I love nature, the changing seasons and the outdoors. I like to think I do what I can for the environment. I don’t go out and protest on the streets, its not for me but little things like buying environmentally friendly washing powder and recycling where I can. If we all made little changes where we could, collectively we would make a difference.
It’s one of the reasons I work with silver clay. It’s a waste product from the car manufacturing industry that I can turn into something beautiful.
Its a long process that starts with a summer dog walk and I hand pick the leaves for their beauty and occasionally their natural defects . Once the leaves start to turn in autumn they are too brittle to work with. All my silver pendants are totally unique as they are worked onto a real leaf of their very own.
My clay paste is painstakingly layered onto the leaf, a process that can take over half a day. Drying time needs to be accounted for too. At this stage the leaf is very fragile and the clay can break at any point. It requires patience and determination plus a little love.
Once dry, the leaf is fired. The leaf burns away as does the clay compound which fuses to a beautiful silver replica of the original leaf. It becomes 99% silver, much purer and stronger than sterling (92.5%) . They are lovingly polished and given a ring, a chain and a lovely autumnal patina.
Autumn is truly upon us and I can no longer use the leaves, however I have a selection of finished leaves, blackberry, silver birch, sycamore and oak in my facebook shop – do get in touch with me on 07714 216388 if there’s something you’d like for yourself or as a Christmas gift.
I’m currently planning a new range in silver – I do hope you’ll like it.
No responses yet