Experiments... with polymer clay and silver solder

Another bird skull made with polymer clay and my new surface treatment. Just a few fast pictures because the skull and the ring were for a friend and just finished before she left again and... just in that moment my digi camera run out of energy. At least I got a few pictures ^^

I have to admit that I really like this simplified, maybe (if it wasn't for the surface) even comic-like shape. Due to the crackles and colours it rather gets a tribal look for me. I'll have to make more!

The only useable... at least you get an impression... picture from my first ever made silver ring! Okay, silver filled with copper.... but still! Hammered, soldered, oxidised with liver of sulphur... at the same time easier and more difficult than I thought but I learned a lot! One day it will all go together, the polymer clay, the metal etching, the soldering, the recycling, the fabric and of course all the beads!

And everything else I may find ^^

Hammered texture - silver earrings

While I was in the 9th class we had to have a work internship (this was still in Bremen, I had another one in Leipzig because they have it at the 10th class). The wife of my uncle was a goldsmith (he is a silver smith) and I was allowed to work in her workshop. She taught me to saw and file and torch copper and silver. At first just copper until I learned at least the basics ;) I already showed the things I made here. So after seeing some weekend workshop to work with silver I was happy to be finally able to play again with metal and have all the good tools available as well as some good guidance and help.

After I finished my first earrings (that I can't show you because they will be a christmas present) I searched for some inspirations and tutorials and found this one from objects and elements! So I went for it, just changed the overall design a little bit for myself and am really pleased with the outcome. I love the tribal style quality :) Of course I spend the leftover time playing with surfaces and made the little silver beads below as well as the little closure from a leftover silver wire piece. 

Sadly silver is quite expensive... sniff! But the good side: The workshop has open days once a months where you can come and work there (and it is not really expensive!). More to play ;)

Years ago... my old silver stuff...

For a short explanation: my uncle (the brother from my father's side) is a silver smith and his wife a gold smith. During the 9th class (school) I had to do a work experience for three weeks. My aunt had a shop and studio with another artist in a little and also one of the oldest quarter in bremen (it is called "Schnoor" ). 

I learned how to work with metal... cut, sand, solder... It made a lot of fun! This little lizard is my final piece I made during my time in her studio. My design, my work... I was soooo proud (and I still love it!). It is a hollow body made out of silver.

Oh... is this long ago... I mean, huh, I was fifteen! 

This were my first practises... (yea, I still have them all ^^) 

Only a little silver UFO pin is missing... *sniff*

This was a present for my 16th birthday. It was from my aunt and my grandma (from my german family part / father's side) together. My aunt made it after my design and my grandma got the stone... a gorgeous and big precious opal... (no, I don't want to now how much it cost)

You see, my love for cephalopodaes and tentacles is an old one ;)

I tried to catch the beautiful play of lights... but in reality it is more stunning and intense colours :)