After two hours in the kiln the the green ware leaf from the previous post was transformed into a leaf of fine silver, with the word “wisdom” on the reverse. The silver leaf was cooled, filed and sanded, dipped in a liver of sulfur bath and then polished. The chain was attached and the leaf was embellished with a green tourmaline stone. It was packed with care and shipped off, to be given as a Christmas gift.
Don’t get too excited, so far this new collection exists mostly in my mind.
I made my daughter a small dragonfly charm, which she put on a necklace chain. She liked it so much that she asked if I could make her another small charm, add a delicate chain and make a bracelet. Sure, no problem, mom can do!
I set to work on this task. Maybe it’s the dragonfly that put it in my mind, but I went out and plucked a few tiny leaves from a bush. I imprinted the leaves into silver clay. I had put my daughter’s initials on the back of her dragonfly charm, so I thought it might be fun to add a word to the back of these leaf charms.
The first word that came to my mind was “bloom.” Maybe because the leaves came from a bush that was in beautiful bloom. Maybe because I remembered a picture book I used to read to my children many years ago, Leo the Late Bloomer – a wonderful story about a little tiger cub who has a difficult time growing up, but who eventually blossoms as a young tiger. No, my daughter was not a late “bloomer”! But she is a teacher and I thought of all the young children blossoming in her classroom.
The second word that came to mind was “calm.” Because said daughter is always calm, despite any mischief her classroom of 5th graders may provide!
So thank you dear daughter for the idea that is evolving into a collection called “Words to Ponder.”
Top bracelet has a bright finish, lower one has an antique finish.
Reverse of leaf at bottom has the word "calm" imprinted.
Ok, I admit it – I have kindergartner tendencies. You know how kindergartners are always so thrilled to learn something new, they just have to share with everyone. Well, this past week, I took a class in silver clay. Let’s just pretend this blog is a big refrigerator so I can hang up my new artwork.
The detail achievable with silver clay is incredible. I’m going to love playing and creating with it.
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