Sugared Grapes Pendant

by Judy Larson

Category: Metalwork
Technique(s): Butane Torch Techniques
Skill Level: Advanced

This pendant and earring set all started with purple chalcedony nodules a relative sent me from Indonesia. I stared at them on my workbench for over a year before I realized they looked like sugared grapes. The design took off from there.

Materials

28 Gauge 3/16" Fine Silver Bezel Wire

H9-28BZL

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
Price: $12.83
Gold Club Price: $9.62

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22 Gauge Dead Soft Argentium Silver Sheet - 6 Inches

H19-22SM6

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1 Inch
Price: $61.68
Gold Club Price: $46.26

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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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24 Gauge Half Hard Double Clad Gold Filled Sheet - 4 Inches

H4-24DCS4

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1 Inch
Price: $71.78
Gold Club Price: $53.83

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20 Gauge Round Dead Soft 14/20 Gold Filled Wire

H4-20D

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
Price: $8.30
Gold Club Price: $6.22

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20 Gauge Round Dead Soft .925 Sterling Silver Wire

H8-20D

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
Price: $3.84
Gold Club Price: $2.88

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Tools

2-part epoxy

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

Silver Solder Paste Hard SS75 - 1/4 T.O.

SOL-822.20

SOL-822.20
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $19.95
Gold Club Price: $14.96

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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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Silver Solder Paste Soft SS65- 1/4 T.O.

SOL-822.10

SOL-822.10
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $16.95
Gold Club Price: $12.71

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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

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Basic Sawing Kit

G15-7

G15-7
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $34.95
Gold Club Price: $26.21

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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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12 Inch Rotating Soldering Pan w/3rd hand

SOL-530.00

SOL-530.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $59.95
Gold Club Price: $44.96

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Small Disc Cutter, 7 Pieces

DAP-400.10

DAP-400.10
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $46.95
Gold Club Price: $35.21

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Round Nose Wire Pliers

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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5 1/2 Inch Nylon Flat Jaw Pliers with Replacement Jaws

G2-1

G2-1
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $9.97
Gold Club Price: $7.48

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Round Nose Nylon Tipped Pliers--Small

PLR-827.00

PLR-827.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $8.97
Gold Club Price: $6.73

Out of Stock

Daddy Dipper Pickle Pot, 24 Ounce Capacity

CLN-585.00

CLN-585.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $45.95
Gold Club Price: $34.46

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Instructions

Step 1

Read through the tutorial before starting the project. Follow all safety precautions pertaining to the tools and supplies being used and the space you are working in.

Assemble the beads into a "cabochon"

A sketch of the planned design can help when deciding on beads to use. The 3mm and 4mm amethyst beads look nice with the chalcedony but in the end, only the chalcedony was used. There were a few large nodules that were separated out for use as single "grapes" for the earrings.

Judy Larson's Sugared Grapes Pendant - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, grape chalcedony

Judy Larson's Sugared Grapes Pendant - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, sketched design

Step 2

A variety of sizes of nodules with different color saturations were in the parcel of nodules. Place the design template under the Teflon sheet. Assemble some of the darker and medium colored nodules in larger and medium sizes on the Teflon sheet inside the design shape. When satisfied with the shape of the assembled modules, put a drop of epoxy cement between each nodule where touching another. Allow to set for several hours, even if the directions say there is a very short set up time. The piece will be very fragile, so do not disturb it during this time.

Set a few more nodules on top of the first layer, auditioning the placement. When satisfied, place a bit of epoxy on the base where the new nodule will be placed. Press the nodule in place. Repeat with a few more nodules. Allow to set for a few hours.

Repeat the process using the smallest nodules. When the whole piece is finished to your liking and the epoxy is set, turn it over and add a tiny bit of epoxy between the base nodules. Turn the piece over and place back on the Teflon sheet to set.

Let set overnight before constructing a bezel to fit around the bead cluster.

Pro Tip: If filling a bezel with nodules in an already finished piece, notice all the open spots. After the nodules are glued, epoxy resin can be carefully dropped in the voids. The next layer can be added and glued in place with tiny amounts of epoxy glue, as above.

Judy Larson's Sugared Grapes Pendant - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, choosing stones

Judy Larson's Sugared Grapes Pendant - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, gluing stones

Judy Larson's Sugared Grapes Pendant - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, placing stones

Step 3

Use 28-gauge bezel wire to make bezels for the bead nodule cluster and each of the single beads. Use hard paste solder the connect the bezel wire ends. Manipulating the bezels to make the ends meet will misshapen the bezels before soldering. Reshape the bezels. Place 320 or 400 grit sandpaper on a bench block and sand the bottom of each bezel flat. Reshape the bezels again if needed. The bezel seams will be facing the leaf clusters, so cleaning up the seam is not necessary.

Judy Larson's Sugared Grapes Pendant - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, size the bezel wire

Step 4

Cut and flatten a pieces of 24 gauge Argentium sheet that is a bit larger than the bezel for the pendant and two pieces of 24 gauge Argentium large enough for leaves and the bezels for the earrings. Stamp your Maker's Mark and metal content in the center on the back side of the pieces (I made a stamping goof, but Oh Well...Just go with the flow).

