Copper and Sterling Silver Leaf Earrings

http://www.etsy.com/listing/83783153/copper-and-sterling-silver-leaf-earrings

Pure copper leaves attached to a rectangle shaped sterling silver sheet that has been hammered. The leaves have a three dimensional quality to them. The sterling silver has been hammered and a patina applied to make it look like a stone. The fall season can be so pretty when the leaves first start to change and fall covering the stones beside a creek in a thin layer. The earrings are finished off with a hand made sterling silver earwire.

The earrings hang at almost 1 3/4" and are a touch over 1/2" wide.       

Leaf Hearts Earrings

Copper sheet was stamped with chisel to create the veins of the leaf, then it was folded. The outline shape was drawn on and cut out with small shears. The edges were filed and sanded and hole added for ear wire. The piece was then annealed and formed over a wooden form to create the movement of the leaf. Liver of sulfur was applied to add contrast and the piece was sanded and lightly polished. The pieces are finished with microcrystalline wax to help preserve the finish and hand crafted sterling silver earwire added. The earrings are about 1” wide and 1.125” long and hang about 1.5" including earwire.