A Fine Line

So, first of all this is one of my FAVORITE things I've ever made. It's perfect. I love this gorgeous yellow labradorite. I'm so proud of this wrap, it comes from a new technique I've come up with.

I take a few pieces of wire, and make a loop in the middle (for the bale, the part that the chain hangs from.)  Then, I weave a symmetrical pattern on each side of the loop bale, leaving some wire to pull over the stone to hold it secure.  Then, I anneal the wire. (Annealing is when you heat it up with a blow torch until the metal turns red. That makes the metal SUPER soft and pliable.)

Then, I shape it around the stone.  (The pictures are of another pendant, and I'll share that one further down the page.)

The wire before I shape it around the stone

I then secure the long strands by bending them into a symmetrical swirls making sure that nothing is poking and that everything is tight. It has to look pretty too. Then, I take different grit buffing blocks and rub the metal to harden it, and polish it until it gleems.

Here is the finished pendant: