Circus Mix Up Necklace

Pictured: Fortune Teller Necklace

A common reaction I get when people see my jewelry is :

"You made that? How did you do it?"

Most people are satisfied with : "I soldered it."

However, some really ask a lot of questions about the soldering process, how the pictures get inside, how long does one piece take, etc.

With this in mind I took photos of my latest project from beginning to end. Here is a little 'photo essay' of my latest project, the Circus Mix Up Necklace.

Once I have thought up a new design I make templates out of cardboard and graph paper. I use these patterns to cut out the pieces each time I will make this necklace. I usually make at least three templates before I have a design and size I am happy with. Sometimes I make the entire project three times before I work all the bugs out.

Next I build a frame. For the circus mix up this is a cube divided into four compartments. I need two of these cubes for each necklace.

Next I find the images I want to use. In this case they are images from vintage circus posters. I scan them into my computer, scale them to the size I want, print them out, and then cut them out using an exacto knife. Cutting them is a slow painstaking process!

Next I coat the images with a protective glaze and add foam squares on the back so the images will be raised in the box, not laying flat.

Once all the images are glued into their compartment it's time to cut the glass. For these cubes I need four tiny panes for each cube. Once the glass is cut I have to clean each piece thoroughly and then use tweezers to place them on the cube so I don't get fingerprints on them.

Now it's time for the copper tape. Anywhere I put this tape my silver solder will stick. If i run my soldering iron over the glass and copper tape it will only adhere to the tape, not the glass. For these cubes I have to cut pieces for the top, bottom, and every single edge. 14 pieces for each cube! I use a bone folder to burnish the tape. (That means to press it down and make it smooth so there are no wrinkles or air bubbles.) A bone folder is the off white tool in the upper right corner of the photo. It's great for folding and creasing paper and I love saying the name bone folder. I often yell out "Who took my bone folder?!" to my kids even when it's not missing just so I can say 'bone folder'. Bone folder. Okay, I'll stop now.

Finally time to solder. I brush flux paste onto the copper tape and then solder away. I usually solder a couple pieces during each soldering session because I have long wait periods. When I solder a side it heats the glass and I get condensation inside the cube. I have to wait for it to cool down and the moisture drops on the underside of the glass to dry up before I can do another side.

Next I make a twisted wire hanger or add whatever findings I am using. For this necklace that is a sterling silver headpin and two filigree bead caps.

Not done yet. The final step is to clean the piece. This is a lengthy process and I now know why rich people hire servants to polish their silver. I can literally sit and polish one piece for an hour and still think it needs more. My goal is to grow my business big enough that I can have my own butler to polish my pieces for me. I don't care if all my profit goes to pay his salary. It would be worth it. Of course he would wear a butler suit and have an english accent and name like Nevel.

Okay ready to see the finished product? Click here to see the completed necklace in my shop!