Hammer Therapy

Copper Earrings with Labradorite

When I have a bad day and get discouraged because sales are slow, I can't find what I need to make something, or two components on my brand new computer fail within a month of each other, I pick up the hammer. No, not to inflict injury on Etsy, harm myself for being disorganized, or take a whack at the computer demons; instead I vent my frustrations on copper.

The earrings pictured above are a smaller scale chandelier design, stamped and hammered, then heated to get the glowing patina. I really like the combination of labradorite with copper, and these faceted brios are the perfect size to wrap and use as dangles with the trapezoid shaped copper bodies.

Arabesque Copper Hoop Earrings

These big and bold hoops began with Arabic shaped blanks from Supply Diva on Etsy. Again, I hammer the bijeezis out of them and heat them to add some warm color. The wire wrapping with tiny copper rounds was kind of an experiment. I knew it would be difficult to hold the wire in place on a curved piece like these hoops, so I added some Permalac to see if it would hold the wire in place and not show. It worked!

I feel so much better now.


Gloria Ewing

Chrysalis Tribal Jewelry
Chrysalis Too on Etsy
Chrysalis Tribal Jewelry on Amazon Handmade

Primitive Patinas

Blue Peacock Patina Copper Earrings

Over the past couple of years, I have taken a break occasionally to create rustic hammered copper pieces. I play with joining different shapes and textures, using different weights of copper sheet, and of course there are the patinas. My goal is to develop my own style of applying colored patinas that is unique and appealing, so I play a lot. In the top pair of earrings, I use blue and green patinas over a darkening patina for a peacock effect. The colored patinas were purchased from Shannon German of Missficklemedia, who also sells tutorials on the subject.

Ruddy Red Patina Copper Earrings

On this pair of hinged copper earrings, I have combined red and yellow patinas over a darkening layer. The colored patinas go on one over another while they are still wet, so that the colors will run together a little. After the colors are dry, I applied a thin layer of Permalac to seal them.

Working with metal can be a welcome change from my usual direction with earrings. I like to mix it up, and I think it's important to maintain variety in my jewelry. Each pair of earrings should all be easily identifiable as mine, but I want each design to have its own character as well.

Gloria Ewing

Chrysalis Tribal Jewelry
Chrysalis Too on Etsy

Hammered

Hammered Copper and Green Agate Earrings

What could be a better accompaniment for hammered copper trapezoids than hammer faceted trillion shaped green agate stones? Brilliant sea green agate stones (probably color enhanced) have been hand cut with a hammer and then tumbled to soften out their edges. The agates have a matte finish as though nature did the tumbling. On both sides of the agate trillion, I have added rustic onion shaped Peruvian blue opal briolettes that have a milky blue green color. All of the stones are wrapped in oxidized copper wire in a casual style that blends well with the hammered bodies. Simple and fun earrings for fall.

Abstract by Suzan Buckner

Suzan Buckner's abstract acrylic on wood captures that same whimsical primitive character as my earring design.







Gloria Ewing
Chrysalis Too on Etsy

Ocean Blue Moth Wings

Blue Moth Wing Earrings

I have had so many diversions recently that I was beginning to miss my workbench. Time to get back on there and hammer some metal! So the top portion of these hammered copper earrings is simple with a darkening patina, and the three long dangling copper drops on each earring have had an ocean blue patina added to them. Sometimes, I will apply a more consistent coating of the patina and then add a generous layer of lacquer for added sheen. And sometimes I allow it to blister just a bit, as long as I am comfortable that it won't peel off I will leave it that way. I still apply the lacquer for protection, but in a much lighter coat. Ocean blue patina from Shannon German of Missficklemedia.

The long blue "moth wings" were inspired by nature photos I had seen on Pinterest. You know the ones? So I added some more color to the earrings with dangling African turquoise, and Czech glass beads. They are raw and rustic with color, like moths that aspire to be butterflies.

Gloria Ewing
Chrysalis Too on Etsy
Chrysalis Jewelry on Artfire





Check out my 60% Off Sale Today Only!!! April Fool :) Couldn't help myself.

Crazy long colorful earrings!

I posted a free-form wire fibula tutorial over at Art Jewelry Elements this past Saturday...you should really check out AJE if you don't go there regularly...lots of cool stuff in the works, but I digress!  Playing with the wire got me thinking about some other fun things to make with free-form shapes, and I came up with these earrings.

The wire components were all ready to go, and I knew I wanted to incorporate these juicy red-orange Czech glass slices I got from ArteBella Surplus, but really wanted to do the unexpected.  After perusing my lampwork box of goodies, I spied a couple of borosilicate beauties I acquired from my fellow Frederick artist, Julie Delaney.  A very cool, sea green with hints of rusty brown!

Okay...I couldn't think of a name for these...maybe you can suggest one in the comments!

Find these and more at my shop on Etsy...Melismatic Art Jewelry! 

Waste Not

Mixed Metal Earrings with Turquoise

When you are always trying something new in your designs as I am, you are bound to have some results that fall short of your expectations. So what do you do, throw it out and start over or keep going and adapt?

I started these earrings with a completely different idea in mind, but then my stamping did not turn out well. I was going for a primitive look anyway, so I hammered over the stamping to get a roughened surface.  I continued to hammer the body of the earrings into a slightly domed shape and the finials until they were thin enough to punch holes through. Then I applied a heat patina that brought out a warm brassy tone.

Often the unplanned things that happen, turn out to be pleasant surprises. I love it when that happens!

For a coordinating outfit, I chose to go dressy instead of casual this time around. The earrings, of course, could work either way.

Gloria Ewing

Chrysalis Jewelry on Artfire
Chrysalis Too on Etsy



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