Christmas Tree Ornament - Secret Santa!
I’m a member of an online group of artisans, mainly from
Canada and the USA but with a sprinkling of ex-pats like myself for good
measure who all hooked up for a Secret Santa exchange of handmade ornaments.
For my ornament, I thought I’d have a go at replicating
something I’d seen in the Bradley Museum at Christmas a few years back. The
Bradley Museum house is decorated each year in the style of the first wave of
19th century settlers in Ontario. I took my inspiration from the lanterns I saw where the light shines through holes punched in decorative patterns.
I started by drawing the shape of a tree with a sharpie directly on to copper sheet.
Piercing it out was easy as copper is soft and quick to cut through. |
I filed the edges with a half round large file, and then worked my way through the grades of sanding paper so the edges were nice and smooth.
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Next – lots of drilling! I drilled a few extra dimples, as I’m going to be soldering on some silver baubles. These baubles will balance in the dimples rather than get’ blown away’ as I solder. |
I textured the surface of the copper with a wire brush. |
To make the baubles, I cut silver wire in to 14 little lengths and melt each piece using a lot of flux to form silver spheres. It’s the same technique I use when making the starfish pendant |
The flux helps the silver flow. It’s hypnotizing to watch the wire melt and cling together forming a sphere shape. I have melted some things I didn’t mean to in my time, so melting silver on purpose is really satisfying!
After a rethink, I drill through the remaining dimples, and using silver headpins I fasten down festive shades of red and green 4 mm crystal beads and secure with jewelers cement on the back! A big cheat – but hey this is now one jazzy tree!
On the star I have stamped a ‘T’ as this is the initial of the recipient. Again, it’s cemented rather than soldered. I hope she likes the idea of being the star on the tree!
Finally – I add six fresh water pearls for a bit of movement. The pearls are ‘wire wrapped’ on to the tree, so they are there to stay and won’t pull off easily!
The 'Bradley Effect' as the light shines through the holes. |
Ta-Da! The finished tree safely received!
And here is Ted who I was very excited to receive in the mail - isn’t he soooo cute? Ted is a beautiful handmade old fashioned sort of bear with
moveable arms and legs, made by a very talented woman who is going to be
opening a store and selling these soon. When she does I’ll post a link.
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