I love using leaves and flowers in my jewelry. Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of choices this time of year in my neck of the woods. I have found a solution: Pressed Flowers! I found some by PetalAnnie on Etsy. I bought three different sets, all very nicely packaged to prevent bending. I was itching to try them out and I didn't wait. I tried pressing the flowers into the clay. The impressions are not always as deep as I like but the patinas came out really nice. These were all done with just liver of sulphur. I think they almost look like paint.
This necklace is a bit more purply than the photo shows. I made the chain on that necklace by knitting sterling silver wire on a spool.
The cord on this necklace is actually a medium brown and matches the flower patina quite well.
While I was working with the flowers, I thought it would be nice to also have some of the actual flowers on a piece and I decided on the Secret Garden Necklace, which has a 22 karat gold accented design on one side and a little garden of flowers and leaves set in layers of resin on the other. I had already tried a test to see how the flowers would hold up in the resin, but I still wasn't sure whether these particular ones would. The lighter flowers and leaves almost look translucent.
I still have quite a few flowers left, so look for lots more!
Lisa, these are gorgeous! I'm not sure I could pick a favorite. The Secret Garden necklace is absolutely gorgeous. I love the colors you get when you use liver of sulphur on your pieces. They are amazing! The purples in that first flower....man....just amazing!
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