Crystal Clear

Remember that crystal that I captured in a brass setting a few days ago? You can see it here. I wanted to use it in an interesting way and let it be a part of a necklace rather than the focus of the piece. This is what I came up with ...

I have used it to create a pendant with an old watch case, chandelier crystal and a charm.

I have called this piece "Crystal Clear". I like to think of it as a bit of a talisman to promote clear thought and wisdom. I collaged the watch case with an eye print and encased a pearl for feminine wisdom and a sodalite star. Sodalite is believed to clear the mind and bridge the gap between your thoughts and your feelings. The word "clarity" is stamped onto some metal and remains fixed in place whereas the pearl and stone can move.

I have strung it on a piece of flocked tube and whilst I like the dimensions, I am not completely convinced about the material as I am not sure how well it wears.

So there it is - from conception to completion - in under a week - could be some kind of record for me as I do like to ruminate about the pieces ... Anyway I am dead delighted with the rustic chunkiness of this piece and its museum-like quality. I think I will be revisiting this idea.

Learning Curve

I thought you might like to join me on a little learning adventure ...
You see, this morning I was cleaning out my handbag and found these ...

I had bought them at a market in the hills well before Christmas and they have been stealthily lurking in my bag ever since. These a roughish bits of quartz and whilst I fell in love with them at the time, I had no real idea about what I would do with them. Well, it is a new year and all so maybe it is time to learn a new skill? I wanted to capture the crystal in a way that would allow me to hang it. Somewhere in the blurry recesses of my brain I have an idea that I have seen some jewellery made using little tabs to hold things in place. How hard can it be I thought ... Well for better or worse I decided to go for it. Here is how I did it ...

 

I chose my crystal and decided which would be the uppermost side. Then I did a rough little trace around it. Then I added tabs that will eventually wrap over the crystal, and some half circles that will form the hanging mechanism.

I cut out the paper pattern and tested it on the crystal - notice how I have marked the top of the crystal - it is easy to lose track of what goes where ... I had to make the tabs a little bit longer as I had underestimated the crystals' girth - in much the same way as I often underestimate the girth of my butt!

Next up - pattern glued to some brass and we are ready to cut this baby out!

Okay - that is really just a gratuitous shot of me wielding my trusty saw and looking like a proper jeweller!

So, I have cut the shape out, files and sanded the edges and here it is being "antiqued" with a blackening solution.

 

The moment of truth - will it fit? Will it be secure?

Yessirreee Bob! It does take a little bit of manipulating and some very very gentle taps with a small rubber mallet, but it most definitely WORKS!  Bear in mind that I didn't measure anything so if you wanted a less "organic" (wobbly!) style you would need to rule straight lines and so forth - me, I think it works well with this less-than-perfect bit of rock! Now, to figure out how I am gonna use this component ...?!