up with a suitable layout.  This image was taken at the Recoleta Cemetary in Buenos Aires.  I love this image, and thought it would work well with the photo transfer...already a

silhouette. However, some of the sections of the sculpture don't make sense (in silhouette).   So, mine is an angel, and I am sticking with that.  I am also interested in pursuing the "fixed chain" pendant - a design that I call a "tag".  These pieces are less formal in approach and young.  While the angel is a photo transfer, the other tags I have etched started out as simple sketches...a fun format for me to work with.  The tag's fixed chain is putsy to make because I insist on soldering all of my jump rings for sturdiness - it is well worth it.  So, I will continue to pursue the angel tag with a different and clear angel image. 

Signing on...

Here we go!  Welcome to Silverleaf In the Park Blog!  My plans are to talk about art and ideas about jewelry - with new design ideas!  Please offer feedback and suggestions!  Let's make this work!