Day Four at Adorn Me Part A: Mixed Metal Milagros

Friday I had Mixed Metal Milagros with Richard Salley. Milagros are small religious charms used in many Latin American countries, particularly Mexico and Peru.  They are also quite common here in Texas and other parts of the Southwestern United States. Read about them here.

Richard told us he was inspired by Lorena Angulo's beautiful hearts and other jewelry to make his own "Milagros." (Lorena was also teaching at Adorn Me. I hope to take a class from her someday.)

We did some torch enameling in this class in addition to using mixed metals. Here's Richard Salley demonstrating torch enameling.




 I had a copy of a gem tintype that I used in my pendant, along with a scrap of etched brass that I sawed into a frame.  I used copper and brass.  The flaming heart was sawn from copper and enameled.  I left the copper showing in the heart with the color from the torch instead of pickling it. 




Everything in this piece is riveted or put together with micro-bolts. The young woman looks likes she's waiting and she has an introspective expression on her face.  I imagine she is waiting for her beau, who perhaps is off on a trip or gone to war.  I call this pendant "Waiting for my Love."