Seven Swans a Swimming Earrings

by Judy Larson

Category: Holiday Designs
Technique(s): Butane Torch Techniques
Skill Level: Intermediate

Swans and their babies swim on the river flowing by our back yard during the summer. That got me thinking of the human powered (no motors) Swan Boats on Lake Nakomis in the Twin Cities of Minnesota as well as Swan Boats on a pond in the Public Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. River debris the swimming swans would see on the river banks from the summer flooding this year was corralled inside a wonky wheel.

Materials

24 Gauge Dead Soft Argentium Silver Sheet - 6 Inches

H19-24SM6

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1 Inch
Price: $48.95
Gold Club Price: $36.71

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16 Gauge Square Half Hard Argentium .940 Silver Wire

H19-16SQH

Lesson Quantity: 3.50 inches
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
Price: $13.22
Gold Club Price: $9.91

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Sterling Silver Jump Ring Open (.051) 16ga. 8mm Heavy - Pack of 10

K11-35

Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $8.62
Gold Club Price: $6.47

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2mm 18gauge sterling jump ring

Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 2.00 each

20 Gauge Round Half Hard Argentium .940 Silver Wire

H19-20H

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
Price: $4.22
Gold Club Price: $3.17

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Tools

Silver Solder Paste Medium SS70 - 1/4 T.O.

SOL-822.15

SOL-822.15
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $18.95
Gold Club Price: $14.21

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Basic Soldering Kit

G15-4

G15-4
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $58.95
Gold Club Price: $44.21

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5/8 Inch Double Rubber/Nylon Head Hammer - Pack of 1

G3-26

G3-26
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $4.97
Gold Club Price: $3.73

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Steel Bench Block 4x4 Inch - Pack of 1

G17-10

G17-10
Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 2.00 each
Price: $21.95
Gold Club Price: $16.46

Out of Stock

Brass Hammer - 1 Pound

HAM-456.10

HAM-456.10
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $24.97
Gold Club Price: $18.73

Out of Stock

Fire Brick

SOL-485.00

SOL-485.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $15.95
Gold Club Price: $11.96

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NATURE'S TOUCH CITRIC PICKLE, 2LB PLASTIC JAR

CLN-163.00

CLN-163.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $17.95
Gold Club Price: $13.46

Out of Stock

Pickle Pot, 16 Ounces

CLN-584.00

CLN-584.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $31.95
Gold Club Price: $23.96

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Instructions

Step 1

Template Designs

The first template, 2½" x 6", contains the designs that are to be cut out and assembled. The second template, also 2½" x 6", contains size and shape approximations for those designs requiring a backing, except for number 4, which is a charm disc that could be cut out and number 3, an alternate French Hens design. The numbers on the designs in both templates refer to the day in the song and in the tutorials.

Cut two 2¾" pieces (appx. 70mm) of 16 gauge square Argentium wire. File both ends flat so a flush seam can be made.

Judy Larson's Seven Swans a Swimming Earrings - , Holiday Designs, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, templates

Step 2

Shape each ring into an oval or a "D" shape, with the filed ends flush against each other. Place on a soldering block with a dot of medium paste solder under the seam. Heat around the rings with a butane torch until the solder flows up through and to the outside of the seam. Cool the rings on the solder brick.

Judy Larson's Seven Swans a Swimming Earrings - , Holiday Designs, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, seven swans a swimming earrings

Step 3

Use a rubber/nylon or rawhide mallet to round each ring on a hoop mandrel.

Step 4

Center a ring on a large bench block. Center another bench block on top of the ring. Strike a blow once or twice in the center of the top bench block with a brass mallet. This should flatten the ring and "square up" the square wire.

Step 5

Because any texturing/stamping will distort metal, it is best to texture the 24 gauge Argentium sheet metal before using it. A Mini TruStrike Designer/Texture Hammer will impart a background texture with the same feeling as turbulent water as does this texture sheet. Note: The textured pieces should be annealed and flattened before soldering anything to them.

Step 6

Place medium paste solder on the back of the wire shapes. Press them into place on the backings. Add a dot of medium paste solder to the textured backings outside the wire shapes, as well as on the outer edge of the wire shapes where each hanging ring will be placed. Push a closed 18 gauge 2mm ID jump ring into the paste solder, making sure it touches both the backing and the wire shape, on each assembly. Place medium paste solder around the back of a closed 16 gauge 8mm ID jump ring and press into place inside the square ring just below the small jump ring on each assembly.

Pro Tip: It is not necessary, but it may be easier to solder the rings in place, pickle and dry the pieces before going on to the next step.

Step 7

Smear medium paste solder around the crescent shaped backing inside each "wheel".

Step 8

Save 20 gauge wire trimmings as well as 18 gauge wire trimmings, separated, as they sometimes make it into designs. Use tweezers to place as many trimmings as you would like into the paste solder.

Step 9

When all the embellishments are in place, heat the assemblies with a butane torch until the solder flows.

Step 10

Trim excess backing away around the square wire wheel frames and the jump rings. Use files and sanding pads to clean, refine, and soften the edges of the shapes. Use a 1.5mm hole punch to make a hole inside the small jump ring.

Step 11

Pickle, rinse, and dry the "wheels". Tumble the assemblies for several hours. Patina the pieces if desired. The wheels shown have patina added.
Add ear wires.

Reviews

Judy Larson

My philosophy has always been "I will never live long enough to learn everything I want to learn, go everywhere I want to go and see everything I want to see!" So, what I make and how I create it is always changing and evolving. I was born shortly after WWII to parents who grew up during the Depression. They always had a "we can do it, we can make it" attitude which rubbed off on my two younger brothers and me. My brothers are amazing and can make and do ANYTHING! When I was a little girl, my mother gave me an old carved cigar box, which I cherish, filled with pop beads, wooden beads and yarn for stringing. That was the beginning of my jewelry making journey.

On a visit to the Grand Canyon when I was a young woman, I was fortunate enough to help a Native American silversmith sand cast my first silver bracelet and bezel set a large turquoise nugget on top. I was in love, hook, line and sinker! While working full time and having a family here in northern Minnesota, my artistic endeavors slowed down but never stopped. I am an artist, scrapbooker, seamstress, woodworker and jewelry artisan. Now that I am retired, I am able to indulge in all my hobbies. However, there just never seems to be enough time in the day to do it all, but I try!

I have been teaching community education beginner and intermediate jewelry making classes since my retirement. Many of my students have been bitten so hard by the jewelry making bug that they say I have turned them into monsters-they just can't get enough. Making jewelry, seeing something take shape from small bits and pieces, is so rewarding that I hope it brings out the "monster" in you, too!