Thursday, August 4, 2011

Sweet Bird...


Sweet bird you are
Briefer than a falling star
All these vain promises on beauty jars
Somewhere with your wings on time
You must be laughing...
                                              ~Joni Mitchell, 1975

I sang this Joni Mitchell song almost the entire time I was making this necklace...I have been totally and utterly an ardent JM fan since junior high school when I first heard her on the radio in the 8th grade, 1972..."You turn me on, I'm a radio".  (Yes, I realize I am dating myself, but I am proud of my almost 53 years). 

I've had this necklace in my mind's eye since I first started playing with Stephanie Lee's Homesteading..you cover a piece of metal with lead-free solder and create bezels or in this case, embed metal stampings, filigree, etc into the solder.  I have totally fallen in love with this technique and I know there are other artists who are creating components similarly, but I am determined to incorporate my own style into this!



 
So, I had this brass bird just sitting around and decided to go for it.  I cut the loops off  some brass filigree connectors and added them to the corners and bottom, but I thought they looked unfinished, so I added little copper balls.

I had made a couple of smaller disks with the small birds for earrings earlier, so the light bulb went off to use one for a clasp.  I added brass rings for the connector parts and created a swirled hook with brass wire, embellished with copper.

The big briolette is some sort of agate...as are some of the rondells I used.  I bought a bunch of  what was labeled "amulet" agate, but I haven't been able to find it online anywhere or in the bead store I originally bought it at since.  If anyone knows what it really is, let me know:).  Also incorporated are smoky quartz, amazonite, Czech glass, fluorite, enameled beads, brass wire and chain.

I am really proud of this piece...aside from the gemstones, Czech glass beads, and chain, all the components were created by me!

Thanks for stopping by :)  I appreciate you all more than you know!

8 comments:

  1. I love your sweet bird necklace!

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  2. how gorgeous! I love it...it's a very delicate piece....I'm not surprised you are pleased with yourself !

    if you're interested, there's a colour challenge on my blog {http://hellogorgeousdesign.blogspot.com/2011/08/colour-challenge-riverside.html} - first time I've thrown out a challenge!

    hugs

    hello grogeous xxx

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  3. Totally gorgeous as usual!!!!

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  4. Truly a stunning piece! It is so well done, just GORGEOUS! That Stephanie is one clever gal!

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  5. Ohh my, that is awesome! Love it!

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  6. Love it!!! You do such tight, fine work! Wonderful arrangement and wirework. . .nice solder, too!

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  7. Melissa, this is Beautiful, love the bird focal and the colors of stones. You have put all of us to shame who have taken the homesteaders and not done anything. i need to get back to it! Great work!

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  8. Oh, OH! I love this! I haven't touched a torch since taking Stephanie's class at Artbliss and I am missing it! I just don't have enough hours in the day and I refuse to torch things late at night (I would likely burn the whole house down). There are so many gorgeous filigrees out there so I say DO IT!
    Enjoy the day!
    Erin

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I love reading your comments!!!

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