Project: Twisted Key

This is very me! …..

My usual method of production comes from staring into space whilst at work…’working’! I’ll imagine a shape usually 3 dimensional then try to draw the shape on a pad …not my strong point. This particular shape bypassed that stage completely.

If I convince myself the shape is ‘doable’ (often they aren’t due to limitations in the method of casting I use) then I’ll progress to phase 2 and try to whittle the shape out of a block of jewellers modelling wax…

9 times out of 10 this process will alter the original idea, probably because imagining a 3 dimensional shape is never quite as good as seeing it taking form in your hands… and I am capable of woeful whittling. 😉

Next comes pressing the wax version into clay to make a mould to pour the molten silver into. This was also typical, quite often I’ll get carried away perfecting the shape in wax that I’ll forget it needs to be quite strong to take the pressure of being pressed into the clay – this one has a weak point in the middle where I’ve made it too thin- so it broke, I often have to remelt and repair wax models. Obviously the silver version doesn’t have this problem with it being a solid silver.

I’ve never tried engraving before, this was my first effort. It just seemed to be lacking something when I’d polished the final design – I went for random markings along one of the 3 surfaces (I did try some Thai lettering but wasn’t happy with outcome so removed that…shame, maybe next time) I would hardly call it a ‘professional’ engraving job but that’s not what it needed in my view, I am happy with it as it really finishes this pendant off nicely!

…. Right! its beer o’clock….

Cheers.