Hello!
I've done a bunch of things for the holidays and I really like the way this one came out. I call it,
Wings of Flight
Here is the description:
How proud she is to have her wings. She is independent, liberated and free.
Free to do anything she sets her mind to doing.
The body of this piece is fine silver measuring 2 5/8" x 7/8" . It holds a gorgeous saturated bronze, purple, blue and magenta rainbow titanium, with 10 mm lusterous Mabe pearl at the top. The focal piece is strung on 4 durable gold strands of professional beading wire with floating peacock freshwater pearls with handmade S-clasp.
Thanks for allowing me to share.

~Holly 

http://www.HollyGage.com 

 

Hi Holly,

     I'm new here, and to the jewelry arts craft.

I’m very curios about the central point of this piece.

Your description is: "Saturated bronze, purple, blue and magenta rainbow titanium"

 

Is that a titanium weld deposit?

Do you mind if I ask how you make it?

Derek

 

This pendant is incredible!

I only wish there was a more detailed close-up picture of the pendant itself so i can see it better!

 I'm also with Derek on this one - as a beginner, any technical details on your piece are certainly welcome!

Thanks for sharing -

DEAN

Hi Dean and Derek,

Thanks for your encouraging words. 

If you click on the bar above the full necklace you can see a better detailed view.

The body of this piece is made of Silver Metal Clay. It is a hollow construction. I make all the sides by texturing them with a sea urchin. When they are dried I put the sides together one at a time with slip. The bezel for the Mabe pearl is made with bezel wire attached during a second firing with Art Clay Oil paste. The titanium is attached with stems behind the titanium and epoxy resin.

I am a supplier of the free-formed titanium. It is basically free-formed in a vacuum furnace. Depending on where the titanium is in the furnace, you get different colors and different textures. The three different kinds are Crystalline Titanium (small prisms on the surface that reflect the light like a geode) Satin-Matte (saturated with color with a low sheen) Metallic ( shiny bright color). I usually attach the titanium to my pieces with a cold connection as an intense heat source will change the color. I have several tutorials on my website involving metal clay projects and titanium projects. They are designed to be shared with curious, and creative folks hungry for new techniques, newbies and advanced alike.
http://www.hollygage.com/pages/techniques.html

I also have lots more information about titanium: http://www.hollygage.com/pages/about_titanium.html
if you want more information then just the basics that I provided here.
 

So feel free to feed your creative soul.

~ Holly
 

 

She is beautiful!  The colors, unique silver pendant and even the placement of the pearls, make this an extra special piece.  I love how you put so much thought and care into each and every detail.  Clearly you love what you do, and it shows!  I would love to spend a month watching you create.  Alice 

Beautiful piece. I like how you have a short story (description) about the piece.

Alice and Beadme,

Thanks for your encouraging words. I do love to work with Metal Clay and the titanium is very inspiring. Because the Ti is colorful and often sculptural, each piece speaks to me in different ways, however this line of jewelry is always inspired by themes of strength and empowerment as I like to play off the idea that titanium is named after the Greek gods for its mighty strength. In addition, my pieces tend to have stories behind them as art has always been my mode of communication -- writing and other expressive forms have always fell short of doing that accurately.

~ Best of wishes,

Holly

This piece is just fantastic. I've seen already a few of your hollow form necklaces and I'm really impressed. And your website is great - I'm self-taught begginer in AC, and your tutorial and tips are invaluable source of information for me :) So THANK YOU :)

Hi Holly,

 Nice to see your work again. As are all of your pieces, this is georgeous. The pendant itself is beautiful and I really like how you display it with the multiple strands. Keep up the inspiring work!

SueW

 This is absolutely gorgeous! I love the colors and the way you strung it with the beads. I am almost envious, but I do not like envy, so I am not. Well done!

Joan

Thanks, Sue and Joan,

Yes, I felt the beading work was definitely part of the design verses an after thought and it is the element that gave her flight. I totally appreciate the encouragement

~ Holly 

Very creative & beautiful piece. 

I wanted to ask what you mean by "professional beading wire" - Beadalon or Softflex?  or is it something else? If so, where do you buy it?

Thanks

Debbie

Thanks Deb and Drakonaria, The beading wire I use is the professional grade with 49 strands of gold plated wire, with a nylon coating. The gold wire is a soft bronzie colored gold and because it is coated, it should not tarnish. I often wish I had wings to fly and soar the sky. I guess that is a freedom I can only dream of, but isn't fun to dream. ~ Holly