Panning for gold.... (actually copper!)

Shiny new copper pieces just out of the tumbler!

For the last 2 days my friend Kristal and I worked on some projects at my studio. We were creating a lot of pendants and beads inspired by my Hidden Fawn Collection. Hidden Fawn is one of my favorite little hiking trails at Three Sisters Open Space Park. For years I have taken my doggies there for our little hikes. It's a short trail, only a mile, but just right when you don't want a big hike and you just want to get the doggies out for some exercise.

A few years ago I started collecting little pieces of pine, juniper, bark, pine cones, leaves and grasses to make molds for my Silver Precious Metal Clay pendants. Now I have added copper and bronze clay to my tool chest and create a lot of beautiful pendants, charms and beads for my Hidden Fawn Collection.

Kristal and I spent the last two days creating some of these pieces together. The first batch was created with copper clay. After molding, shaping, drying, firing and tumbling, I spilled the tumbler contents into an old saucer and "panned" away the dirty water, revealing the beautiful copper pieces against the metal shot from the tumbler. It really felt like I was panning for gold. Now I know how those old miners must have felt during the Colorado Gold Rush! I truly felt as if I struck it rich!

Making molds for piney pendants and aspen leaves

A finshed Piney Pendant in Copper

These new copper pieces will be added to my Etsy store over the next few days.