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Lemons to Lemonade

by Judy Larson
Have you ever designed a project in your mind and knew EXACTLY how it would turn out and couldn't wait to get started? Then BAM, something did not go the way you thought it would and your perfect idea and plan went down the drain. That is exactly how this project started. Thankfully, many new ideas and designs can be had along the way in saving a project.
One morning on a walk, I picked up a piece of arborvitae from the street.

It was pressed in a book for several weeks, then placed in a dehydrator for a few days, just to be safe.

I chose the finished shape, cut the template, and planned the size of each silver piece and where the arborvitae would be placed.

These earrings were going to be FABULOUS!
Judy Larson's Lemons to Lemonade - , Wire Jewelry Design, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Filing, Finishing, Texturing, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Design, I picked up a piece of arborvitae from the street.
Judy Larson's Lemons to Lemonade - , Wire Jewelry Design, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Filing, Finishing, Texturing, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Design, then placed in a dehydrator for a few days
Judy Larson's Lemons to Lemonade - , Wire Jewelry Design, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Filing, Finishing, Texturing, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Design, lemons to lemonade
Because I was making earrings, I wanted mirror images.

I placed the arborvitae between two pieces of silver and sent it through the rolling mill.

Although I had done this before with great results, this time the impression was a smooshed mess!

I had used too much silver to just throw the pieces in the scrap box, so I needed to salvage them.

I decided a smaller shape layered on top of the larger one might look nice.

I drew the new shape and made a template for it. Both sizes were then drawn onto the silver rectangles.
Judy Larson's Lemons to Lemonade - , Wire Jewelry Design, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Filing, Finishing, Texturing, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Design, I placed the arborvitae between two pieces of silver
Now it was time to texture the two cut-apart shapes.

After starting on the corner of the larger shape, I realized I should test the texture first since I was using my new, untried Wubbers hammers.

I straightened the edge of a piece of copper I loved that little curl and cut a strip.

I labeled the hammer handles and marked the strip after each texture test.

I chose the square-faced hammer labeled #2 on my practice strip.

I used the large side on the bigger silver piece and the smaller side on the smaller piece.
Judy Larson's Lemons to Lemonade - , Wire Jewelry Design, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Filing, Finishing, Texturing, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Design, I straightened the edge of a piece of copper
Judy Larson's Lemons to Lemonade - , Wire Jewelry Design, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Filing, Finishing, Texturing, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Design, I labeled the hammer handles
Judy Larson's Lemons to Lemonade - , Wire Jewelry Design, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Filing, Finishing, Texturing, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Design, I labeled the hammer handles
Judy Larson's Lemons to Lemonade - , Wire Jewelry Design, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Filing, Finishing, Texturing, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Design, I chose the square-faced hammer
Judy Larson's Lemons to Lemonade - , Wire Jewelry Design, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Filing, Finishing, Texturing, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Design, I used the large side on the bigger silver piece
The four pieces were cut out and laid out in a variety of ways.

I even thought of using that curl of copper.

However, none of the layouts looked right to me.

Back to the drawing board.
Judy Larson's Lemons to Lemonade - , Wire Jewelry Design, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Filing, Finishing, Texturing, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Design, laid out in a variety of ways.
Judy Larson's Lemons to Lemonade - , Wire Jewelry Design, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Filing, Finishing, Texturing, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Design, I even thought of using that curl of copper.
Judy Larson's Lemons to Lemonade - , Wire Jewelry Design, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Filing, Finishing, Texturing, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Design, lemons to lemonade
The pieces were laid sideways for one of the final earring layout ideas.

I thought they looked like fish.

They seemed too large for earrings, but it was a cute idea.

So down the rabbit hole I went and started sketching ideas to maybe use later.
Judy Larson's Lemons to Lemonade - , Wire Jewelry Design, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Filing, Finishing, Texturing, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Design, lemons to lemonade
Judy Larson's Lemons to Lemonade - , Wire Jewelry Design, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Filing, Finishing, Texturing, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Design, lemons to lemonade
Finally, I made it back to the problem at hand.

