It was hard, but I did it!
I sawed off 8 pieces of 10 gauge copper, ground the ends and hammered them with a texture hammer. Then I bent them up and dug a channel in my soldering block so the branch would sit securely during the next step.
I took a 20 gauge sterling silver wire and melted it in little spots along the branch, pulling the wire up at the same time pulling the flame away so the sterling created rough little nubs along its length. This was way harder then I thought it would be. The flame had to be just right, too hot and the sterling melted over the branch, too low and the sterling wouldn't melt onto the branch, it would just ball up on the end of the wire.
After the branches had all their little nubs, I tumbled them, oxidized them and brushed them with steel wool. I then hammered the tops to flare out the metal and drilled hanging holes. Ground the flared ends to a smooth edge and finished!
I have wanted to create a branch finding to pair with a special strand of Narcozari turquoise briolettes I have had for-ev-er. My plan was to patina the branches with a new burgundy/brown color but I don't know?
Which do you like better? Branch version 1 with the patina?
Or branch version 2 without the patina?
The bare branch has a shibuichi appearance with the copper showing through the melted sterling.
I am a huge fan of shibuichi, having discovered it through Zoa Arts then found more through Green Girl Studios and Andrew Thorntons bead store.
What do you think?
You have such an artist's soul - that looks like so much work! Because you asked, I like the one woth the patina better. There's something smoother and calmer about it.
ReplyDeletetotally fantastic. why aren't they in your shop yet?! hmmmmm????
ReplyDeleteThank you, Leeya! I really value your opinion!
ReplyDeleteLorelei - I'm trying to decide which version customers would like better?
ReplyDelete(They will go into the slevart store as jewelry when I do decide to patina or not.)
Great work! Although both are beautiful,I vote for the patina branch. Can't wait to see more.
ReplyDeleteExcellent, Romantic! I could have guessed what you would like! Thanks for letting me know!
ReplyDeleteI like the copper and silver branch better.
ReplyDeleteThanks Stregata!
ReplyDeleteI love the shibuchi looking branch much better. I think it possesses more character and subtle nuances found in nature. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI love the one without the patina. regards Stefanie
ReplyDeleteI like the one without the patina 'cause you can see the texture a bit better.
ReplyDeleteI love them 110%!!
ReplyDeletegenius! and i will now be of no help at all - i love both! and fully appreciate the magic that happened for you -
ReplyDeleteLike them both, but the patinated branch wins, especially combined with turquoise. Cannot beat turquoise and brown
ReplyDeleteSometimea it's hard to tell in pics but I think I like the patine version better. In either case, this was a really neat project! I thought you could only get that look with casting!
ReplyDeleteI think the one with the patina is more branchy... is that a word? Ok ok. I think the one with the patina is more branch-like in nature. :P
ReplyDeleteI think the silver one is different than others out there...I would go with the silver...
ReplyDeleteWow, these look so great! I really love them both. The work that must have gone into creating the texture like that... wow. Still, for such beautiful work it is worth it.
ReplyDeleteAs for me, i at first was more drawn to the patinated one, but after thought i like the unique and unusual colouring of the unpatinated piece.
Cool! I like them both. If I had to pick just one I would go with the patina branch. They sound like a lot of work!
ReplyDeleteFantastic! I like them both but have a slight preference for the darker one.
ReplyDeleteI really like them both - and can see applications for both colors. If FORCED to choose, I would probably go for the one without the patina but only because I am a silver girl at heart ;-)
ReplyDeleteI can't believe how much work these were but you must have been thrilled with the end result. They are beautiful. I would buy them both but if I HAD to pick one it would be the one with the patina. I think that may be because I have been working with a lot of items with patina though.
ReplyDeleteLovely, Shannon! It's impossible to choose which one I like better - they're both so lovely!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing :-)
Cindy
Hi Shannon! I like the one w/out the patina better...more texture shows. Love them!
ReplyDeleteBead Happy!
Michelle
Patina = 8
ReplyDeleteWithout = 7
This is not helping. The thing is, I would make both versions but I can't see myself creating these with any regularity so this batch of 8 will probably be it for awhile.
Oh Gads Am I late????
ReplyDeleteI must agree with Renate the "naked" branch does get my heart to pitter patter!! :)
Pattie ;)
Mazatlan Mx.
Patina (but I admittedly have a patina bias)!
ReplyDeleteOhmygosh, I love them both!! Can you offer them both ways? (I know, I'm just being greedy!)
ReplyDeleteHi Shannon,
ReplyDeleteI'm no help either, both are gorgeous and desirable! Depends what they're going into. too bad it's so much work and there are only a few for now. Then you said they're going into jewelry, that will be awesome to see, but I was expecting one or two to come my way when they're available!!
I like the top or first one better. The turquoise really pops with that branch.
ReplyDeleteWhat a difficult choice! I think I like the second one because I can see the texture of the branch better.
ReplyDeleteI'm amazed at such talent and creativity!
I love them both but the shibu branch looks less factory made and has more of an artisan edge to it, to me. You really worked hard on this: it deserves to be shown off clearly in the beautiful conceptual way you created it. Really nice with the color of the bead
ReplyDeletejean! xox
I was so torn between the two that I thought I would read what others had to say before commenting and I see most others are torn as well. If you want it to look more realistic I would go with the patina. If you want it to be more stylistic, then choose without. (Some help Eh?) Either way, they are just gorgeous!
ReplyDeletenice! I love them both, but I think I like the bare one best!
ReplyDeleteMy vote is for the patina version. I love these!
ReplyDelete