Two Birds on a Wire
2024
Nickel and copper
earring with silver solder.
2” x 1” x 0.25”
2” x 1” x 0.25”
I wanted to make a piece of jewelry that was unique and personally meaningful to me. I designed dozens of different outlines of two birds sitting on a telephone wire. After deciding on my favorite, I cut it out and tacked it onto a sheet of nickel to saw out the shape. To make the center telephone pole, I cut out two long rectangles of copper that match the nickel base and roll pressed a handful of straw and grass from outside to try to give it a wood grainy texture. I patinated the copper pieces using steel wool to scratch off the top layer making the indentations darker. I sweat soldered the 3 pieces together, sandwiching the nickel, before sanding, drilling a hole for the earring, and preserving with bees wax.