I decided to make open "triangles" with each of the pieces.

So, another template was made.

An ultra fine point Sharpie marker was used to transfer the interior lines onto each shape.
Judy Larson's Lemons to Lemonade - , Wire Jewelry Design, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Filing, Finishing, Texturing, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Design, I decided to make open triangles
Judy Larson's Lemons to Lemonade - , Wire Jewelry Design, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Filing, Finishing, Texturing, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Design, lemons to lemonade
I really wanted to use the parts that needed to be cut from the interior of each piece.

I used my disc cutter hole punches to find largest size that could be cut inside each of the pieces.

It was hard to center the piece in the disc cutter.

Using the tip of a solder pick to move the piece into place helped.
Judy Larson's Lemons to Lemonade - , Wire Jewelry Design, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Filing, Finishing, Texturing, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Design, I really wanted to use the parts that needed to be cut
Judy Larson's Lemons to Lemonade - , Wire Jewelry Design, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Filing, Finishing, Texturing, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Design, I used my disc cutter hole punches
Judy Larson's Lemons to Lemonade - , Wire Jewelry Design, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Filing, Finishing, Texturing, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Design, It was hard to center the piece in the disc cutter.
After the discs were cut, the excess metal was sawn away.

I decided that an extra plain disc in a size between the two cut ones would look nice.

Holes attaching ear wires and jump rings were punched in all the pieces.

All the edges were smoothed and finished.
Judy Larson's Lemons to Lemonade - , Wire Jewelry Design, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Filing, Finishing, Texturing, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Design, I decided that an extra plain disc
Judy Larson's Lemons to Lemonade - , Wire Jewelry Design, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Filing, Finishing, Texturing, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Design, Holes attaching ear wires
The pieces still lacked a bit of pizazz.

I domed them texture-side down in a wood dapping block to protect the texture.

After tumbling, the pieces were ready to be made into earrings.

One pair of LEMON earrings turned into components for three pairs of LEMONADE earrings to me, that's a WIN!

Now, back to that cute fish!
Judy Larson's Lemons to Lemonade - , Wire Jewelry Design, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Filing, Finishing, Texturing, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Design, I domed them texture-side down
Judy Larson's Lemons to Lemonade - , Wire Jewelry Design, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Filing, Finishing, Texturing, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Design, turned into components
The template used for the components is marked in ΒΌ" increments.

Enlarge or reduce to the desired size.
Judy Larson's Lemons to Lemonade - , Wire Jewelry Design, Cutting, Cutting Tool, Cutters, Filing, Finishing, Texturing, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, Design, Enlarge or reduce to the desired size.

Materials

22 Gauge Dead Soft Fine Silver Sheet - 6 Inches
H9-22SM6
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1 Inch
  • Price: $106.00
  • Gold Club Price: $79.50
Add to Bag
Add All Items to Cart

Tools

Small Disc Cutter, 7 Pieces
DAP-400.10
  • DAP-400.10
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $46.95
  • Gold Club Price: $35.21
Add to Bag
Wood Dapping Block with 2 Punches
DAP-128.00
  • DAP-128.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $6.97
  • Gold Club Price: $5.23
Add to Bag
French Shears, Straight, 7 Inch
SHR-530.00
  • SHR-530.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $17.44
  • Gold Club Price: $13.08
Add to Bag
7 Piece Mini TruStrike Hammer Set with Stand
HAM-520.70
  • HAM-520.70
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $140.54
  • Gold Club Price: $105.40
Add to Bag
Blazer Big Buddy Turbo Torch, Black
TRCH-8010
  • TRCH-8010
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $40.00
  • Gold Club Price: $30.00
Add to Bag
Add All Items to Cart
  • Category: Design
  • Technique(s): Cutting, Filing / Finishing, Texturing, Butane Torch Techniques, Design

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