Reflection

Some things begin with a stone.  A Mexican beauty known as senora turquoise.

My intention was for this stone to be used as a brooch/pendant.

The design was drawn up and penciled mark where I was going to place the back pin and such.

In other words...

I had a plan.

I used 20g for the base (2"H x 1-3/16"W).  The snake was forged out of 16 g round silver.

The Vision

I have two torches, acetylene/air and a Smith little torch.  I REALLY love that little torch of mine.

I started with the acetylene torch thinking that I was going to get the heat I needed but that failed.  Threw the piece into the pickle pot and meditated on it.

Problem...#1

Base is pretty big.  

Solution...to #1

Move to Smith Little torch, use charcoal block, and above all be patient.

Hot damn it actually worked!  Everything was soldered down, even the snake.

Next, clean up all that solder gunky mess.

Bezel and snake soldered down.  Hot damn!

Time to texture the front.  I decided to try and make some lightning going around the stone.  At least that was my intention.  After I finished it reminded me of dirt in Arizona after it has rained and dried up (see photo below).

I textured, set the back pin, and patinated.

So far so good.

Now to rivet the catch.

Placement of the catch was difficult.  I knew where I did not want it to be.

After I riveted the catch in place I realized my error.

I was off centered and therefore crooked.  All because of that snake!

Problem #2

Need to drill out the existing riveted catch and relocate.

Solution to #2

Drill out existing rivet using a smaller drill bit and breath!

Notice the two holes located at the bottom by the snake.  

The hole on top is where the riveted catch was and now relocated to the hole there inside the bezel.

I placed a handmade silver rivet in that top hole.  The bottom hole was to have some kind of stone dangle from it.  At least that is what I thought I wanted.

Ummm...I was not feeling the skull so that went away.

I set the stone.

All that is left was to decide what will dangle there.

I finally decided on a rivet.

All done...

Oh but wait...

there is more.

Can this be worn as a pendant?

You bet!

But...

those two pins will stick you!

I have experimented with covering those points with ear back holders and that seemed to solve the problem.  A friend of mine even suggested some little wax balls.

This means I will have to experiment with other types of pin backs so as not to stick you.

And that concludes my journey of a

Mexican Beauty.

ॐ

Namaste
Kalaya