In between making scrubs bags as mentioned last week, I have been giving myself craft and gardening breaks to ease the monotony of bag making! This week I decided to have a play around with some silver clay.
I've been wanting to make a silver ivy leaf pendant for a while now, and so using a selection of ivy leaves from the garden and an ivy leaf veiner I found in my cake decorating kit I got stuck in!
This is what my desk looked like during the week. First a plasticine model of what I wanted to make - this is always a useful thing to do, it gives an idea of whether the design works and also the technicalities of putting it together. It was then made in clay and left to dry (at this point I had added the bezel as I knew I wanted to add a decorative stone). Once it's been sanded and then fired it's time to polish, and this is my favourite bit! It's hard to see in the last photo but the two right hand points of the leaf have started to be polished and are turning from a white matt to a lovely bright silver colour. It can feel quite magical.
Finally the stone was added and after a lot more polishing it's ready to wear. I chose a pale moonstone to blend with a lot of my spring/summer clothes.
I'm linking up with Julia over at WOYWW this week.
Hope you are all keeping safe and well.
I'm linking up with Julia over at WOYWW this week.
Hope you are all keeping safe and well.
A beautiful pendant Diana, wearable art! Stay safe and happy WOYWW. Sarah #6
ReplyDeleteThat is gorgeous Diana, I can imagine you wearing that with your spring/summer clothes. Of course I have no idea what you look like so it is pure imagination but at least I can get the pendant part right. Absolutely beautiful.
ReplyDeleteStay safe and well
Neet 5 xx
That's beautiful and the moonstone is perfect! Keep making those scrubs bags, each one helps!
ReplyDeleteHugs LLJ 8 xx
ooo Diana - that is beautiful. I have some silver clay and not got round to using it yet - i went on a workshop two years ago - i need to play ! Take Care and stay safe . Soojay#16
ReplyDeleteTruly gorgeous, stunning and just simply beautiful. Every week you post I am just blown away by the beauty on your desk. Brings a smile to my face every time. Stay safe and don't stop creating.
ReplyDeleteSandra de @14
I am in awe of your skill that is just beautiful!! It makes me think of LOR, I don't know why. Stay Safe, Stay well, Happy WOYWW Cindy #18
ReplyDeleteHi Diana. That's beautiful - the blue goes so well and sets off the silver. Well done. More bags, too! you industrious soul.
ReplyDeleteTake care. Stay safe. God bless.
Margaret #4
Hi Diana. that is just glorious and very diferent - light relief - from scrubs bags. Thanks for dropping by and stay safe. Helen #2
ReplyDeleteOh! That is truly stunning. So beautiful. Thanks for sharing. Happy WOYWW. Stay safe and take care. With love and God Bless, Caro x (#25)
ReplyDeleteI think you are a magician! You make something so beautiful sound so easy. I love it. Stay safe and keep crafting. xx Jo #9
ReplyDeleteDiana, that ivy leaf pendant is just gorgeous! Well done you! Thank you for visiting, and 'm so glad you like our fun garden umbrella - you can understand why it was so hard to resist, can't you!
ReplyDeleteAs for the kitty-proof garden, when we were getting our new kitties, I found this website: https://protectapet.com/ and thought it looked really good. The only thing we didn't like was the price. My hubby said he could make a DIY version for a fraction of the cost, and proceeded to do just that. If your friend wants details of how he did it, he says you can put her in contact with us and he'll be happy to explain. Now that we've sorted out a few danger areas (suitable places that Ruby used to launch herself on top of the overhanging netting!) they are showing very little interest in trying to get out. We do have to keep an eye on the defences though - a while back, one of the fence panels got damaged in the storm and they could have just walked straight through. Sometimes the wood at the bottom of a panel starts to rot which could also be a weak place. Kitties are like water - they will always find a way out!!
Have a great week, and happy WOYWW,
Shoshi x #15
Well how beautiful is that! I love moonstone particularly, and it wears so well with silver. Love it. We met a couple in Tenerife a few years ago who told us they were jewellers (I had mentioned the pearl factory and they were very keen to know more). Turns out they’d bought some PMC from QVC and the photos they showed me had actually put me off it as a material, I thought it very lumpy and dull. It would seem that they just weren’t great at polishing or designing to my taste! Love how the leaf holds its form and how you were able to polish it to such a high shine! Hope you enjoy wearing it, probably every time you put it on you’ll have to think of up all of us behind you in the mirror, admiring it!
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of silver clay! Had to look it up - now I know - and have to have it LOL! A fabulous, delicate little piece of jewellery. Thanks so much for your visit Diana - we must have been posting on alternate weeks. Funny you should mention the 70's powercuts - my husband told me about them. Well done for making those scrub bags - I can imagine they're more work than fun but so useful! Stay safe and make the most of the situation! xx zsuzsa #20
ReplyDeleteI love silver clay though I've never used it myself I've seen artists using it at shows we've been too and it's so effective. Perfect choice of stone too. Have a lovely crafty week and a happy woyww, Angela x17x
ReplyDeleteHi Diana, once again all I can say is wow. That is a beautiful piece of jewellery, and how fantastic that you can say it's one of your pieces when people will admire it, which they undoubtedly will. Jewellery making is definitely something I would enjoy doing - but would be nowhere near your level! I would probably get all the kit, try it for a week or two, and then move on to something else. I am so fickle. Thanks for stopping by my blog. I will check out the two leaf die sets you mentioned. Have a lovely week and stay safe, Heather xx #28
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely stunning Diana, you know how I admire any use of silver clay but your ivy leaf with it's centre stone is a real show stopper. You have so much patience with the cleaning after firing. Another treasured piece crafted from your talented hands.
ReplyDeleteA huge clap for you helping make those scrubs bags, your craft and gardening time is a well deserved break. Enjoy & stay safe & creative Hugs Tracey #3
Wowzah, this looks amazing Diana, you must have some witchy genes, making that white clay into silver :) love it! Thanks for your visit to my blog yesterday, enjoy the sunshine whenever you can and stay safe! Big hug-from-a-distance, Marit #27
ReplyDeleteHi Diana, wow what a beautiful piece! The moonstone was a perfect choice for it, I agree. Never tried using silver clay, it's long been on my to do list though. Have a lovely week, Stay safe, Hugs, Shaz #11 X
ReplyDeleteWiw, Dianna.. firstly well dine on making all the scrub bags and the beautiful leaf pendant wow! Love it, nituced immediately the moonstone as I love moonstone very much.
ReplyDeleteI gardened today too but need to do more.. not enough time ironically!
Sorry for late visit! 😊
Thanks for sharing, and may God bless and keep you and all whom you love, in these changeable times. For as Paul said: "We walk by faith, not by sight."
Prayer hugs, Shaz in Oz.x #34
{Wonderful Words of Life - Shaz in Oz}
{Calligraphy Cards - Shaz in Oz}
Oh My, received my new Bible Journal goodies yesterday and so was so wrapped up in that most of the day and still not ventured into the Bible itself!!
ReplyDeleteWow Diana that pendant is AMAZING, just what a "bag lady" needs.
Thanks for the visit BJ#10
Thats a stunning pendent
ReplyDeleteLilian B #22
Diana, it is so very beautiful, really a magically transformation from the white clay to this lovely jewelry . You have so many talents , dear friend. I wish you a safe and happy weekend . Hugs from Dorthe
ReplyDeleteStunning piece of work! I have never heard of silver clay, does it dry as lightweight as the white art clay? Love the pairing of the moonstone with it.
ReplyDeleteHave a good week
Christine #29
Exquisite, Diana! I've not heard of silver clay - looks quite fascinating! I am gobsmacked by the intricacy and realism of your veining, in particular. The moonstone is such a wonderful addition - puts me in mind of Galadriel. And how wonderful to have such a lovely piece to wear, springing from your fabulous garden. xxx Lynn
ReplyDeleteI know I saw this, but I don't seem to have commented... It's an exquisite piece - the intricate veining of the leaf, and the wonderful dimension to the slightly curled edges of its delicate "fingers", and then that beautiful moonstone. Utterly wonderful.
ReplyDeleteAlison x