Judy Larson's Sugared Grapes Pendant - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, stamp the back plate

Step 5

Place medium paste solder inside the bezels on the lower edge. Place the bezel on the right side of the 24-gauge sheet, centering the Maker's Mark impressing ghost inside the bezel for the pendant, and toward the upper edge of the sheet metal for the earrings. With the pieces on the soldering surface, heat until the solder flows, pulling the solder under and to the outside of the bezels. Allow to cool before continuing.

Judy Larson's Sugared Grapes Pendant - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, solder the bezel to the back plate

Step 6

Pickle, rinse, and dry the pieces.

Step 7

Use a Sharpie marker to draw a line 1/16" (scant 2mm) away from the bezel on the backplate. Cut the excess metal away with a saw. Clean and refine the edge with files and a variety of sanding sponges.

Judy Larson's Sugared Grapes Pendant - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, mark around the back plate

Step 8

Cut a large piece of 22 gauge Argentium sheet that will allow for design placement of the leaves in later steps. Cut a hole in the 22 gauge sheet that is large enough for the Maker's Mark and the metal content stamp to show. The hole also needs to be positioned to allow for leaf placement.

Judy Larson's Sugared Grapes Pendant - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, cut out second back plate

Step 9

Butter the back of the bezel unit, except where the Maker's Mark and the metal content stamp will show in the circular window on the 22-gauge piece. Press the bezel unit solder side down onto the 22-gauge backing. Be mindful of the Maker's Mark/content stamp. If paste solder gets into that area, use a Q-tip to remove it. Place on a soldering surface and heat until the solder flows. Allow to cool before continuing.

Judy Larson's Sugared Grapes Pendant - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, solder second back plate

Step 10

Pickle, rinse, and dry the piece.

Step 11:

Leaves

There are many varieties of leaf shapes that would work with a design similar to this one. Since the cabochon that was made resembled a grape cluster, grape leaves were used-three on the pendant and two on each earring. How many leaves are needed and what metals will be used is up to you, the designer. Use the template provided and shrink or enlarge as needed. Glue the templates to the 24-gauge sheet metal-a Xyron sticker maker was used here. Cut out each leaf.

Judy Larson's Sugared Grapes Pendant - Leaves, Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, trace and cut out leaves

Judy Larson's Sugared Grapes Pendant - Leaves, Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, cut out leaves

Step 12

Use an ultra fine point retractable Sharpie to draw a line down the center of each leaf, and to draw lines out from the center line as shown. Use line stamps (one of them is a chisel from the hardware store that I slightly rounded the cutting edge on) to make the center line and the side lines, as shown. Be careful if using a chisel as it can easily split the metal if hammered too hard.

Judy Larson's Sugared Grapes Pendant - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, line the leaves

Judy Larson's Sugared Grapes Pendant - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, punch lines in the leaves

Step 13

Texture around the edge of each leaf with a riveting hammer.

Judy Larson's Sugared Grapes Pendant - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, texture the edges of the leaves

Step 14

Use a dot or period stamp to make random divots in each leaf.

Judy Larson's Sugared Grapes Pendant - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, make divots in the leaves

Step 15

Straighten and cut a 2½" (64mm) long piece of 20-gauge round wire that matches the metal for each leaf. Slightly flatten one tip of each wire. Place medium paste solder on the center vein of each leaf, not all the way to the end. Put the leaves on a soldering surface. Press the flattened end of the wire into the solder. Heat until the solder flows. Cool before continuing. Note: If gold filled wire and sheet is being used, flux must be sprayed on the pieces to prevent fire scale.

Judy Larson's Sugared Grapes Pendant - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, solder wire onto the leaves

Step 16

Pickle, rinse, and dry the leaves.

Step 17

Shape the leaves to your liking using round nose soft jaw pliers.

Judy Larson's Sugared Grapes Pendant - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, shape the leaves

Step 18

The leaves may be easier to audition placement if the wire tails are bent up out of the way. Once it is decided how many and where the leaves will be placed, some of the leaf wire tails may need to be trimmed off. These wire tails can be coiled and used somewhere else in the design, if desired. The wire coils on the earrings were made and attached separately with wires cut from the leaves. A jump ring was placed on the backplate for each earring drop to provide a hole to attach it to an earring finding.

Use easy paste solder to secure the leaves and wires in place. Heat until the solder flows. Cool the pieces before continuing.

Step 19

Pickle, rinse, and dry the pieces.

Step 20

Draw the outer edge of the design with a Sharpie and then cut with a saw. Clean and refine the edges with files and sanding sponges.

Judy Larson's Sugared Grapes Pendant - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, trace the shape on a back plate

Step 21

Solder a hidden bail that will fit the chain being used to the back of the pendant using easy paste solder. By placing the pendant upside down in pumice, the items soldered to the front of the pendant with easy solder will be held in place by the pumice.

Judy Larson's Sugared Grapes Pendant - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, solder on a hidden bail

Step 22

Pickle, rinse, and dry the pendant.

Step 23

Use epoxy to glue the assembled cabochon in the pendant bezel and the single nodules into the earring bezels. Use a wooden clothespin to push the tops of the bezel in toward the nodules. Be VERY careful as the "sugar" coating can be scraped, leaving a white gash. Attach the drops to earring findings.

Judy Larson's Sugared Grapes Pendant - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, grape chalcedony pendant

Judy Larson's Sugared Grapes Pendant - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, pendant

Judy Larson's Sugared Grapes Pendant - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, grape chalcedony earrings

Judy Larson's Sugared Grapes Pendant - , Metalwork, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, grape chalcedonly pendant and earrings

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!