Craftform

I’ve been in the process of making a new necklace called “My heart was broken, but it is beginning to mend”. I think we all have a story like that, don’t we…

Anyway, I got inspiration for this from a personal experience, but also from an old jewelry making book I found, I think it’s from the late 40’s. In it there was a really nice idea for silver links for a chain, which I liked the look of so, that was how it started.

The Chain

Each link, around 4.5 cm in length was cut from 1.5 mm sterling silver wire.

I then hammered each link to flatten each end, but leaving the middle unflattened. Once flattened, I then dimple hammered the length to give a nice Arts and Crafts effect. The links were finshed off by filing down any sharp edges and sanding over any small scratches.

Both ends of each link then were drilled to allow jump rings to connect the links together.

Sterling silver links hammered and joined

You can see the necklace starting to take shape in the photo above.

The Rest of the Necklace (silver heart and clasp)

I have also created a handmade clasp which has an oval jump ring in place to close up the clasp once hooked.

As you can also see from the image above, I have attached red sea jasper beads to the ends of the necklace where the silver heart will be attached.

The heart is made of PMC (which is a clay like substance containing 99.9% silver granules. You shape it, then fire it in a kiln (or use a torch). The heat processes evaporates the clay, leaving almost pure silver behind. Once out of the kiln, you have to clean it up and place it in a tumbler with steel shot to shine it up.

As I write, the heart is tumbling away, being cleaned ready for attachment.

I’ll post up the completed necklace in a day or so.

Oh, I’ve also made matching earrings – you can see a close up shot of one of them here:

I think the effect of the red sea jasper with the hammered silver has a Mackintosh feel to it – do you think so too?