I made this dragonfly pendant from recycled silver (metal clay) for the Metal Clay Heads September challenge.
I started by carving my design into a rubber block, pressed the clay into the design, then refined, set the gemstones and fired the dragonfly. Set into the pendant are 2 each of Yellow sapphire, alexandrite, and amethyst CZ's. I added a swirl and dots the the back of the piece as well.
After she came out of the kiln, a colored wax based polish, called Gilder's Paste was applied in shades of african bronze (green), lavender and a golden red. I then sealed the colors with a UV protective coating to ensure a permanent coloring.
She is suspended from a Argentium silver wire wrapped necklace of tiny bright faceted gemstones. The gemstones are: Padparadscha sapphires, vesuvianite, amethyst, garnet, citrine and pink topaz. Suspended below the dragonfly is a single AAA citrine briolette.
This Art Nouveau style necklace is 18 inches long with a 1 inch extender chain and a handmade spiral swan clasp. More gemstone dangles adorn the extender chain.
© All Rights Reserved 2011 Envydesignsjewelry
SRAJD #2903
A note on precious metal clay:
ArtClay silver is a recycled product that consists of fine silver particles suspended in an organic binder. The clay can be worked like other forms of clay, sculpted to almost any shape you desire. The product is then fired at an extremely high temperature, either by kiln or torch. The binder burns away resulting in a pure silver (.999) piece.
Argentium® silver is a sterling silver alloy that usually includes germanium instead of copper and does not tarnish.
Sapphire is Septembers birthstone
Amethyst is February's birthstone
Garnet is January's birthstone
Citrine and topaz are November's birthstone
This necklace won the Metal Clay Heads November challenge,
Thank you!
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