I can't get away from using pennies in my work...I've always been one to pick up a penny laying on the ground, especially as a child...hmmm, maybe that's what started my love of copper :) When I ordered my new doming block set, awhile back, it was kind of with the intention of doming pennies, I've done pendants and earrings that way, single domed pennies. Recently finding time to actually unpack it, I thought I'd give it a try....and as I hammered, an idea formed.....a bead made completely of pennies!!!!.
Two cents, to be exact. Two pennies, domed, sanded, soldered, sanded, filed, drilled, etc etc etc.....to form an approx. 15mm (1/2 inch) diameter bead....not perfectly round, but a bit oval-ish, perhaps I'll call it roundly oval. Or ovallishly-round???
I love it....the very first one I made is hanging around my neck at this very moment.....and I'd be happy to make you one too!
Each penny bead pendant is made to order, crafted from two pennies, probably different ones, probably different years, though I do use one facing backwards and one facing forwards for the top and bottom.....I leave traces of the penny imprint, nothing blatent....just a hint, so that a person looking at it won't notice right off...then, upon a (very much so closer look), "hey, isn't that a...."???
I give each one a brushed finish, patina it slightly, though it WILL darken more with age and wear (just like those pennies in your change jar :) There'll probably be a few "personality" marks (it IS handmade, you know!), and different parts of the penny will show.
Penny bead pendant is made from pre-1982 pennies (all copper, and the newer ones made with zinc tend to crack when hammered a lot), and are threaded/wire wrapped onto a sterling silver eye pin. Suspended from a blacksilk cord necklace, approx. 27-30 inches so that it can be slipped right over your head...IMO the penny bead pendant looks better hanging from a longer chain due to it's size and weight.
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Artisan Crafted.... All of my items, whether jewelry or decorative pieces, have been handcrafted by me in my Finleyville, PA studio.
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