Three French Hens Earrings

by Judy Larson

Category: Holiday Designs
Technique(s): Sawing, Texturing, Butane Torch Techniques
Skill Level: Intermediate

Some of my friends and relatives raise exotic chickens which have beautiful fluffy plumage. Yes, I know, only roosters have big fluffy tails! I couldn't help myself so call it artistic license! The texture sheets I used for the Partridge reminded me so much of chickens strutting their stuff that I had to use it on the fancy French Hens. How will you make your French Hens?

Materials

24 Gauge Dead Soft Argentium Silver Sheet - 6 Inches

H19-24SM6

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1 Inch
Price: $51.80
Gold Club Price: $38.85

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20 Gauge Round Half Hard Argentium .940 Silver Wire

H19-20H

Lesson Quantity: 4.00 inches
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
Price: $4.47
Gold Club Price: $3.35

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Tools

French Shears - Curved Shear with Spring

SHR-531.01

SHR-531.01
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $29.97
Gold Club Price: $22.48

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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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Blazer Excalibur SI-100CR Multi-Purpose Soldering Kit

TRCH-1006

TRCH-1006
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $99.95
Gold Club Price: $74.96

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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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Pickle Pot, 16 Ounces

CLN-584.00

CLN-584.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $31.95
Gold Club Price: $23.96

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NATURE'S TOUCH CITRIC PICKLE, 2LB PLASTIC JAR

CLN-163.00

CLN-163.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $17.95
Gold Club Price: $13.46

Out of Stock

Stainless Steel Shot - 1 lb Bag

G24-4

G24-4
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $43.95
Gold Club Price: $32.96

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Solderite Soldering Board, Hard, 6 Inch by 6 Inch

SOL-420.10

SOL-420.10
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $14.97
Gold Club Price: $11.23

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Instructions

Step 1

The first template, 2½" x 6", contains the designs that are to be cut out and assembled. The second template, also 2½" x 6", contains size and shape approximations for those designs requiring a backing, except for number 4, which is a charm disc that could be cut out and number 3, an alternate French Hens design. The numbers on the designs in both templates refer to the day in the song and in the tutorials.

Decide on what texture or metal stamps to use for the bird wings and tails. Because any texturing/stamping will distort the metal shape, it is best to texture the 24 gauge Argentium sheet metal before cutting out the design. Glue the templates in place on the metal. Cut the bird bodies and wings out. If changing the tail shape, trim the template tail off before positioning the body on the textured metal.

Judy Larson's Three French Hens Earrings - , Holiday Designs, Sawing, Saw, Wire Saw, Texturing, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, templates

Judy Larson's Three French Hens Earrings - , Holiday Designs, Sawing, Saw, Wire Saw, Texturing, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, three french hens earrings

Step 2

Use a center punch or small period punch to impress the eye dot.

Step 3

Remove the paper templates from all the metal pieces. Note: All textured pieces should be annealed and flattened before soldering pieces together.

Step 4

Decide where the wings will be placed.

Step 5

Place the bird bodies face up on a soldering block. Put a small dot of medium paste solder on the bird body where the largest part of the wing will rest. Press the wings into place. Optional: Use a 1.8mm hole punch to make three dots from scrap 24 gauge sheet to attach across the top of each head with medium paste solder. Heat until the solder flows. Do not quench. Allow to cool naturally.

Step 6

Cut two 2" (51mm) long pieces of 20 gauge round Argentium wire. Ball both ends of each wire so each piece becomes 1½" (appx. 38mm) long.

Step 7

Place the birds face down on a solder block. Bend the balled wires in half. Position the hanging loop/legs assemblies on the back of the birds. Use an ultra fine point retractable Sharpie to draw a line on each bird to help in placing a line of medium paste solder on the back of each bird.

Step 8

Press the hanging loop/legs assemblies into the paste solder.

Step 9

Heat the birds with a butane torch until the solder flows. Allow the pieces to cool on the solder brick.
Pickle, rinse, and dry the birds.
Tumble the birds for several hours.

Step 10

Patina the birds if desired. The birds shown have patina added.

Add ear wires.

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!