Sunday Afternoon

Denise Peck

Materials

6" (15 cm) of sterling 14" (6 mm) flat wire

4" (10 cm) of sterling 20-gauge half-hard wire

6 sterling 6mm jump rings

15×25mm Czech glass bead

1 sterling 15mm lobster clasp

Tools

Metal shears

Ball-peen hammer

Steel bench block

Metal file

Bracelet mandrel

1.5 mm metal hole-punch pliers

Liver of sulfur

0000 steel wool

2 pairs of chain-nose pliers

Round-nose pliers

Flush cutters

Rotary tumbler

Mixed stainless steel shot

Finished size

7" (18 cm)

1. Cut the flat wire in half using metal shears. Hammer both ends of both pieces with the flat side of the ball-peen hammer to form a paddle on each end. File the edges smooth. Texture both pieces with the ball end of the ball-peen hammer.

2. Gently curve both pieces around the bracelet mandrel. Make a centered hole on all four ends, about 3 mm from the edge using the hole-punch pliers.

3. Oxidize the pieces with liver of sulfur (see Patina + Coloring Tools), rinse, and dry. Clean with steel wool to remove the excess oxidation. Tumble for 30 minutes to 1 hour to polish and work-harden.

4. Center the bead on the 20-gauge wire and begin a wire-wrapped loop on each end. Before closing the loop, thread one bracelet piece onto each loop; finish the wrapped loops. Trim the wires and pinch in the ends with chain-nose pliers.

5. Connect 5 jump rings in a chain and attach one end to one side of the bracelet. Attach a single jump ring to the lobster clasp on the other end.

Resources

Flat silver wire: riogrande.com. Czech glass bead: cascadiabeads.etsy.com.