Fickle Heart necklace

Hi bloglandia! This is jewelry designer Cindy. I was asked to write about my favorite piece of jewelry that I myself created for Rings & Things’ 2011/2012 catalog…

Finished “Fickle” copper clay necklace

I picked Fickle because I love working with COPPRclay. Yes, you need a kiln (I bought the Caldera). I know that is an obstacle for a lot of people as kilns aren’t exactly cheap. Best to view it as an investment rather than an impulse buy. But once you have it, all kinds of jewelry-making doors are open to you: fused glass, ceramics, enameling and, of course, metal clay!

I made the Fickle heart pendant during an in-house training session. Since it was my first time working with COPPRclay, I didn’t have any big goals in mind when I started. I just wanted to see how the copper clay behaved compared to bronze clay and silver clay. I was really happy with its workability. It took textures easily and didn’t dry out too quickly. It was easy to connect pieces with a little slip. As you can see, we had a full range of tools and textures and other fun things to play with.

copper clay workshop supplies

I don’t know why I wrote “fickle” on the clay. I had just finished a trail run, despite my insistence that I am not a runner, so maybe my subconscious was just acknowledging what the world already knows: I change my mind every 3.2 seconds.

Anyway, I just Googled the phrase “fickle heart” in the hopes that there was a meaningful, well-known quote I could claim as my inspiration. There wasn’t. But, I learned that the Brit band Sniff ‘n’ the Tears released their first album, titled Fickle Heart, in 1978, which just so happens to be the year I was born. How’s that for serendipity?

COPPRclay before being fired

I hung my fickle little heart with night blue Swarovski crystal pearls, using dotted copper ring beads as spacers. The back of the necklace is two strands of silky rattail. I really wish rattail wasn’t called rattail — it is such an unappealing name for such a nice, soft, affordable cording. The only drawback to working with rattail is its tendency to fray when you cut the ends, but that is easily solved by wrapping a little piece of tape around it before you cut. Dabbing a bit of glue on the cut end also works.

Whether you are fickle like me or constant and true in your affections, I highly recommend COPPRclay as a way to create jewelry that is personally meaningful. Have fun creating your own designs!