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Published: 2013-12-12 02:26:54 +0000 UTC; Views: 3098; Favourites: 95; Downloads: 31
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Description
(2013), 4" for the pendant, 13" for the circumference of the necklace. Silver art clay (shaped, carved, fired, polished and burnished), lab beads and cab, silver chains, silver wire, bezel wire.This one was supposed to be a "Zaphiria" bracelet commish that unfortunately broke during the process. I gently flattened the fired silver, then snipped off some of the piece and made the larger piece of the break into a pendant, setting it with a lab cab. The smaller piece got transformed into an accent for the back of the necklace, so it's most impressive if worn with the wearer's hair either cropped short or piled up in a bun.
The name of the piece is from Tolkien, the "Lake of Twilight" in Eriador, which seemed to be a good fit with the lovely, dusky, blue-fired labradorites.
Suffice it to say, I've given the bracelet a second try and I hope the next attempt won't break. I don't particularly enjoy being given lemons and having to make lemonade...
Here's what it was supposed to turn into:
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Comments: 40
Wait, that's clay?! It looks so much like sterling silver I would have never guessed otherwise. I suppose the clay makes it lighter than metal and you won't have to worry about it tarnishing. I love the center Labradorite, it looks just like the intense blue water of Crater Lake in Oregon. I love the loosely wrapped chain around the center design - it evokes impressions of gentle restraint, beauty in chains, delicate appearance like spider silk but inescapable bonds in truth.
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Thank you! The silver clay is really cool. They make it from old x-ray films where they extract the silver from the silver nitrate, add a binder medium that acts like soft clay and eventually hardens in the air. So you can mold and shape the clay when it's wet and then carve and sand it when it's dry. After a piece is finished it gets put in a kiln and fired at 1600F. This burns off the binder medium and leaves an object that is 10% smaller than the just dried version and consists of pure 999 silver which is a little softer than sterling silver but otherwise acts exactly like it. If you are willing to invest in a kiln you have a very versatile material for which you still don't need a full silver smith's studio (saws, crucible, casting materials, soldering capabilities etc.)
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Wow, I had no idea they recycled x-ray films but it makes sense since silver in any form is valuable enough to salvage and reuse. I've been interested in jewelry making for years but never had the money to invest in materials or classes, so I just admire other peoples' talents. I love jewelry in any medium: metal, clay, wood, glass, horn, string, etc. I really admire the wide scope of your talents from stained glass to jewelry and drawing.
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Beautiful elvish design! 
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Thank you! It's finally getting a little warmer. I think I'll carve the bracelet outside this weekend or the next...
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Forgive my saying, but this was a fortunate misfortune so far as your muse and inner MacGyver were concerned.Β The "rescued" bracelet is a brilliant stand alone piece.Β The delicate chain contrasts nicely with the heavier silver clay while also highlighting the clay's delicate woven pattern.Β I love, love, love that you used part of the bracelet as a substantial counterweight, which I've honestly never seen outside of ancient Egyptian broad-collar necklaces.Β
I'm normally not the biggest fan of faceted semiprecious stones like labordorite (sp?), as I feel simple cabs capture the light better, but this is a definite exception, in part (I think) because the portioned out bracelet keeps the facets from seeming too busy.Β I know as well as any that the less successful projects seldom see the online light, but I'm delighted that you chose to first rescue, then "confess" to this beautiful piece.Β Perhaps you should start a MacGyver series of salvaged pieces!
(I say the last bit partially jokingly, as I'm quite bad at not knowing when to cut my losses and not waste still more time and paint on a bad luck project!).Β
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Thank you! I was so pissed when the piece broke, because suddenly you're holding $100+ worth of s**t in your hands and you just know since it's a client piece you're not fixing it with oil paste after firing, because the fix will always be weaker and show as a seam, and you'll most likely have the thing break when the owner's wearing it.
I just knew I couldn't make it any worse, so I gently flattened the rounded bracelet shape out and then decided how I could cut it to make it look like an unbroken design. In think in the end I was left with maybe a handful of small silver sticks that got snipped off, but that I can use to fume glass beads when I break out my torch in spring, so I know nothing will get wasted.
I think if the material wasn't so expensive - I'd probably have trashed it, but I am so glad I didn't. I like the reference to Egyptian pieces for the closure part, but what I was thinking of was actually a Bali silver piece I own which is a chain-lock. Those pieces are traditionally worn backwards down the back of the neck to protect the wearer from sneak attacks by demons...
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Ohh, you know how much i love your Arda things and especially this blue stone series!)))
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Thanks so much! I am still just very glad I didn't have to trash all that silver...
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Obviously I can understand the frustration, but that was an excellent save. (Of course, now you need to branch into hairpins for wearing hair up to show this off to its fullest!
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Thank you! I always had a soft spot for those awesome, elaborate Art Nouveau hair combs.
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That would have been a beautiful bracelet, but the pendant came out equally wonderful 
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Thanks so much! Now I still have to carve my second attempt. Hope this one will hold!
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Thanks so much! I'm glad this rescue worked...
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Thanks so much! I am so glad I managed a rescue of some sorts...
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As fromΒ how I see it, it was a lucky accident after all
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If you must make lemonade, it should always be so sweet - that is a beautiful piece.
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Thanks so much! It's lovely to hear from you. How have you been?
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Thank you, dear one. I am doing just fine - a little crazed by the holiday, but enjoying it nonetheless. I know this Christmas will be hard for you and your dear family, but I hope you will find joy in reminiscing. Happy Holidays!
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I hear you - I'm pretty immersed at work, which I guess this year is a bit of a blessing as I can switch off and just bury myself in the routine. We're having my father-in-law stay with us over the holidays, and I get along with him well, so that will be nice. My brother and sister have invited my Mum. Hope you have a good time with all your loved ones! Happy Holidays to you, too!
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Thanks so much! Glad you like it.
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Thank you! I was so glad I was able to salvage something.
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WOW, now that is awesome!!! Β Very unique and beautiful! Β
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Thank you! I was so upset when it broke. It's nice to see I didn't have to toss it entirely.
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Thank you! I am glad it worked out that way.
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Beautiful! I love how it has the bit on the back as well.
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Thank you! It was the only way to use the broken off part of the bracelet that I could think of.
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I think it's a brilliant design. The concept of having an additional focal in the back is not only a cool idea for a fastener but is ideal for use with a backless dress.
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Thank you, that's a good point.
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This is absolutely beautiful. I love necklaces that have details in the back. I think for an accident this turned out wonderfully.
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Thanks so much! I agree, it's such an unusual focal point, but can look very sexy on a pretty neck.
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