My Love Affair with Copper

I thought I'd give a bit of a back story to some of the current work I'm doing.  Two elements figure prominently in my work--copper and spirals.  I've worked with copper wire since I was a child, and my love for the metal has only increased over time. Its warmth and soft nature make it easy to work with, and it glows, no matter what you make from it.  

As for spirals, they crept into my life many years ago--I don't even know how.  I just know that one day, there they were--in my collages, my gourds, my jewelry and my mixed media work.  I love the form, which is both timeless and mysterious to me.

So here's a piece of jewelry that combines both of these elements.  This piece started out with a small "test" in wrapping some new Rivoli crystals I bought.  This was just supposed to be a prototype for the necklace that I was going to make out of sterling silver.  I was so in love with the way the copper combined with these crystals, that I couldn't stop working on it. Before I knew it, here's what I had...

I was absolutely astonished at how this piece turned out and was glad that I'd made it out of copper instead of silver, because the fire in the "volcano" crystals really bursts!  

I've discovered that my creative muse lives in a mysterious place deep inside of me, and if I quiet the chatter in my head that is constantly directing me, I can hear her...and oh! does she have wonderful things to say!

Ciao for now,

Deborah