Oksana Truhan's Butterfly Wing Copper Pendant

Butterfly Wing Copper Pendant

by Oksana Truhan

Category: Contemporary
Technique(s): Forging, Weaving
Skill Level: Intermediate

Capture a beautiful cabochon within this cage of wire. Shaped like a butterfly wing, the cab illuminates from within.

Materials

16 Gauge Round Dead Soft Copper Wire

H11-16D

Lesson Quantity: 22.00 inches
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 5FT
Price: $3.93
Gold Club Price: $2.95

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18 Gauge Round Half Hard Copper Wire

H11-18H

Lesson Quantity: 11.00 inches
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
Price: $0.65
Gold Club Price: $0.49

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28 Gauge Round Dead Soft Copper Wire

H11-28D

Lesson Quantity: 5.00 feet
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 5FT
Price: $0.64
Gold Club Price: $0.48

Out of Stock

Round, smooth copper beads 3mm

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

18x13mm Snow Quartz Oval Cabochon - Pack of 1

E7-247E

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $1.04
Gold Club Price: $0.78

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Tools

Chain Nose Wire Plier

G2-508

G2-508
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $32.95
Gold Club Price: $24.71

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Round Nose Wire Plier

G2-507

G2-507
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $32.95
Gold Club Price: $24.71

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C.H.P Milano Italian Flush Cutter, 5 1/2 Inches

PLR-487.00

PLR-487.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $14.97
Gold Club Price: $11.23

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4oz Ball Peen Hammer with Wooden Handle

G3-36

G3-36
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $4.97
Gold Club Price: $3.73

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Premium Steel Bench Block 2 1/2 X 2 1/2

G17-9

G17-9
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $15.97
Gold Club Price: $11.98

Out of Stock

Micro-Flame Butane Torch

SOL-300.00

SOL-300.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $36.97
Gold Club Price: $27.73

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Liver of Sulfur 4 oz

SOL-600.04

SOL-600.04
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $14.97
Gold Club Price: $11.23

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Pickle Pot, 16 Ounces

CLN-584.00

CLN-584.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $30.97
Gold Club Price: $23.23

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Ultra-Polish Pads, 20 pack

POL-695.00

POL-695.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $7.97
Gold Club Price: $5.98

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Instructions

Step 1

Follow my sketch to draw your butterfly wing frame. Mine is approximately 2 1/2" long.

Step 2

Take 12" of 16-gauge wire and make a loop at the end of this wire.

Step 3

Follow to the sketch to make the shape of butterfly wing. Pay attention to one point: the cabochon should be located in the center of the pendant, opposite the bail.

Step 4

Use the chain nose pliers to make a clear and sharp angle.

Continue to shape the wire to the sketch, bringing it down into the wing and curling it around itself. The curl should be the size of the cabochon as it will be the wire the cab rests upon.

Step 5

Use the hammer to flatten the wire. Make some places wider, and some narrower. It looks more picturesque. Like the art of calligraphy. After working with a hammer, the shape of the pendant changes a little. Heat the copper and fix this.

Step 6

Place the solder at key points. Be careful - the parts have to fit tightly to each other. Otherwise the solder will not be able to connect them.

Heat to flow the solder. Prepare other places for soldering by cleaning off the fire scale with a file.

Place three pieces of solder and heat to flow the solder. Be careful, you don't melt the copper, only heat to the desired temperature. Otherwise, the solder will change its color to silver.

Step 7

Take 1 1/4" of 16-gauge wire hammer it flat and anneal it with the torch. This makes the copper soft so we can bend it easily.

Step 8

Make the bail and connect it to the pendant.

Place a piece of solder near the bail and solder it.

Step 9

Remove and excess solder and pickle the pendant to clean.

Step 10

Hammer the pendant to work harden it. Take 10" of 16-gauge wire and bend it like in the pictures to surround the cabochon.

Trim and file the end of the wire.

Step 11

Fix it temporarily to the frame.

Step 12

Take the 18-gauge wire and make another piece of pattern.

Step 13

Take 16" of 28 gauge wire and connect all the parts around the cabochon.

Step 14

Continue weaving together adjoining wires to stabilize the wires.

Step 15

Take 24" of 28-gauge wire, bend it in half and weave the top of pendant.

Step 16

You can add one small bead here.

Step 17

Use another piece of 28-gauge wire to weave the last section. Trim all wires and wrap them snugly against the frame wires.

Step 18

I prefer to patina my copper jewelry. Immerse the pendant into the warm solution of liver of sulfur and wait a few minutes. Use polishing pads and cream to make the copper shine.

Copper can tarnish from moisture. To keep its shine, cover jewelry with a special varnish for metal. I advise varnishing outside only so the body is touched by the pure copper.