Tuesday 6 October 2015

Cicada and Monarch Wings

 

Cicada and Monarch Butterfly Wings 

I loved making these designs. At last they are done and are available to buy online in my store. Each one will be made individually, so allow a week for production as it's approaching holiday season (oh yes it is!)




So here are the two designs on the sterling silver sheet. I used 0.8mm thickness, ideal for piercing this level of intricate design whilst being mindful of price and weight. My trusty saw is 25 years old, and wonky as heck, but I'm so used to it, I refuse to buy a new one!

Piercing out the design is therapeutic, I put CBC radio or a podcast on, and just relax in to it!

Peeling off the design is the moment of truth. 

The design has been refined using fine needle files built to get in tiny places. The split rings are going to be soldered.
I kind of like the fire stain and the colours the flux trails leave. But as it's not a permanent finish I'm going to pickle in a mild acid to get rid.
The cicada wing has been polished by hand at this point, working from 800 to 4000 paper, and then on to silicon wheels.

Polished with rouge, then tumbling with steel shot gives a high polished classic finish
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